Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1912-06-20
CHAPTER XVII.
The Loss of Paradise,

'1E question of food ever arose
for settlement, and early the
next morning | set out upon
Il short exploring expedition.
There We're trout in our little noun
tain stream, and although we had no
hooks or lines, | managed to take
few of these in my hands. chasing
them under the stones. | shook the
bullet pouch at my belt and found 1t
light. We had barely two dozen bullets
left, and few hunters would promise
themselves over dozen head of big
game for twice as many shots, | cast
about me in search of red cedar that
l might make q bow, | searched the
willow thicket for arrow shafts and
prowled among little tlints and point
ed stones on the shores of our stream
seeking arrow points. 1t finally APP
peared to me that we might rest here
for time and be fairly safe to make
a living in some way. Then, as ] was
obliged to admit, we would need to
hurry on to the southwark. But again
fate had its way with us. setting aside
all plans. When | returned to our en-
campment instead of seeing ellen
come out to meet me as | expected, ]
found her lying in the shade of the
little tepee.
You are hurtw l cried. What has
happenedY
MY foot" said she, Il think 1t is
broken" She was unable to stand
Walking along the stony creek bank
she had slipped. and her moccasined
foot, caught in the narrow crack be
tween two rocks, had been held fast
as she fell forward.
So now it was my turn to be sur
geon. Tenderly as l might, l examin.
ed the foot now badly swollen and
rapidly becoming discolored. In spite
of her protest. although | know 1t
hurt me more than herself, | feXed
the joints and found the ankle at least
safe. Alas. A little grating in the
smaller bones. just below the instep,
told me of fracture.
ELLEN" said ! to her. 1.-The foot is
broken here-two bones, I think. are
gone"
She sank back upon her robe with
an exclamation as much Of horror as
pain.
What shall we dor she murmured
II shall be crippled. | cannot walk!
We shall perish"
NO" | said to her; 1--WE shall mend
1t. In time you will not know 1t has
happened Thus we gave courage to
each other.
Now, when she was thus helpless ana
suffering, needing all her strength. how
could ! find it in my heart to tell her
that secret which ii was my duty to
tell? How could | inflict upon her n
still more poignant suffering than this
physical one? Each morning ! said 10
myself: To-day. If she is better. viii
tell her Of Grace Sheraton. She must
know" But each time saw her face
could not tell her.
Each day she placed a clean white
pebble in little pile at her side. Pres
entity there were seven.
John CoWIes.'' she said to me that
morning. bring me our writing, and
DIlUB me NY pen. lObd( uiuSl SIH D.
another letter" And, smiling. sue did
so, looking up into ny face with love
showing on her own. Had the char
coal been living fame and had she
written Oh my bare heart she could no.
have hart me more.
on the fifth week she called once
more for her charcoal pen and signed
the last letter Of her Christian name.
See. there" she said: 1t is all my
girl name Eileen" | looked at II
her hand ia mine
Ellen" | murmured 1T II sle
nature enough. because you are the
only Ellen in the world But she pL'
away my hand gently and said Wait
She asked NE now 10 get her some
sort OF cut branch for a cru'ch. say
ing she was going 10 walk And walk
she did though resting her foot very
little on the ground After Thai daiil
she went farther and farth her. vatchei
me as / guddIed for trout in she stream