Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1905-01-25

WIN was UdO duu LIS nSAuS lcuucL,
and that he had never done any row.
ing before that summer, you may be-
gin to realize the power Of love. Big
blood blisters came on the palms Of
Gifford's pudgy hands, and he suffered
almost continually from pains in his
back and legs, but not for a moment
did he ever think Of giving up the bat
tie. Miss Shurtleff expressed an adj
miration for water lilies; Clifford wad
ed out in ten inches Of water and two
feet Of mud to get them, greatly to
the damage Of his footgear and trou-
sers. Miss Shurtleff casually remarked
that the great hairy woodpecker must
be curious looking bird; Clifford, fat
and round, climbed forty-foot pine
stump, and took young bird out of
it's nest to show her. incidentally the
stump broke as he was coming down
and Clifford fell into the creek. For
tunately the creek bottom was good
and soft.
The climax came on a Saturday.
Tommy, the guide, precipitated mat
tiers the night before.
"Mr. Shurtleff Is coming Sunday
morning." he said.
Clifford started as IL he had been
shot. In they more than two weeks
which had passed since Miss Shurt-
left come to the camp, he had never
once had an opportunity to speak with
her alone. And now her father was
coming. For some reason Clifford felt
much afraid Of Mr.. Shurtleff, though
he had never seen him. He was anx-
ious to reach some sort of an under
standing with the daughter before the
old man put in his appearance. Only
one day remained in which to make
the attempt. Gifford's back ached and
his arms were sore; his hands were
one mass Of blisters and his legs
panied him at every step. But he was
game.
What do you say to little row
down to Big Dog lake?' he asked air
lily that Friday evening after supper.
Big Dog lake was good twelve miles
to the south. Altogether the trip meant
a row Of twenty-five miles.
I'D like to co." said Miss Shurtleff,
"but it's terribly long row."
mot at ALL" said Clifford, and Tom
my, the guide, retired to the porch
and laughed noiselessly, with one
hand over his mouth.
"I'll take you in my boat" said Gift
ford, desperately, and"
"No," interrupted the young wom-
an, II think we'd better go together.
We can both go in Tommy's boat and
you can"
"Not at ALL" said Clifford, "I will
row you both, Of course, If you prefer
to go together"
They started at five o'clock In the
morning. Clifford felt sure he should
faint before they covered the first five
miles. But he gritted his teeth and
kept on, though every stroke was
agony. He had laid out his plan Of
campaign. He would wait until they
landed for luncheon, and then make an
opportunity to speak to the young
woman alone.
Luncheon time came. Clifford ate al
most nothing. When they had fin
ished their coffee he started to walk
back into the woods. Presently there
came the sound Of cry.
"Come here, quick" Clifford was
calling. Tommy, The guide, must have
been posted beforehand. At any rate,
he did not move. But the young wom-
an was up in an instant, running back
through the woods trail as lightly as
a fawn. The old party sat still on
her cushion-which was as Clifford
had expected.
Clifford wasted no time.
Miss Shurtieff," he began abruptly,
II love you and I made this chance
to tell you So"
"What? said the startled young
woman.
Miss Shurtleff, I love you," again
declared the red-faced Clifford. And
then Miss Shurtleff's face broke into a
smile.
"Why, my dear man." she said, II
am Mrs. Shurtleff Julia, there on the
bank, Is my step-daughter, and the
only Miss Shurtleff 1 know Of"
Poor Gifford's face was purple.
"You see, my husband is thirty five
years older than I am. But I'm not
angry with you. In fact, you've paid
me great compliment But thought
you knew all the time"
Mrs. Shurtleff wanted her step
daughter to help her row to camp in
Tommy's boat, but Clifford would not
listen to 1t. He was game to the end.
AAe left the camp that night and went
back to Milwaukee. He didn't care to
wait and meet the aged Mr.. Shurtlef
Chicago Tribune.