River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1882-05-11
MARY'S THANKSGIVING.
X in October !

The last week in October
As a general thing nature is not boun-
tifrll with her smiles, these short, dreary
DAYS, when the world stands shudder-
ing on the threshold of winter. But
this particular Monday was full of balm
and sunshine; the air sweet with the in
describable perfume of colored leaves
which we're drifted up along the road
side and collected in rustling layers I'M
der the stone foundations of Exmouth
Jail. Overhead the sky was blue as
sapphire: and here and there along this
wood path a starry wild-hower lifted its
purple eye, the last, lingering relic of
the golden September glow.
DR.. Fitch rode along the lonely bri-
die path, the sound of his horses hoofs
ON the dead leaves reminding him
vaguely of the days long, long ago,
when he was a boy and secured these
very woods in search of nuts, and hunt
cd SQUIRRELS and chipmunks with de
light which moose and red deer could
not give him now.
"if one could only be a boy forever"
said ROYAL Fitch. "Hallol Who's
that?" as his horse SHE'D at the sight of
slender figure, sitting on fallen log,
few feet back from the road. "Oh,
it's you, Mary Trcfeil You got your
discharge this morning."
Mary Trefoil looked up "a dark
eyed, paIlid face woman of two OF
three and twenty. Doctor Fitch knew
her very we'll. She had been in Ex-
mouth Prison three months for theft,
ard during two of three months she
had lain nearly at the point of death in
the hospital ward, with a low, linger-
ing fever. Doctor Fitch was rather
proud of the skill which had rescued
her from the jaws of death. He
stopped his horse and looked at her.
Eyes, sir" said Mary Trefoil, spirit
lessly. give got my discharge"
"And where are you going nowY
al don't know, sir"
"Where are your friends ?" he asked,
not unkindly.
81 have none, sir
"But this won't do" said Doctor
Fitch, noting the troubled light in the
girls eye, the deadly whiteness of her
brow and cheeks. "Look here; you
must 90 somewhere, you know. You
can't sit here. Can't you think of any
place where they would give you food
and shelter for q few days, until you
get strong"
Mary Trefoil shook her head. She
did not seem to be at all interested in
the question. Doctor Fitch's horse
reached up his head and browsed on
the still green leaves of wild grape
vine, which the boughs of a cedar had
sheltered from the early frost. Doctor
Fitch himself sat like a statue, and
looked at Mary Trefoil.
"a social problem" he said, inward
". "And she must be solved, some
how"
"Mary," he spoke aloud, 'can you
walk a mile ?"
81 suppose so. sir"
"Then walk along by my horses side.
know a good old lady who wants a
girl. Prehaps you may suit her. She
need not know who you are, or whence
you came" =,
az didn't put myself in Exmouth
JAIL" sullenly retorted Diary. "And |
have told one story from the beginning
that l had nothing to do with the sill
yer. don't know how it came into
nv trunk; | didn't know it was there,
until the officer dragged it out before
my eyes"
''The law thought differently" said
Doctor Fitch, who, as prison physician,
had heard these protestations of inno-
cence from scores of lips before. Glow
ever, that is not the question, we are
discussing just at present, Will YOU
try to deserve my recommendation
give you onef
Heaven helping me, sir, | will!' said
Mary Trefoil, evidently affected by his
kindness.
She walked beside the horse for some
little distance, until, down side road,
which seemed to plunge directly into
the woods, they came to a gray stone
house, all man.led in scarlet creepers,
with background of gnarlei apple
trees, and the whir ofa grist-mill sound
ing somewhere in the background like
the ceaseless hum of some gigantic
insect.
"Good afternoon, Mrs. Glover" said
DIR. Fitch. "Have you suited yourself
yet with girlP'
Old Mrs. Glover, an apple faced mat
ron ofsix V, looked at them through a
pair of round, silver-trimmed specta-
Giles.
"No. nor | amt like to-" said she.
''Betsey Keene, she's gone into the
milliner's trade, and Lucy Hovey, she
="
"Well, I've brought you one" said
Doctor Royal Fitch. "Come here, Mary.
This is Mary Trefoil," with quick
glance at the silent girl. II know who
she is, and | can answer that she will
do her best to please you and make
herself useful."
Indeed l will, ma'am," said Mary,
in low voice.
Folks live about here" said Mrs.
Glover.
Il have no relatives" said Mary. Il
come from the northern part of the
county"
"All the better" said the old lady,
briskly. ''You won't have no follow
ers. Well, Mary, won't deny that m
awful glad to see you, for I'm pretty
nigh tuckered out doing all the chores
myself. To-be-sure, my son Daniel
helps me, mornings and evenings, be-
fore he goes to teach deestrick school
for he's a scholar, ms son is, )" with con-
scious pride. "And father, he does
what he can; but man can't do much
beside tendin' grist mill in place like
this. You look little white and peak
ed, but"
"Oh, she'll be all right in this pure
air, with plenty OF your new milk and
home made bread" said Doctor Fitch,
cheerily.
And with whispered word or tive of