The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1908-04-29


just been shipwrecked on a desert is
land
For Ike the forenoon passed gloomily
away. but he put in good days work
waiting on the women.
As dinner time approached they be-
gan to expect the other picnickers to
look them up, but no one came, SO Mrs.
Pashley sent Ike to Coggin's gap to ask
the minister and his crowd to come to
Feathers gap to eat. as that would
save carrying the dinner a mile.
Ike struck out through the woods
that skirted the bluffs above the sand
dunes. When he had gone about half
the distance he met Phyllis Jones.
"Hello!' he shouted.
where you been Z" cried Phyllis.
Feathers gap"
Though Phyllis had good DISPOSE
ton and great capacity for work, ma
ture had not seen fit to bless her with
much chin. but she had an honest free
kled face. and Ike considered her per-
lection.
I'VE supposed you folks had gone to
the wrong gap" explained Phyllis. $50
the minister told me to go over and tell
Mis- Pashley that, as she had the din
ner, we'd all come over to Feathers
gap to eat-or If she'd ruther come
mis- Pashley d ruther eat where
she Is, so that's settled" answered Ike
easily Then he proceeded to forget
the other picnickers entirely.
''Lookie," he cried, producing dingy
candy heart bearing in bold red letters
the suggestive motto, BE My Honey"
sI mean worsen that" limited Ike
darkly. slipping the heart into her
hand. Immediately presenting her with
another saccharine sentiment, yours
For Eternity
After reading this solemn promise
Phyllis fished out a candy heart from
her own pocket which as thrifty and
farsighted young woman she may have
secreted for this very emergency, and
gave it to Ike. who read with great sat
isfaction, II Am Yours"
''When?" he asked briefly.
mot till after butcherin' time,' an
swered Phyllis promptly and firmly.
saw. thunderstorm cried Ike, great
ly displeased. Talk sense"
"You don't want me very bad if you
can't wait till I'm ready. Pete Jen-
ner' wait till doomsday."
sIll-I'll wait till next grass-if you
say So" vowed the distressed dairy
man recklessly.
"No, Ike. Butcherin' times long
enough. I'll be ready by them
"Lookie.' cried Ike. "here's a path
that leads to the lake. Let's go down."
Following this path, they found a
little cove sheltered from the world by
high clay ridges that shut them COM
pletely from view of either gap. Here
they sat hand in hand watching the
waves and, growing hungry, lunched
on whole bag of amorous worded
sweets that Ike produced from a bulg-
ing pocket.
Maybe we ought to look the others
up," suggested Phyllis after long sea-
son Of blissful munching.
Jaw. thunder-nov' objected Ike.
"There might be something to do
somewheres," she added vaguely.
81 done it ALL" Ike assured her.
In the meantime the minister's wife
and her satellites waited impatiently
for Ike and the other picnickers.
Lets feed these children and eat
ourselves" suggested Mrs. Jenner
NO." said Mrs. Pashley emphatical-
~. "The others might not like it,
mis- Peters would have fit if we
ct without her. declared Mrs. Blish.
lets all go over to Coggin's gap and
then send Ike and Brother Pashley
back here for the dinner"
mo. If we go, Wen take the dinner
with us" said Mrs. Pashley. "Alberts
chest isn't strong"
Its long walk to tug all these
victuals," sighed Mrs. Blish.
But guess it's the only thing to
do" replied Mrs. Pashley. "Mrs. Jen-
ner. you get the children together and
we'll GO
They went through the woods. as Ike
had gone. for that was the shortest
way.
At last they fled thankfully down
the crooked path into Coggin's gap.
But the Rev. Mr.. Pashley and his half
of the crowd were not there.
where's Ike?" burst out Mrs. Blish
as she sat cumbrously down on the
sand to rest in the shade of an ant
covered willow
"And where's Brother Pashley and
the rest gone tor exclaimed Mrs. Jen-
ner.
"Well they've gone" declared Mrs.
Jenner, land we can't help it. So we'd
jest better unjack these victuals double
quick"
mo, no; 1t won't do at all!'' cried
Mrs. Pashley sharply as several wo-
men, anxious to feed the clamoring
children. fused over the baskets.
"Put those covers on again." com
manded the minister's wife, mr.
Pashley and the others will probably
come in few minutes"
But nobody appeared, and they be-