The man appeared embarrassed, and there was a trace of gravity in his smile. Your father told me a little; but I havent seen him so often of late. Any way, I would sooner you told me.
Then, said the girl, with the faintest of quivers in her voice, the folks who understand good music dont care to hear me.
There was incredulity, which pleased his companion, in the mans face, but his voice vaguely suggested contentment.
That is just what they cant do, he said decisively. You sing most divinely.
There is a good deal you and the boys at Cedar dont know, Larry. Any way, lots of people sing better than I do, but I should be angry with you if I thought you were pleased.
The man smiled gravely. That would hurt. Im sorry for you, Hetty; but again Im glad. Now theres nothing to keep you in the city, youll come back to us. You belong to the prairie, and its a better place than this.
He spoke at an opportune moment. Since her cherished ambition had failed her, Hetty Torrance had grown a trifle tired of the city and the round of pleasure that must be entered into strenuously, and there were times when, looking back in reverie, she saw the great silent prairie roll back under the red sunrise into the east, and fade, vast, solemn, and restful, a cool land of shadow, when the first pale stars came out. Then she longed for the jingle of the bridles and the drumming of the hoofs, and felt once more the rush of the gallop stir her blood. But this was what she would not show, and her eyes twinkled a trifle maliciously.
Well, I dont quite know, she said. There is always one thing left to most of us.
She saw the man wince ever so slightly, and was pleased at it; but he was, as she had once told him in the old days, grit all through, and he smiled a little.
Of course! he said. Still, the trouble is that there are very few of us good enough for you. But you will come back for a little?
Miss Torrance would not commit herself. How are they getting along at the Range?
Doesnt your father write you?
Yes, said the girl, colouring a trifle. I had a letter from him a few days ago, but he seldom mentioned what he was doing, and I want you to tell me about him.
The man appeared thoughtful. Well, he said, its quite three months since I spoke to him. He was stirring round as brisk as ever, and is rolling the dollars in this year.
But you used to be always at the Range.
The man nodded, but the slight constraint that was upon him did not escape the girl. Still, I dont go there so often now. The Range is lonesome when you are away.
Miss Torrance accepted the speech as one made by a comrade, and perhaps was wrong, but a tramp of feet attracted her attention then, and she looked away from her companion. Driven by the railroad officials, and led by an interpreter, a band of Teutons some five or six hundred strong filed into the station. Stalwart and stolid, tow-haired, with the stamp of acquiescent patience in their homely faces, they came on with the swing, but none of the usual spirit, of drilled men. They asked no questions, but went where they were led, and the foulness of the close-packed steerage seemed to cling about them. For a time the depot rang to the rhythmic tramp of feet, and when, at a sign from the interpreter, it stopped, two bewildered children, frowsy and unwashed, in greasy homespun, sat down and gazed at Miss Torrance with mild blue eyes. She signed to a boy who was passing with a basket slung before him, and made a little impatient
gesture when the man slipped his hand into his pocket.
No, she said; youll make me vexed with you. Tell him to give them all he has. Theyll be a long while in the cars.
She handed the boy a silver coin, and while the children sat still, undemonstratively astonished, with the golden fruit about them, the man passed him a bill.
Now get some more oranges, and begin right at the top of the line, he said. If that doesnt see you through, come back to me for another bill.
Hetty Torrances eyes softened. Larry, she said, that was dreadfully good of you. Where are they all going to?
Chicago, Nebraska, Minnesota, Montana, said the man. There are the cars coming in. Just out of Castle Garden, and its because of the city improvements disorganizing traffic theyre bringing them this way. Theyre the advance guard, you see, and there are more of them coming.
The tramp of feet commenced again, but this time it was a horde of diverse nationality, Englishmen, Irishmen, Poles, and Finns, but all with the stamp of toil, and many with that of scarcity upon them. Bedraggled, unkempt, dejected, eager with the cunning that comes of adversity, they flowed in, and Hetty Torrances face grew pitiful as she watched them.
Do they come every week like this and, even in our big country, have we got room for all of them? she said.
There was a curious gleam in the mans brown eyes. Oh, yes, he said. Its the biggest and greatest country this old world has ever seen, and the Lord made it as a home for the poor the folks theyve no food or use for back yonder; and, while there are short-sighted fools who would close the door, we take them in, outcast and hopeless, and put new heart in them. In a few short years we make them men and useful citizens, the equal of any on this earth Americans!