"
But Nan's smile suddenly became radiant, as she turned her brown eyes
away from the spectacle of her father's trouble to the distant horizon
ahead.
She shook her head.
"No, my Daddy. I allow it feels that way just now. I've felt that
way, too. But it's just God's tempering. And when it's through, why I
guess our hearts'll be made of good metal, strong and steady to do the
work He'd have us do. And that's just all we can ask, isn't it?"
CHAPTER XIII
THE NEWS
Nan rode up to the veranda of the ranch house and sprang lightly from
the saddle. Her pony's flanks were caked with sweat. The days now, as
they approached July, were blistering, and the work of the great ranch
was heavy for everybody. Nan had constituted herself Jeff's substitute
during his absence, and performed his share of the labor with a skill
and efficiency which astonished even her father.
She was a little weary just now. The heat was trying. Four weeks of
continuous effort, four weeks of day-long saddle work, superintending
the distant out-stations, the pasture fencing, the re-branding, which
never seemed to come to an end, the hundred and one little duties which
always cropped up unexpectedly; these things, in conjunction with the
intense heat and the constant trouble which she held safely screened
behind her smiling eyes, were not without effect upon her, although
display was only permitted when no other eyes were present to witness
her weakness.
Pages:
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253