River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1892-09-29
ed. I'D be glad enough to sell it Il

could
The man turned shade paler.
81 can't always tell my belll
when I'm hunting my cows, they're SC
like the others, and that was so differ
ent"
I'm sorry" replied the widow.
"Oh. well. il don't matter" con
Guided MIR. Clark. NOW I come t.
think of it. the bell was cracked anc
wasn't worth much. You'll be buying
a new COW, presumed"
The widow shook her head.
1T would be a great help to me" she
said, but could not raise the money
TO buy one"
The next night the farmer lay awake
and listened; he did not get up until the
sound of the bell came through the field
and went up aud down. up and down
along his garden fence. Then he left
/ his bed. dressed himself and followed
it into the field. a number of the
neighbors stood in the road and shout
ed out To him.
why don't you set a dog on it,?
called one.
Mr. Clark did not keep a dog, but {
neighbOr brought one, and it was sent
into the field.
1t went in fast enough, but it die
not come back. Later the owner
found that Il had snealSed out On the
opposite side of the field and gont
home.
The neighbOrs were standing outside
the fence, and Mr.. Clark inside, just il
the edge of the wheat. With one &C.
cord they seemed to have left him t.
search ont the mystery alone, only
helping by advice.
"Why don't you 90 into the field be
fore it comes" asked one, land watch%
This he decided to do. Near the
center of the field stood huge stump.
The tree had been cut down years be.
fore, and used for rails, but one cut OF
the log-a mere she'll now-lay neal
the stump. and beside this Mr.. Clark
seated himself, in the early twilight,
and waited.
For some reason best known to him
self. perhaps, he had chosen 20 seat
himself facing the railway and with
his back to the farmhouse. His eyes
were on level with the top of the
wheat; he could hardly fail TO see any
thing that might come within the
fence, either before or on either side of
him.
What thoughts came TO him. as he
sat there in the semi-darlness. wait
ing fOr-he knew not what-no one can
tell.
All was still; and at last he decided
to 90 back to the house. But, as he
arose from his cramped position and
turned. with lis back to the field. he
found he had worked himself into the
condition of the frightened boy, who
dares not look back for fear he will see
something. and dares not quicken his
steps for fear that he will run.
But, almost at the moment that he
turned, the sound of the bell broke out
sharp, distinct and aggressively near,
behind him.
II was too much for the farmer. He
forgot his age and what he was wont
TO call his ''rheumatics." and ran
never pauslng until he reached the
fence. and the bell clattered and ratified
in seeming anger only a few yards be-
hind hun
Bot when he turned at the fence
there was nothing in sight; even the
wheat was still. except where he had
Just passed through it.
The next day Mr.. Clark took one of
his best young cows to the widow.
1T will be winter soon" he said.
'.and I've got more than 1 have stable
room for. II will oblige me if you'll
take care of her for the milk and bat
ter you'll get. and I'll bring load or
two OF hay to begin on"
The bell rang no more after that. and
il was more than a nine days won.ser
and talk; but. as | intimatcd before,
sensations were scarce IN that prim-
tive neighborhoOd.
Years afterwards, some one found !
rusty cow-bell with a broken tongue in
the hollow log, and it revived the story
of the haunted wheat-field
mo" said Tommy Garrett man
grown, when they mentioned it to him;
i didu't intend to scare Mr.. Clark the
first time. Ia got the bell. and vas
coming through the field. playing thst
was Brildle. when ne couse out That
made me think Of getting him out
again. II was easy To take She tons ue
in my han when he'j get too close,
and it was fun. Tdhave rGag il agaiu,
only ! broke .he clapper the niyhT !
chased hin. No. m mo,hc- aldrt
know: she'd have beltei me good IL ske
hadl''-Beth Day, in Golden Days