Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1913-12-03

] made Jesse take MS revolver, yes
loaded 1t myself, and he promised a
signal shot from the rim-rock to give
me the earliest news OF his return. He
put out the light, kissed me good-by
and was gone.
From the inner edge Of the bed
could see through the window. and
watched Orion rising behind the
cliffs The night turned pale, then for
a long time the great gaunt precipice
! revealed in tender primrose light and
amber shade. I heard our riders sad
die. mount and canter away for the
days work The two Cinnamon went
of also on some domestic errand. The
sunrise caught the pines upon the rim.
rock into points Of flame. / heard a
distant shot, and fell asleep.
The widow had stumped about near
ly all night. weary to the tip of her
wooden leg. poor soul. so when | woke
again and erept to the lean-to door
ii was a relief to find that she had
gone TO sleep, She had left me a
saucepan full OF bread and milk,
which warmed. and it warmed me
nicely
Mrs O'Flynn asleep is like peace
after war. Dressing in stealth.
prayed for peace In our time, then
with a sweet enjoyment of fresh guilt,
stole out into the sunshine.
reached the grove. at this cool
hour so like a, green lagoon where
corIl piers Sranch up to some ribbed
vault rhe waSes OF incense. the riv-
er's organ throb, the glory in the
windows. gave me peace, but the
choir Of the winds had gone away, and
for once in that sweet solitude / was
lonely Ny sitting is at the root of the
governess tree, and Jesse's under the
great father pine. II he were only
there. how IL would ease the pain.
needed him so badly as ! sat there,
trying to make him present In my
thoughts. He had gone away, and the
squirrel who lives In the widow tree
had taken even his match ends. Only
tho cigar stubs were left. which would.
of course, be bad for the squirrels
children | wasn't well enough to
call but | left my nut
Close by is the terrific verge of the
inner canyon. and sitting at the very
edge of death saw into the mists.
II was so foolish, why should | be
frightened OF death. such a coward In
bearing pain? And yet | had better
confess the truth, that presently | ran
away screaming. my skirt torn by
brambles by feet caught in the roots.
Only when | passed the place where
by anemones live. and beyond the
east door of the grove came out into
| full sunlight, could go no farther but
| fell TO the ground exhausted. Yes. e
was very silly, and that blind panic
| shamed me as looked up at tne ores.
cent of silvery birch trees who hold
court at the foot of the upser cliff
Something small and lack was com
! Ing toward me. clergyman, too. and
nervous, because he twiddled his little
! hat.
Are you in pain?" he asked.
Are you a fairy?" answered, won.
dering couldn't think of anything
else at the moment. for our lost ranch
is SO far from everywhere.
mo, madam" ne said quite gravely
I'm only curate. May | sit down.
My heart went out to him, for he
was so little, so old English like me
but with the manner of the great
world. When he sat down he took
care not 10 hurt one Of my flowers
! Il fear I'm trespassing." he said. I'm
| your royal gardens, May | Introduce
myself? My name is Nisted--Jared
Nisted once an army chaplain. now a
tourist
Are you sure. ventured. that
! you're not "a
Fairy? Believe me. dear lady. I'm
very commonplace little person
"A humble admirer of yours, one
/ fearful George. has been kind enough
20 bring me here in his blackboard
which has complaining wheels, a
! creaky body. and such a wheezy horse
He. fearful George. mean, contract
/ ed for seventy-five dollars To bring me
to paradise and back; but as we
| creaked our passage through that
weird black forest feared my guide
/ had taken the pathway which leads &c
/ the other place, | confess, the upper
forest frightened me, and now. hav
ing come to paradise. don't want "a
20 back" lie sighed George" he
added. lis making camp up Sonder
Mrs. Smith. win you laugh at me very
much II tell you a fairy tale? It's
quite a nice one"
Oh do" | begged
Wei" he began. you know wher,
the ,hrec birch trees are all using s
single pool as their mirror"