Edward Wellman bade good-bye to his family in the old country headed for a better life in America. Papa handed him the family's savings hidden in a leather satchel. "Times are desperate here," he said, hugging his son goodbye. "You are our hope."
Edward boarded the Atlantic freighter(货船) offering free transport to young men willing to shovel(铲) coal in return for the month-long journey. If Edward struck gold in the Colorado Rockies, the rest of the family could eventually join him.
For months, Edward worked his claim tirelessly, and the small vein of gold provided a moderate but steady income. Leaving Ingrid behind before he could officially court her had been his only regret in accepting this American adventure. He had secretly hoped to make Ingrid his wife. Finally, he wrote to Papa, asking him to help make this dream come true.
After nearly a year, a telegraph came with a plan to make his life complete. Mr. Henderson had agreed to send his daughter to Edward in America. Because she was a hardworking young woman with a good mind for business, she would work alongside Edward for a year to help the mining business grow. By then both families could afford to come to America for their wedding.
Edward's heart soared with joy as he spent the next month trying to make the cabin into a home. At last, the day he had been waiting for his whole life arrived. With a bouquet of fresh-picked daisies in hand, he left for the train depot(仓库，停车场)。 Steam billowed and wheels screeched as the train crawled to a stop.
His heart beat with eager anticipation, then stopped with a sinking thud. Not Ingrid, but her older sister Marta, stepped down from the train.
Edward only stared - dumbfounded. Then with shaking hands he offered Marta the bouquet. "Welcome," he whispered, his eyes burning. A smile etched across her plain face.
"I was pleased when Papa said you sent for me," Marta said, looking into his eyes briefly, before dropping her head again.
"I'll get your bags, "Edward said with a fake smile. Together they headed for the buggy(双轮单座轻马车)。
Mr. Henderson and Papa were right. Marta did have a great grasp of business. Within 6 months, their assets doubled.
Her delicious meals and quiet smile graced the cabin with a wonderful woman's touch. But the wrong woman, Edward mourned as he collapsed onto his cot each night. Why did they send Marta? Would he ever see Ingrid again? Was his lifelong dream to have her as his wife forsaken?
For a year, Marta and Edward worked and played and laughed, but never loved. Once, Marta had kissed Edward on the cheek before retiring to her room. He only smiled awkwardly. From then on, she seemed content with their exhilarating hikes in the mountains and long talks on the porch after suppers.
One spring afternoon, torrential rains washed down the hillside, eroding the entrance to their mine. Furiously, Edward filled sand bags and stacked them in the water's path. Suddenly there was Marta at his side holding the next burlap bag open. Edward shoveled sand inside, then with the strength of any man, Marta hurled it onto the pile and opened another bag… For hours they worked, knee-deep in mud, until the rains diminished.
Hand in hand, they walked back to the cabin. Over warm soup Edward sighed, "I never could have saved the mine without you. Thank you, Marta."
"You're welcome," she answered with her usual smile, then went quietly to her room. A few days later, a telegraph came announcing the arrival of the Henderson and Wellman families next week. As much as he tried to stifle it, the thought of seeing Ingrid again started Edward's heart beating in the old familiar way.
Together, he and Marta went to the train station. They watched as their families exited the train at the far end of the platform. When Ingrid appeared, Marta turned to Edward. "Go to her," she said.
Astonished, Edward stammered, "What do you mean?"
"Edward, I have always known I was not the Henderson girl you intended to send for. I had watched you flirt with Ingrid at the church picnics. I know it is she, not me, you desire for your wife." "But …"
Marta placed her fingers over his lips. "Shhh," she hushed him. "I do love you, Edward. I always have. And because of that, all I really want is your happiness. Go to her." As she gazed up at him, he saw for the first time how very beautiful she was. He recalled their walks in the meadows, their quiet evenings before the fire, her working beside him with the sandbags. It was then he realized what he had known for months. "No, Marta. It is you I want." Sweeping her into his arms, he kissed her with all the love bursting inside him. Their families gathered around them chorusing(合唱)， "We are here for the wedding!"
