River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1901-12-12

delibly engraved on his mind and
heart.
That morning, just prior to receiv-
ing the letter, another blow had been
administered to the man. The wom-
an who kept the house where he took
his meals was Mrs. Hawkins. Long
had Tatton observed her, for she was
good to look at. There was a grace
in her every movement that he could
not understand, but which he ad-
mired. Her face was pretty, and he
felt that he could look at it forever
and not grow tired He did not know
what love was; but he would lie out
beyond the fence, in a clump of low
pine saplings, and watch her for
hours as she passed to and fro in the
pursuance of her duties. Sometimes
there was a child with her, a girl of
perhaps seven years, and Tatton adj
mitted to himself that she was like
unto his conception of an angel
During these months that he had
been in the low-country his shrewd-
ness and industry had not gone unre-
warded He had saved some money.
One day, some weeks before, the
thought had come to his mind to ask
Mrs. Hawkins to marry him. Night
after night he lay sleepless, thinking
it over, and weighing his chances of
failure or success. Finally he decid
ed to put it to the test He called on
Mrs Hawkins and made known his
desire in his blunt. straightforward
way. No less blunt and straightfor-
ward was her answer. She was mar
ried, her husband was still alive, and
in fact she expected him home that
very evening. He had been away for
a long time, but to-day he would re-
turn. Tatton saw the look of JOY
in her eyes, heard the ring of glad
ness in her voice. He turned from
her and left the house. As he walked
dejectedly to the front gate, the little
girl ran after him, shyly slipped her
hand into his, and told him not to
look so, that her papa was coming
home that night. Tatton stopped alb
ruptly, took her in his arms, and held
her close for a moment Gently plac-
ing her on her feet again, he contin-
ued his way to the woods, while the
little girl returned and told her
mother what the man had done.
When he came to the village the
letter, notifying him of Toms death,
was given him. Out by the Old Fort
swamp he brooded over it all. He
wondered in a mechanical way how
much it would cost to reach Ken
lucky. Once there, he would shoot
jenkins. Tom would rest easier in
his grave if he knew of it.
Late that evening he came to the
Hawkins house. He came late pur-
posely, that he might miss seeing
Mrs. Hawkins husband. As he APP
preached the house he took refuge in
the clump of saplings, to see if the
road were clear. A glance convinced
him that it was not Coming towards
him. along the path, were a man and
woman; before them, in childish
glee, ran a little girl. He knew the
three at a glance. As they came
nearer something about the man
seemed familiar. Tatton watched
him closely. The man raised his face
to look at the full moon in the east.
There was no installing hint was
Ben Jenkins. Tatton's first emotion
was one OF ferocious pleasure. His
blood surged hot within him, and
then ran cold. Already was his enemy
within his reach He paused not to
think how he came, or why he came;
but pulling out the pistol was pre-
pared to do bloody work. One sec
ond he hesitated and then it was too
late. Softly he replaced the pistol,
and as softly slipped from the sap
ling thicket deeper into the woods.
1T mout scare Mis- Hawkins an
the leetle gall he muttered; 'Tl
come back tonight an git him Wen
they amt so clost to him."
True to his word, two hours later
he returned with his rifle. Long he
paused in the thicket, but he could
see no one about the house. Finally
he slipped up close to the front door
and lay in hiding From within came
the sound of voices. Soon Jenkins APP
peared on the small front porch, and
with him came the little girl. She
climbed into his lap as he sat on the
step, and called him papa"
Up to this time Tatton could not
conceive OF jenkins relation to
Mrs Hawkins and her daughter.
With a sudden shock it now came to
him He remembered having heard
THAT Hawkins was Mrs. Jenkins
maiden name. For some reason she
had adopted It when her husband
went to Kentucky.
Tatton had just raised his Win
chester when the words Of the little
/ girl came to his ears. At this mo-
ment, from within doors, came the
sound Of Mrs. Jenkins voice in song
Sweetly the words throbbed in his
ears. 1t was the old song, dear to
/ every loyal heart of the old state,
"Sbe was bred in old Kentucky"
Tatton thought the gates of paradise
/ had opened, and that this was the
fragment of an angel song. Enrap-
! tured he listened until the last word
hoated onthe night air and died away.
/ He dropped the muzzle of his gun,