River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1899-06-01

grain. 1t was second nature for Esther
TO anxiously wait on him when he
dressed to go anywhere. She always
put out his clothes, brushed them, tied
his cravat, saw that he had a clean
coldly to go about her work, he would
help himself. Presently he came into
the kitchen where she was washing the
dishes TO blacken his shoes. Phew, how
hot it was, and how dark that little cor
ner where the cracked square of look
ing glass hung, before which she fun
bled with his cravatl
Esther stood at the sink with her
back to him, and just opposite the trap
door was white cross chalked on the
rough wall boards, marking the spot
where she wanted the outer door cut.
Somehow the sight of the innocent
mark angered him again. She seemed
to have chalked it for purpose, and
he went out, slamming the door child
ishly.
Presently the girls came in all in a
futter, looking very pretty and dainty
in their simple lawns and big hats and
quite overlooking with the pleasurable
anticipations of youth.
at was a shame, mother, to leave you
in this hot place to do the dishes alone,
| said Ria, penitently, "but we had to
make ready. See, the Warmer boys
are driving in the gate now" They
| kissed her and fluttered out, and she
| followed to take look, fond, proud
look after them as they rode away with
| their cavaliers.
| 1t was almost insufferably hot that
afternoons; the mercury mounted high
| er and higher in the tube on the stoop;
the fowls went with dropping wings
and gaping beaks; the cattle sought
grateful shade and ruminated in shall
low pools; the house dog dug grave
| behind the currant bushes, in which he
lay painting with lolling tongue; vege-
tation shriveled and wilted: the earth
was cracked and baked; but by and by
clouds gathered in the west and gusts
of wind capriciously swirled the dust
and caught up sticks and straws in ell
fin dances An old farmer driving by
called to a man digging a ditch in a
field: 81 guess the dry spell is broken.
| A shower is coming up"
A gloom almost appalling settled on
the landscape; the bees few to their
hives; the cattle snorted and raced
about. frightened at the rolling of
thunder and the shooting of javelins
of fire from the jagged clouds.
There was a going in the treetops, a
strange, distant murmur of millions of
raindrops advancing with the swiftness
of mighty host.
81 wonder if Giles shut the barn
door?" said Esther, hurrying out; then
there was a thunderclap that seemed to
shake the universe to its foundations,
and a binding, swirling deluge!
1t was four o'clock when Giles Hewitt
logged homeward. Dixey and Topsy,
his big black mares, resented being held
down to a sober gait and tossed their
heads and snorted as they splashed
through puddles. The clayey mud
caked the wheel rims, streaked the
spokes and chung in tenacious blobs to
the hubs. Everywhere were signs OF
the storms havoc, and Giles was con-
scious of certain ugly misgivings lest
the new barn, the pride of his heart
might have suffered; but no, as he
turned corner he saw it silhouetted on
its hill, dominating the landscape, the
shining weather vane all agleam with
reflected glories of the west.
He breathed more freely now and
critically scanned his neighbours fields
to see what damage had been wrought
When he came in sight of the white
frame house he wondered to see a mum
Der of people in the yard. Then he said;
"By George, if the old elm hasn't beer
struck What shamel"
Dan Comfy, his neighbor, hurried
down to meet him as he turned up thu
drive. His face was CHASTITY. What or
earth allied the man?
II say, Hewitt''-he clasped hi:
hands mechanically as he called-'stoI
a minute-hold on want to tell yol
God Almighty! man, how can L? Th,
lightning struck = Esther's dead
Whoa, there!" catching the reins thai
fell from Hewitt's palsied hands ant
/, leaping to the seat beside him. Lear
) on me! There, there! You had to know
it. God! but it's rough
! Kind neighbors stood aside in silen
! groups as Giles Hewitt tottered int
the room where Esther lay.
Oblivious of spectators, he fell on hi
knees beside her with an exceeding
bitter cry.
esther! Esther! You are not dead
Speak, Look up! You. were Away
| good, Esther. You were never unrea
sonable You shall have that doc
made. You shall, l say. Somebody ge
/ Johnson"
Crazed with shock and anguish, h,
! stroked her cold hands. Speak to me
! Esther, speak to me! Do you want th
, door,"
Some of the neighbors left the room
weeping. In the next room Mrs. Conl.
rocked Historically back and forth.
1.-The Lord knows l can't stand it t.
see man going on So she cried. 1T
just awful. l says to Dan, says L
Break it to him gently, DAM kind O
lead up to it; and there; he's just gon'
, and right out with it and shocked hin
, crazy. Hark! there he goes again, talk
ing senseless-like about a door. He
clean out of his mind!"-N. Y. indie
Dendent,