Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1880-09-08
BOB JARVIS LOVE.


vapid woman. 4
Before the door an artesian well glitter
Z ed in the sun like an inverted crystal
bowl Esculapius called the spot Fezzan,
and gradually became to think the well
a fountain, and the sln-burnt waste
about us stretch of yellow sand.
'tDid you ever see such placid, bright,
ethereal stillness?" asked.
Esculapius took his cigar from his lips
and looked at me pensively.
Tt may be misfortune, hope it is
not my fault, but [ do not remember to
have seen stiffness of any sort"
Esculapius has but one short-coming.
He is not poet. | never wound him by
appearing to notice this defect, so [ sat
down on the dry bnrr-cloyer and made
no reply.
Our host was singing far down in the
corn. He was d minister, deep-toned
Methodist, trimming over with vocal
piety.
The fern-like branches above us stirred
softly against the blue. Little aromatic
whiffs came from the grove of pale
eucalyptus trees near the house.
Esculapius diluted the Intoxicating air
with tobacco smoke and remained sane,
but as for me the sunshine went to my
head, and whirled and eddied there like
some eastern drug.
''My love- I said wildly, "if we stay
here very long and nothing happens, I
shall do something rash. .
The next morning a huge derrick
frowned in the door yard. and pictur-
esque group of workmen lounged under
the acacias The well had ceased to flow.
Esculapius Gale j me to corner of the
piazza, and spoke IN low, hurried tones !:
Something has happened, he said
" the well has stopped. [ thought it
might relieve your feelings to get off that
quotation about the golden bowl, and the
fountain, etc.; then, if it is safe to leave
you, [ would go hunting"
& have forgotten the quotation % [
said, "but I think it begins. THE
grinders shall cease because they are
few Perhaps you had better take your
gun, and don't forget your overcoat."
Then [ took a pitcher and went down
to the disglorifed well. I filled the
pitcher and turned to go. A tall form
separated itself from the group of work
men and came forward.
Madam said rich. hearty voice.
IF you will allow me, I'll tackle that
pitcher and tote it in for you. Jarvis is
my name-Col. Bob Jarvis, well-borer
We struck ten-inch flow at Scranton s
last week that rather knocked the bot
tom out of things around here"
''But the pitcher isn't at all heavy,
Col. Jarvis
ooh, never mind that: anythings too
heavy for lady; that's my sentiments.
You see, I'm ladies' man-born and
brought up to it. Nursed by my mother
and two aunts and a grandmother
through consumption, and never let one
of 'em Lift finger. Robert my
mother used to say. in her thin, sickly
voice, Robert, be true to God and the
women, and, by Godfrey, I mean to
be p
l relinquished the pitcher instantly
EsculapIus was right, something had
happened. The well was gone, but in
its place [ had found something thous-
and times more refreshing. When my
husband returned, he found me sitting,
breathless and absorbed, under the
accaclas.
'Hush !'' he said, with appraised fin
ger; &C listen p
Our host&nd the Colonel were talking
as they worked at the well.
"We've had glorious meetings this
week over at the Gospel Swamp,
Jarvis" the minister was saying. ss1
looked for you every night IF you
could just come over and hear the
singing, and have some of the good
brothers and sisters pray with you, don't
you think
6 Why, God bless your soul, man, .
1I01.1s tod al 4
know I'm religious? I'm with you right
along, as to first principle, that is; but,
you see, can't quite go the Methodist
doctrine. I was raised Presbyterian,
you know-regular black and blue
Calvinist-and what a fellow takes in
with his mothers milk sticks by him.
I'm attached to the old ideas Infant
damnation, and total depravity, and in
fernal punishment, and the persever-
ance of the saints. You fellows over al
the Swamp are loose. Why, by the way,
my mother used to say TO me, in hel
delicate, squeaky voice: Robert, be,
ware of Methodists; they're loose, my
son, loose as bag of bones 2 Why, by
and by, mean to start a Presbyterian
church right here under your nose"
.'Im glad of it, responded the good
minister, warmly; you've no idea how
GLAD I am, Jarvis.
"Why, man alive, that church is IL
my mind day and night. want to get
about forty good pious Presbyterian
families, to settle around here, and I'll
bore wells for 'em, and talk up the
church business between times. You
saw me carrying that pitcher for her,
this morning, didn't you? Well, by the
way, that was religious move entirely
/ took her man for a Presbyterian
preacher the minute I struck the ranch
may be It's poor health gives him that
cadaverous look. but you can't most al.
ways tell, More likely it's religion.
At any rate"