English Original
Edward Wellman bid farewell to his family in the old country, seeking a better life in America. His father entrusted him with the family's savings, hidden in a leather satchel. "Times are desperate here," he said. "You are our hope."
To cross the Atlantic, Edward boarded a freighter, shoveling coal in exchange for passage. His dream was to strike gold in the Colorado Rockies and eventually bring his family over.
For months, Edward worked tirelessly at his mining claim. The small vein of gold provided a steady income, but he regretted leaving Ingrid behind before he could court her. He secretly hoped to marry her. Finally, he wrote home, asking his father to help make this dream a reality.
Nearly a year later, a telegraph arrived with a plan. Mr. Henderson agreed to send his daughter to America. She would work alongside Edward for a year to help grow the mining business, after which both families could afford to come for the wedding.
Overjoyed, Edward spent a month preparing his cabin. The long-awaited day arrived. With a bouquet of daisies, he went to the train depot. As the train screeched to a halt, his heart pounded with anticipation—then sank. It was not Ingrid who stepped down, but her older sister, Marta.
Stunned, Edward offered Marta the flowers with a whispered "Welcome." She smiled briefly, looking down. "I was pleased when Papa said you sent for me," she said.
Marta proved invaluable. She had a sharp business mind, doubling their assets within six months. Her meals and quiet smile brought warmth to the cabin. Yet, each night, Edward mourned for Ingrid, wondering why they had sent Marta instead.
For a year, they worked, laughed, and hiked together, but Edward felt no love. Once, Marta kissed his cheek; he responded with an awkward smile.
One spring, a torrential rain threatened to flood their mine. Edward frantically stacked sandbags. Suddenly, Marta was beside him, holding bags open, shoveling sand, and hurling the heavy bags onto the pile with surprising strength. They worked for hours, knee-deep in mud, until the rain subsided.
Walking hand in hand back to the cabin, Edward sighed over warm soup, "I never could have saved the mine without you. Thank you, Marta."
She smiled her usual quiet smile. Days later, a telegraph announced the arrival of both families the following week. Despite himself, Edward's heart raced at the thought of seeing Ingrid again.
At the station with Marta, they watched their families disembark. When Ingrid appeared, Marta turned to Edward. "Go to her," she said.
"What do you mean?" he stammered.
"Edward, I always knew I wasn't the Henderson girl you wanted," Marta said, placing her fingers gently on his lips. "I saw you with Ingrid. I know you desire her. I love you, and all I want is your happiness. Go to her."
As she gazed up at him, he saw her true beauty for the first time. He remembered their walks, their quiet evenings, and her steadfastness during the storm. In that moment, he realized the truth he had felt for months.
"No, Marta. It is you I want." Sweeping her into his arms, he kissed her with all the love in his heart. Their families gathered around, chorusing, "We are here for the wedding!"
中文翻译
爱德华·韦尔曼告别了故乡的家人，前往美国寻求更好的生活。父亲将藏在皮制小提箱里的家庭积蓄交给他，说道：“这里的日子太难了，你是我们的希望。”
为了横渡大西洋，爱德华登上一艘货船，以铲煤换取船票。他的梦想是在科罗拉多的落基山脉淘到金子，最终把家人都接过来。
数月来，爱德华在他的矿地上不知疲倦地工作。一条小小的金矿脉提供了稳定的收入，但他后悔在正式追求英格丽德之前就离开了她。他暗地里希望娶她为妻。最终，他写信回家，请求父亲帮助实现这个梦想。
近一年后，一封电报带来了一个计划。亨德森先生同意将女儿送到美国。她将与爱德华并肩工作一年，帮助矿业发展，之后两家人都能负担得起前来参加婚礼的费用。
爱德华欣喜若狂，花了一个月时间布置他的小屋。期待已久的日子终于到来。他手捧一束雏菊，前往火车站。当火车尖叫着停下时，他的心因期待而狂跳——随即又沉了下去。走下火车的不是英格丽德，而是她的姐姐玛尔塔。
爱德华惊呆了，颤抖着将花递给玛尔塔，低声说了句“欢迎”。她短暂地笑了笑，低下头。“爸爸说你派人来接我，我很高兴，”她说。
玛尔塔证明了自己价值非凡。她拥有敏锐的商业头脑，在六个月内使他们的资产翻了一番。她做的可口饭菜和安静的微笑为小屋带来了温暖。然而，每晚爱德华都在为英格丽德哀伤，不明白为什么来的是玛尔塔。
一年来，他们一起工作、欢笑、徒步，但爱德华没有产生爱情。有一次，玛尔塔亲吻了他的脸颊；他只是尴尬地笑了笑作为回应。
一个春天，暴雨威胁着要淹没他们的矿井。爱德华疯狂地堆叠沙袋。突然，玛尔塔来到他身边，撑开袋子，铲进沙子，并以惊人的力气将沉重的沙袋扔到堆上。他们在齐膝深的泥泞中工作了数小时，直到雨势减弱。
他们手牵手走回小屋，爱德华对着热汤叹息道：“没有你，我绝不可能保住矿井。谢谢你，玛尔塔。”
她露出了惯常的安静微笑。几天后，一封电报宣布两家人都将于下周抵达。尽管努力克制，想到要再次见到英格丽德，爱德华的心还是像以前一样狂跳起来。
在车站，爱德华和玛尔塔看着家人们下车。当英格丽德出现时，玛尔塔转向爱德华。“去找她吧，”她说。
“你是什么意思？”他结结巴巴地问。
“爱德华，我一直都知道我不是你想要的那个亨德森家的女孩，”玛尔塔说着，轻轻将手指放在他的嘴唇上。“我看到过你和英格丽德在一起。我知道你想要的是她。我爱你，而我真正想要的只是你的幸福。去找她吧。”
当她抬头凝视他时，他第一次看到了她真正的美丽。他想起了他们的漫步，安静的夜晚，以及她在暴风雨中的坚定。在那一刻，他意识到了自己数月来感受到的真相。
“不，玛尔塔。我想要的人是你。”他将她拥入怀中，倾注心中所有的爱亲吻了她。家人们围拢过来，齐声说道：“我们是来参加婚礼的！”