CHAPTER XXXI.
MARY'S MARRIAGE.
His vacation ended, after a busy season at the farm, Ralph Jackson returned to his work in the city, strong and robust.

He had acquired the coat of tan which Mary's Uncle had predicted.

Physically strong as the "Cave Man" of old, he felt capable of moving mountains, and as was natural, he being only a human man, longed for the mate he felt God had intended should one day be his, as men have done since our first gardener, Adam, and will continue to do until the end of time.
When visiting the farm, an event which occurred about every two weeks, Ralph constantly importuned Mary to name an early day for their marriage.
Mary, with a young girl's impulsiveness, had given her heart unreservedly into the keeping of Ralph Jackson, her first sweetheart.
Mary was not naturally cold or unresponsive, neither was she lacking in passion.

She had had a healthy girlhood, and a wholesome home life.
She had been taught the conventional ideals of the marriage relations that have kept the race strong throughout the centuries.

Mary possessed great strength of character and fine moral courage.
Frequently, not wishing to show her real feeling for the young man; too well poised to be carried off into the wrong channel, defended and excused by many over-sentimental and light-headed novelists of the day, she sometimes appeared almost indifferent to the impetuous youth with warm, red blood leaping in his veins, who desired so ardently to possess her.
Mary's Aunt had taught her the sanctity of parenthood, also that women are not always the weaker sex.