The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1881-06-23
49, .io,,lv working her v.v. aha

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YES slowly working her way. she |
looked down to meet the surprised
&ase of . horseTAan who was making
th& ford For . moment JOicey shrank |
beck as tvainly seeking to hide herself
behind the open, leatless screen, and
crinsonin9 with confusion at being
discovered in an attempt, that to an on |
locker must have seemed SO f0olhardy,
waited till the stranger should pass out
OF sight, instead OF which, to her added
chA6rin, he threw his horses rein over
8 limb and came to her assistance.
Etiquette, conventionality, are flowers
of q later, more refined but less robust
civilization than that of which I write,
when common dangers shared and tolls
endured knit the scattered settlers in
comradeship often strong as kinship.
The story Of the Frenchman who ex-
cused himself from rescuing q drowning
man because they had never been in
troduced would have fallen pointless.
The wide, free air of those forests
seemed to impart something of their
own careless bounty and Astounding
fullness to those who. dwelt among
them. Homes and hearts were easy
Of access to whoever needed shelter,
latch strings were out for whoever re-
quired help; hands were ready, and for
Theron Brent (for he it was) to
see any one, much more woman
In difficulty, if not in danger, was
at once to hasten to their aid. So,
in spite of Joicey's signals of protest.
he advanced to the slim, girlish fig
ure, poised midstream, helped her
through the tangled branches and
across the perilous span. 1t was the
work of but few moments, but Brent
could hardly have told in the swift rush
of sensation, feeling, and thought
whether it was minutes or ages, that
those clear brown eyes looked into his,
and those fine' firm fingers lay in his
own, but he was conscious that a
strange warmth was thrilling his pulses,
and sudden hope springing in his
heart. The thought was bold one,
but the emergencies of life had made
him quick of decision and prompt of
execution, and before they had reached
the bank, the blade of momentary i'm
pulse had ripened to the full corn in
the ear of q definite resolution, and he
lifted Joicey down from the tree trunk
to the frosted leaf-strewn grass with
the question, ''f one wanted some-
thing very much, should they dare a
great deal to gain it?' She gave
merry glance over the river and at the
gaunt old bridging trees as she an
swered, II wanted to cross the river
very much, and so dared to do it."
IL see you did, and l will follow your
example, for there is something want
very much. Like the patriarch, Isaac,
am q young man, sojourner in a
strange country and in need of wife,
though unlike him am not the heir to
great possessions, and have no servant
to seek me BRIDE" He paused, and
his companions eyes, that had lifted in
wide open establishment, fell under HE
direct gaze. Was she offended at his
audacity? he could not tell, there was
a flutter to her fingers as she picked
some bits of bark from her shawl fringe,
that might be from anger or confusion,
at any rate the plunge was made and
he continued.
III CHANGED that as was journey
ing one afternoon, PRAYING like
Eleazur give me good speed this day
(though, unlike him, my errand was
only to make a payment on my farm), l
lifted up my eye and saw damsel, not
exactly going down to the water. but
with an even chance that she might. l
admired her courage, and as l drew
nearer and saw that she was very fair
to look upon my heart went out to her,
and said:
"Oh, that might have her for my
wife! But alas! 1 have no shekels
weight in jewels to offer her, and how
can 1 hope to win favor in her eyes?''
| Still there was no answer, unless he
read it in Joicey's heightened color,
and he urged:
elf Isaac, instead of her rich uncle 5
son, had been poor man, with only a
loghouse in the woods to offer, what do
you think Rebekah's answer would have
been?"
Joicey had been for the moment con
fused by the unexpected turn of events,
but now there was slight curl to her
lip, and spice of mischief in her eye
as she answered.:
"Very likely she would have told
Eleazur that she did not care to leave
home, and could not think of taking
such journey
"Would you have said that?'
It would have been easy to have said
yes, and ended the matter; it was the
answer Joicey felt that his presumption
deserved, but the disappointment in
his tone touched her. She stole glance
through her lashes at the erect figure
and fine. manly face-a goodly Isaac,
indeed, for whose sake she inwardly
confessed q woman might leave kindred
and fathers house; so as she could moi
. answer yes, and would not no, she
evaded the question with, "How can
tell what l would have done in he1
place? am Joicey Sweet instead Of
Rebekah.'' ''And am Theron Brent
instead of Isaac, and my home is in
J cambridge instead of Hebron, but my
need of wife is just as great. 1 have
lived alone till haven't words to tel
you how tired have grown of solitude
of going out mornings with no voice t.
bid me God speed and returning
nights with dark house and cold hearth
for welcome"
Il am very sorry for you?" she muir
INJURED.
''Sorry enough to change all that
"But are there no damsels in YOU
; own countryP'' she asked, ignoring hi
question.
Zone or two" .-.-...- ...--.
81 should think one would be
enough ~
| Plenty, if she were the right one. y
: But how can you tell when you fine
!, the right onep"
81 think have found her now"
J How can you tellp You know no
: thing about me?'
81 know you are brave. l believe
/ you are good. l hope" taking he1
hand in his as he spoke, "you will be
pitiful.''
: What could Joicey say? She had
, dreamed of eyes that should look into
} hers with the tender pleading of thi:
| handsome young strangers, Of hand
that should hold hers in such close
warm pressure. But the vision had al
ways been dim and distant, and its un