Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1899-08-31
Or the Soil.

They were married heaven knows
why, as with SO many fof them-an
went to live on vancef island, a long,
fertile strip in the ri4er, three miles
wide. There were no other inhabit-
ants, and the mills omS the river banks
shut away away all sound of outer life.
He had been raised in the country, but
she was town lass, and the gas lamps
and hustle of the seaport had got into
her blood. Perhaps she never loved
him; anyway she was not happy.
She was an Industrious wench. The
tiny 6wo- roomed cottage he had built
was Kept scrupulonsly neat, and she
helped him in Thafflelds, when, with
her sleeves rolled hck from her round
Drown arms and a COWS breakfast, as
they &all the wide straw farmers hats
in New Brunswick, on, her dark hair,
he thought her a proper woman
enough, with her 1.-THE, strong figure
and her cleaning eye, but never told
her so.
BY and by she seldom talked and
grew restless on the days when they
put off in their rowboat to deliver eggs
and butter to theriver steamboats,. He
did not notice how. eagerly she scanned
the dress of the women passengers nor
how the captain kept an eye on all her
movements.
Fall came, tinting the landscape like
a splendid sunset, and the red and yell
l., n ff,n
of October days. Then he sprained his
ankle ands had to bide at his doorstep.
while she took the boat and rowed out
to the steamer for the trade. She
seemed to be gone longer than neces-
sary, he thought. Perhaps she was
driving a hard bargain. She was
shrewd, and he was lucky to have her.
He wished she would liyen up bit,
though, and not long SO much for the
town and shops. What did farmers
wife need in town except market for
her wares? But women were all odd.
He was right in his surn1ise. She
had raised the price OF the butter and
eggs and brought home few extra
cents. So on the following days, when
she delayed her return several minutes,
he was not impatient But when the
next time for the steamer to pass came
and the minutes heightened into quar-
tiers, then hours, he grew disturbed and
/ hobbled to the beach. She pulled a
! good, strong oar for town lass, bul
her father was a sailor, SO it came
natural for her to manage boat. The
river was treacherous flow Of water
but her boat was easy to pull, and she
had not far to GO.
1t was strange he could see her
Perhaps she had gone around to thu
sand beach The rowan trees were
there, and she had fancy for deckins
\ up the house with them. He though
lit somewhat cruel as well as profitlesl
to rob the birds of their winter food
but she laughed at that
He would best go home, he thought
and put the potatoes on for dinner. /
was the lass work, but she had gone Il
do his, so turn about was fair. He wa.
so honest, AT the close OF day still
I there was no sign of her, and he trie'
again to walk to the shore, but the in
jured ankle would not stand the strain
and he was forced to sit and walt.
Night came, but she did not return
On his hands and knees he crawled t
the beach and called her name loudly
with a harsh breaking in his voice. Thu
cries echoed back mockingly. TIT
moon went down behind che hills am
left him gropingin the dusky starlight
His hands were torn and his Knees
bruised by the jagged stones as h'
dragged himself, but he took no heed
I calling out for the woman whom fol
the first time he realized in dumb
heavy way he loved
At dawn, peering out eagerly, ne saw
his boat ashore some distance up tn
island His heart beats quickened, ans
4 something warm and tender flashed
through him. How he had missed her
Poor lass, Perhaps she, too, missed
her home folk. Well, the work wa
4 nearly done, and frost would soon bint
: the river, and then he would drive hel
to the town and take her to the fair