the ridge
does the same. We ain't a very fore-handed community, and that's a fac'."

At noon Lyddy and 'Phemie talked over the garden project more fully with
Lucas. They planned what early seeds should be planted, and Lucas began
plowing that particular piece behind the barn right after dinner.

Lyddy had very little money to work with, but she believed in "nothing
ventured, nothing gained." She told Lucas to purchase a bag of potatoes
for planting the next day when he went to town, and he was to buy a few
papers of early garden seeds, too.

And when Lucas came back with the potatoes he brought a surprise for the
Bray girls. He drove into the yard with a flourish. 'Phemie looked out
of the window, uttered a scream of joy and surprise, and rushed out to
receive her father in her strong young arms as he got down from the seat.

How feeble and tired he looked! 'Phemie began to cry; but Lyddy "braced
up" and declared he looked a whole lot better already and that Hillcrest
would cure him in just no time.

"And that foolish 'Phemie is only crying for joy at seeing you so
unexpectedly, Father," said Lyddy, scowling frightfully at her sister
over their father's bowed head as they helped him into the house.

Lucas hovered in the background; but he could not help them. 'Phemie saw,
however, that the young farmer fully appreciated the situation and was
truly sympathetic.

The change in Mr. Bray's appearance was a great shock to both girls. Of
course, the doctor at the hospital had promised Lyddy no great improvement
in the patient until he could be got up here on the hills, where the air
was pure and healing.

Aunt Jane had come as far as the junction with him; but he had come
on alone to Bridleburg from there, and the agent at the station had
telephoned uptown to tell Lucas that the invalid wished to get to
Hillcrest.

"I'm all right; I'm all right!" he kept repeating. But the girls almost
carried him between them into the house.

"The doctors said you could do more for me up here than they could do for
me there," panted Mr. Bray, smiling faintly at his daughters, who hovered
about him as he sat before the crackling wood fire in the kitchen.

"And Aunt Jane never told us you were coming!" gasped Lyddy.

"What's the odds, as long as he's here?" demanded 'Phemie.

"Why, I shall soon be my old self again up here," Mr. Bray declared,
hopefully. "Now, don't fuss over me, girls. You've got other things to
do. That young