Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-07-30
ABOVE THE DAM.

Vi DuCASS Is, SIOS d WOu1du w Gn UWO
children playing in the grass at her feet.
From the village, behind the hill, comes
family the sound of a bell It's tones are
lost entirely when the breeze falls. The
figure of countryman carrying a scythe
appears at the foot of the hill. He looks up
at the woman and smiles. He waves his
hand to the children, and the elder of the
two says to her brother:
'Father is going to cut the long grass;
let US run and see him"
Hand in hand they pass down the slope,
leaving the woman alone.
With her chin resting upon her breast
she gazes long at a particular spot on the
messy carpet at her feet. Her face ex-
presses placid contentment; in it there is
not line of care or sorrow. She is think
ing of nothing. The faint breeze quickens
and bears with it the notes of the bell,
which now rings out clear and sweet. A
warm, delicious odor rises from below,
where the scythe swishes through the long
grass. Is it this perfume or the laughter
of the unseen children which stirs the
woman's memory?
Her thoughts idly wander back through
the days of her marriage-her motherhood
and she smiles as the peaceful days pass
in review through her mind. They are like
hundreds of modest pearls strung upon a
fine wire, so uniform in their sweet dull
ness, their monotony of form and color
She goes back to the days before her mar
riage The wind is rushing through the
topmost branches of the trees, making a
ssand as of water pouring over dam
and suddenly among the white pearls in
the dark recesses of her memory there
CLEANS ruby, red as blood.
There is beautiful little stream which
winds through the country lying to the
northeast of New York called the Bronx
river. In places it is so narrow one could
almost jump from one bank to the other
Shut in by high wooded hills, the foliage of
the trees meeting and intermingling across
the clear water, it is like an imprisoned
part of the Scottish highlands, this lovely
bit of wood and stream in the suburbs of a
great metropolis.
A family from New York were spending
some days in one of the pretty villages near
the shores of the Bronx. There were two
young girls, several children and visitor
"a girl cousin from the west-Cora Mar
tin.
The delightful week was drawing to a
close on this summer morning, when the
young people were all out together in a
boat on the river.
Tomorrow evening we must say good
by to all this beauty" said Maria Alex
ander, who was rowing, and she lifted her
eyes sentimentally to an overhanging rock,
from which a great festoon of tangled
vines depended.
eyes, we have only two more days." said
Cora
1.-Two more daYs-two more days." sang
Tommy from the stern, to the tune of
Home Again." rocking the boat mean
while.
"Be quiet, Tommy, or you'll upset the
boat" said Maria.
"We wouldn't drown if did, sis; I went
in bathing right here yesterday-it isn't
up to my neck"
81 think we must be nearly to the DAM"
said Adelaide Don't you hear it?'
Il say, Cousin Cora, are you going home
as soon as we 90 back to New York;" said
Tommy
Eyes, on Wednesday,"
"Have you had good time?'
"Oh, yes"
ISIS says you have. She says it's been
great experience for you, being in New
York with US for two months"
Maria flashed an angry look at the boy.
''She says it'll be something for you to
look back to all your life-something you
can tell your children about"
Maria stopped rowing. Tommy, if you
don't stop that abominable nonsense |
shall put you out of the boat at once"
Her face was painfully red.
Goa, who was sitting beside Tommy in
the stern, said nothing, but turned and
looked up the river.
'"There's turtle op that log-look, sis
ter" cried little Alice.
Tommy leaned over the side of the boat
and stretched out his hand toward the
turtle. 1t slid into the water and disap-
peared
evil you sit up?" said Maria angrily.
Cora, are you going to live on farm
when you get married? What does Mr.
Doyle look like? Is he very different from
New York men? Is living on a farm set
Ting down to rural blissY Maria says
rather than do that she'd''-
A long, slender hand gripped Tommy's
shoulder 'Take the oars and row. and see
If that will keep your tongue quiet"
Tommy sprang to the oars, and Maria,
flushed and warm, sat beside Cora in the
stern.
"Why didn't you let me row in the first
placer grlnQeQ tommy.
Adelaide bent down her head that she
might conceal her laughter behind the
brim of her straw hat.
Are we most to the bend, Cora?" asked
Tommy.
Eyes, and be careful you don't run us
into the bank" said Maria. The boat glided
through the narrow channel, around the
bend, and the stream widened. At the
IL, s =,
ing over the dam was audible.
'There's a boat in the middle of the
river with nobody in it," said Alice.
"Where?" said Tommy, looking around.
A boat of light and elegant build was
drifting in midstream. The oars were
crossed, their blades high in the air.
ISIS, Pm going to get it and get in it,
then you may row again." cried Tommy.
beginning to pull violently on the oars.
. you shall do no such thing" said Maria
-"and stop, you are splashing u.s."
As they drew nearer the hoao golde:,
something cleaned at the edge Of the seat
in the stern.
''There is a yellow silk handkerchief on
the seat" said Adelaide. ooh, there's
somebody in the boatP' she cried; pull on
the other BAR, Tommy, quickG"
''Be carefulp' screamed Maria. 'Tom-
my, stop!'
The bow of their boat shot to the left,
and the stern swinging around just grazed
the other In the bottom of the boat lay
at full length young man clad in white
boating suit. His hat was off and his
blond head rested on his crossed hands.
He was gazing straight up at the leaves
overhead, and did not stir as the Alexander
boat slid alongside. Then came dead
stop. For one long second Cora looked
down into pair of deep blue eyes which
looked up into hers. Then Tommy began