Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1899-09-04
ION the Soil.

They we're married-heaven knows
why, as with so many of them-and
went to live on Vance's island, long,
fertile strip in the river, three miles
wide. There were no other inhabit-
ants. and the hills on the river banks
shut away away all sound of outer life.
He had been raised in the country, but
she was a town lass, and the gas lamps
and bustle 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 two-roomed cottage he had built
was kept scrupulously neat, and she
helped him in the fields, when, with
her sleeves rolled back from her round
Drown arms and COWS breakfast, as
they call 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 the river 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 vel
| low trees rustled in the windy sunshine
of October days. Then he sprained his
ankle and had to bide at his doorstep.
while she took the boat and rowed out
to the steamer for the trade. She
seemed to he gone longer than neces-
sary. he thought. Perhaps she was
driving hard bargain. She was
shrewd, and he was lucky to have her.
He wished she would liven UP bit,
though, and not long so much for the
town and shops. What did farmer S
wife need in town except market for
her wares? But women were all odd.
He was right III his surmise. She
had raised the price of the butter and
eggs and brought home a 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 a town lass, but
her father was a sailor, so it came
natural for her to manage a boat. The
river was a treacherous flow OF water,
but her boat was easy to pull, and she
had not far to go.
It was strange he could see her.
Perhaps she had gone around to the
sand beach The rowan trees were
there, and she had a fancy for decking
up the house with them. He thought
| it somewhat cruel as well as profitless
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. 1t
was the lass work, but she had gone TO
do his, so turn about was fair. He was
SO honest! At the close of day still
there was no sign of her, and he tried
again to walk to the shore, but the in
iured ankle would not stand the strain,
and he was forced to sit and wait.
Night came, but she did not return.
On his hands and knees he crawled to
the beach and called her name loudly,
with harsh breaking in his voice. The
cries echoed back mockingly. The
moon went down behind the hills and
left him cropping in the dusky starlight
His hands we're torn and his knees
bruised by the jagged stones as he
dragged himself, but he took no heed,
calling out for the woman whom for
the first time he realized in a dumb,
heavy way he loved.
At dawn, peering out eagerly, he saw
his boat ashore some distance UP the
island. His heart beats Quickened, and
something warm and tender flashed
through him. How he had missed her!
Poor lass! Perhaps she, too, missed
her home folk. Well, the work was
nearly done, and frost would soon bind
the river, and then he would drive her
to the town and take her to the fair;
yes, and buy her a warm, red hood and