"I laugh still," said Mrs. Landis, "when people say what a lot of work
so many children make. In many ways, like sewing and cookin' for them
they do, but in other ways they are a big help to me and to each other.
If I had just one now I'd have to dress it, but with so many they help
the littler ones and all I got to do is tell them what to do. It don't
hurt them to work a little. Mary is big enough now to put a big apron
on and help me with gettin' meals ready. And the boys are good about
helpin' me, too. Why, Martin, now, he used to help me like a girl when
the babies were little and I had a lot to do. Mister said the other day
we dare be glad our boys ain't give us no trouble so far. But this girl
of Martin's, now, she kinda worries me. I said to Mister if only he'd
pick out a girl like you."
To her surprise the face of the girl blanched. Mrs. Landis thought in
dismay, "Now what for dumb block am I, not to guess that mebbe Amanda
likes our Martin! Ach, my! but it spites me that he's gone on that city
girl! Well," she went on, talking in an effort at reparation and in
seeming ignorance of the secret upon which she had stumbled, "mebbe he
ain't goin' to marry her after all. These boys sometimes run after such
bright, merry butterfly girls and then they get tired of them and pick
out a nice sensible one to marry. Abody must just keep on hopin' that
everything will turn out right. Anyhow, I don't let myself worry much
about it."
"Do you ever worry, Mrs. Landis? I can't remember ever seeing you
worried and borrowing trouble."
"No, what's the use? I found out long ago that worry don't get you
nowhere except in hot water, so what's the use of it?"
"That's a good way to look at things if you can do it," the girl
agreed. "I think I'll go home now. You don't need me. You'll get along
nicely, I'm sure."
"Ach, yes, I guess so. But now you must come soon again, Amanda. This
company business kinda spoiled your visit to-day."
Amanda was in the rear of the house and did not see the vision of
loveliness which passed the Reist farmhouse about five o'clock that
afternoon. One of Martin's brothers met the two at the trolley and
drove them to the Landis farm. Isabel Souders was that day, indeed,
attractive. She wore a corn-colored organdie dress and leghorn hat, her
natural beauty was enhanced by a becoming coiffure, her eyes danced,
her lips curved in their most bewitching bow.