Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-02-10

| When I stepped ashore my dress
caught the gunwale and upset our ca
noe. The good man rolled noisily into
the water, and rose dripping. 1 tried
to help him.
Don't bother me-none." he whis-
pered testify, as il out of patience.
while he righted the canoe.
| When at last he was seated again.
- I leaned to shove him of, he whis-
pered In compromising, kindly man
nor: when ye re goin' ashore. an
they 8 somebody n the canoe. don't
never try t TEX 1t with ye less We tell
i'm yer goin' tew."
There was deep silence over wood
and water, but he went away so
stealthily could not hear the stir Of
his paddle. stood watching as he
1immed OF In the darkness, eoins
quickly out OF sight. Then crept over
the rocks and through thicket. shiv-
ering, for the night had grown chilly.
! snagged my dress on a brier every
step. and had to move by inches After
mincing along half an hour or 50. I
came where could feel bit Of clear
earth. and stood there. dancing on my
tiptoes, IN the dark, to quicken my
blood little. Presently the damn
light Of dawn came leaking through
the tree-tops. heard a rafting stif
In the bare limbs above me. Was IL
some monster Of the woods? Al.
though / have more courage than most
women. 1t startled me, and stood still.
The light came clearer; there was
rush toward me that shook the boughs.
Dsered upward. It was only SOUR
rel, now scratching his ear, as he
looked down ct me. He braced him
sell, and seemed to curse me loudly
for spy, trembling with rage and
rushing up and down the branch above
me. Then all the curious, inhospitabla
folk OF the timber-land came out upon
their towers to denounce.
made my way over the rustling,
brittle leaves, and soon found q trail
that led up over high land. fol-
lowed It for . matter Of some minutes,
and came to the road. taking my left
hand way, as they told me. There
was no traveller in sight. walked a.
Sast a. could, passing village 1t
suArise, where asked my way in
French at Q smithy. Beyond there was
narrow clearing, stumpy and rank
with briers. on the upside Of the way.
Presently, looking over level stretch,
could zee trees arching the road
again, from under which, e I was
looking. q squad Of cavalry came out
dp the open. It startled me. began
to think I was trapped. thought Of
lodging into the brush. But, NO; they
had seen me. and would be a fool now
to turn fugitive. I looked about me.
Cows were feeding near. picked up
stick and went deliberately into the
bushes. driving one of them to the pike
and heading her toward them. They
went by at gallop, never pulling up
while in sight of me. Then passed
the COW and went on, stopping an hour
later at lonely log house, where
found French people, and welcome
that included moose meat, q cup Of
coffee and fried potatoes. Leaving, I
rode some miles with q travelling
tinker, yoluble, well-meaning youth
Who teok 9 liking for me. and went
far out Of his way to help nae on. He
blushed proudly when, stopping to
mend pot for the cook at camp
Of militia, they inquired If I was his
wife.
mo; but she may be yet" said he;
who knows?"
knew It was no good place for me,
and felt some relief when the young
man did me this honor. From that
moment they set me down for q sweet
heart.
She's too big for you. my boy"
said the general, laughing.
1.-THE more the better" said he:
cant have too much Of a good wife"
said little to him as we rode along
He asked for my address, when left
him. and gave me the comforting as
sufaoce that he would see me again
made no answer. leaving him at q
turn whore. north of us, could see
the white houses Of Wrentham. Kings
ton was hard by, its fors browning a
hilltop by the river.
It was past three by a tower clock
at the gate Of the Weirs when got
there. A driveway through tall oaks
led to the mansion Of dark stone.
Many acres Of park and field and gar
den were shut in with high walls I
rang a bell at the small gate, and some
fellow In livery took my message
wait ere, my lass,'' said he, with
an English accent. IT II 60 at once
to the secretary"
sat In Q rustic chair by the gate
side. waiting for that functionary.
"Ah, come in, come in." said he.
coolly. O. he opened the gate little.
He said nothing more. and followed
him-an oldish man with gray eyes
and hair and side-whiskers, and neat
~ dressed, his head covered to the ears
with high hat, tilted backward. We
took stone path, and soon entered a
rear door.
''She may sit in the servants hail. -
said he to one Of the maids.
They took my shawl, as he went
away, and showed me to room where,
evidently, the servants did their eat
Ing. They were inquisitive, those
kitchen maids. and now and then l
was rather put to it for a wise reply.
I said as little as might be, using the
dialect, long familiar to me, Of the
French Canadian. My bonnet amused
them. It was none too new or fashion
able. and I did not remove it.
afraid we II steal it," heard one
Of them whisper in the next room.