River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-09-29

Certainly" The rising infection
suggested an enquiry as to whom he
might be. AS though at roll call Bron-
toms heart answered that it was pleas
ant in here after the chill and din out
side, that the fair sweet face and the
strong hand standing at pause-even the
deep chair by her desk seemed good to
him. He remembered that she had
called him dear many times and it
seemed very good. This woman with the
glad, gray eyes was his friend. And he
promised himself that after this when
things went wrong he would come here
and sit in this chair and look at the fire
and listen to the scratching of her pen
and all would be well with him. Then
the infection in her certainly made it.
self felt and he replied to it placidly.
81 am the young girl you have been
corresponding with"
Miss Boswell removed her glasses and
looked at him thoughtfully. Every
manly line in his well-marked face;
every tired one. She spoke kindly:
Pardon me if the saying sounds
harsh, but when a bearded man of 30
odd announces himself as young girl,
he lays himself open to the charge of in
sanity or intoxication."
Il am neither drunk nor crazy" and he
sighed contentedly.
Nor young girl?"
"NO. Nothing but a man who" he
paused to drink in the deep peace of her
presence and she completed quietly, "who
has seen wild day on the floor. May be
you will not mind resting bit while
finish this sketch before the color fades"
She pushed a bell. "Only ten minutes. -.
Her voice trailed away, her shoulders
stopped again to her rapid writing. Not
too absorbed to call his attention to the
tray the maid placed on a corner of her
desk. Coffee, oysters, hot rolls, cold
ham-BrontOn had eaten nothing since
breakfast ''But I shouldn't eat your
salt"
She swung her pen crosswise to shove
cup toward him.
''No salt in the coffee. Drink it. You
need it," And Bronton surrendered his
tired soul to her soothing. 1t was good
to be here, and nothing else mattered.
Good to be here, watched over by those
kind, gray eyes, ministered to by that
strong right hand sOothed by this sunny
silence This was the woman he had
needed all his life and he had found her.
The ten minutes ran into a silent half
hour, and after he had finished his sup
per Bronton lay back in his chair rest
ing as only a tired man or tired horse
can rest, unconscious of the occasional
shrewd chances flashed upon him from
behind those gold glasses A rustic of
paper, a brisk "well' broke the spell.
Bronton drew deep breath. 1T is all
right" he said contentedly, "I'm Lot
tie"
She took off her glasses and looked at
him. 81 beg your pardon?" The tone
made him sit up. He explained quickly.
'Tottie, that you have been writing those
strong, sweet letters to. I'm Lottie c..
Bronton!" He pulled out a card.
The gray eyes went through him like
cold steel.
Pardon me if the saying sound harsh,
you are also a scoundrel."
"Scoundrel? [! mo, no. thought
you were d man.
ga year ago"
81 know But-but-oh, Lord, didn't
heed the distant drum. went on believ-
ing you to be man"
can uncommonly scaly one?"
ooh, no. Wait. Oh, | might as well
tell you the truth. l thought you were a
scamp and meant to show you up"
A
flicker Of fun warmed her eyes. Bronton
laughed joyousIy and laid his hand on
her shoulder.
"Own up. Have you never doubted
my girlhood?"
at has occurred to me occasionally
that if you were a girl you were the
craziest one ever created"
"Ah, had you too, refused to heed the
distant drum. Don't you think you are
about as deep in the mud as l am in the
mire?"
mot at all"
"Then give me hand to help me out.
Please, Molly, I'm tired. Dog-tired."
4 know you are. So am l. Let's sit
down."
Bronton sat down, retaining her hand.
''This is what l call being comfortable"
he said.
''This is what l call being incorrigible,'
Molly retorted, withdrawing her hand to
the arm of her chair.
Bronton stretched out his arm and
laid one finger across the back of her
hand. Heed the drum" he admon-
ished in a tone of deep satisfaction.
Heed the drum, it is beating reveille for
your happiness and mine-and it is no
longer a distant drum"