The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-06-17

without me, father, and there's very
little corn this year l could co.
The old man brought his clinched
fist down upon the rail fence. Co.
he cried-"go and be hangedp
A black cloud came from behind the
windbreak and spread itself out thick
ly, darkening the sky. The light breeze
had become a wind and now tossed
and whipped down the tall grain. The
first drops of rain fell on the boys
white upturned face.
"The drought is broken, father. just
in time," he said. LET us start home"
But the old man turned from him
without word. -
Four years dragged themselves slow
" over the Whitcomb farm, and Mat
thew's prophecy began to be fulfilled.
The grain came up fitfully under the
warm, terminating rays of the April
sun; it grew half heartedly through
the early summer days and in July
and August yielded but an ominous
handful. The corn, harder and still
promising, was beaten down and bro
ken by September rains. The harvest
had failed
Zephaniah Whitcomb and his wife
talked little over the blazing hickory
logs that burned cheerfully during the
long evenings of the following winter.
Abigail knitted by the freight silent
ly and industriously, signing now and
then, possibly over a dropped stitch,
while the farmer smoked his corncob
pipe and watched the pictures that
etched themselves tirelessly in the
dancing flames.
The day before Christmas Abigail
watched for Zephaniah's return from
the Corners store with uncontrolled
Impotence and, despite the drifting
snow and the cold wind blowing out
Of the north, hurried forth to meet
him. He handed her q bundle and
then felt in the pockets of his great
coat while his wife waited expect
antly.
Here's a letter for you," he said.
producing a fat envelope.
Abigail flushed happily. II thought
maybe there'd be-" she said, holding
out her hand. 81 haven't had one
since last June, when he graduated. I
want to answer this one, Zephaniah,
please" she added in a burst Of te-
merity.
cts not from-him." The farmer hes
itated over the pronoun. cts some ad-
vertisements from the Corners store"
He leaned forward and gathered up
the reins that he might appear not to
see the bitter disappointment on the
old face.
In the spring the Whitcomb farm
went under the yoke of a mortgage.
The old dilapidated barns had to be
rebuilt, and fire had partially destroy
ed the summer kitchen. The bald, cold
eyed investor from the neighboring
town who advanced money proved to
be friend of the judge.
Eyes. indeed; yes. indeed" he re-
marked sententiousIy while Zephaniah
was laboriously signing the paper.
Judge Ora ham took me down to
Monteith with him last June to see
his daughter graduate. But It was
your son, Mr.. Whitcomb, who bore OF
all the honors. Yes, indeed-yes, in
deed; really a remarkable boy. I sup
pose you are quite inordinately proud
Of him, Mr.. WhitcOmb|'
Zephaniah was shading the 30" on
the downward stroke and did not see
fit to interrupt so delicate a proceed
ing to answer. but later over his cup
of tea he repeated the conversation Of
the pompous country gentleman verba-
tim. Abigail's heart warmed within
her as she heard, but she knew better
than to comment on Matthew's sue
cess.
"Sally Marks says the judges
daughters real pleasant spoken and
friendly" she said. now with trimming
eyes, reaching across the table. Hand
me your cup, Zephaniah. Your teas
got cold"
So sympathy and an understand
ing far deeper and sweeter than those
Of their earlier, untried love welled
up between this lonely, disappointed
man and woman, for the most part
silently, but sometimes, at the touch
Of the others pain, splitting over in
little homely acts and words Of half
embarrassed tenderness and care.
They began to be even more constant
ly together than their isolated life re-
quired, Abigail following her husband
nightly when he was "doing up his
chores" saying that the house looked
$50 big and skeery" to her when the
sun commenced going down, and Zeph-
aniah caring less and less often to
take the long drive to the Corners
store. This close companionship and
devotion worked subtle, slowly per-
ceptible change in the countenances
Of the old couple till at last they
were seen to actually resemble each
other.
The following fan the grain again
yielded sparingly, but as much Of the
seed had rotted in the ground under
the persistent spring rains Zephaniah
had no thought Of defeat. Little could
be saved for the mortgage. But the
amount was not great, and there still
remained three years in which to
meet 1t. Moreover, Zephaniah's child
like faith in loving and interfering
Father precluded all idea Of failure.
Tto "If<oo,,A lrux~o t,cA