Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1902-08-09
Fh0 Release Of No. 2O1

L 90a of the schedule-On the branch
read was stuck in the snow, and there
famed to be no relief for it. No pro
vision had been made for such a con.
4ingency, because the branch, shelter.
ed by trees and bluffs, had been consid
ered proof against such misfortune
Tire engineer, who had been on the
run for twenty years, was too aston
tahed for words when the small loco.
m6kive failed to cut the drift into
which it had plunged so confidently,
and he sat on his seat staring dumbly
at the conductor, who swore shocking
III and gesticulated with his arms.
IN the coach were two passengers,
both young men. One was the type
OF commercial salesman sent out by
small jobbing houses, we'll dressed,
selR-assertive, crudely phiIosophic, the
other, by appearance, plainly a far
lner He wore a baggy, shiny black
suit, and his white collar was attach
cd 10 a bingham shirt by white bone
button, sewed with black thread. His
appearance was enhanced by care
fully trimmed shock of hair and whis-
kers.
The commercial salesman had
arisen when the train stopped and had
walked to the door.
IT guess" he remarked after a
minute, that we're stalled"
He whistled a popular melody as he
walked down the aisle, and noted with
some amusement that the other man
was c1utching the back of seat, his
eyes filled with CONSERVATION.
aProvoking, isn't it?" the drummer
said as he lighted cigar and drew a
paper covered book from his grip.
sfY-yes, by-cat!" the other stammer-
cd. Say, do you mean that we're
stuck"
That's it exactly. Here's the con-
ductor now"
The conductor slammed the door
'yfc3ously and shook the snow from his
We're up against it, gentlemen"
he announced in disgust "The con-
founded teakettle is dying like a sick
pig out there in drift no bigger'n
q washtub. We're two miles from
DilkpoTt, and the SHOWS so thick you
cant see your hand before your face.
Lucky we've been to supper"
Then we won't get out to-night?"
asked the farmer anxiously, looking
at his watch.
That's the size of it. AS we're up
here on this peayine the section men
won't learn what's the matter with us
till tomorrow. We've got plenty of
coal It might be worse"
Yes" said the farmer, Il s'pose it
might but I don't see how it could
be much worse for me-"
You see," he explained, fastening
the buckle, I've got a particular en-
gagement tonight UP at Dilkport, and
II the train amt going I've got to
hoof It."
He put on the other shoe, and rose,
reaching for the wolfskin coat which
dangled from one end of the parcel
holder. The conductor and the sales
man Contemplated him in astonish-
ment.
But, man, you can't do it possibly"
said the conductor. You'll fall
through a bridge or something and
then You'll freeze to DEATH"
reckon tbs bit risky, admitted
the farmer; but I amt at all sure it
wouldn't be rislier not to. You see
my wife's at Dilllport, and she's sick
She may be dying. I've got to go to
her.
An expression of sympathy same up
on The conductors face and that of the
salesman took on a sudden gravity.
There are certain circumstances, 4"
the farmer continued, in explanation,
which make it more important that
] should see her than you might natur-
ally think from the plain fact of her
being sick l haven't treated her just
right to tell the truth. I've been
stupid and unreasonable. We were
married only year ago. I won her
away from three or four other fellows.
Any one of EN- would have made her
better husband than me. Funny
how such things so, amt it?"
It's a blooming queer old world"
said the conductor, nodding his head
sagely
and the queerest things in it are
girls. added the salesman in the tone
Of al authority.
We were married at Dilkport,
where She was raised, and we went to
my farm to live. We were happy as
could be for maybe six months, and
chen noticed that something was
wr0n9 with her. A sort of a cloud
come over her. 1t was nothing but
h0mesickness, l s'pose but I couldn't
see It any other way than that she
was sorry she'd married me. And one
day happened to find a sheet of pa
pera part of a letter she'd been
writing that had dropped from her
portfolio and l read it. There weren't
many words on the sheet. The first
one was disappointed, ending a SEN
kenca she'd begun on the sheet that
went before. And then it said: 1T is
not as had pictured it. I wish to go
home And right there it ended. I
- IL s4f<13nO to her di6n,+ +h;-I "a