Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1888-04-11


won't you step into the house and
wait for him?" Pearl questioned.
''No; but [ will milk your COW, and
perhaps by that time be will be here"
Mr.. Lewis answered, and nOtwithstand
ing all remonstrance on her part, he
took the pail from her hand and sent
her to the house.
The milking finished, Will had not yet
come. So Mr.. Lewis returned home
without him; not, however, until he had
expressed a wish that Will would fol-
low, if it wasn't too late when he ar
rived home.
Pearl had her misgivings. 1t was
singing cold night, and Will would hate
to turn out again after having once
| reached the shelter and comparative
comfort of their shanty. Indeed in her
heart she believed that the dread of
three miles ride in that keen wind ex-
planned his long stay at the village.
Poor old Prince would be glad Of his
supper if it wasn't very abundant one.
But the moment Pearl told Will that
Mr.. Lewis had been there, and what his
| errand was, he said, hurriedly:
"Cut me couple of slices Of corn
bread, Pearl, and pour me a cup of hot
water. I'll go and harness Billy, and be
| off in a jiff'
"Wait and get warm, Will Your
hands are stiff with cold now," Pearl
urged.
HNo; I'm all right" he returned.
| "You might fill the jug with hot water
| to put to my feet. That old pung is a
little airy And I'll take a fatiron for
my hands. | see there's one on the
| stove"
After which the door slammed be-
| hind him, shutting off further converse
ton.
Within ten minutes he had started in
| the direction of the two hills between
which Mr.. Lewis pioneer home was
situated, and Pearl was left alone for the
| night. Nor was it the only night she
spent alone during the winter because
| of such necessary absence on the part
of her husband. There was no doctor
at the village. Indeed less than halt a
dozen families were gathered there at
best, and single roof sheltered all the
public establishments of the place
| post-office, store and wayside inn. The
news that Will Haskell was a good
nurse, and knew what to do for chill
or fever, or in case of Group, travelled
fast, and he often found himself called
upon to go some distance from home
and minister to the sick.
| What surprised Pearl was that toll
seemed no obstacle to him under such
circumstances, and all thought of his
comfort dropped out of sight when any
sufferer needed him. 1t was another
blessed revelation to her of something
noble in his nature.
0 that she might follow the pillow her
SELF and not bring dishonor on his
name Prince and Billy would pull as
faithfully tor her as for him She and
| Will had lived on corn-meal and pota-
| Il loo
But they must have grain; they must
| have money with which to buy clothes
and the necessaries of life 1t was
| terrible blow to her if she instead of
! her husband must earn it. But even
| that was better than starving or eating
the bread of dependence. Mr.. Lewis
was the only one who would be apt to
| see her at work in the field. Should
she take him into her confidence
| Never He would understand her
action and know the whole shameful
truth of course; but he should never
learn it from her lips Pearl was not
self-deceived any longer. She knew
| that Will merited censure, and that
| she did censure him in her heart. 1t
was very bitter knowledge indeed;
but it would have been much bitterer
had she not loved him still.
One cool and windy morning found
| her blowing for garden. She had a
sweet Eame, and little frail delicate
frame to match it. Her hands were
small, her wrists slender, her face re-
fined and her movements grace I'll. But
i she had need of bone and sinew, and
strength now. The quality which she
called 'Womanliness" and the world
calls grit" and which she possessed to
a remarkable degree, would make up in
measure for her physical deticie ncies.
| Notwithstanding, the tasks she had un-
dertaken demanded of her force that
she had not to give. However, she
| filled in many day that Will left out,
and her labor, weak though it was, told
favorably in the results.
| One morning in the fall, when she had
started to pillow fire-break around their
stacks Of grain and was wholly absorbed
in thought, and quite unconscious of any
ones approach, Mr.. Lewis and his wife
drove up.
| Come, Mrs. Haskell" Mr. Lewis
said, Twill is gone again, and Kate and
I are here to stay. We shall want you
indoors to get some dinner for us? I
will finish your fre-break, and you may
drive my. team to the house. You are
such good little horse-woman that |
| think [ can trust you to manage them"
And as Pearl had learned from past
| OADOT1CuCO UudG LII w do uSCloSS W argue
with him, she accepted the situation
with a light laugh and merry words.
Will came home to dinner, and after
that was over he and Mr.. Lewis strolled
off together, while Mrs. Lewis and Pearl
did up the work and sat down for long
afternoons visit. Will was a great ia
vorite with everybody, and it was very
easy and natural for Mrs. Lewis to talk
about him, and very pleasant for Pearl
to listen to his praises.
81 believe he was born to be with sick
people," Mrs. Lewis said. ellis hand is
so steady and firm, and yet SO gentle
and tender. He is always calm and
sure, and it's like sunshine to have him
come into the room and to hear his
voice And when body is suffering,
just his touch seems to charm the pain
away"
II know it," Pearl answered half
dreamily. cit seems to me that l
shouldn't have lived last fall, if it hadn't
been for Will"