Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1871-05-17
HIGH WATER MARK.
a Thrilling Adventure en- DedIow
Marsh.
BT BRET HARTE.

BI BRIT HARTk.
Let me recall a story which never fail
cd to recur TO INV mind in my long gun
ming excursions upon Dedlow Marsh
Although the event was briefly recorded
in the country paper, bad the story, in
all its eloquent detail, from the lips of the
principal actor. cannot hope to catch
the varying emphasis and peculiar color
ing of feminine delineaiion. for nv mar
TaIor was a woman; but III try to give
at least its substance.
She lived midway of the great slough
Of Dediow Marsh and good sized river,
which debouched four miles beyond. into
an estuary formed by the Pacific Ocean.
on the long sandy peninsula. which con
slituted the north western boundary of n
noble bay. The house 10 which she lived
was small framed cabin raised from the
marsh q few feet, by stout piles, and was
three miles distant from the settlement
upon a river. Her husband was a log
Ger-a profitable business 10 a country
where the principal occupation was the
manufacture of lumber.
1t was the season of early spring, when
her husband left on the ebb Of high
aide, with raft of logs for the usual
transportation TO the lower end of the
bay. As she stood by the door of the
little cabin when the vovagers departed,
she noticed cold look in the southeast
ern sky, and she remembered hearing
her husband say to his companions that
they must eDdeavOr TO complete their
voyage before the coming of the south
westerly gale which be saw brewing.
And that night it began TO storm and
blow harder than she had ever before ex-
per;eneed, and some great trees fell in
the forest by the river, and the house
rocked like Der baby's cradle.
But however the storm might roar
about the little cabin, she knew that one
she trusted had driven bolt aud bar with
his own strong hand. aud that had he
feared for her, he would not have left
her. This, aud her domestic duties, ADD
the care Of her little sickIy baby. helped
to keep her mind from dwelling on the
weather. except. of course. TO hope that
he was safely hsrbored with the logs al
Utopia, in the dreary distance. But she
noticed that day, when she wen. out To
feed the chickens and look after the cow,
that the tide was up 10 the little fence of
their garden patch, and the roar of the
surf on the south beach, though miles
away, she could hear distinctly. And
she began to think she would like to have
some one 20 talk with about matters, aud
she believed that if IL had not been so
far and SO stormy. and the trail so i'm
passibIe, she would have taken the baby
and have gone over to Rackman's, her
nearest neighbor. But then, you see,
he might have returned in the storm, all
wet, with no one TO see him; and it was
long exposure for baby, who was croupy
and ailing.
But that night, she never could tell
why. she didn't feel like sleeping or even
lying down. The storm had somew what
abated, but she still sat aud sat-" and
even tried to read. don't know wheth
er it was the Bible or some profane mag.
aZine that this poor woman read. but
probably the latter, for the words all ran
together aud made such sad nonsense
that she was forced at last to put the
book down and turn to that deHrer vol
ume which lay before her in the cradle,
Rith lis white initial leaf as yet uusoiled.
and try to look forward to IFS mysterious
future. And rocking the cradle she
tioHght Of everything aud everybody, but
still was wide awake MS ever.
1t was nearly twelve o'clock when she
at last lay down in her clothes. How
long she slept she could not remember.
but she awoke with dreadful choking
sensation in her throat. and found herself
standing. trembling all over. IN the mid
die Of the room, with boa baby clasped
TO her breast, aud she was 'ssying
something" The baby cried and sobbed.
aud she walked up and down trying to
bush it, when sue heard a scratching at
the door. She opened il fearfuIly, and
WA glad to see it was only old Pete,
their dog. who crawlsd dripping with
water. into the room. She would have
liked to look out. not in the faint hope of
her husbands coming, but to see bow
things looked; but the wind shook the
door so savagely that she could hardly
hold it. Then she sat down a little
while. and then walked up and down a
little while. and then she lay down again
little while. Lying close by the wall
Of the little cabin. she thought she heard
once or twice something scrape slowly
agaius, The elapboards. liAa the scraping
of branches. Then there was a little
gurgling sound, "like the baby made
when il was sHsllOWing;" then something