The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1899-01-06
and loves me; he wishes me to be his


pect that you will want home OF your
own. That is right. You know pretty
we'll what are the duties of forester.
! 1t is hard for me to part with both OF
you, but it is better So"
Salome helped her sister to arrange
her wedding dress, silently but ener-
getically. She seemed to have quaffed
in one draught her bitter cup, to have
cut off her right hand and plucked out
her right eye. Salome was bent on
roofing out of her soul love which,
however innocent at first, was innocent
no longer-Salome watched and prayed
night and day.
Joseph was at the wedding. When he
asked for holiday it was with so dull
a face that his master inquired laugh
ingly whether he was of to marriage
or a funeral.
Josepl,'s secret was tolerably well
guessed, but the bridegroom was not
jealous.
The young couple were gone, the for
ester's cottage had become silent. Once
Salome used to sing at her work, now
she worked without singing. 1t was
with difficulty that she remembered
little details of housekeeping, so easy
to Frederick.
~ am still stout enough to take care
of myself, and I want no assistance y
said her father. ''It was Morand /
wapted. tut the lad knew better how to
shift for himself"
1t was the brightest day of the very
dull week when Joseph paid his usual
visit; he never failed to come early and
depart late.
He entered, taciturn and cold, ar
ranging on his lap the flowers he had
gathered in the forest, great handfuls
of which he often took back to his city
home. Never once had he exchanged
@cnfldences with Salome, yet he felt
sc ;.deistood him. Whether he spoke
TT presence was a rest to him.
4. ~, ner side, began to find the time
long ctween his visits, and each time
when Joseph went away she said TO
him: ''You will be sure to come again.
The clouds were low and the sky gray
hen Joseph, stick in hand, took the
next time his way to the forester's cot
tage. Streams long frozen came tuln-
Ling down the rocks or filtering
rough the ground, the murmur of
;.teIs V as heard on every side.
Sal rae stood at the house door.
Matciing the sudden thaw. Her father
was away. She knew Joseph was COM
ing, and she felt, she knew not why,
glad for that. Then she saw JosepE.
She felt like scolding him for having
luitered so long. He met her and he
laughed; he had been gathering the
first spring flowers, but Salome did not
laugh.
"You will walk with me, Salome?"
he asked. I'VE may meet your father
ana now chatting, the two went toward
the glen.
They'reached the stream. Then Jo-
seph stopped Mortified. It was a roar
ing torrent. Dominic was not there.
The water was tearing down the noun
tain side.
For the love of God!" cried Salon,e,
''let us hurry up. Close by here there is
a cottage; a poor woman and her child
live in it. They will be swept away"
GLOW brave and strong is she,' y
thought Joseph. He was certain now
that he heard cry of distress. Yes,
there al the window he saw a woman,
a oli, II her arms, and the house was
sila. zig. 1t would topple over in an in
slant, and the torrent had to be crossed
if they were to be saved. A moment,
after Dominic was by Joseph's side
The forester at least was safe. Then
Joseph, in a loud, clear voice, babe the
woman come down. She did so and
skrielzed when she saw the raging tor
rent.
Salome fell on her knees upon the
bank. Her father stood by her, shout
ing out advice to the brave fellow, who
was already fighting with the tor
rent.
THAT round stone is not firm! There
is hole in the bed of the stream! Brave
lad! That stupid woman! She clings
to him! She will hinder his getting
ashore!"
But Joseph's feet were firm on shore.
He was able to make sign to Salome
that he would go straight home with
the woman and child.
Let us hurry back and see that there
is good fire and wine and food!" cried
Salome.
Meantime Joseph, carrying the child
and helping the woman, had succeeded
in getting home first. He had not yet
changed his clothes, but he had made
up the fire, placed the woman in Father
Dominic's armchair, and wrapped the
child in rug, where it lay, warming its
little feet in the hearth and smiling
up at its preserver.
Salonse stood an instant to watch the
pretty sight, then took the child in her
arms. go, Joseph; get yourself dried
in fathers room. You have done
enough for one day. You will be iii
yourself
s'Then will you nurse me?" and he
took her hand.
Anything you like, if you will only
go and change your Clothes"
Some months after Joseph and Salome
were walking along the banks of the
stream. 1t was Sunday and the little
waves seemed singing Sunday psalm
What transtormation!'' said Sal
cme. "since the day when you saved