Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1903-02-14

I
thing that don't please 'em at all No
l think that idea of yourn about meet,
Ing and the bouquets is best after all.
A man might begin with that and then
gradually work around to my idea.
They'd sort of pave the way. The
reason l want to know about it is. I
know fellow that is terribly in love
but can't get up spunk enough to out
with it. He's half afraid she might
get mad if he did"
II don't think she'd be mad-sup-
posing the man was you"
At that moment her father and sis
ter appeared at the kitchen door, Sa-
rah moved toward the stove.
Supper late, same as dinner was. :"
said Polly, "and small wonder. We
| find ourselves so taken up with the
hired man we have no time for such
a measly thing as pap's supper. A
pity we wasn't born hired help-we
take it so beautifully"
Next morning, when Sarah opened
the shutters she started back in glad
surprise. Tied to one of theme was a
newly gathered bunch of buttercups
and daisies and red clover and morn
ing glories. In the mist of them was
scrap of paper bearing the words
for HEr."
These treasures she carried to the
attic and hid away. When Sunday
came, it brought new brightness along
with it. Silas was at the meeting,
and after it was over gladly accepted
her fathers invitation to walk home
with them. All the way home he kept
near to Sarah; much like a craft, that
fearing the dangers of the deep, keeps
to the shore nor ventures far beyond
it,
The days went by till they numbered
thirty and month had passed. Each
morning had brought the little bunch
of dew-wet flowers; each Sunday had
seen Silas at the old westinghouse
with the family group. In this time
new world had opened to Sarah, and
Silas was the god of it. From her
heart and brain was swept away every
thought of her dreary household tasks,
of her plain face, red hair and blister
ed hands. She saw the land and sky
and water glorified, and she knew
that Silas was the Why and Where
fore.
Today it was raining, dreary, pene-
trating rain. Sarah stood at her old
place, cutting biscuit Polly stood
near the window, scowling.
"I've told pa that I'll put up with
it no longer!" said she. eff you two
want to be hail-fellow- well-met with
the hired man, we'll and good. I don't,
and what's more, I won't. It's bad
enough to have to work in the fields
and wear cheap rags of clothes, with
out making equals of your help. It's
enough to make a show of us before
every one. I've told pa to either
make Silas keep his place of to give
give him his walking papers. Great
pigi don't see what the creature does
around, anyhow. I can't bear the
sight of him"
And Polly flounced out, slamming
the door behind her. Sarah turned
to open the oven, but stopped short
on beholding Silas. The light had
gone out of his eyes and his face was
dead white.
'1-I was coming-in and-and L
I heard every word-word she said;
and it's-it's hurt me-more-than l
can say. I didn't know my-my go
ing to meeting would-would disgrace
her-especially at tit was her sis
-, nlr yscSr
told you, Sarah, man-never knows
how to take woman"
Sarah went up to him and laid her
hand on his arm.
"Silas," said she, why bother your
self about what she said? 1t can't
hurt you, you know; and besides, it
was her said it, not me-"
That's just it; if it'd been you l
should not have cared so much; but
her-why, good God, Sarah, love
her!"
Sarah's hand dropped from his arm,
and for one short space the light, the
world even life itself, was blotted out.
Then she turned her death-like face
up to his, saying
"And was it her you meant tnat
day at the Window"
"Of course; thought you knew.
"And them bouquets-was them for
herr"
"Of course; who else?'
That night Silas came upon lone
woman standing at the water edge.
It was Sarah. On her arm was
small wicker basket half filled with
| punches OF buttercups and daisies, red
clover and morning glories. Sonio
were dead and quite dried out; some
lay withered and fast dying. One,
the gift of the day but newly gone,
still chung to life, and lay among the
others like living heart in the midst
of hopes and dreams long dead and
broken. One by one she cast them
far out upon the water and watched
the receding tide as it carried them to
sea. Silas touched her on the arm.
Them bouquets?" he said question