River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1896-06-25
DIR. BUCKLES ADVENTURE.

before me and grasplnS my hand heart-
lily.
"Glad to know you," / replied. IN
deed, I've been longing for some one to
talk 70, for il seems to me that this
journey is interminable."
"Slow train-bad road" said my new
made friend, throwing his high hat on
the back of his head and biting the end
of of a cigar. "oh. see you smoke.
Don't fill your pipe. Take one of these
-excellent-made by one of my con-
gregation."
Even had not experience taught me
TO refuse cigars offered by clergymen.
and IN particular by clergymen with
soiled white ties, would have declined
the moldy-looking weed that the doctor
held toward me.
''I only smoke pipe" said. stretch
ing the truth a little that he might not
feel offended. Then pressed my face
against the window and peered out into
the dismal country through which VIC
were running. Now we were plunging
through lonely stretches of dark woods
now running across wide reaches II
newly-cleared fields, with here and
there log house rising above the waste
of fallen trees, just visible in the halt
light of the moon wi ich was rising
above the mountains few miles away.
Following us was a white, smooth road
that glistened in the moonlight close Il
the track. Once in awhile we lost il Ia
the darkness Of the woods. but as quick
ly as we emerged into the more open
country we could see IL at our side again
hugging us close, which. i reflected, was
but natural in such a dreary land.
Fine land, eh?" said DIR. Buckle
81 don't think, as my third son, clever
lad, IL there ever was one, says. II jus'
happens that I know this region pretty
well. Therel Did you see that place
where the road crossed a creek on q
wooden bridge. That was where they
dropped me-"
Dropped your ventured, inquir
ingly.
Pardon me. I thought had beer
telling you about it," returned the min
lister, fitting his tile further back on his
head. what memories the sight o.
that place engenders. You see. sir, somt
ten years ago had charge in this very
lOcality-at PoleviIle, five miles dowT
the road. There were two churches, one
at the village and the other back In tn,
country some six miles. and alternateC
between them. The charge was indeed
apoor one. but / was a struggling young
divine then, with a wife and four littIC
ones TO support. and ] was glad enough
to have a snug parsonage, a salary ol
$500 per year and an average of thres
donation parties per anuum. 1t was
the salary question that eventually
drove me away from the place-a chang.
for the better. to be sure, as have now d
splendid church in Huntington. BY tn.
by, wish if you ever stop there yOI
would give us a call and see our new pull
pit furniture"
"But your story" 1 interrupted, fOi
saw that ne was prone to wander from
the subject of his discourse.
"Ah, there / was forgetting my tall
to speak of pulpit trappings. Your par
don. The trouble was that fully four
fifths of my salary was paid by two fam
lilies, both wealthy farmers. the Bunderi
and the Springhouses. Unfortunatel,
for me these families had been at odd
for years over a matter of line fence
In the west there would have been sons
lead exchanged. but this is peaceabl'
country, and so they contented them
selves by quaTreling in court and nevei
passing a word elsewhere. To the rule
however, there was one exception
Henry Bunder and Kate Springhouse.
The doctor was evincing such gar
rulity that l felt a little uneasy ane
broke again the thread of his story.
''See here. | think i know the rest
loved; YOU married them clandestinely;
sulary cut of: left you parsonage
$500 per year and three donation par
ties"
TRUE. true" said the divine. strokins
his long beard, "but that was not wha
was going to tell you about pro
posed To relate the events as they af
fected me and not the young couple; Il
tell you how the wedding ended whcr,
the road crossed the bridge. May l g,
on2"
by all means Your pardon; l be
lieved that had OWNED your tale"
"In general. yes: in detail. no. Blu
TO continue. / was not aware of thi,
exception until one October night jus
about ten years ago, when loud bang
ing at the parsonage door awakened my
wife and Inc from our sleep. At my re
quest Mrs. Buckle went downstairs Z.
see what il was.
"who is thereT she called through
the keyhole.
"tJohn Bunder,' came the answer
and he wants Preacher Buckle prett,
quick, too
believing il a matter of importance
my wife rashly called me downstairs {.
attend TO the matter i'm hand, while sh
retired. And still more rashly Iopene'
the door a crack and demanded to know
what was wanted at such an hour.
Its John Bunder and hate Spring
house wants you marry 'em. preacher
said the big fellow whom l saw stamp
ing to and fro on the porch. And youH
have to do il quick
Indeed says /. and this is a MIC
hour to wake an honest preacher 70
such q purpose
And then my curiosity getting tn
better of my discretion / unclaimed tn
door and opened wider the crack that
might obtain a good view of the part
at the gate. There were three of then
sitting in a light spring wagon. {.
which were attached two lively mules
In the moonlight could just discern
the small form of Kate SpringhOuss
cad in white. and seated in front be
side her burly lover. young Bundcr-
realized at once that this wedding W.
fraught with not a little danger TO ms
aud hence decided 20 act cautiously.
81 would prefer that you and you
friends would go elsewhere / said .
the man outside. For instance, owe
the mountains to Brother-
BEFORE / had finished my objectio
the girl screamed: They're coming.
The big fellow on the porch threw hi
weight against the door with such vic
lence that l. small man as I am, fic,
backward 20 the floor with such fore
~ TO partially stun me- When ] recoS
cred my senses found myself on I'll
hind seat of the wagon, with a man a
either side. and Henry Bunder, HI
sweetheart clinging tn him. before M
madly flashing The mules
ale has come to- one of the me
whispered.
ssEate SurinChouse gave a littl