River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-02-06
ALI for the Love
OF a Girl
BY JAMES NJ. FREER.


u face was hidden by shawl
thrown over her head, was walking
down the "Ramper," the raised road
which ran straight as a stretched
string across Suffer marsh.
1t was the dull dusk of an autumn
evening, and a raw wind from the sea
moaned across the flats and caused
Selma Pritchett to put her wrap closer
about her face.
Presently, far in the distance, the
girl discerned figure outlined against
the fading yellow of the evening sky.
She gave a shrill call:
"Joe! Joel"
The man stopped and looked round.
Selma pressed on and soon Joined
him. He met her with outstretched
hands, and a kiss passed between them.
"Joe, / came out on purpose to see
you. [ wanted to speak to you where
no one could ever hear u.s."
ST reckon we're safe enough here,
lass" smiled the man. "There's not
q soul1l venture within a mile O. us.
Folk don't love the 'Ramper' on a night
like this"
But neither of them noticed a rustic
in the tall dead reeds which fringed the
narrow road or in the quick gather
ING gloom pale face, which appeared
ghostlike above the heavy screen.
'Did you hear the dykes finished,
Joe?" Selma spoke with concentrated
bitterness.
''Aye, lass, know it, Joe responded,
shortly.
''And next summer they say all the
marsh will be inclosed and parceled out
with fences"
eyes, I've heard that, too. IT'S a
wicked job
'Wicked! Wicked! I tell you, Joe,
father will be ruined man. Where'H
be any grazing for the cows or the
geese? Wherell he shoot any wild
fowl? Where can we cut reeds for
thatching or turf for fuel? Why, we
shall starved"
mot while l live" broke in Joe.
''Tell you what, lass, when we're mar
ried Wen move out of this country and
go back to my old place"
"What, and leave father here to
starved" the girl famed out. "Not me;
and I'll tell you what, Joe Reave, l vow
I will never marry you without we can
settle here in our old home. o, I only
wish were a man! I'd do something
to stop these commissioners at their
wicked work"
The man, big, heavy fellow that he
was, quailed at her fury.
'What would you do?'' he asked at
length.
"Do? Why, I'd shoot old Squire
Ducllett. He's the head of it all, or
no, I'll tell you what I would do, Joe"
She spoke now more quietly, but with
intense emphasis. "This is what I'd
do. Wait for flood and cut the dyke"
'You don't mean that, Selina?''
gasped Joe.
.sYou wait and see if 1 don't" she re
piled.
Joe seized both her hands and gazed
straight in her face. The figure behind
the reeds craned it's head forward to
listen.
''You shame me, LASS Joe said. his
rather heavy face lighted up with a
passion of admiration. Its what we
should have thoughto O long ago. Wait,
I'll do it, see if don't"
Selma looked up at him a moment.
There was no doubt he meant what he
said
every well, Joe," she said. "The day
after the water runs back over our
marsh lands, that day I'll marry you.
And now L must go home. Father'll be
waiting for his supper. Good night"
The figure in the reeds shrank back
and hid itself as the lovers parted.
Selma walked sharply homewards to
where. across the flats, shone a faint
light from the cottage. Joe strobe
along with long, swinging steps in the
opposite direction.
When he was out of sight the man
who had been in hiding crawled from
his concealment up on to the "Ramper'
and shook his fist in the direction the
other had disappeared.
''Ah! my fine fellow he growled,
with an ugly laugh. II have you now.
So sure as my names Vane Merritt, FL
be even with YOU"
The facts of the case were these:
In the year 1867 an agitation was on
foot amongst the farmers and land
owners of the coast to drain the i'm
mense marshes which stretched in one
monotonous level miles and miles
along the bleak coast of the sea, and
which for centuries the sea had in
vadsd and swamped in every winter
storm. Rich in themselves, these lands
were rendered valueless by the inroads
of salt water.
Vet Ia thar mon ~. ssSlo6marc >,