THE HARVESTER By Gene Stratton-Porter Author Of A Girl Of The Limberlost, Freckles, Etc. THIS PORTION OF THE LIFE OF A MAN OF TO-DAY IS OFFERED IN THE HOPE THAT IN CLEANLINESS, POETIC TEMPERMENT, AND MENTAL FORCE, A LIKENESS WILL BE SEEN TO HENRY DAVID THOREAU CHAPTER I. Belshazzar's Decision II. The Effect of a Dream III. Harvesting the Forest IV. A Commission for the South Wind V. When the Harvester Made Good VI. To Labour and to Wait VII. The Quest of the Dream Girl VIII. Belshazzar's Record Point IX. The Harvester Goes Courting X. The Chime of the Blue Bells XI. Demonstrated Courtship XII. ''The Way of a Man with a Maid'' XIII. When the Dream Came True XIV. Snowy Wings XV. The Harvester Interprets Life XVI. Granny Moreland's Visit XVII. Love Invades Science XVIII. The Better Man XIX. A Vertical Spine XX. The Man in the Background XXI. The Coming of the Bluebird CHARACTERS DAVID LANGSTON, A Harvester of the Woods. RUTH JAMESON, A Girl of the City. GRANNY MORELAND, An Interested Neighbour. DR. CAREY, Chief Surgeon of the Onabasha Hospital. MRS. CAREY, Wife of the Doctor. DR. HARMON, Who Concludes to Leave the City. MOLLY BARNET, A Hospital Nurse with a Heart. HENRY JAMESON, A Trader Without a Heart. ALEXANDER HERRON, Who Made a Concession. MRS. HERRON, A Gentle Woman. THE KENNEDYS, Philadelphia Lawyers. THE HARVESTER CHAPTER I. BELSHAZZAR'S DECISION “Bel, come here!” The Harvester sat in the hollow worn in the hewed log stoop by the feet of his father and mother and his own sturdier tread, and rested his head against the casing of the cabin door when he gave the command. The tip of the dog's nose touched the gravel between his paws as he crouched flat on earth, with beautiful eyes steadily watching the master, but he did not move a muscle. “Bel, come here!” Twinkles flashed in the eyes of the man when he repeated the order, while his voice grew more imperative as he stretched a lean, wiry hand toward the dog. The animal's eyes gleamed and his sensitive nose quivered, yet he lay quietly. “Belshazzar, kommen Sie hier!” The body of the dog arose on straightened legs and his muzzle dropped in the outstretched palm. A wind slightly perfumed with the odour of melting snow and unsheathing buds swept the lake beside them, and lifted a waving tangle of light hair on the brow of the man, while a level ray of the setting sun flashed across the water and illumined the graven, sensitive face, now alive with keen interest in the game being played. “Bel, dost remember the day?” inquired the Harvester.