River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-07-25

/ Mr.. Starthly's verbs, John, though he
/ never asks q question. But the day viii
come when he will pardon poor Ben,
now it will"
@And Strathley, having done mission
airy work, will demand mis- rewari' sal
John bitterly. Margaret, do you be-
lievc he means fairly by youR Isn't 1t
Iiuss seasons amusement to himW
.T have no fears, she answered.
But in spite OF what folks might say,
Mr.. Strathly was at Ford, on and of, all
summer.
@The mill needed sight of looking
after" they shifted; at might run away
he had taken mighty fancy to Meg
Bevis, and p'raps she expected TO be a
fine lady, anon, and ride in her carriage
and have servants under her; but there
was many hole in the skinner. Twasn t
likely but he'd been used to women folks
as could play the PLAINLY, and wear the
fashions as natural as their own skins.
OLD Bevis ought to be ashamed to allow
such g0ings on under his eyes. High
time o'day. too, fer Mr.. Strathlev to put
Bevis in overseer at the mill, over the
/ heads of Younger and smarter men, with
no end of wages and nothing to do but
watch the gang-sawi That didn't look
| queer, did it? And wasn't Strathley' 8
team stabbed in Bevis' barn? and didn't
Meg use it when she pleased2 and a
mighty smart team, too, no one boss
shay. And who could tell why he'd
| bought the Dean meadow of Bevis, when
/ it was such barren waste that the grass
1 hoppers avoided itl He hadn't no use
/ for it; there wasn't stick of timber on
| it, but it put cash IN old Beyis' pocket,
where cash was stranger, ehl"
/ Lorrimer was obliged to listen to all
| this without the power of proving it
| false, and it made his heart ache as that
| organ never ached before, darkened the
| day and embittered life for him. He
| dreaded to meet friend or foe tor fear of
hearing opinions which he could not COM
| bat, and they all wondered that he would
not Join in the general cavil. Had not
Margaret thrown him over for q tiashy
fellow, about whom nobody knew any
thing beyond what he chose to tell2
| Wasn't resentment the proper attitude for
a lifted lover2 To be sure he felt very
hard toward the handsome, well-to- do
gentleman who had stepped between him
and happiness who slipped so easily in.
to the position for which John had served
twice seven years.
lie could scarcely bear the sight of HIM
daw ding about Bevis' farm-as though
/ to the manor born--but he was obliged
to own that Strathley showed surpass-
ing good nature, an indifference TO his
rudeness that was provoking; and that he
was Just as ready to be civil and friendly
to him atterward.
''Surely, this is hard world" thought
Lorrimer, sin which it is necessary to
love Cne's enemy, though he has stolen.
the apple of ones eye." Wasn't it re-
curing little too much of human ma
ture, or at least, of Lorrimer's nature?
Still, if he happened TO meet Strathley
on the highway and Jared on piece with
him, talking of the prospects of lumber
ing the coming winter; about provision
ing the camp and engaging men, and that
kind of rough nd-leady life, Lorrimer
could not deny but he was a pleasant
companionable fellow enough, with
deal of backbone, who knew his work
and the sort of people with whom he
had to deal.
~ mean TO have a taste of this camp
life myself this winter" he said, by the
way. II want to know what it is like;
to become brave enough not to heed
poor fate, hard couch, or bowling
wolves"
"You won't find it as easy as lying,
reck on, )" said Lorrimer; "a little of that
kind of thing goes great way"
81 dare say. Are you going to join
my gang2"
81! No, thank you. I'm looking for
chance to sell out. | want to raise
some ready money and be Off to Cali
fornia, where it grows faster than in this
soil"
''Ah, going to leave fol good aud all2
ANY Disappointment She HASN'T gone
back on you, eh?'
"Who do you meanin asked John,
fiercely.
"1he girl you are going to leave be-
hind YOU"
II have no sweet heart,p said John,
evastycly.
"More's the pity-it's love that makes
the world go round"
40, it isn't-it's money"
"lf you want money, my boy, let me
help YOU"
"Youl No, thank you, want no mans
money" IT,
"Iorrimer did not find a purchaser for
his farm before the winter set in, cold
and bitter, with angry storms and biting
fros IS. He was still waiting for ole
whea Mr. Strathly came from town on
dark December day. and meeting Lor
rimer, begged he would pioneer him
through the woods to the camp.
II suppose you know the woods as
we'll as your own face2" he said.
eyes, said Lorrimer; 'sonly, if it
should come on to storm as it threatens,
! we nav lose our reckoning. Hadn't you
better wait till the weather clearss"
"How far do you call it,"
Near SIX miles: but it isn't like walk
/ ing On a concrete pavement you know"
"Eo, I'm inclined to push on to-day, if
you're willing"
They set out not long after noon; the
sun came out and blinked at them but
| by tie time they had struck into the deep
woosis he had thought better of it and re-
| tired behind a flaw of snow.
"'s'his will all blow over" said Strath-
/ ley, confidently.
| "0r maybe we'll outstrip the storm and
reaci, the camp ahead OF it, agreed Lor-
| rimer.
| Bat, though the storm seemed in no
hurry, it meant business; from slight
flaw, it grew into lazy tumult of snow
| flakes, obliterating landmarks, and max
ing zhe woods muiky and bewildering.
ask miles are soon travelled in the
worst weather. averred Strathley. sits
getting confoundediy dark, though, Lor
/ rimcr; it seems to me we have walked ten
leagues already"
| NIL be blessed if it isn't the longest six
miles / ever footed" confessed Lerrimer.
1--WE ought to be close upon the camp
unless
] Rat inst then Strathley stumbled in