River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1896-04-30

April country. suddenly her eN-
preston changed. why. can see the
gable o. Isaac Bottoms new house.
knew he was raising yesterday. but
never thought to look. There over the
knoll TO the right of the woods. you can
just see the top of IT,"
why, yes" said Sally, looking eager
ly and then going back to her rocking
chair again. She was blushing and her
eyes looked very bright She seemed TO
make an effort to speak. but no words
came.
Mrs. Bascom also made an effort to
look away for some time. and pretended
to be busy with her work. At last she
laid her hands in her lap.
Sally" she asked, as a mother
might speak to her child. don't you
really think you are foolish? feel as
II you were most as near to me as my
own Cynthia; truth is / can say things
right out TO you sometimes that can't
to her, much as i love her. Isaac's n
good man and faithful; / don't know
what he's building that house for. but
l don't believe he'll ever want anybody
for his wife but you"
81 heard he was engaged TO be marriei
to somebody in Pelham" answered
Sally, stiffiy, but with no resentment.
II haven't seen him to speak with him
for eight months-not since last Au-
gust when i happened to meet him
here In the yard"
"You done very wrong then, Sally,
my DEAR" said Mrs. Bascom with digni-
ty. He was glad of the chance to see
you and all ready to be friendly, and
you passed him right by after you said.
How do you do an something about
the weather. i set right here where be
now. an l see his face work like a
child's that has real task to keep from
cryin'. All these years now you've held
on to that grudge, an twas all foolish
ness. Your Gran'ther Walkers mar
row stubbedness keeps you from givin'
In. while he's made every effort lie
could. Sometimes I've thought YOU
didn't love him, an he was better off Ia
let you have your way about 1t, but
truth Is, you'd deny yourself an GO
through the world without happiness.
rather than feel you was the one to give
in"
Its all true" said Sally. humbly.
"Tve tried to beat down that hard
feelin', but l can't, Mis- Bascom. 1
owr up to you as IL you was my own
mother; soinethin' freezes right up in
me. / wish folks hadn't made such a
talk about it, She covered her face
with her hands and began to cry.
right one of these days." said Mrs. Das-
com, soothingly. 81 never meant to
work you all up just as we was havin'
such pleasant visit together"
Somehow or mother T'm so content
ed Twin just as be, II 1t only want
for that" said Sally, drying her eyes,
but not changing the subject. "Inevcr
could think of anybody else as have of
Isaac. I'm glad you spoke right out,
Mis- Bascom. I've wished you would
a good many times
You an Isaac an Cynthi' used TO
have such good times together when he
was still livin' here" Mrs. Bascom
braided away intentlv and aid not look
up as she spoke-''an since all this has
h. opened he's often talked to me very
free and said il troubled him to know
you had so little means while he was
well of, and youwith no brother nor no.
body to look after you in winter tirnc.
an all that"
I've got along all right" insisted
Sally, with dangerous spirit, thea she
softcned again. "You see how il is,
Mis- Bascom, it's too late now and we've
got to leave il as il is. / expect it's
poor old grandfather's setness, as YOU
say" Her face was pathetic and child
ish as she spoke. you're always real
good"
swell, l don't knows I be-" said the
placid old friend. 1--WE had very hard
feelings about being laid on the shelf
so early, while 1 was full of spirit to
work. and we'G just built that great
barn and had all our plans about rum
ming a creamery. The farms so good
for grain, and 'twould been easier for
my husband, but Cynthia want able
to continue without me. He never com
plains, but in few years we should
have been forebanded and paid what
we owed, instead o. only adding to H."
She looked out across the green yard at
the barn, the building of which had
proved TO be such a mistake, and sighed:
I'm going TO tell you, too, that we
weren't married very young ourselves,
Mr.. Bascom and /. and twas partly
owing to my indulgin' just such feelin's
as yours, though the occasion was diff
ferent."
"Why, Mis- Bascom!" exclaimed Sal
~. with deep sympathy.
"Yes, dear, [ give you warnin' ont of
my own experience" and the elder
woman looked grave and kindly. I've
been tryin' ever since TO make IN for
real injustice to the good man I loved
best in the world. And you can be sure
of this thing, Sally, the wrong road
never leads to the right place"
IL was very still in the wide Kitchen;
one of the windows was open md the
bluebirds were chirping in the orchard.
There wns a PARKWAY sound of frogs.
The old tortoise-shell cat which had
been asleep on a cushioned chair came
across the floor gnping, and when she
saw Sally she hoped up into that
friendly nelghbor's lap. Sally fondled
her a little and laughed at the loud
purring that at once began. Her
cheeks were little flushed. II heard
ever so many robins this morning." she
said. as If she were afraid of the silence,
and her hostess nodded.
'If IL keeps 10 this weather we shall
have the golden robins comm right
along. / do long to get them here in
the spring. Then really feel as il the
winters gone for good"
Sally rose TO GO after little while, in
spite of kind protestations from Mrs.
Bascom. They both longed to say
something more, but neither ventured.
Sally, who had grown prim and I'M
demonstrative with every year. came
back after her hand was on the door
latch. and kissed Mrs. Bascom affec-
tionntely.
There. there, sailyl" said the old
woman, affectionateIy. Don't get
worked up. l only want you to think
over things before it's too late. {
expect you an Isasc'll be happy vet.
but don't push him away too far; he's
got pride too"
AS Sally Martin went up the road she
wished that she were still sitting with