Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1899-08-31

ribbons He laughed out loud as he
dragged himself to the house, thinking
of her pleasure. She must have re-
turned some time back The boat was
well up on the beach where hours ago
had been the tide. She was hcme and
doubtless wondering where he was
She had staid out to give him bit Of
a fright and had slipped in when ne
had gone to search for her, dear lass!
He reached the cottage. The door
the fire was out, and the gusty wind
had scattered the light pine ash like
powder. She was not there. Doubt
grew in his heart as slowly he dragged
himself Back to the shore-to the boat.
Was she dead? A bitterness gnawed
him. Hungrily he gazed at the waves
which had taken her from him. He
mumbled like an old man robbed, as
tears splashed his face
At last he reached he boat In the
bottom was a piece of cedar chip tied
to her handkerchief. Leaping at ii
fiercey, he grasped it with shaking
hand. Then he rolled up his eyes, his
fingers fumbling with the knot, his lips
drawn white. Scrawled on the chip
with pencil was a message: I've
gone for good. You were kind, but
could not abide you or the country.
I've gone with one as will take me al
over the world"
With his mouth working intensely
he started to drag himself back. His
brain was flying high up and down
again. Darling lights played before
his eyes. The whirling ground leaped
away from him. Crawling on, be
reached the door, where down on all
fours, like dog, he flung up his head
and looked around the rooms wildly.
Everything in them spoke with a trum-
pet voice of her. He let his head fall
on the sill Then a groan came heav-
lily from his lips, and he was calm.
The next week a new captain came
on the river steamer.
The birds flying across the river on
their way TO the south saw a woman,
dressed gaudily and in vulgar fashion,
making her way from the landing o
the little house on Nances island. At
the door a gaunt man watched her
With a dazed stumbling he walked
forth a little way TO meet her.
Il have come back after these years %
she said, looking up to the little houe,
which, small and poor as it was, seemed
to hold out hope Of peace to her Blu.
he said nothing, only staring at her
with eyes in which burned faint
spark Once he shiyered at ne croak-
ing notes in her voice.
Into The house she followed him dog
gedly. She picked up her duties where
she had left them years before, touching
a chair here and moving something
there She took a broom and fell TO
sweeping feyerishly, until she flung It
down contemptuously and sank into a
chair with a gasp. He had watched
her silently with slow burning eyes,
why don't you speak ?" she cried.
Her rising voice was hard and crack
ing There was a daunt on her lips.
Her hands on her hips conveyed an in
science Of boldHess.
Il have come back to you in kind
ness, she said. her tones going higher
and her voice growing more raspng
u know he worth OF woman like me.
When my captain died, / could have
had many a fair chance, but / thought
~ you, and somehow ! wanted 10 come
here Aren't you going 70 make np?"
she cried angrily.
why don't you speak?' she
screamed. How dare you treat me
like-like She paused and then
laughed With her brazen notes.
But the dancing lights were IN his
brain again and before his eyes AMI
around him a boiling fame that roarad
The room WIS vhirling. He saw # all