Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1900-01-05
OF THE SOIL.
A Vivid Picture of Love and
Desertion.
BY Ethel knight.


They were married-heaven knows
why, rs with 80 many Of them-and
went to live on vence's island, a long,
fertile strip In the river. three miles
wide. There were no other Inhabitants,
aud the hills oil the l.yer banks shut
away all sound of outer life. lie had
been raised IN the country, but she was
n town lass. and the gas lamps and
hostile OF the seaport had got Into her
blood. Perhaps she never loved him;
anyway she was not happy.
She was au Industrious wench. The
tiny two roomcd 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 n cows breakfast. as
they call the wide straw farmers hats
in New Brunswick. ON her dark hair,
he thought her n proper woman enough,
with her little, strong figure and CLEAN
Ing eye. but never told her 80.
by and 10y she seldom talked and
grew restless on tho days when they
put OF in their rowboat to deliver eggs
and butter to the river steamers. He
did not notice how eagerly she scanned
the dress Of the ONE 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 yell
low trees rustled In the windy sunshine
OF October days. Then he sprained his
mike and had to bide at his doorstep,
while she tool the boat and rowed out
10 the steamer Tor the trade. She
secuted to be gone longer than neccs-
snry. lie thought. Perhaps she was
driving n hard bargain. She was
Rhrcwd. and he was lucky to have her.
IIc wished she would llven up d bit,
though. and not long so much for the
town and shops. What did n farmers
wife need in town except n market for
her waresl But women were all odd.
lie was right in his surmise. She
had raised the price of the butter and
eggs and brought home a few extra
cents. So OH 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-
tiers, then hours, he grew disturbed and
hobbled to the beach. She pulled a
s. good. strong oar for a town lass, but
her father wo= a sailor, so II came nat
ural for her to manage a boat. The
river was n treacherous flow of water.
but her boat was easy to pull, and she
had not far to go.
Ii was strange he could not see her.
Perhaps she had gone around to the
sind beach. The rowan trees were
there, and she had n fancy for decking
up the house with them. He thought
1t somewhat cruel as we'll as prohtless
to rob the birds OF their winter food
but she laughed at that.
lie would best go home, he thought,
and Put the potatoes on for dinner. 1t
was the lass work, but she had gone
10 do his. so turn about was fair. He
was so honestl At the close OF day still
there was no sign OF her, and he tried
again to walk to the shore, but the in
1urod ankle would not stand the
strain, and he was forced to sit and
wait.
Night came, but she did not return.
On his hands and knees he crawled to
the beach and called her name loudly,
with n harsh breaking in his voice, The
cries echoed back mockingly. The
moon went down behind the hills and
loft him cropping in the dusky starlight.
His hands were torn and his knees
bruised with the Jagged stones as he
dragged himself. but he took no heed,
calling out for the woman whom for
the FIRST time he realized In a dumb,
heavy way he loved.
At dawn. peering out eagerly, he saw
his boat ashore some distance up the
island. His heart beats qulckened, and
something V'arm and tender dashed
through him. How he had missed herl
poor lass! Perhaps she. too. missed
her home folk. Well, the work was
nearly done, and frost would soon bind
the river, and then he would drive Der
TO the town and take her to the fair;
yes, and buy her a warm, red hood and
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
wet up on the beach where hours ago
had been the tide. She was home and
doubtless wondering where he was.
She had staid out to give min a bit OF
a fright and had slipped in when he
had gone to search for her. dear lassl
Ne reached the cottage. The door
stood open. staring vacantIy ut him;
the Ore was out, and the gusty wind
had aenfforad tho uOhf nine ash lHya
powder. She was not there. Doubt
grew In his heart as slowly he dragged
himself back TO the shore-to the boat
Was she deadf A bitterness gnawed
him. HungriIy he gazed at The waves