Smyrna times., 1899-06-14
OF THE SOIL.
a Vivid Picture cf Love and
Desertion.
BY Ethel Knicht.
By Ethel Knight.

lney We're married heaven Knows /
why, as with so many of thcm-and |
went to live on Nancc'S island. Il long |
fertile strip in the river, three miles |
wide. There were no other inhabitants.
and the hills on the river banks shut
away all sound of outer life He had
been raised in the country, but she was
a town lass. and the gas lamps and
hustle 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,
brown arms and cows breakfast, as
they call the wide straw farmers hats
in New Brunswick, on her dark hair
he thought her Il proper woman enough
with her 1.-the, strong figure and gleam-
ing 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 steamers. 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 be gone longer than neces-
sary. he thought. Perhaps she was
driving a hard bargain. She was
shrewd. and he was lucky to have her
He wished she would liven up Il bit.
though. and not long so much for the
town and shops. What did a farmers
wife need in town except a market for
her wares? But women were all odd.
He was right in his surmise. She
had raised the price of the butter and
eggs and brought home n 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-
ters. then hours, he grew disturbed and
hObbled to the beach. She pulled q
good. strong oar for town lass, but
her father was a sailor. so 1t came nat
ural for her to manage boat. The
river was a treacherOus flow of water,
but her boat was easy to pull, and she
had not far to go.
1t was strange he could not see htr.
Perhaps she had gone around to the
sand beach. The rowan trees were
&c there. and she had a fancy for decking
q up the mousse with them. He thought
- it somewhat cruel as well rs protitless
"a to rob the birds of their winter food
;, but she laughed at that.
He would best go home, he thought
A and put the potatoes on for dinner. II
g was the lass work. but she had gone
h to do his, so turn about was fair. He
70 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
jured ankle would not stand the
pa strain, and he was forced to sit anC
wait.
il Night came. but she did not return
"A On his hands and knees he crawled t,
~ the beach and called her name loudly
with a harsh breaking in his voice. TIL,
Oh cries echoed back mockingly. Tn
"A moon went down behind the hills ant
no left him cropping in the dusk J. starlight
His hands were torn and his knee
bruised with the jagged stones as h
dragged himself, but he took no heed
70 calling out for the woman whom 70
ha Gr.-f h. -, 1
m heavy way he loved.
At dawn, peering out eagerly, he say
his boat ashore some distance up til
od island. His heart beats quickened, an
~ sOmetl ing warm and tender Aashe
!, through him. How he had missed hel
,ds Poor lass. Perhaps she, too. misse
:; her home folk. Well, the work wa
nearly done. and frost would soon bin
- the river and then he would drive h,
49, to the town and take her to the fai
- yes, and buy her a warm, red hood an
ribbons. He laughed out loud as /
4 dragged himself to the house, thinkiI
Of her pleasure. She must have r
turned some time back. The boat w;
90 well up on the beach where hours al
had been the tide. She was home an
doubtless wondering where he wa
She had staid out to give him n bit
q fright and had slipped In when
hat had gone to search for her, dear lass!
her He reached the cottage. The do
ing stood open, staring vacantly at hir
the fire was out, and the gusty viii
hin had scattered the light pine ash III
ties powder. She was not there. Dou
my grew IN his heart rs slowly he dragg
: as himself back to the shore to the bo,
y." Was she dead? 4 bitterness gnaw
him. Iungriiy he gazcd at the way