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Updated: June 14, 2025
He took the flask and filled the two glasses carefully to the brim. "I've found out what I want from the Ericsons. Drink skoal, Clara." He lifted his glass, and Clara took hers with downcast eyes. "Look at me, Clara Vavrika. Skoal!" She raised her burning eyes and answered fiercely: "Skoal!" The barn supper began at six o'clock and lasted for two hilarious hours.
As she crossed the room he leaned against the wire screen. "Aren't you at all surprised to see me, Clara Vavrika?" "No; I was expecting to see you. Mother Ericson telephoned Olaf last night that you were here." Nils squinted and gave a long whistle. "Telephoned? That must have been while Eric and I were out walking. Isn't she enterprising? Lift this screen, won't you?"
The framework was hidden by goldenrod and sheaves of wheat, and the partitions were covered 'With wild grapevines full of fruit. At one of these Johanna Vavrika watched over her cooked meats, enough to provision an army; and at the next her kitchen girls had ranged the ice-cream freezers, and Clara was already cutting pies and cakes against the hour of serving.
Besides, I could demand an investigation of his administration of Cousin Henrik's estate, and that would be bad for a public man. You've no clothes, I know; but you can sit up tonight, and we can get everything on the way. Where's your old dash, Clara Vavrika? What's become of your Bohemian blood? I used to think you had courage enough for anything. Where's your nerve what are you waiting for?"
He reached his brown, warm hand across the table and dropped it on Clara's, which was cold as an icicle. "Last call for play, Mrs. Ericson!" Clara shivered, and suddenly her hands and cheeks grew warm. Her fingers lingered in his a moment, and they looked at each other earnestly. Joe Vavrika had put the mouth of the bottle to his lips and was swallowing the last drops of the Tokai, standing.
Ah, you're afraid of losing it; that's what's the matter with you! And you will, Clara Vavrika, you will! When I used to know you listen; you've caught a wild bird in your hand, haven't you, and felt its heart beat so hard that you were afraid it would shatter its little body to pieces? Well, you used to be just like that, a slender, eager thing with a wild delight inside you.
Ericson was harsh and faultfinding, constantly wounding the boy's pride; and Olaf was always setting her against him. Joe Vavrika heard often from his daughter. Clara had always been fond of her father, and happiness made her kinder.
"My Cousin Clara gave me that," she whispered bashfully. "She's Cousin Olaf's wife." Mrs. Olaf Ericson Clara Vavrika, as many people still called her was moving restlessly about her big bare house that morning. Her husband had left for the county town before his wife was out of bed her lateness in rising was one of the many things the Ericson family had against her.
She echoed him, "I think we can!" They both laughed and their eyes sparkled. Clara Vavrika looked ten years younger than when she had put the velvet ribbon about her throat that morning. "You know, I'm so tickled to see mother," Nils went on. "I didn't know I was so proud of her. A regular pile driver. How about little pigtails, down at the house? Is Olaf doing the square thing by those children?"
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