Part 16 (1/2)

”I do propose to have you give me a ride before the car is taken back to Spokane.”

Jack promised her a ride the following day, and after a.s.sisting Ida and the children in, jumped into the driver's seat, and just as he was starting Miss Anderson approached, and addressing he and Ida, who was seated by his side, said:

”Make up your minds about your father's proposition to accompany him home. I think it would be just simply delightful for you to do as he has suggested.”

”What do you think, mother?” Jack asked, addressing Mrs. Gully.

”Just as you and Ida say,” she replied.

”You mean just as Ida says,” Jack corrected, and laughingly added: ”I'm in with Dad on the proposition.”

And with shouts of goodbye and with much waving of caps and hands they started for the village.

Mrs. Gully and Miss Anderson watched them for a few moments, and turning to go back into the house, Minnie Gully asked Miss Anderson her opinion of the early marriage of Jack and Ida.

”I do not see that having it occur a few weeks ahead of the appointed time would make any difference, and as Mr. Norton seems so anxious to have them accompany him home, I would be glad to see them agree to his proposition, but I believe I would leave the matter to them to decide.”

Mrs. Gully agreed with her and added: ”As we have made no provisions for their marriage I think should they decide to do as he asks, it would be best to allow them to accompany Mr. Norton to Spokane and have the ceremony performed there, and Ida be given an opportunity to prepare herself for the trip home with him.”

”An excellent idea,” answered Miss Anderson, ”and it would be splendid if you would accompany them as far as Spokane, be present at the marriage, and a.s.sist Ida in her preparations.”

Minnie Gully thought for a few moments before she replied to Miss Anderson's suggestion about her going and finally said:

”How about Travis and the children? Who would care for them while I am away.”

”Don't worry about them; the other girls are plenty old enough to manage things for the few days that you would be away; and besides, I will be home, and I can come and a.s.sist them.”

”Are you not going?” exclaimed Mrs. Gully, in dismay.

”I had not thought of going,” answered Miss Anderson.

”Well, if I go you must accompany me,” declared Mrs. Gully in a decisive tone.

”We will not discuss our plans until we have heard from Jack and Ida,”

Miss Anderson replied.

In the meantime Burns Norton and Travis Gully had walked down into the alfalfa field and had stopped and were earnestly discussing the future of the two young people. Not the plans for their approaching marriage, but of the bright prospects of this beautiful country in which they had chosen to make their start in life, and the splendid opportunities it afforded as compared with those that had been given to them when they were their ages.

Jack and his party reached the village in a very short time--as Joe expressed it, ”by the time papa could have had the horses. .h.i.tched to the wagon”--and upon their arrival Jack left them and sought Mr. Palmer, to whom he delivered his father's message. Mr. Dugan, who was on the street at the time and had seen their arrival, was at the car talking to Ida when Jack returned, and after greeting him Jack told him that the party would probably be out to Mr. Gully's the day following, and he was particularly anxious to have him come out, as he had a matter of importance to discuss with him. Dugan was much surprised at this request but promised to come.

Jack purchased a supply of candy and oranges for the noisy youngsters, and they returned home after making a detour of many miles.

It was almost dark when the auto party arrived home, and the children tumbled out of the car and ran into the house, all clamoring to tell of the delightful time they had enjoyed. Ida was a.s.sisted from the car by Jack, who was then preparing to drive over to his own home and care for his stock, when he was told by the driver that Mr. Gully and Mr. Norton had driven over in the buggy a short time before to look after things, and were expected to return at any time. Upon hearing this Jack joined the ladies in the house, and as he came in, he started in with the children telling of their wonderful ride, but seeing the inquisitive look on the faces of Mrs. Gully and Miss Anderson he asked them if Ida had not told them, of their decision?

They replied that they had not had time to talk with her since her return.

”Well, we're going with Dad,” Jack announced.