ger either. See how
he likes being gentled."

Then he straightened and drew a deep breath.

"Mr. Pryor," he said, "as man to man, I have got this to say to
you--and you may use your own discretion about repeating it to your
daughter: I can offer her six feet of as sound manhood as you can find
on God's footstool. I never in my whole life have had enough impure
blood in my body to make even one tiny eruption on my skin. I never
have been ill a day in my life. I never have touched a woman save as I
lifted and cared for my mother, and hers, or my sisters. As to my
family and education she can judge for herself. I offer her the first
and only love of my heart. She objects to farming, because she says it
is dirty, offensive work. There are parts of it that are dirty. Thank
God, it only soils the body, and that can be washed. To delve and to
dive into, and to study and to brood over the bigger half of the law
business of any city is to steep your brain in, and smirch your soul
with, such dirt as I would die before I'd make an occupation of
touching. Will you kindly tell her that word for word, and that I
asked you to?"

Mr. Pryor was standing before I saw him rise. He said those awful
words again, but between them he cried: "You're right! It's the
truth! It's the eternal truth!"

"It IS the truth," said Laddie. "I've only to visit the offices, and
examine the business of those of my family living by law, to KNOW that
it's the truth. Of course there's another side! There are times when
there are great opportunities to do good; I recognize that. To some
these may seem to overbalance that to which I object. If they do, all
right. I am merely deciding for myself. Once and for all, for me it
is land. It is born in me to love it, to handle it easily, to get the
best results from stock. I am going to take the Merriweather place
adjoining ours on the west, and yours on the south. I intend to lease
it for ten years, with purchase privilege at the end, so that if I make
of it what I plan, my work will not be lost to me. I had thought to
fix up the place and begin farming. If Miss Pryor has any use whatever
for me, and prefers stock, that is all right with me. I'll go into the
same business she finds suitable for you. I can start in a small way
and develop. I can afford a maid for her from the beginning, but I
couldn't clothe her as she has been accustomed to being dressed, for
some time. I would do m