Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-09-26
THE GUIDE OF THE ALAMO.

lace, ndlr CndC Iell IN heavy DraldS
and beautiful eyes-limpid as the
waters of the clear fountain.
The person whom she addressed, a
little old woman, with snow white
locks, known in all the parish by the
loving sobriquet Of Mother Greth, "
shook her head with a doubling air.
mo, my daughter 1t must have
been the bowling of the wind among
the fir branches. Who, indeed, except
a mad person, would dare at this hour
the terrible rain and the, snow that
are driven by this frightful tempest"
Scarcely had she finished the last
words when a violent blow, applied
from without, shook the massive pine
door while a rough voice cried:
I'm heavens name let us in, if YOU
do not wish us to die of cold and hun
ger at your threshold! Are you all
dead, or has the devil made you deaf?"
The mother and daughter, both pale
arose directly. Elsie being more quick
and supple, was already turning the
key and moving the bolts, while
Mother Greth consoled and tried to re
assure two white-skinned, chubby
checked lads with eyes like blue
crockery ware. When Elsie's agile
fingers had succeeded in raising the
heavy bar of iron, the door, yielding
to a push from without, opened wide
admitting two men completely en-
veloped in cloaks of heavy gray cloth,
and so powdered with snow from
10 Il, ~
those formless creations of children
called "snoW men, At this moment
the storm redoubled its fury; gust of
wind threatened to eXtinguish the
lamp, and Elsie hurried to close the
door, while the two men shook them
selves and removed their heavy cloaks
from which the water already ran
under the influence of the heat from
a great brick stove.
Leaving the children, who cried no
longer, as they scanned the new
corners with distruStful curiosity,
Mother Greth advanced toward the
strangers with an awkward though
kind greeting. The taller of the two
raised his wolf-skin hat, that had been
drawn over his eyes and ears, and
bursting into a coarse laugh, eX-
claimed IN a voice strong as his whole
person:
"Well, well, so you don't know me?
Now is this Elsie, you forgetful little
woman? Don't you know Christien,
your lover? You treat me too soon us
if | was a husband. Come here, little
simpleton. until | scold you for this
welcome colder than WinterW and ad-
vancing resolutely toward Elsie, who
laughed heartily at his groteSquely
emphatic words, he planted two kisses
squarely upon her fresh, plump
cheeks.
When she had given him some
words of welcome she brought stool
near to the stove, redeemed by roar
ing fire, and having invited HIM to be
seated began in tone, half7Scolding,
Embarrassing to ask him by what eX-
traerdnary chance he was wandering
at such an hour over the frozen and
snowy waste. instead of remaining
near his own fireSide.
AL lulS uuSSllOl Sll Ia IlCh olAliSNt
knowingly, and assuming an air OF
Importance. replied, You see, my
dear, my companion wishes to cross
our isle as quickly as possible. He
is engaged in the trade of pearls ana
other precious stones and his business
obliges him to be in HelSingen before
the 18th. The channel not being
frozen solidly as yet, he could not get
any guide but me. All the others say
that l am imprudent to try the al
venture. but l haven't chased seals
when the crust was in all sorts of CON
ditionS without knowing how tt
maneuver among the cracks and
holes. | must agree that we've had
the dogs weather at the start. Hap
PLY, we've been able to reach the
shelter of your roof tonight, and,
lowering his voice so as to be h arc
only by the two women he contiu led
'"The fact is [ turned out of my way
to come here. There's something K
be made out of him and l want you tC
profit by the god-Send."
These words, spoken innocently
enough, awakened III luelI SudIpS
greed the rapacious instincts of the
Alandaise race, and Immediately
changed Elsie's manner of careIesE
coquetry. Quitting her lover abruptly
she Joined her mother, that they
might form measures for taking fnf
advantage of such an unusual OppOr
tunity.
Christien was quite dumbfoundeC
by this sudden, unexpected movement
Frightened, mute, not knowing t,
what unfortunate miscOnception to at
tribute his disgrace, he gazed upon
her with a stupefed air, endeavorins
to gather from her cOuntenance thu
motive for her hurried retreat.
While he puzzled over her conduct
Elsie possessed with one idea. SEE
undeJ her mother the best she could
and troubling herself little about him
was all zeal and attention toward TIL
rich stranger about whom bot
women lowered, busy and i'm
Fortunate as two flies buzzing over :
Sugar-bowl.
The old woman, her eyes glistenin2
4 smile upon her lips, taxed her in
genuity to make her guest talk. See
ing that he repulsed all such ad
vanceS. she endeayored to soften hin