Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-10-27
JEN, THE LANDLORDS .DAUCH-
TER.

lie Thayer in Springfield Sunday Re
publican: A clear, crisp morning of
early October found summer still lin
gering on the Pacific slope. The sun
Shone on the log steamboat landing,
which showed obvious signs Of age,
and its glittering rays were reflected
in the waters of the broad Columbia.
The landing, like numerous others
along the river, proutlded from a
rocky bluff, on either side of which
harried slopes Joined smooth. green
meadows below. Along the edge OF the
bluff, a few feet from the landing,
ran a newly constructed railroad. while
beyond a few scattered wooden shan
ties were seen.
The stiffness of early morning Vas
broken only by the mOnotonOuS hum
OF the saw at the little mill, as the
door OF the largest shack opened, and
from it stepped young girl who pick
ed her way among a miscellaneous
collection Of pigs, fowls and mud in the
yard, and walked quickly up the track.
A faint color sprung into her cheeks
as she walked, drawing deep breathS,
while the breeze blew her fair hair and
red cotton dress from side to side. Now
she glanced at the sparkling waters
and now at the long green island which
hid from view the busy little town ON
the Washington bank.
Poor Jen! AS the daughter of the
Blue Fronts landlord, she had learned
in her short 16 years to find her mo-
ments alone the happiest Suddenly
the whistle Of Il locomotive broke the
stiffness and on it came, Stacking as it
approached.
I'm in luck this morning." said jim
Stewart, as he held out a grimy hand
to help her scramble up into the en-
CINE. With a quick nod Jen took pos
session of the seat at the side, saying.
you owe the wood-chOppers one for
your luck, jim They're all back from
the Falls, and mas fiOur-sack is empty,
that's what's bringin' me to Han
sons"
The Blue Fronts carrying heavy
sail, we of HansOn's hear, since the
Oseola comes in every day"
''Well, rather retOrted Jen, with Il
toss of that tow head of hers; the
landlord helps her land, and he's sure
to make Il good thing on the wood
he'll sell them. Besides, she brought
two new ranchers with their families
yesterday. They're at the Front now,
and they came from Kansas, and one
is d shOemaker'-here Jen paused, out
of breath.
That's what goes here" shouted
jim, in voice that drowned the rumb-
ling wheels; yves got too many of
those POrtlanders, that, as old man
Hanson says, are grabbing the best
timber claims, and all we see 'em is
once or twice in six months, coming
down with a chum in tow as witness
to see 'em turn around in their CABINS
and blast out an old stump. That
what they call living on and improving
Il ranch for six months in a year."
said jim scornfully.
whats the matter with your own.
jim" asked the girl slyly.
might be worse; I lived out there
and patched it six months, two years
ago. Why? Do you want to try rough
ing it?" Then he added in a matter
of course tone, I'm coming to bring
you to the dance tonight" But Jen
shook her head impatiently.
Nothing but dances. how can you
think of them on such a morning?
Just feel this breeze! I'm sure it is
helping that little tug TO bring that
great ship up from the ocean. Would
MT | just give anything to go back to
Japan in her! See those hills across
the river, all dark and blue, and be-
yOnd snowy Mt. st. HelenS, right
against blue sky! Oh, Jimr' with half
shy pride, 81 showed my drawings [
did last spring term to Capt'n Fred,
and he said might be so [ could make
all this river and everything just as it
is, all colOrs. If l only couldr' visit
fully.
Jim's face had been steadily darken-
ing, but UNDECIDED by the girl, who
continued dreamily, There is a row.
boat just rounding the point of the is
land"
Its those half-breeds of the island
: LISl1ILIS5 1Ol SGulScOu UIOhe LII Jill
prosaically; adding, with more anima-
! ton, Come, Jen, don't talk stuff, =
you're a prettier picture yourself than
anything around, and it amt my fault.
or, for the matter O that, any of the
boys, if you don't know it. Don't you
always go to every dance, and dance
all night long? You won't miss it, Jen,
you know you'll get a good time
mo. I'm tired of 'em, they're not as
ma tells about back in Wisconsin, I
don't see the fun dancing in a shanty
to violin playing ole Dan Tucker or
. Irish jigs. Besides" heSitating as if
over a neWly-acQuired phrase, 81 am
not sure | should be dancing with a
promiscuOus gang of railroad men"
"And I'll tell you right now," said
jim, with a flash of his eyes, you'll
do better to drop those swell ideas
your picking up from that mossback
captn. We webfooters may be slow,
but we're honest. How many land
ings do you spose the Oseola makes,
where some girl isn't down to smile on
that niger face of his?'
But Jen was still gazing across the
river, and her only reply was, Here's
Hanson's, Jim,-doesn't it look like a
great, green, Shiny pond, and the old
cabins like frogs heads out of the
water?"
But as the girl sprang down from
the engine and ran across into the
little general store and post-office, there
was an angry sparkle in her downcast
eyes that jim hadn't seen.