Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-03-11

whiskey were provided; two folders
were engaged; the neighbors were in
vited TO the feast, all was going mer-
ry as a marriage bell when James
was suddenly taken Ill, the priest was
sent for,- and then a messenger went
across the ferry to summon Rose.
James was unconscious when Rose
reached his bedside. To describe her
wild grief would be impossible. Hang
ing over the corpse she let her tears
rain upon his placid face, unheeding
the grave reproofs Of the women.
"Why do you be cryin' that way.
Rose Dillon? Sure you know that
your lament1n' will keep him frae his
rest"
They alluded to the belief of the
poor Roman Catholics that the inordi.
nate grief of survivors troubles the
departed soul and weighs it down
so that it is unable to soar toward
heaven.
''Wad ye keep the poor fellow flyin
about the world?" asked her grand.
mother, who had been brought across
the ferry to attend the wake. 'tSure,
sure, ye would ma be that cruel to the
poor boy that loved We truel Lay
back that sheet, girl, an drap nae
mair tears over him. [ ha' knowed
it DONE"
Aud then followed long list of ex
amples, the experience of close upon
ninety years.
The "wake house." as the mill was
called, while James lay there holding
his last party, was quite full, and men
and women listened to Grannie Dill
Ion respectfully, shaking their heads
gravely and uttering many an "Ouch,
hoch" and "Alaise-a-me!n the while.
There was good cheer at the last enter
tainment of James'-his cousins had
seen to that. Tea and bread and but
ter and whisky were provided IN
abundance. and there were plates OF
cut tobacco, bundles of cheap pipes,
and supplies of snuff for all corners.
The visitors went one by one over to
the bed, AND, turning down the sheet,
took a tast look at the corpse, using
the formula in vogue on these occa-
sions: Dear, but he's very like him
self" and then anecdotes were related
respecting the departed, and the
company became cheerful all but
Rose.
James was laid at rest in the chap
ell graveyard at the edge Of Mulroy,
and the plover and curlew circled
over his head, and the work of the
world went on as before.
The fax mill was worked by his
cousins, and league Martin ard the
other farmers repaired to it with their
loads. Grannie Dillon spun her yarn
her daughter-in-law MIXED and
churned the farmer plowed his land
all settled down to their daily toll
except Rose. She continued to cry
incessently, regardless of remons-
trance or rebuke.
It happened that her father follow
her down to the ferry one evening
and found her gazing at the fax mill
SO fxedly that she did not hear his
footsteps.
''What is it you see there, girl?" he
asked.
ooh, father, do you nae seeg"
''Naething ava, Rose, Rose"
cts James that's standin yonder
on the shore looking over at me, an
whites he lifts ais hand an waves to
me. He's there every evenin', and I
still come here to meet him. It's
the only tryst place we can hold
now"
There's naething there's naething
there but the auld walls O. the mill an
the whin bushes an the boat drawn
up on The shore. Come ava to your
work, girl, au' help your poor mother
thats slavin' in the byre her lane"
Rose went back to her work that
time; but she was always escaping to
the ferry, and always found gazing at
something others could not see, 1t
soon became known in the country
that James was a troubled soul,
kept from rest by his sweetheart's
tears; and Father Dan himself was
called upon to interfere. What he
said-what weighty arguments he
used, what commands he laid upon
Rose-were not known; but she lis
tened and obeyed and her tears were
dried.
Dub ouV iduCO away IiOh4 tudt GIMOS
and, although James visited the mill
no more, it was believed he was beck
oning to her. A year had not passed
before the crones, meeting one an
other, said.
"Do you know what I am just done
hearing? Rose billions got to her
rest"
1t was true. The chapel bell was
knelling for he; she was gone to meet
James upon the further shore.
The Theater Nuisance.