Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-12-21

RATHER. I've killed many of 'em- round
our cabin-dCor in Oregon. I've got
twelve rattleS and Il button down al
the camp III fetch up TO show you
if You like, some day"
The fresh voice and honest soul look
ing out from her great earnest eyes
fascinated Mary Fenton, as she drew
out her purse to pay for the orchids
and she tried to keep her for while
Enthusiasm was not good form in Miss
Fenton's world. but it might be per
mitted TO another class. and the noun
tainS. rivers and fishermen were SC
full Of ennui to her just then.
What is yotIr name:" she asked
''Kit-Kit jones' she replied. moving
away.
DO you live in the camp across tho
road, with the campers who came last
week." Miss Fenton asked With i'll
tereSt.
Yes" she answered in lower tonI
of voice. There's only me, mother anG
BIZ. l must go now. I'm the head OF
the sheJang Bill is sick" Il shadi
passed over her merry, childish face.
May | come over and see the rat
ties some day, and will you bring nlt
some Shasta Iilies?''
The white kind that smells:" Xii
questioned. Bill likes them best
Yes. l know the best place for them
up the ridge"
She started away on Il quick little
run, then looked back, shouting, ''You
might come this evening, maybe com
i.any Will do him good"
She was graceful as a young deer as
she ran across the read and disappear
ed into clump Of pines, from the
midst of which assembled a blue cur
Of smoke.
The day wore on, and Miss Fent0I
had not written the letter she had al
most decided was to send Richard
Drake to his fate. The long Afternoon
was coming to a close. Mrs. Pendra
gon, Mary's aunt and chaperone, haC
repaired to the springs With hel
chums for her after dinner glass OF
soda water. The fishermen, after
stealthily watching each others move
ments, had skunk off one by one in diff
the stream
Mary FentOn declined all invitations
as she sat watching the blue smoke
among the pines, and resolved to stroll
over to the camp.
She thought Of the invalid, and tool
some choice fruit, which had been sent
her the day before, and sauntercG
across the road.
Before she reached the camp heI
heard dry hacking cough, which fore
BODIED too well the nature of the
malady. She stopped a minute before
the campers saw her, and surveyed the
scene.
There were two tents pitched close
together under two big sugar pines
and Il little to one side four young sip
lngs had been cut off and rooted Ovel
with a covering made of rough grain
sacks sewn together Under that OF
a couch made of pine boughs an6
covered with two or three patchwork
calico quilts, lay a young fellow, who
looked scarcely % or %, coughing as
if his very soul was racked will
pain. 1t needed but a glance at his
sunken cheeks and hollow eyes to tel
her that he was doomed. She ha(
seen so many such hopeless cases il
Santa Barbara and San Diego.
Kneeling before Il very small fire
blowing as if her life depended upon
it, knelt Kit. Her hat was thrown OF
the ground, Il red shawl was pinned
across her shoulders, and she looked
like q young dryad as she puffed a
the dull embers. An old woman, will
careworn face and gray hair twisted
into 2 hard little knob, was standing
near an improvised shelf cutting thicE
pieces Of fat bacon into a frying pan
Mary Fenton felt in a flash that she
knew thenl-'Me and mother and Bill
and felt in sympathy with them
The minor chord in life is very fascin
ating when it does not vibrate for our
selves
Kit saw her at last, and sprang VI
hastily, her cheeks af1ame from the
eXertion, and her short curls, tossed
and tangled by the evening wind
standing up like a halo about bel
head. Kit was barely more than II
but well developed for her age, show
ing the effect of mountain air anC
training.
"Glad to see yOu!" She extended hel
hand, grimy with ashes and charred
sticks.
The old woman looked UP without
in her faded gray eyes.
Mother" Kit waved her hand by
way of introduction. in the direction
of the frying pan.
The old woman grinly nodded.
Bill" Her voice softened as she
stepped near the couch. The man
looked up with CLEAN of interest as
Mary Fenton came forward and offer
ed him the fruit.
''Thanks," he spoke in a fretful voice
broken by coughing. "Fm powerful
tired of bacon. Them cherries look
cool"
Kits hands hung listlessly by her
side. A look Of distress crept into her
soft eyes Il know, Bill, it's powerful
hard The bacon is salt and hard; but
it's all I can do just now. Maybe to-
morrow" her face brightened-''Tm
going to get some lilies for Miss Fen
ton, and they'll let me have a little
beef, just for you, at the hotel"
With a shrug of fretful Impotence
the man turned his face away from
them, and lay silently munching the