Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1907-04-06


pleasant word or nod.
But one Sunday night when Vain
wright sat alone on the back porch
stunning at a guitar a white dress
glmmered in the doorway, and pres
entity Mary came out and sat down
please don't stOp!" she cried as
wainwright smothered the last chord
Of a college glee. I'm very fond o.
musicr
what else are you fond of, | Won
der?" thought Wainwright. and he
deftly led her on to speak of herself
She was fond of reading, she confess
ed, and knew many Of the poets by
heart. Her taste in literature was as
simple as it was fine, and the more she
smoke the more Wainwright wondered.
for she seemed utterly content with
her present occupation.
ANY work that is done we'll is beau
tiful," she declared earnestly. and.
though her illusions to herself were
delicately reticent, Wainwright found
it easy to picture her primitive life.
primitive and yet not humdrum Her
love OF nature and beauty forbade that.
''What wonderful country it is"
mused Wainwright, where even the
rustics have ideas of their own and .
vivid way Of expressing them" Mary's
personality was the most challenging
and Illuminating one that he had dis
covered so far, and descriptions of her
covered several pages of his notebook.
In the days that followed he found
that if he helped Mary with the sup
per dishes the longer they would have
70 sit on the porch in the cool of the
evening. SO while she splashed the
suds he polished plates and cups and
quoted his favorite authors. After
ward they would stroll together down
the orchard path. watching the first
stars and listening to the eerie notes
Of the whippoOrwill, pleasant state
Of affairs destined to end abruptly, for
wainwright returned from the fields
one evening to find Mrs. Rolfe alone in
the kitchen Mary was gone.
Had a letter from one Of her folks"
said. the farmer. 'and she went right
off. Wouldn't take cent of her pay
cause she left so sudden"
Wainwright looked blank.
"Didn't she leave any address" he
queried.
"Said she'd write" answered Rolfe
lacOnically.
'But wasn't there any message?
persisted Wainwright
.sNot q word" said Farmer Rolfe
cheerfully.
Mrs. Rolfe had some of her famous
biscuits for supper, but wainwright
had lost his appetite. He stood on the
back porch in the afterglow, and ev-
erything seemed strangely deserted.
Mary had gone. and something OF the
Joy OF living had gone with her. Elk
istence seemed suddenly very tame
and dull to the young professor. He
was conscious of emotions not classi-
fed in his notebook.
81 must have overworked," he said
Ifstlessly to himself as he sat on the
I.effingwells' veranda week later. 1t
was shutdown. A breeze swept up
from the Hudson, and tall glass of
lemonade tinkIed pleasantly III VAIN
wrights hand.
Mrs. Leffingwell. OF whose house
party he was a guest, sat near him in
a wicker chair and chatted irrepressi-
bly,.
"We've had an inkling of your ex-
pIoits." she said. land will expect a
full account of them. Tonight there's
q girl coming to dine who's awfully
fond of that sort of thing. She spent
the summer working on a farm where
she met the most extraordinary young
harvester that There she is nOww
Mary, in a white lace dress, was
coming slowly across the lawn.
''You didn't leave me any message"
said Wainwright reprOachfully the mo-
ment after their hostess had left them
alone together, ''but l have one for
you. wonder if you will care to hear
it,"
"You might try and see," suggested
Mary demurely.
When dinner was at its gayest, Mrs
Leffingwell turned to Wainwright.
do you think" she said, that your
experiment was q success%
Wainwrights eyes met Mary's in
c0mprehending flash.
'The greatest I've ever had" he an
swered. smiling