Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1880-10-21
A MILD FILTRATION.
By ELLA WHEELER.

Glare read over her brief letter
| just before sealing it, to be sure she
had dotted her is and crossed her t's.
| Dear Walter l have been at aun-
ties week, and already feel better
physically; the air is SO pure and
fresh, the calm usefulness of the
home SO unbroken, the new milk SO
sweet, aud no wearisome Gressing or
calling, or dining-just perfect rest,
that, DR.. Peters said, was all need
ed
But, y, Walter 1t is fearfully Ion Q.
some here; and the liberty you so
kindly accorded me, | shall have no
opportunity to carry into practice
for hayon't seen male biped 10
the shape Of man, except uncle and
the hired help since / came. l hope
to hear from you by next mail.
Affectionately,
CLARE MAxoN.
| Finding the is and It's correct, she
sealed and directed the envelope to
Mr.. W. A. Lanaen, London, Eng.
land, and DOMINIC her broad brimmed
hat, and gathering up her fresh pink
draperies in one gloved hand, she
sauntered forth in the early June sun.
light to post Der letter.
She walked down the dusty high.
way to the village post office, half a
mile distant, and dropped in her let
ter, and TUNED homeward, without
having seen soul. The day was so
still-so still, and the sun seemed
very hot; and her pretty pink dress
was dusty about the bottom in spite
of her care.
81 WONDER" she soliloquized, "lf
L cannot take short cut home? why
of course | can for there is aunt
Sarah's house just across that mead
ow and clover field. Two fences to
climb-but | have no doubt | can
manage that, and there is no one to
see me-"
So she left the dus,y highway for
the green field. The clover field was
one great bed of bloom, and Clare
walked very slowly through it, watch
ing the yellow coated humble bees,
and drinking in the delicious perfume.
Then by and by she came to the
| fence. 1t was four board fence,
and looked formidable. But casting
a sweeping look about to see if there
were any observers, and finding none
Glare essayed ner first gymnastic
feat since she had left school. 1t was
successfully accomplished, with only
very fleeing display of curious
Nilsson ties, aud white skirts, and
handsome hose. And now there was
a poplar grove to pass through, and
then stretch of meadow, where
few rather formidable COWS were
browsing, and another fence, and she
would be almost home-iust in the
rear of the orchard.
But after the grove was passed an
unlocked for object presented itself.
1t was nothing less than Mide brook
that ran the whole length of the
meadow, between her and home. No
bridge-Do point narrow enough to
leap-no stepping stones. Clare
tipped her hat back from her flushed
hower-like face, and uttered a
troubled and amazed "On!" And at
the same time she made another dis
covery. A tall young man dressed
in brown jeans, with a gun slung over
his shoulder, stood on the opposite
side of the stream, laughing at her
dismay, out Of a pair of the hand
soonest brown eyes she had ever be.
held.
So soon as he met her eyes he
lifted his straw hat. and bowed with
easy grace.
pardon me- he said. but think
you would like to cross If you will
wait moment will assist YOU
Before she could speak, he had put
his gun down, had wrsnched loose
board from the fence beyond, aud
thrown it across the stream, forming
narrow bridge. Then he reached
out his hand.
Take hold of my hand he said,
'and step very carefully-there here
you are
And there she was, standing be.
side him, with flushed cheeks and
softly-lifted eyes.
Il thank you,' she said.
Not at ALL he reioined, as he
slung his gun over his shoulder again.
'And if you will allow me, | will
assist you over the fence
'Oh-but-' began Clara, with a
deepening color in her cheeks, but
the handsome young rustic interrupt
ed her.
Indeed, it will be necessary he
said, 'for this fence has wire at tue
top and you might catch your cloth
ing in the barbs, and be seriously
hurt. Now just please put your arms
lightly about my neok-and give
your whole weight to mel am very
strong in the arms aud will set you
safely on the other side-there.'
And before she could realize how it
was all done, Clara was standing in
the lane just back of her uncle's or
chard, and the young man had
touched bis hat and walked away.
ooh, auntie, such an adventure,'
cried Clara, bursting into the kltch-
en-, where Aunt Sarah was preparing
dinner, and proceeded to relate her
story.
Law sakes!' laughed Aunt Sarah;
that was young Hugh Weber, our
nearest neighbours son. Nice boy,
too. Just like his mother, for all the
world the very picture of her. l
took care of her in her last sickness
Died of consumption when Hugh
was FIVE years old. I've always
thought he would 60 the same way,
but he seems healthy enough. Only
he has just her look in his eyes when
he gets tired
what was he doing with his gun,
/ WONDER queried Clara.
Shooting gopners, very likely
Aunt Sarah responded. your uncle
said this morning the pesky creatures
were fairly oyer-running the fields
That evening, just after tea, Clara
and Aunt Sarah sat out on the rose
shaded veranda. Aunt Sarah knit