River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-01-28
HER SWEET APPLES.
BY {. ID. q. ROBERTS.

uau most Draclng SAVIOR. Mrs. BuckIer,
a freckled but comedy and tall young
woman. was just sitting out for a
twelye-mile tramp TO the little settle
ment in the valley, where she had to
return a fiatirOn and pair of wool
cards which she had borrowed of an
Obliging neighbOr.
NeighbOrs IN those days were few and
far between in the country districts of
Nova Scotia. The great emptiness
created by tire expulsion of the Acad-
fans had not yet been filed up. For the
neighbOrs, II behooycd them TO be
neighborly.
Mrs. Bucklcr was ar untiring worker,
and her rare visits II the valley consti-
tuted her only holiday. She had to
walk, OF. course, as her husband had
no horse. and she had no ambition to
ride one of the faithful but extremely
deliberate oxen. And, indeed. a matter
Of twelve miles seemed nothing of CON
sequence to her.
BE sure and get back before dark,
'Miry!" admonished her husband, lean
ing meditatively against the woodpiIe
IA he watched her kiss the children for
good-by.
''ShOOhi Steve, reckon you can put
the babies to bed all right for once.
can't yOu2 1t amt often get of, and
when l do, like to make good day of
isl"
"It amt lOOkin' after the children
that I'm thinking of. 'Miry. as you know
right well." replied Steve Buckler.
earnestly. But you know how thick
the bears are on the mountain this
year; and there is no manner of doubt
that was a wolf brushed by me in the
pasture night before last IL amt safe
for you to be coming up through the
woods after dark all alone that way.
stay all night, if you find it getting
lateI"
'Oh, l amt afraid" averrcd Mrs.
Euckler. stOutly. Il may get back
afore dar.;; but If don't I'LL be careful
and carry light with me-"
These confident words she flung
back over her shoulder, as she started
gayly down the rough woodland way.
Arriving in due time at the settle
ment in the valley, she did her erranls.
picked up the news, and richly enjoyed
the rare luxury of a gossip. Time went
all too quickly; and i; was on the edge
If dark ere she thought of starting for
hcme. Then, of course, there were We
hement protests. Her friends urged
her to stay All night, picturing the per
lis OF the journey, and representing that
her husband would never dream of ex-
pecting her. But Mrs. Bucklcr, rs her
friends always said, was very set"
Putting aside all arguments, she started
out on her long and lonely tramp.
She had little to carry. but that little
was somewhat troublesome to manage.
II was an apronful of sweet apples for
the children, a treat which she knew
they would enjoy. Sweet apples were
then a rarity in South mountain.
When at length Mrs. BuckIer reached
the last house on the edge of the val
ley. and found herself face to face with
the long climb up the mountain she
felt compelled TO acknowledge in her
heart that the night was very dark.
And she had yet nearly four miles to go.
through almost uubrOken woods. In
those four miles there were but two
NeANtMo W nttAh AAAE AAAuhUAbHN VI AHN
way; aud the further Of these was n
mile and half from her home She
hesitated moment, then went into the
house and asked for pine knot to light
her on her Journey.
Here again she was urged to STAY;
hut lighting her torch she set her face
resOlutely to the mountain side. As
she penetrated among the ancient trees
the unsteady light Of the pine knot cast
strangely moving shadows. and mon
strous shapes seemed to spring up and
disappear on all sides. For the first
time she grew nervous, and felt an in
ciinatiOn To glance over her shoulder.
This she presently conquered with
some scOTn. Nevertheless, she could
not help fastening her steps: and the
first cabin in the mountain had the air
of refuge TO her. as she turned in to
GET fresh pire knot.
Here, too. she was strongly pressed
TO end her journey for the night But
now her Obstinacy was well aroused
She was nettled al herself for having
fell raid. IL was with something of
the of one who goes forth TO battle
her apron of sweet apples. as she turned
again TO the blackness of the forest
path.
Between this cabin ard the next the
distance was but half a mile. Her
nerves were now getting so well steadied
that she no longer cared for the loom
ing and shifting shadows, till at length
a shadow distinctly smaller than the
rest made tie underbrush rustic audibls
with its motion. Her heart gave
most uncomfortable leap, and she
straightway thought of the wolf " hich
her husband had spoken of. But, wolf
or shadow. il fed away without menac-
ing her; and she came in safety TO the
last cabin between her and home.
Here the neighbors were asleep. and
she had 10 arouse them in order to beg
another pine-knot. The one which she
had GOT at the previous house was by no
means burned out. but she feared lest il
should fail before the end of her jour
ney. The sleepy ueighbors were aston
ished at her appearance. They threat
cned 10 detain her by force. when she
refused their invitation to stay all night
with them. But Mrs. Buckler was by
this time n good deal worked up as
she aftcrward expressed herself; and
she treated their kind perSuasiOns with
scant courtesy. She almost ran from
the house; but in her apron. among the
sweet apples. she carried the extra pine
Knot. al the same.
To ward of unpleasant thoughts. she
kept picturing in her mind the way ths.
children would enjoy the apples in the
morning. She also thought OF the re-
mOnstrances. tempered with ilI-con-
cealed admiration, with which her hus-
band would greet her return. He-
blood quite glowed again as she though,
of the lofty fashion in which she would
make light of il all. just at this mo-
ment she saw. in the middle of the path
before her. large black bear. watching
her curiOusly.
Her heart stood still. and she herself
instantly followed this example. Then
she reflected that she must appear
calmly indifferent, il she would hope 70