But by night his lameness had quite disappeared , and although we were still a good twenty-five miles from Bothwell we could see it quite distinctly far ahead on the level prairie . '' 'T is a sight for sore eyes , is n't it ? '' said Kate , as we pitched camp . There is little more to be told . Next day at noon we rattled through the main and only street of Bothwell . Curious sights are frequent in prairie towns , so we did not attract much attention . When we drew up before Mr. Taylor 's house Mary Taylor flew out and embraced Kate publicly . `` You darling ! I knew you 'd get here if anyone could . They telegraphed us you were on the way . You 're a brick -- two bricks . '' `` No , I 'm not a brick at all , Miss Taylor , '' I confessed frankly . `` I 've been an arrant coward and a doubting Thomas and a wet blanket all through the expedition . But Kate is a brick and a genius and an all-round , jolly good fellow . '' `` Mary , '' said Kate in a tragic whisper , `` have -- you -- any -- ham -- in -- the -- house ? '' Jessamine When the vegetable-man knocked , Jessamine went to the door wearily . She felt quite well acquainted with him . He had been coming all the spring , and his cheery greeting always left a pleasant afterglow behind him . But it was not the vegetable-man after all -- at least , not the right one . This one was considerably younger .
He was tall and sunburned , XXXXX a ruddy , smiling face , and keen , pleasant blue eyes ; and he had a spray of honeysuckle pinned on his coat .
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