River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1901-02-28

Matilda had insisted upon Matte, -
every one knew that that diminUtiye
belonged 10 Martha" let alone the
fooIishness of having two "Matties'
in the same house.
Naturally Miss Martha thought of
young Tom. 1t seemed right that
Towser should be part Matilda's:
Tom Gordon had spoken of them both
to his son, in his strong manliness re-
fusing to mention lis early disap-
pointment, respecting the one-time
object of his choice even though she
had wronged him. 81 never meant
to wrong him." she said. Besides,
if I had been so dear to him, wouldn't
he have made some sign when his let
ter remained unanswered? Or are
men so easily offended"
She had often had some such
thoughts, but now they came to her
with redoubled meaning. So she sat
and hemmed a lot of new towels and
waited for the sound of a well-known
bark that came not out of the mys-
FERROUS echoes Of the night.
Across the hall Miss Matilda's mind
also had free play. She also thought
of young Tom. She wondered if
Martha had remarked how much he
resembled his father. His father!
She thought of that letter in the
drawer of the hall table.
Gle always called me Matte" She
shivered. 81 was younger than
Martha"
All at once the light from under
her cousins door was quenched. Was
it possible Martha could go to sleep?
But Miss Martha had not gone to
sleep. AS she sat there hemming her
towels she suddenly threw the sewing
from her and raised her hands aloft.
Send the dog back" she said,
wildly; che is so much to me be-
cause" She reached forward with
her right hand and put out the light,
and sat there in the dark.
As early as he could get there in the
morning Jimmy Jones reported. He
was rewarded for his alertness. Then
he remembered a dream he had over
night-a dream which disclosed to
him the very place where he might
discover Towser. He was dispatched
to verify the dream.
"I'll give him dollar if he brings
Towser," Miss Martha said to herself.
ITO think of him dreaming of the
dog!" mentally observed Miss Matil-
da. "I'll reward him we'll"
Feeling faint, she brewed herself a
cup of tea, and hoped that Martha
would do likewise, for she was sure
that Martha, like herself, had taken
little sustenance in the past "a hours.
Miss Martha smclled the brewage in
the opposite parlor.
TEA" she said. "She always was
romantic!" And she ate a sandwich
and drank a glass of milk.
Then here was Jimmy Jones. His
dream had been delusive, dreams go
ing by contraries.
The eyes of his patrons were hard,
for their thoughts had become bitter.
But for her" Miss Matilda had said
over her tea-cup, II might have been
\ happy woman" while Miss Martha,
throwing the crumbs of her sandwich
out to the sparrows, became impressed
by the absurdity of the situation.
ut is her fault" she said; "she has
made me act the Ounce all my life;
| even let her steal my name"
Thus the searcher after Towser
came upon them.
Find the dog" Miss Martha said,
uncompromisingly, "and / VIII give
you dollar. Dead or alive, find him."
Miss Matilda heard the raised voice,
and called the boy. Find him." she
said, dead or alive, and do not come
back till you do find him"
A half hour later the hall resound-
ed with a sprightly tread. Jimmy
Jones had solved the problem.
''Towser's there" he called out,
loudly; hes in the riverl"
Miss Matilda, in her doorway.
grasped at the jamb, Miss Martha
glanced toward her.
He's in the river" repeated Jimmy
Jones.
Miss Matilda slid down the Intel to
the floor. Miss Martha crossed slow
ly to her.
Are you sick?" she demanded
With difficulty Miss Matilda righted
herself and shook her head negatively.
NO" she said; mo-" then gave a
lurch forward, and would have fallen
but that Miss Martha's arm stayed
her.
He is dead" gasped Miss Matilda,
"in the river!"
"Yes'm," Jimmy Jones took up the
word, ''in the river"
Miss Martha frowned. ''Go away"
she said.
Jimmy Jones countenance ex-
pressed alarm. you said you'd give
me a dollar" he reminded her, "alive
or dead"
A disk of silver sped from Miss
Martha's hand. go away" she or
dered; and then she and her cousin
were alone.
She frightened her hold on the limp
woman at her side. Surely" she
said, you will be better in your par
lori" and she led Miss Matilda thither.
IL