翻译：
爱德华威尔曼就要告别家人在祖国走向更好的生活在美国。爸爸递给他家里的积蓄藏在一个小皮包里。“时代已经绝望,”他说,拥抱他的儿子再见。“你是我们的希望。”
爱德华登上大西洋货船(货船)提供免费运输的年轻人愿意铲(铲)煤炭,以换取长达一个月的旅程。如果爱德华在科罗拉多州的落基山脉淘到黄金,那么剩下的家人们就能够到美国和他团聚了。
几个月来,他不知疲倦地工作,爱德华和小型的金矿,一个温和但稳定的收入。留下Ingrid才能正式向她求婚是他唯一的遗憾在接受美国冒险。他偷偷地希望让妻子英格丽德。最后,他给爸爸写信,要求他帮助使这个梦想成真。
近一年之后,电报是计划让他的生命完整。韩德胜已同意把他的女儿在美国的爱德华。因为她是一个能吃苦耐劳,有商业头脑,她会在爱德华的身边工作一年帮助矿业业务成长。届时双方家庭可以来美国为他们的婚礼。
爱德华与快乐的心飙升。他花了一个月的时间试图让机舱变成一个家。最后,天,他一直在等待他的一生。手里拿着一束新鲜的雏菊,他离开火车得宝(仓库,停车场)。看到火车爬出来蒸汽翻腾滚滚车轮停止。
用热切期待着他的心跳,然后停止了下沉砰的一声。不是Ingrid,而是她的姐姐玛尔塔,走下了火车。
爱德华只盯着——目瞪口呆。然后与他握手Marta花束。“欢迎你,”他轻声说道,眼睛仿佛被灼烧一样难受。一个微笑铭刻在她普通的脸。
“我很高兴当你爸爸说给我发送,”玛尔塔说,看着他的眼睛,再把她的头。
“我要得到你的包,”爱德华说假笑。他们一起向马车走去(双轮单座轻马车)。
汉德森先生和爸爸是对的。玛塔的确具有很强的商业头脑。在6个月,他们的资产翻了一番。
她美味的饭菜和安静微笑登上机舱用美妙的女人的触摸。但错误的女人,爱德华一样每晚他一下子倒在床。为什么他们把玛尔塔?他会再次看到英格丽德吗?是他一生的梦想,她是他的妻子离弃?
一年,玛尔塔和爱德华工作、玩耍、笑了,但从来没有爱。一次,玛尔塔退休以前爱德华的脸颊上轻轻地吻了一下她的房间。他只是尴尬的笑了笑。从那时起,她似乎满足于他们的令人振奋的上涨在山里,晚餐后走廊里的促膝长谈。
一个春天的下午,暴雨冲下山坡,侵蚀他们的入口。得飞快,爱德华填充沙袋并把它们堆在水的路径。突然有玛尔塔在他身边抱着下一个麻布袋开放。爱德华铲沙子里面,然后坚强的人,玛尔塔扔到堆,打开另一个袋子…几个小时工作,在及膝的泥,直到雨停。
他们手牵手,走回小木屋。在温暖的汤爱德华叹了口气,“我从来不可能没有你拯救了我。谢谢你,玛尔塔。”
“欢迎你,”她回答,她一贯的微笑,然后她默默地走进自己的房间里。几天后,一个电报宣布下周亨德森和Wellman家庭的到来。他试图压制它,一想到再次见到英格丽·爱德华开始熟悉的心跳。
在一起,他和玛尔塔去了火车站。他们看着他们的家庭走出火车在这个平台的尽头。这时,玛塔转过身,爱德华。“去她,”她说。
爱德华震惊,结结巴巴地问:“你什么意思?”
“爱德华,我一直知道我不是女孩你打算发送。我曾经看到过你和英格里德在教堂野餐。我知道这是她,不是我,你希望你的妻子。”“但是…”
玛塔把她的手指压在他的嘴唇。“嘘,”她的他。“我爱你,爱德华。我总是有。正因为如此,我真正想要的是你的幸福。去她。”她注视着他,他第一次看到她是非常美丽的。他回忆起他们的草地散步,安静的夜晚在火,她的工作在他的沙袋。就在那时他意识到他已经知道好几个月了。“不,玛尔塔。这是你我想要的。“扫地她进了他的怀里,他吻了她的爱情破裂在里面。家人聚集在他们齐声歌唱(合唱),“我们是来参加婚礼的!”