River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1882-11-09

| it. Inside this hut Ben was soon awk-
wardly awaiting the appearance Of the
little lady. He had not long to wait.
While listening, apparently interested,
but in reality, in terrible state of
mind to an exposition of Granny's ideas
on patching canvass, two hands were
suddenly clapped over his eyes, and a
merry voice exclaimed:
Guess who it isl"
In the perplexity incident to the sur
prising situation in which he found
himself placed, "Tired Ben" had not
the slightest intimation Of the identity
of Ike person behind him. That it
might be Miss Molly did not occur to
him. Such movement would not be
in the least consonant with the behavior
of one whom he imagined juvenile
personifcation of propriety and prim-
ness, so, after considerable confused
speculation. he announced his inability
to "guess who it was" and the soft
hands were Withdrawn from his eyes,
pair of pretty arms encircled his
neck, utterly disarranging his stifhy adj
justed cravat, and. to his amazement,
and the complete dissipation of the
feeling of formality that had possessed
him, he was laughingly welcomed with
''Ohl Dear Uncle Ben, Pm SO glad to
know you'll Granny's told me all about
how you used to play with my mamma
when she was little like 1, and I've
waited all the morning for you to come
and take me down to the beach to see
everything. You were mammals big
brother, and Pm going to have you for
my unclel'
Ben Iuttle's mind was imm easurably
relieved, and, grasping the little hand
heartily in his broad palm, he shook it
in manner that threatened the dislo-
cation of her shoulder. The proposed
walk On the beach was taken and re-
peated dirunally thereafter, and the
friendship promised to be diuternal.
Ben discovered he was incorrect in the
opinion he had formed of his new ac-
qnaintance, and, week later, we find
them staunch friends. The fisherman
grew daily less negligent of his duties,
and less drowsy in his habits. His
voice, calling attention 70 his scaly
wares, at the town, on Friday morn
ngs, sounded Justify, and the great
rents in his meshwork gradually disap-
peared under vigorous applications of
the repairing needle.
For the first time he had friend
from whom he could solicit advice, and
to whom he could disclose his Utmost
thoughts. Early associations had not
exerted very decided religious influ-
ence on his mind, and rom the little
girl he received the first perfect i'm
pressions in these matters. 1t is feared
that he was deplorably ignorant in this
particular, and, certain it Is, he never
arrived at an accurate understanding
of the sweet story Of our Savior until
he heard it related by Molly as they
rocked at anchor in his little fishing
boat. His regard for the girl was con-
stantly on the increase, and the SINGER
ity of his attachment is amply attested
to by the fact that he presented her
with his ancestral 6ute-a unique sill
ver-jointed instrument, originally the
property of his grandfather, an apadal
salt-sea tar, who had lost one import
ant member in the naval service, and
another in skirmish on land. '"Tired
Ben" was on the eve of suggesting to
initiate Miss Molly into the mysteries Of
fresh-water fishery when he was taken
seriously i'll. The distemper was pro-
nounced to be a violent prescription of
low fever, and, at one period the
chances OF his recovery were exceed
| ingly slight.
Two weeks of severe illness passed,
| the fever lessened and Ben was rapidly
regaining his strength, and, presently,
was able to leave his bed for short in
tervals. On one of the occasions, when
Granny, his faithful attendant during
his sickness, had retired to hel cabin,
eavIng him alone, he arose and partly
dressed himself, drew chair up to the
| window in order to look out on the
lake. 1t was the close of lovely day,
and the water and shore were clothed
IN soft mellow light which supe-sedes
the brilliancy of summers day. Ben
always felt happy and contented at
that hour In his admiration of the
| beauties that sight and sound present
| ed In nature, he had been reticent until
the coniding friendship of little Molly
rendered him more communicative.
His love for the hour of twilight is ex-
planned in remark he made one
night before his illness.
/
told me that arter yer mother died
and her soul had gone to jine the
bright ones shat a happy smile was
still on her face. Do yer know, gal,
that when the bright sunshine of o
pleasant day has gone, and sort O
solemn light sets in afore ths darkness
comes, it alwus reminds me of that
pleasant smile?"
Ben rested his elbows on the win
dow-sill and watched the sparkling re-
Elections of light that danced on the
waves and studded the pebbles on the
| beach. The shadows stretched longer
and further across the sand-bars. the
stars appeared one by one, and little
form tripped down to the water and
out on the pier. 1t was Molly taking
her evening walk. Ben saw her stop
on the piers edge and gaze back at the
settlement. Suddenly she lost her
foothold and fell into the water. Re
gardless of his condition Ben rushed
to the spot and plunged into the lake
to her rescue.
The moon came from behind the
cloud that had obsured it, and illum-
mating the water, revealed TO the
crowd of fishermen that had gathered
on the lake shore, two struggling forms.
A moment later the man and child
stood on the beach. Molly had escap-
ed with wetting, but Ben was carried
to his bed. A terrible rigor sgitated
his once muscular frame, now wasted
by disease. Granny, who professed
much experience in such matters.
said that sit was a relapse and his end
was nigh to hand" Chill followed
chill until the great rough man sank
back exhausted on his pillow. The
coarse lines on his face grew
softer, and his pale blue eyes peered
toward the little sky-light in the ceiling
as If il were leagues distant.
Granny bent over him and whispered
Il am afraid ye're dying, my man. =
A smile lit his features.
/ Yes, I'm going, but the net is al
mended and everything's done. I've
got to leave the little gal,--but, Granny
look don't We see the other one away
off yonder, agin the horizon ?"
He stretched his hands towards the
window, through which the moenbeams
were silently streaming, Above the
signing ofthe lake breeze around the