Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1903-04-21
AT THE oil D FARM

81 PRETTY rosy-cheeked girl,
IN with round bare Srmss was seat
ed ON the top step of the farmhouse
piazza, busily Smelling beans, exchang-
ing sentences occasionally with a stall
wart young fellow who was ostensibly
shingling the barn near by.
The air was heavy with perfume or
wistaria and cinnamon roses, while
from the hedge came the soft notes of
ming birds shimmering in the sunlight
darted to and fro, plunging their long
bills into the blossoms of the vine that
covered the porch, while over all how
cred the sweet silence CT summer
afternoon.
The young man had given up all
pretense of work and lay stretched out
in the sun on the sloping roof with
hands closed behind his head, at peace
with the world and himself.
II say, Nan. l wish l owned this
farm; it's a jolly old place"
Well it will all be yours some day,
Tom, and then l suppose you viii send
your poor cousin by marriage flynn, .
SID Nan, with a mirthful twinkle in
Der eyes.
Il would shake you for that speech,
my girl, if it wasn't too much trouble"
said Tom, loftily.
Just then there was a sound of splin-
tering wood, six feet of Drawn and
muscle shot rapidly downward, and
with a ''plunk" disappeared in the
water butt.
Nan gave a shrek of laughter, and
ran to help the Immersed Adonis, but
there was no answering laugh; Instead,
a quiet that frightened her.
Tom was not practical joker, still
It did not seem possible that he could
be seriously injured. What 6hould she
do? The men were all down in the
hay field, and Tom might drown while
she went for help.
Her eye lighted on the chopping
block. 1t was huge affair. but she
managed to drag It 10 the side of the
butt, and. climbing up, discovered poor
Tom, doubled up like a jackknife.
AS her cries reached his stunned
ears, he collected his wits, but did not
move.
Nan was leaning over the side, with
the tears streaming down her pretty
face.
ION. Tom, please get up. Dear Tom
20, what shall l do He viii drown
before any one comes" And she
reached frantically for his collar.
Toms head was just above the
water, luckily. and with returning
breath he said:
Don't cry, Nan. I'm not dead by a
long shot, but my ankle is twisted and
you'll have to get some one to help
me out of this"
II am afraid you will faint again, y
said Nan, as he turned white with a
spasm of pain.
Tom pulled himself together with an
effort. This was altogether too good
n chance to lose. Nan had leased him
for the last year. driving him wild
by accepting Invitations from all the
different SWANS who worshipped at
her shrine, but with rare wisdom he
had concealed his jealousy.
He had proposed TO her, but she,
with young maids distaste for the
final surrender. had refused TO answer.
perhaps so, some day." was her only
reply 10 his earnest. "Wil you marry
me. Nan?'
Now was his opportunity.
Nan" In a purposely weak voice,
"don't leave me. dear. / feal dread
fully-as If were slipping
away-you do-love-me--a little,
don't you. dearY"
YES, Tom. But for goodness sake
try TO get out. Here. I'll help you.
Can't YOU stand on the other foot at
all?~
Tom made frantic efforts 10 attain
an upright position. holding on TO the
Arm little brown hand tightly.
II was serious work getting out, but
ne finally managed IL. and sank ex-
hausted on the block. leaning mean
while helplessly on Mans shoulder.
suddenly he clasped the amazed girl
in strong embrace
The ankle is bad enough. my girl,
but it's worth II all TO see those tears
for me on your dear face. Now. how
soon are you going TO be my little
wifeg No. no. my dear!- as Nan in
dignantly tried 10 get away. y know
sou love me now, and you can't PUT me
OFT any longer"
"weh-perhaps l de-" said Nan, as
she raised her April face TO receive his
first SS-Indianapolis Sun.