Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1895-12-23
CHAPTER XXI.
UTTER PKosTRATIoN.

UTTER PKOSTRATION.
From the transient repose in the
little room of the Blue Moon, and the
hospitality OF it's good-natured host,
Nelly had been startled by the con-
tentious scene described in the last
chapter, and had fled like the alright
ed deer at the sound of the hunters
horn.
The few mouthfuls of food she had
swallowed, and the lift upon the road,
had so far recruited her that she was
able to take her Wearied child without
effort in her arms, as she Quilted the
house by a back door and set off
across the country in the direction, as
well as she could judge of the market
town.
She had spoken at random when she
mentioned London to Laxity, yet she
pondered, if that goal could bereached,
what better one could she fix upon?
It was weary journey-footsore
and heartsick, friendless and almost
without hope-yet the longing, the
urgent, fixed desire to be far away
from him, from his place his presence
and his acts polluted, gave her
strength, at times, almost super
human.
But, powerful as is the human will,
and dominant as is the mind over the
material humanity, thelatter will not
be left wholly to reconsideration.
Feet will blister, and limbs grow stiff,
and nerves relax, be the determination
ever so firm, the will as strong.
It was evening: the sun had set, and
4 och
over the wide landscape, in which no
sign or sound of humanity was discov-
cradle, save the two tired travellers,
woman and child, who rested them on
the bank of small, lazily-creeping
brooklet that ran beside the narrow
country road. Not dwelling, not a
spire, not the most distant intimation
of town or village within view.
The last penny had been exchanged
for small loaf and a draught of milk,
for the child at the hamlet they passed
through that morning.
There they told her the town was
but seven miles off, and they had walk
ed, atleast she had, almost without in
remission since. Could she have
missed the way? she asked herself, as
she yielded to the child's desire to sit
down by the ''pretty water
f'No, [ can't have missed it, she
said to herself cit must be that I am
so faint and weak [ have not walked
so we'll. Oh God, help me! where will
this end? No money, and no food,
and for the last two days only bit of
bread; my strength will not hold out
much longer. | have strange aches
and faintness come over me already
what if l should be i'll? what will be-
come of her? oh! my punishment is
heavy, heavy"
The last words she moaned out
aloud in the despair of her heart, and
the child who had wandered off a few
PAGES after some cleaning object in the
water, ran back to her side, and looked
up into her face, where, seeing sadness
depicted, she laid one little hand up
on her mothers arm in childish SYM
pathy.
Don't cry, mother dear, good
mother, don't zee cry, / won't cry,
mother, and it's nicer out here by this
pretty water than at home; eh, mother
dear, eh?"
Her mother kissed the pale cheek
and anxious eyes other darling. Ida s
gentle, accomplishing endurance of
discomfort had done more to give her
strength than all the exhortations OF
more advanced comforters could have
done.
Isha'n't cry, dear pet, while my
Idy is SO good; but, my darling, I fear
we shall get no house tonight to sleep
in, and perhaps no supper"
II are hungry said the little one,
plaintively; then quickly added, 'but
tomorrow, mother, tomorrow us
shall, eh?"
Could the most eloquent preacher
have painted more forcibly the impG-
cit trust of faith?
eyes, yes, DEAR" said the poor
mother, almost unconsciously, as the
child was attracted again by some
fresh novelty from her side.
She arose, and, calling the little one
to her side, resumed her walk forward
But, even in that brief interval, she
seemed to have lost all the energy
which had hitherto inspired her limbs;
she dragged on feebly a few steps, then
halted, then, by dint Of leaning on
various objects along the hedge-side,
reached a corner, where a narrow
lane, with green banks on either side,