Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-10-18

she had noticed him he walked in and
laid the child softly on low couch
then sat down by the rough pine table
He did not once look at her or speak
| She had held out her arms to the
child, but seeing him so sound asleep
went back to her cooking.
Presently she looked at her husband
| and said timidly. but in a propitiatory
tone:
''Yo're late tonight, Nathan
He gave her so harsh look that She
drew back us if afraid, and bent over
the child TO see if he had awakened.
Presently she looked again toward
her husband. as if she fancied she had
III iSunderstoOd him and said:
'1o' seem out O. sorts, Nathan. Did
the child poster yo' while yo' wur
Workin'? Yo'd better leave him with
NE mex time"
He laughed sneeringiy. "Yo' wanted
him, didn't yo?" He paused moment
and went on as if with difficulty.
Il was plowin' on the ridge, an /
sren yo' an lhet Teller tergether. l
i MT no need ter say mo-
Why, Nathanr'-her voice was
raised a little, as if with excitement.
He broke in roughly
Stop. Don't tell no lie. l Seen yo'
both. an tibet man'd been dead but l
amt kearln' Ter tell the neighborhood.
Henceforward yo' amt no wife of
mine''
L dot suppose yo' ever reared fur
me, anyhow. Yo' never said yo' loved
me since the day we was married.
There was half-passionate ring in
her childish voice.
''Ther' warn't no call fur me to say
anything. 1 was yo' husband"
She began again eagerly, this time
returning to his accusation. "Yo;
don't understan', Nathan
He stopped her, his whole face work
ing convulsively. Il do understan'
we'll enuf, and l don't want no lies"
Her face changed its pink into white,
it's soft contours hardening into a Gu
rious rigidity. She made no attempt to
speak again. She took the little shawl
down that hung on nail, and spread
a pretty boy Of four and his long
dark lashes lay without a culver
against his rosy cheeks. She caught
her breath quickly, but she made no
appeal. Her n-bonnet had fallen on
the fioOr,-a sign pregnant with trag
edy in this rude life:-she picked it
up. and moved toward the door as her
h,1Sh ar ilv - ip,f
wife O. mine"
Out Of doors it was very dark. The
cabin stood in a clearing, and close
around were the woods, black, full of
strange sounds, full of moving Shad-
OWS cast by one knew not what. III
side, the circle of light thrown by the
pine knots, and the child's soft breath.
ing promised safety at least. For one
second she stood, irresolute on the
threshold. Her lips were set, but her
memory cOnjured up distorted images,
"ha'nts" and wolves, Or painters, y
which was it cried like child?
The man spoke sternly. "Yo' seem
ter forgit the baby and yo' duty ter
him. If yc' amt my wife, yo' can't
uDuO Dclu Ills HODleI.
Mandy's head dropped. the bonnet
fell from her hand, and she turned
back to the hearth.
Was it a rescue? Was she guilty :?
She did not utter another word. Prim-
tive natures are like children; the
spring of confidence once broken it is
impossible to restore it. Question. re-
o1i i,,o
thenceforth they are dumb.
The man who had told her goOd-by
was gone. The Uneventful mountain
life closed over him as still water over
stone. He was a confederate soldier
with wounded leg, who had asked
shelter until he was able to rejoin his
regiment. Mandy knew nothing more
of him except that he was young like
herself, and ready to jest, and the
cabin for the first time was lively.
But Nathan had quickly disliked him.
Mandysfelt as if life had closed over
her also. Nathan did not speak to her.
nor in any wise notice her. She
fancied herself like ghost, unseen,
unheard, by the living,-eXcept when
the child was with her. Before this he
had run after his father all day over
the fields, or staid by him at his work
for hours; but now either Mandys inn
perious need for human affection I'M
consciously drew him, or he was not so
we'll. At any rate, he could not be in
duced to leave her.
One day in the early fall she had
taken him to the ridge to look for
chestnuts. 1t was clear weather and
there was a sparkle of frost in the air;
the dry leaves rustled under their feet.
She was surprised that he seemed
drowsy and tired so quickly, of the
search. but she took him up, and his
head dropped on her shoulder.
Presently he raised his head, and
listened intently. Boom. boom!
Nanny, big guns!'
1t was the distant sound Of cannon,
dull, heavy, intermittent,-a battle was
going on. So serene and bright a day
for men to mutilate and kill one an
other! but Mandy listened vacantly, al
though the firing increased. 1t meant
nothing to her. Life was so dreadful,
so strange, that it had left no room for
comprehension of the dreadful tidings
of death.
"Bo-rOom! Bo-roOmp' cried the
child laughing aloud, and trying to
initiate the deep, sullen reverberation
Of the guns.
What for, nanny, what for?" he
asked eagerly.