Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1901-04-03

90 ROM Fort Y. to Willow Greek
n was dfteen miles. so said the map
- at the adjutant's. From Willow
Greek to Guggins' Gulch was twenty
miles. rs the crow flies. At one end OF
the line were gay women and gallant
men, scft speech and gentle eourtesies OF
well-bred people. Brightness and beauty
unoved to the strains Of military music
and the jingle of aceoutrements. Easter
was near Mt hand and great preparations
were being made for the post Lenten
hop. At the other end Of the trail, the
further end, up in the mountains, an out
cast was lying.
Alone? She might better have been
her sister at the fort would have said.
She was no Trilby, but simply Meg,
whom some one had called in derision.
4'The Angel" Poor Meg. who had known
no companionship better than that of the
rough men who had given her shelter
and such care as they could when she
needed it.
Meg had come into the world 1909
years too late to be forgiven who turned
her face to the wall and wept in secret,
remembering that Easter was at hand.
The cabin at Guggius' had two rooms
There was the common quarters OF the
men and near at hand a poor makeshift
OF chamber for the sick girl. X had a
chimney Of its own and a fire ia il,
though the weather was getting warmer
Though tho boys worked hard all day
at the claim, Mike found a chance to run
over now and then just to see that Mes
was ali right. Dummy had no gift OF
language. Sometimes he stirred the FIRE
added a fresh log and brought the brok
en-nosed pitcher with water to the bed
side without a word. then hurried back
10 the diCgings But somehow he did
vhose things ia way that expressed de
Yoti0n.
Dummy Mike idolized Meg Strange
was it not? That sick girl, who had Nc
other virtue than that she was thankful
for kindness shown her and patient un
der the pain that raekcd her, was a hero
inc to Mike lie was hungry for som,
one to worship and SO he worshiped Meg
There were curtains-heaven forbid ;
description OF them-9yer the one win
dow; ON the floor lay ebear skin.
To make it more cheerful and home
like. when evening came the boys gather
ed in the "boodore," as Diggs called he
Faor,. They dried thelr Wet boots At ne
IRE and filled the air with unutterabl
fumes .af tobacco and told her ever!
night, with cheerful mendacity. that sh
was 'pickin up Dummy could not pa.
hers compliments as his companions did
to keep her Spirits up, bnt he shifted he
pillows when She was fcyerish aud save
the choicest of their coarse fare as lid
bits for her and remembered little thing
that the others forgot-thin6 that
woman recolleets.
Easter viii be here in two days. boys.
The ''boysa turned around in amazt
men;. Was Megs mind wanderingt
Easter. Why. they hardly knew whe
Sunday came and never observed II, eS
cept, perhaps. by lying abed little long
er in the morning and giving the fryiu
pan an extra load of responsibility,
Il wish | could hear some music jus
once more and see some flowers
Very common clay was Meg. 4 won
IN from whom other women had bee
wont 70 draw aside their skirts; yet b
enc of those strange contradictions tha
make even our own selves enigmas to 4
she loved music. loved flowers, aud pine
for them in that rude camp.
What's up, Meg?" asked Jimm!