River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-01-28

escape. Slowly she moved forward
again, waving her torch; and the bear,
stepping out of the path. watched her
steadily from among the underbrush
as she went by. Then h. stepped back
into the path and followed her.
Her first aud most natural impulse
was to run like the wind for home, but
this, after one startled leap forward,
she checked with mighty effort of her
will. She walked on with swift but
steady steps, watching the bear out of
the corner of her eye, but all the time
clutching obstinately at her apronful
of apples. The bear, very slowly, kept
drawing closer and closer, bent upon at
lacking, but evidently deferred by
dread of the torch.
Int the torch, meanwhile, was burn
ing low; and Mrs. Buckler. in her ex
element. failed at first TO notice this
She was holding the pine-knot over hes
shoulder, as a sort of shield against her
pursuer. When, with a shaking at the
knees, she realized that il was on the
point of pickering out, she tried hastily
10 light the other; and in the effort
some of her treasured apples fell out of
her apron and rolled behind her on the
path.
AS soon as the bear came TO these
apples he stopped and began devour-
ing them with the keenest relish.
why" thought Mrs. Buckler, with
a sudden tightening of her load Of ter
rOr; Its not me he's after, but the
sweet apples!" and straightway all her
old courage returned.
She paused and took time to light her
rev Pine-knot deliberately and well.
Then she hurried on; and il was some
minutes before her pursuer was again
at her heels.
And now, so sudden are the revul-
sions of a woman's feelings, she was
concerned only for the sweet apples.
They were the children's apples; and it
went sorely against her grain TO let a
bear have any of them. Not until he
had come most intentionally close
could she bring herself to again propiti-
ate him; and then she doled out but
/ three of the precious green globes,
dropping them on the path behind her
I with slow reluctance.
l The animal took perhaps quarter IF
/ a minute to dispose of this niggardly
contribution, and then came on again
with a sort of hopeful confidence.
"No!" declared Mrs. Buckler, firmly,
you amt goin' to have another onel"
and she fairly b. oke into a run. But
when that heavy, stumbling gallop
sounded close at her back, her reso-
I luton weakened, and she dropped a
couple more out of the apron. While
the much gratified bear delayed 20 eat
/ these, she rounded turn of the road.
and was gladdened by the sight of her
own window glimmering some 200
! yards in front.
Calling her husbands name two or
three times at the top of her voice, till
she saw him fling open the door and
rush out to meet her, she Rugged the
remnant Of the apples to her breast,
flung her torch at the bear. and sped
| like a deer toward the house. Whether
/ the bear followed her further or not,
! she never knew. Ii certainly did not
I come near enough to the house for her
| husband to catch sight of it. for. as she
I flung herself into his arms, painting,
& tAAuui llhdnts uiAA-Ndl bct Hctu iduSuNST
/ and tears, he asked her what was the
matter.
Natter" she cried. Indignantly.
That's just like a man, after all I've
gone through to get homel" And she
pulled him violently into the house and
/ slammed the door.
Steve Buckler was quite too judicious
/ to remind her of the fact that he had
urged her either to come home before
dark. or else stay al! night. He did not
even let it appear in his face for an in
slant that he thought of such thing
lie listened TO the story with all the
| breathless excitement that she had an
ticipated, praised her bravery and re-
source, vowed to shoot the bear next
day, ate one of the sweet apples. and
then, being very sleepy went to bed.
/ But Mrs BuckIer, before she followed
his example, proudly tucked several OF
the apples under the children's pillows.
N. Y Independent