Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1895-10-21
CHAPTER III.

CLOUDS ON THE HORIZON
A pleasant home and full of com
tort it was, to which Aaron Franklen
had taken his young wife, = -.
Look in upon it now, with its cosy
fifeside, it's ample .high-backed settle,
Che weIl-rubbed chests, and rows of
Z shelves. all a-glitter with pewter and
def; and even copper kettle IA rare
possession in those parts).
Aaron's-ol old coat lay, within it's
warmth, upon the settle; Aaron's
easy old bootsg(c down to house
shoes lay on the, hearth; it was
Aaron's favorite dish cooking now
at the fire; andsif you had asked the
trim little wife, who made so promi-
dent an object In this home-picture,
was that her favorite color which
so plentifully adorned her dress?-she
would have told you,E'sHe is fond of
IT." ~ ~ g N@
Aaron was all, @
Sad them was it not? that, as the
hands moved slowly round the face
of the little Dutchman, and as log af-
ter log consumed, the pretty face grew
grave, and a cloud came upon it,
which even the sound Of a quick foot
step outside, and the Shasty opening
OF the door, didnot dispel. TF s--
Nay, that even the cry voice,
which made her. heart heap, saying,
Here | am, Nell, I'm so sorry I'm
tateP' even that did not chase away
the cloud. @w
Sad that, amid all her preparations
Tor his welcome, she should withhold,
that which was more to him than all
che warmth, and light. and good
cheer on earth. as* +"
1t had been her custom to meet him
half way in the room, and with a kiss,
that said more than words, to, give
nina welcome, as he folded his arms
about her, and led her back to their
seat beside the hearth.
During. supper she barely answered
his observations, he. at length threw.
down his knife and fork, and declared
he could eat no more.
N'Then you don't like it Aaron! after
me taking all the pains to get it, on
purpose for you!" a
at isn't that, Nelly; the supper's
good enough but it isn't that KS
He turned away from the table as
moisture which, despite his manliness,
had gathered in his eyes.
And she, as she rose from the table
and began immediately to clear away
the supper, turned aside her head and
smiled, yes-a triumphant smile! 1*
Good, honest Aaron! the worst part
of these performances was that her
humility was so genuine, her love so
humble and flattering, in it's penitence,
that he would too often end by blam-
ang himself, and by voWing to g i've her
mo cause for displeasure.
These are but passing showers, you
Ygill say, and that, like 1sunshine after
4Ehunder, love seems brighter by con-
$1rsast; but do not forget the ruin by
which the scathing bolt has marked
IT'S course!
1t was wonderful how the neighbors
should have got any idea Of the slight
clond upon the little home, seeing that
neither Aaron nor Nelly would, to
save their life, have let fall word
concerning one another, but of ten
derness; yet too often an expression
of coincidence or sympathy, dropped
anvoiuntarily, testified to the general
impression that, as the women said,
<FNelIy didn't make young Franklen
the wife she'd ought to,
Turn we now to a matter OF con-
siderable Importance, which had for
some time past engrossed the atten
tfon of the village.
Saul Meghorn had returned and
daken up his abode within short dis
tance of Sandcombe.
One old woman kept his house; but,
as no one from the village ever went
within-it door, muchaof his domestic
habits We're not known. The girl from
the dairy awho took eggs and @buttef
twice a=week to Deepgang, told of the
quiet neatness oftheplace;the men who
had met Saul inehis solitary 4rambles
over the cliffs and along the beach,
gave wonderful accounts Of the free
spoken, pleasant way in which he en-
t5aRed into conversations; and
ONCE q bold urchin who had
ventured. on remaining when his
playmates SUNK away. among the
rocks at Meghorn's approach, came
rgnn1oing breathless to show what the
big man with the beard had given
m-desplaying a handful Of pence.
and related that he had, moreover,
statOked his head and asked him his.
nspnae, and if he went ''aTfishing with.
father"
I'm the little throng coming, from
church. Meghorn had encountered the
young couple, and had raised his hat,
ar token of which salute the young,
fisherman touched his own.
He was looking at Saul, with whom,
I have said, he had but a very slight
acquaintance, and certainly did not
see. the downcast eyes and too ready
blush Of his wife at this unwelcome
reminder of herpast follies. He might
have felt the closer hold on his arm,
and the involuntary pressure to his
side, but a time had arrived when
nothing is to be WONDERED at or ac-
counted for, which a young wife does
or says, and Aaron was-Or, accord
ing to the law established, was suppos-
ed to be-very proud, and very
aa1viopC and careful Ofthp INTERESTING