Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-12-24
You heard not. Truly


dians2 Are you hurt9
"'Tis nothing. I, this morning,
met the bear that's made havoc here,
and killed him."
You, alone?"
"Why not alone9"
went you out alone to seek him2'
Eyes, at dawn"
"'Twas foolish bravery. And you
had a struggled"
Bears are not slaughtered like
Sheep, uuyieldiningly, | gave MIN
my nausket first, and he came at me
| and 7 gave him my knife at the
heart. But, mistress, you've been busy
Wove you this komespun thus morn
ing2"
''Yes, Truly I did,"
"'Tis fine piece. There are nc
swifter nor truer fingers in all this col
ony than yours. What are you doing
now?,
She had hustled about and now
brought him bread and cheese and
great brown nut cakes, and she said:
you have eaten nothing that ]
know. Eat this, and | Will bring
you milk"
"You are a thoughtful maid, but
| bring no milk; water for such as T."
As he began to eat she saw that the
sleeve on his right arm was badly
rent. She saw more, and with little
exclamation grasped his arm.
You're hurt, Reynold. The bear
has bitten you. See, the wound
bleeds."
ooh, It's only a scratch by his claw.
Let be. Let be, I say"
But 7 will not let be. Sit here"
CIVIL! None say so to me-"
Nevertheless, say it. Sit there
and let me stanch the f1ow."
He looked curiously upon her, she
glanclng back, half pleading, half
commanding, and, to his great amaze
ment, he found that he obeyed her
She soon had the sleeve rolled up, and
then she found two long, deep scratch
es from the elbow to the wrist. She
bathed them gently. and as she did so
he wondered how these small, gentle
hands of hers could have so much of
firmness IN their touch. Hesmiled as
he so thought, and she knew it.
''You smile. Yet I know you suf-
fer. Do I bungle SO that you find
n1irth in my motionss"
mo, Betty. Twas for something
else I SMILED, if ] did smile. I did
think. Here this little maid hath me
IN her power; yet with my thumb and
fiager, thus, / might crush you, so
slight and tender are you"
I'm your power" said the maid in
quiringly, as she bound linen ban
dage on the wound.
AYE. You compelled me to obey
you"
"Why not? Brave men like you
are worth the effort of compelling"
Hey, there, Batty. I understand
your philosophy not? but somehow I
am content. IT'S not a displeasing
bondage for the moment, and then
somehow I did feel healing in the
touch of your fingers, so soft are
they"
The girl laughed gently.
'Betty, do you compel young Mat
thew to do you bidding2"
Him [ neither compel nor per-
matt"
"Yet I have heard he is inclined to
YOU"
rs he9"
eyes. So have perceived. He is
a we'll favored lad, Betty, and a fine
wooer, I trow."
what know you of wooing They
do say you have sworn it, neither to
woe nor to wed, for you will acknow-
edge master nor mistress"
''They say rightly, Betty. That is
my firm resolve, and I am never
shaken in my resolution. But Mat
thew has resolved to win you"
''Hath he2 That is your firm opin-
ion9"
would you not favor him trifea"
SIS it your concern? Tell me. Is
he strong and brave, and very firm?"
why shall I tell you2"
THAT [ may know whether to fav-
or him or not. None put the strong
and brave and firm, l think, would
find favor IN my eyes,"
''That is well, Betty. Be steadfast
to that"
$50 I shall. Of that be well assur-
ed" She said this with lowered tones
ard gently Bonded head. her cheeks
suffusing, but the strong man thought
she was just then greatly absorbed
with her occupation over his wound. =
ST must haste now" said he at
length. ST must go to the settlement
for help to bring the brute, for he is
very heavy. Come. Come. Let me
finish my bread and cheese"
You should not walk so far. You
should give the wound some chance
to heal"
''But I am going"
"No. will not suffer it,"
'You will not2 You" He laugh
ed almost contemptuously.
She said no more, but when his eyes
were not upon her she silently with
drew. A brief time later he heard a
horse approaching, and from the win
dow he saw Betty Lee, seated firmly
on a sleeps pelt that served for sad
die, and, and with her red lips pertly
parted and saucy smile in her blue
eyes. she said:
'Rest you there, Ryenold, till I re-
turn. I am going to the settlement