The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-01-04
A BACKWOODS HERO.


its numbering and shipping industries.
A long neck of narrow land forms a
natural breakwater and thus guards and
protects the small town from Neptune's
wrath. The harbor is scarcely more than
two miles wide and four long. but lis
celebrated for its uncomfortable cur
rents, jagged hidden rocks and Aprilish
moods.
On this neck of land are scattered a
few houses, all inhabited by lovers of
the sea and natures work and surround
ed by dense groves OF swaying pines.
One day a few years ago there came
from one of these houses a dark eyed
young woman whose skin was rough
ened from the fierce lake winds and
whose hands showed only too plainly
that hard, coarse work befell her lot.
Her boots We're heavy, like those of a
man. Her gown was not only i'll fitting,
but sadly behind the times as regards
style and lacking by several inches its
proper length. and ON her head was
drawn down closely over her ears a
mans felt hat. Yet, Notwithstanding
these proofs of the uncouth woman,
there was a certain indescribable some
thing about her gypsylike face that be-
told the possession of a fine mind and a
strong, unbending character. It was
neither the soft. brown eyes nor the
smiling mouth, for her features were ex-
tremely plain, and the straight fringe
of hair that tendriled out now and then
from under the curved hat brim gave the
round cheeks a ghastliness that remind
cd n shiveringly of witches and COB
Inns and evil spirits. In her arms she
carried a pair of oars, wrapped in a
small sail Around her feet .frolicked
several kittens, and a hinge black and
white dog bounded along beside her.
She walked slowly toward a small
dock that foated ~unsteadily ont into the
bay. A fiat bottomed boat, with q splin-
terlike mast and no bowsprit, bumped
against the dock now and then with a
soft rubbing and nudging that was as
soothing as y mothers evening lullaby.
1T looks pretty threatening. seems TO
me, the girl murmured to herself.
This here bay is always ready to cut
MP it's monkey shines just when folks
wants it to behave itself. If it wasn't
for daddy coming home tonight, and
mother sick, and nothing much to eat in
the house, / believe I'd give up going
across for the groceries. Then, MOTTO
ing q parting of the thick bushes that
bordered the pathway and catching a
passing glimpse of a faded yellow hat,
she called out, Hello, Jimr'
The next moment she was Joined by
q stalwart young man, with the whole
some appearance of a combination farm
er and sailor.
"Going to sail over to the point,
Meg?'' he asked.
"Yes. You can go il you want to,
she replied, with mischievous eyes and
twitching lips. 81 guess 'twon't be the
first time that the little dory has carried
two passengers.
sWe'd better hurry, / reckon, . re-
joined Jim. 1.-THE old lake is a-raging,
and the bay looks a bit iii tempered
now. Wen have a laundering old storm
before next sunrise, and I shouldn't be
surprised if it arrived before midnight. .
Together they hoisted the sail, adjust
ed the rudder and unfastened the lines.
Jim seated himself in the stern, Meg
dropped down ON the seat in the center
of the boat SO as to lower and raise the
centerboard, as Captain Jim ordered,
and Off they sailed like q bird let loose
from captivity, Both were good sailors,
aud the simple fact that a huge wave
deF1ged them now and then added zest
to the sport.
II say, Meg" began Jim as they
plunged through towers of foam and
rocked and swayed in the pillows,
don't you think you re mighty hard on
o fellow? Three years is q long time,
and time does change folks and things
50. Anyhow I don't see what you're
driving at I've known you since yon
were knee high to a grasshopper, and !
don't like the idea OF losing you after
all these years OF work and waiting.
Your dad and your mother are willing,
You say you don't dislike me, and yol
know what I think Of yon. Come, now,
tell me your reasons for this three years
waiting business. =
II suppose my reasons are Silly
Meg answered slowly and with irritating
deliberation. But Won see, that year
at Miss Banker IS spoiled me. Even If /
was nothing but a parior maid, / got,
some ideas In my head that stick like 90
many burs. | don't always want to
live 4his way. I've spent every cent I've
had on the books, and Miss Banker has
helped me lots. I want Ii be educated
and know how to talk. / long to be able
TO be like the town girls. not 50 far as
dress goes. but it's the schooling that /
want. When I read about those clever
women who paint and write and teach.
Ii makes me think that my world il too
small and cramped to W. grow any
bigger unless ! break away noe I love
the water, and the woods, and the damp
earth itself, but I am wild to be up and
doing aud working at something that
will not end today just as 1t did yester-
day and will again tomorrow. p
! A violent breeze struck the sinalldory