“Now, Lissa, we have twenty miles farther to travel before reaching home. We have already come over forty miles to-day. Shall we stop in this town and wait until morning?�
“O, no, no, no, not for anything. Alice will be looking for us and I am so anxious to see her and our home. Do let us go on, or will it be too great a drive for our horses?�
“They can endure it better than you, but I don’t think Alice will expect you before to-morrow night. People usually take four days to drive through. However, if you wish we will not stop.�
It was pleasant driving in the cool of the evening and the ponies sped along rapidly, apparently little wearied by the many miles behind. They had gone but a part of the distance, however, when the sound of a galloping horse over the soft turfed ground struck upon the ear. Soon it was beside them and a cheery voice saluted them.
“Hello, Nathan, is that you?�
“Why, Mark, how d’you do?�
Nathan grasped the hand of the handsome, yellow-haired fellow who came along beside the wagon.
“This is our brother, Mark Cramer, Lissa.�
“And this is the little sister I have known so well, but never seen,� said Mark. “You are very welcome to this western borderland, I assure you. Alice is wild with happy anticipation of your coming.�
Lissa’s sister had come West and married the year before, and this was Lissa’s first meeting with her brother-in-law.