Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1898-12-22
NED'S DISCOVERY.

NEDS DISCOVERY.
Don't be discouraged, Ned" she
pleaded, in a soft, cooling voice, putting
up both hands to touch his sad
pale face. Il dreamed of you last
uight-dreamed that you were we'll,
happy and successful. I stood at the
door Of a strange little house, looking
out over a wild, pleasant country
oh. for miles and miles l could see
nothing but hills and trees; no living
creature in sight excepting your busy,
patient self, dipping water from
hollow among the rocks, and every
time you looked up and saw me stand
ing there you smiled such Il brave.
bright smile that knew you were well
and happy. And all the while"
Here she paused suddenly, and the
young man, looked down into her face,
SGW that she blushed deeply and drop,
ped her eyes.
What is it, dear? tell me what else
you dreamed. What troubles your
Nothing" she answered shyly.
Only you will think I am foolish to
be repeating these things to YOU"
Nothing is foolish that you choose
TO do or say, DEAR" the young man
said, trying to speak cheerfully. "Yon
are my comforter; l never know
whether l am better or worse, until
your precious face looks in upon me-;
then | am always better. Now, go on,
and tell me the rest Of your dream"
But Sibyl blushed again, and stood
winding the ends of her bonnet-strings
around her plump fingers. She felt
shy about telling him that in her
dream little children played about
her feet, two soft baby arms circled
her neck, and a dimpled face nestled
close against her ear.
"And yet he ought to know it," she
thought to herself. 'for all the old Wo-
men say it is n sign Of good luck to
dream of children-'specially baby"
"Where was the house you saw?' he
asked, looking at her curiously, with
something like smile softening the
lines of pain and WEAKNESS about his
mouth; for Edward Edwards had
been sick for year, and sickness, to
strong man is a grevious affliction.
He had been exposed all night to al
ternate fire and flood at the time the
Marion house on The hill burned down;
had saved the life of the only son and
heir, at the risk of his own, the result
OF which WAS a severe attack of in
aammatory Rheumatism, which had
settled into Il chronic form, comDli-
Gated with a tendancy 10 consumption,
50 the doctors said
Ills broad, full chest and shoulders
crew thin and angular; his cheeks
followed; his form bent; a slight per-
SiStent cough hacked at his lungs; his
>tfohS supple joints were stiff and
terribly painful, and the kind-hearted
H"IShbors said, "Poor Ned" and shook
."'ir heads sadly, but no one expected
nm to live until winter came again.
DO not know where the house
was said Sibyl, answering his ques-
non; but it must have been a long
way off. 1t was not at all like this
place."
Was it like the woods down in
Maine? You know l was down there
one winter logging; and since I have
h'en chained to this room, l have
dreamed often of the camp in the for
est and the wind among the pines
Ferhaps,' she answered, wise as an
oracle, lit was somewhere among
mountains, for I could see such a
long way: and now, goodnight, for
must so. Remember you are to write
&c me when you have found that
wonderful land, else / shall fret" and
aughingly lightly, away she ran
leaving him still standing by the win
dow, whence he watched her tiny fig
ure tripping swiftly across the field
swinging the basket in which she had
brought his daily custard and baked
ample.
she was nearly seventeen, but SO
small that everybody treated her like
child; even her father, grave Squire
hoSerS, often called her baby, and
laughed at her queer within in caring
Tor Ned Edwards.
After she had fitted out of sight, the
young man stood thinking The Wig
oFouS climate of Maine would only
. Aa>ten his death; was life worth pro
tonslng in his present state! Would
II Kill him to travel?
"hlle he debated thus, farmers
'ad nodded to him from the yard, and
walked in.