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

ribbons. He laughed out loud as ne
dragged himself to the house, thinking
of her pleasure. She must have re-
turned some time back The boat was
we'll 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
fright and had slipped in when he
had gone to search for her, dear lass!
He reached the cottage. The door
stood open, staring vacantly at him;
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 lack 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 the boat. In the
bottom was a piece of cedar chip tied
to her handkerchief. Leaping at it
fiercely, 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 fer good. You were kind, but |
could aot abide you or the country.
I'yeegone 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, he
reached the door, where down on all
fours, like a dog, he flung up his head
and looked around the rooms wildly
Everything in them spoke with trum-
pet voice of her. He let his head fall
on the sill. Then 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 OF
their way to the south saw a woman
dressed gaudily and in vulgar fashion
making her way from the landing 4
the little house on Vance's island Al
the door a gaunt man watched her
With a dazed stumbling he walked
forth little way to meet her.
II have come back after these years,
she said, looking up to the little home
which, small and poor as ii was, seemed
to hold out hope of peace to her. Blu,
he said nothing, only staring at hei
with eyes in which burned a fam
spark Once he shivered at the croak.
ling 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
chair here and moving something
there. She took broom and fell Il
sweeping feverishly, until she flung il
down contemptuously and sank into a
chair with 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 faunt on her lips.
Her hands on her hips conveyed an in
science of holiness.
II have come back to you in kind
ness she said, her tones going higher
and her voice growing more rasping.
II know the worth Of a woman like me.
When my captain died, could have
had many a fair chance, but thought
OF you, and somehow wanted to come
here. Aren't you going TO make up?'
she cried angrily.
why don't you speak?" she
screamed. How dare you treat me
Ike -like"-She paused and then
| laughed with her brazen notes.
But the dancing lights were In his
brain again and before his eyes and
around him boiling flame that roared
The room was whirling. He saw It all
streaked and spangled with fierce color,