Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-04-02
EASTER AT GUGGINS' GULCH.


80 ROM Fort y. to Willow Greek
was fifteen miles; so said the map
y at the adjutant's. From Willow
Greek 20 Guggins' Gulch was twenty
miles as the crow flies At one end of
the line were gay women and gallant
men. soft speech and gentle cOurtesies of
wel-bred people. Brightness and beauty
moved to the strains of military music
and the jingle of accoutrements. Easter
was near ut hand and great preparations
were being made for the post-Lenten
hop. At the other end Of the t,an, 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,
1.-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 1900
years too late to be forgiven; who turned
her face to the wall and wcpt in secret,
remembering that Easter was at hand.
The cabin at Guggins' had two rooms.
There was the common quarters If the
men and near at hand poor makeshift
of chamber for the sick girl. 1t had a
chimney of its own and n fire in it,
though the weather was getting warmer.
Though the boys worked hard all day
at the clnim, Mike found a chance to run
over now and then Just to see that Meg
was all right. Dummy had no gift of
language Sometimes he stirred the FIRE,
added fresh log and brought the brok-
vcu messed pitcher with water to the bed
side without Il word then hurried back
70 the diggings. But somehow he did
those things in 4 way that expressed de-
votion.
Dummy Mike idolized Meg. Strange,
was il not? That sick girl, who had no
other virtue than that she was thankful
for kindness shown her and patient I'M
der the pain that racked her. was hero
inc to Mike. He was hungry for some
one 10 worship and so he worShiped Meg.
There were CurtaiuS-heaven forbid a
description of them-over the one win
dow, on the floor lay bear skin.
To make it more cheerful and home
like. when evening came the boys gather
ed in the "bOodore," as Diggs called her
roo,S.. HThey dried their wet boots at her
fire and filled the air with unutterable
fumes of tobacco and told her every
night. with cheerful mendacity. that she
was "pick:n' up" Dummy could not pay
her compliments. as his companions did
20 keep her spirits up. but he shifted heI
pillows when she was feveriSh and saved
the choicest Of their coarse fare as It'd
bits FOR her and remembered little things
that the others forgot-thingS that 4
woman recollectS.
Easter will be here in two days, boys
The boys" turned around in amaze
ment. Was Meg's mind wandering?
Easter. Why, they hardly knew wher
Sunday came and never observed it. ex
cept, perhaps, by lying abed a little long
sr in the morning. and giving the frying
pan an extra load of responsibility.
Il wish l could hear some music Just
once more and see some flowers"
Very common clay was Meg. A WON
an from whom other women had beer
wont 70 draw aside their skirts; yet By
one OF those strange contradictions that
make even our own selves enigmaS to u:
she loved music. loved flowers. and pine
for them in that rude camp rs.
What's up, MegT' asked Jimmy
swhSt put Easter into your headg'
She held up an almanac, sole literary
treasure OF the cabin. Ii had been pack
ed ever with supplies from the station.
Il see it's the day after tomorrow, ans
I thought thought I'd like 10 hea
some music and see some flowers ono
more before-before-" She turned he
face 10 the wall and the boys" pulle,
viciously at their pipes. Jimmy pres
entity got up. not looking az the otbAr
nor at Meg. who was shaking lkxi
under the old blue blanket that covere;
her. and stumpei out Of the room, wit
his face twitching. Mike crossed owe
and sat down on the edge OF the bunk
smoothing the girls hair and not .sayin
q word.
After s little while she controlled hel