Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1894-05-11
A MODERN NOVEL.
which Shows In the Present Style the Court.
Is ship of Homer Fort.

u
ship of Homer Fort. IT,
Homer Fort sat in the parlor nervously
toying with an ivory paper knife. She had
not yet come down. He was in evening
dress, and as he leaned forward and caught
q glimpse OF his face in mirror he was sur
prised to see that he was pale But he felt
it to be the supreme moment of his life-the
one on which his whole future hung-for
had he not decided to ask Beatrix that even
ing to be his wife? He heard the rustic of
silken skirts and drew quick, involuntary
breath. But it was Mrs. Hildehart, the
mother of Beatrix, who entered. She was
widow and lived alone with her daughter.
- ''Ah, Mr.. Fort" said the lady, extending
her hand graciously, *'you are quite desert
ed here, are you not?'
mo, not that, Mrs. Hildehart," answered
Homer. Il found the place deserted and
colonized it and base my claim on priority
of settlement. But encourage immigrar
tion,'' he added quickly
The lady smiled as she sank into a chair
and looked at the young man.
"Youf daughter" continued Homer; ''she
is well?"
''Quite so and much interested in her
charitable work. We have had very hard
winter, and, alas, there are many poor. By
the way, Mr.. Fort, there is matter on
which / wish to speak to YOU"
, 'Indeed?" said the young man as he felt
the color again flying from his face The
lady sat up on the edge of her chair, adj
justed pair of gold trimmed eyeglasses and
looked at him narrowly.
Eyes, matter of great Importance.
have had it in mind some time, and al
though it is an awkward and painful sub.
ject it cannot be avoided longer"
Homer faltered an inarticulate reply and
swallowed lump in his throat.
"You have now, Mr.. Fort, been visiting
my daughter Beatrix for almost a year
Your calls become more frequent, and they
grow longer. You do not deny this, I fancy
Mr.. Fort?"
Poor Homer shook his head and chung tc
the arms Of his chair. He could feel his
heart throbbing in his bosom like some
great piece of machinery.
II apprehended that you would not Be
atrix does not. Mr.. Fort, as you know,
have been to considerable expense during
the past year in visiting the Worlds fail
and repairing my carriage house. This
added to the notorious stringency of the
times, has seriously reduced my purse
Now, MIR. Fort, you must know that in sit
ting up here so often and so late with Bea
trix you have burned out great deal o.
wood during the winter. do not ask you
Mr.. Fort, to furnish this wood; but, my
dear young sir, must insist on your saw
ing it in the future. You will of course
comply with my wishes in the matter''
She swept out of the room. Homer Fort
hid his face in his hands.
How long he sat thus he could not guess
but he was aroused by soft touch on hi!
head. He started up, and with little CRY
Beatrix shrank back
II thought you were asleep, Mr.. Fort, ,
she said, bushes jostling one another OF
her face AS she stood there in the mellow
light she seemed more beautiful than ever
and she was known to be the most beauti
full girl in Binghamton.
With strong effort Homer spoke.
do you kow alp" he asked.
''All," she replied, and her eyes sough
the floor,
''What can say? Tell me-"
T. She tapped the toe of her boot impatient
ly on the soft carpet, but did not raise he
eyes,
''Say nothing" she replied, with intens
| earnestness. ''Say nothing, but saw wood!'
She turned and walked to the sofa, ant
from under it drew a large red bucksaw
with a glittering blade and great, Jagged
savage teeth She held it up toward tn
young man.
'Saw wood" she repeated.
He sank back in his chair and looked a
her as in a dream.
&c.," she cried, speaking rapidly am
controlling herself with an effort as sh
reached behind little bronze Barge on tn
mantel and took up bacon rind daintil
between her thumb and fnger-'see, it will
grease the blade! I smuggled it from tn
breakfast table this morning in my bonbo1
box" She rubbed the rind up and dow
the blade with nervous haste. ''Saw wood,
she said again. you know you were cen
ter rush at college year ago, and the rim
will help, oh, SO much?'
Homer Fort, though young, was ma
of resolution. He rose and drew himse]
up to his full six feet.
II am ready" he said slowly, scarcel
parting his lips. The words came from tn
very depths of his soul.
He followed her through the kitchen an
into the woodshed. There he found pill
of shellbark hickory wood and sawhorst
the saw rasped and tore and ripped till th
cool air of the wood shed was foggy wit
sawdust. Sometimes he would stop for
moment, and the girl would apply the b
con rind to the hot and quivering blade.
would hiss and sputter, but in a momen
the saw would be leaping like living thin
through hickory knot. At last it pause
for lack of food.
He stood by the young girl, with his fat
flushed.
"Beatrix," he said softly, but his voi<
did not falter my Beatrix, with you b
my side could saw wood-forever!''
She looked up into his face, trust an
happiness deeper than words could tie
shining from her eyes.
> AS they went into the house he saw fl
ture as in vision stretching away befo1
him, but through all the years he could 81
no parting from the woman by his sid
E The hoarse growl of a cat followed thel
from the wood shed.
''Tom has found the bacon rind," viii
pered the girl.-New York Tribune.