Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-10-19
haps an excusable tremor in my voice,


"The reputed panther on Brigham is
land" replied Deacon Fay, land I
guess it is panther, too, for no other
creature could give a screech like
that. People say that panther has
his den on that rocky island, and
ing from rock to rock in the channel.
I've read all about it in the county pa
per, but l never took any stock in the
stories. It didn't seem possible that
a panther could survive in this part
of the country, yet I'm forced to be-
lieve it now, for that was no human
scream"
We made the last two miles into
Bakersville in surprisingly quick
time, and ratified across the wooden
bridge over the river just as lights be-
gan to twinkle down the single street
of the village.
'1'll take you right to the elders
house. said my companion. you'll
find his wife one of the salt of the
earth-sensible, sincere, kind-hearted,
brave and unselfish. Here we are
and there she is at the door, looking
for u.s."
The rattle of the buggy wheels
across the bridge had brought the
minister's wife to the door, and there
she stood, peering out into the dusk,
with glow of lamplight streaming
around her figure from behind. She
was short and slight, with quick, en-
ergetic movements, and face that
was both sweet and strong. Her hair
was fast grazing, yet she did not i'm
press one as person who was growing
old.
well, deacon, you've made good
time" she said land I'm glad you
have, for supper is ready little
earlier than I had planned and you
can stop and have a bite with us be-
fore going home. Harold, take Dea-
con Fays horse around to the barn."
A fine, manipulating boy of about
&c stepped forward and led the horse
away, while Deacon Fay brought me
ZIP the steps and introduced me- Mrs.
Wilbur welcomed me cordially, and in
a few moments made me feel entirely
at home. She presented her children.
Harold and two sisters, younger by
few years, and soon we all sat down
to delicious and bountiful supper.
A little before midnight, that Satur-
day night, it began to rain in torrents,
and every time woke up could hear
the storm dashing against the windows
Of my bed room and beating with a
dull roar on the ground outside. "Too
bad" I thought, sleepily. "To-mor-
row'll be a rainy Sunday. and there'll
be only a handful of people at church."
The thought of anything more serious
resulting from the storm never oc-
Cured to ne.
Sure enough, all day Sunday the rain
poured down in torrents. But the
church was not far away, so, of course,
we all went. both morning and after
noon. At the supper table, after the
second service, Mrs. Wilbur said, some
what hesitatingly, "Mr. Wilbur has
been in the habit of conducting a Sun
day evening mission service in the
schoolhouse at the Four Corners.
some three miles up the valley. I
have said nothing to the people there
about his being away, and suppose
they will assemble in the schoolhouse
as usual My plan was-not expect
ing this storm-to ask you to drive
down there with me and hold the
meeting as usual"
And I shall be glad to go, storm or
no storm I replied. II want to carry
out Mr.. Wilbur's regular programme
in every detail. But don't think you
ought to. go, this bad night. Can't
Harold drive me up there, and show
me where the schoolhouse is?''
mo, must go. and I want to co."
replied Mrs. Wilbur IF the meeting
is held, I must be there. No one else
can play the organ and lead the sing
ing. I don't mind mere weather. l
can assure you I've encountered a good
deal of it since We came here, and you
can see that it hasn't hurt me-"
I laughed as I looked at Mrs. Will
bur's fine color and bright eyes. "Well,
If you're not to be frightened by a lit
tie wind and rain, I certainly am
not?" 1 replied "When shall we
start?"
AT about $50, Harold will harness
the horse, and have it at the door at
that time"
We were off promptly at $50, all
bundled up, and with a big carriage
umbrella clamped to the seat. The
rain was falling, if anything, harder
than ever, and even the road was get
ting to be like the bed Of a shallow.
brook. Our route took us up the river
valley, the road every now and ther.
skirting the very edge of the stream.
We could see by the light Of our Ian.
tern, hung in front Of the dashboard,
that the water was already almost
bank-high. There was still unmelted
snow in the recesses of the mountains,
and this warm, long continued April
rain was rapidly swelling the tribu-
tary brooks.
II do wish it would stop raining"
said my companion, uneasily. 1--WE
have two bridges to cross, and what
should we do if one of them should be
washed away?"
We kept on, however, passed the
bridges safely, and drove to the school
house at the Corners" which we
found lighted and filled with a larger
audience than had been present at
either service in the church After a
warm and inspiring meeting of nearly
two hours, Mrs Wilbur and I started
on our return.
We fought our way against the
storm, after that, mostly in silence,