River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1895-09-26

uudrQ IN front OF nlfn- lie looked la4t-
Why. father" said she. inpatient
". ''ain't you gOin' 10 look? It's the
sea-
Yes, YES" said Eli, qdietly; Lynne
by. I'm goin' to put the horses up
fust"
We'll. ne, r." said Mrs. Pike. and
as they drew Up on the sandy tract
where Serene haG previously arranged
place for their tents she added, al
most fretfully, turning to Hattie: Il
dunno what's come over your father.
There's the water, and he won't even
cast his eyes at it."
But Hattie understood her father. by
soIlc intuition of love, though not of
likeness.
Don't you bother him. ma" she
said. He'll make up his mind to it
pretty soon. Here, les lift out these
little things while they're unharness-
in, and then they can get at the
tents"
Mrs. Pixies mind was diverted by
the exigen lies of labor and she said no
more; but after the horses had been
put up at a neighboring house, and
superintendent the tent-raising, Hattie
and led him away. Come, pa she
said. in a whisper; les ynu and me
climb over on them rocks"
Eli went; and when they had picked
their way over sand and pools to a
hea dland where the water Numbered
below, and salt spray dashed up in
mist 10 their feet, he turned and looked
at the sea. lie faced il as a soul might
face Almighty Greatness, only to be
stricken blind thereafter: for his eyes
filed painfully with slow, hot tears.
Hattie did not look at him, but after
a. lille she shouted in his ear, above
the Outcry of the surf:
Here, pa, take my handkerc hief.
don't know how it is about you, but
this spray gets in my eyes"
Eli took it obedientiy, but he did not
speak; he only looked al the sea. The
two sat there, chilled and quite content,
until six o'clock, when Mrs Pike came
calling to them from the beach, with
dramatic shouts, emphasized by the
waving of her ample apron.
.-Supper's ready, Serenos built a
burn-tire, an I've made some teal"
Then they slowly made their way
back to the tents. and sat down to the
evening meal. Serene seemed content,
and Mrs. Pike was bustling and tri-
umphant
Well. father, what thinlx?" she
asked. smiling exuberantly, as she
passed him his mug of tea. Does IL
come up TO what you expected"
Eli turned upon her his mild, dazed
eyes.
Il guess it does" he said. gently.
That night, they sat upon the shore
while the moon rose and laid in the
water her majestic pathway of light.
Eli was the last to leave the rocks,
and he lay down on his hard couch in
the tent without speaking.
Il wOu dn't say much to father"
whispered Hattie to her mother. as
they parted for the night. ''He feels
il more'n we do"
well, / s'pose he is some tired, ="
said Mrs Pike. acquiescing. after a
brief look Of surprise. Its a good
/ deal Of jaunt, but | dunno but feel
paid Already. Should you take out
Your hairpins. Hattie?"
She slept soundly and vocally, but
/ her husband did not close his eyes. lie
1 looked, though he could see nothing,
through the opening in the tent, in the
direction where lay the sea, solemnly
clamorous, eternally responsive to
some infinite whisper from without
I - III. = h.
/ vas almost more than he could bear;
he longed for morning. in sharp sus-
pense. with the faint hope that the
/ light might bring relief. just as the
stars faded. and one luminous line pen
eiled the east, ne rose, smoothed his
hair. and stepped softly out upon the
l beach Here he saw two shadowy fig
ures. Serene and II latte. She hurried
forward 10 meet him.
! ''YOu goin' to sec the sun rise. too
father" she asked. Il made Serene
! come. He's awful mad bein' walked
up" Eli grasped her arm.
Hattie" he said. in a whisper
don't you tell. l just come out to see
how twas here before go. I'm goin
home-rm goin now"
why, father" said Hattie; but she
peered more closely into his face anC
her tone changed. ''All right" she
added. Serene II go and harness up
NO; I'm goin' to walk"
But, lather-"
u don't mean to break up your stay
in here. nor your mothers. Tell hel
how twas. I'm goin' to walk"
Hattie turned and took her father
| hand.
I'll slip into the tent and put VI
sonethin' for your breakfast anC
luncheon" she said.
So Eli yielded; but before his wifi,
appeared he had turned his back on Ia,
sea. where the rose of dawn was fas
unfolding. As he logged homewarC
the dusty rOadsides bloomed will
flowers of paradise and the insects
dry chirp thrilled like the song o
angels. He walked into the yard jus
at the turning of the day, when tn,
fragrant smoke of many cracking
fire curls cheerily upward, in promise
of the evening meal.
What's bus sed?" asked Luke, swing
ing himself d0,, from his load of fod
der corn.
"Oh. nothin'," said Eli AZ guess
I'm too old for such jaunts. hop,
you didn't forgit them cats. Meadow
Grass.
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