River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-11-12


standing OF the present situation. when
dollars, no matter how made, count for
more than life or liberty or country or
honor. No. dear friend, | am not bitter.
though my words sound like it. just see
how it is. But. as | told you tonight if
ever my country needs me-really needs
me-or you, if you should need me- / will
De ready. and ] shall come. Most sin
cerely. MEADE STILLMAN
InclOSing this in an envelope ad-
dressed to Bernice. he reft it on the
table, rose and packed his bags Then
he sat down and waited until the house
grew quiet One o'clock came. and 2.
The moon was riding far over in the
west He rose and tiptoed into the
hall of the silent house, carrying his
cases.
Into the little town of Hite in the
dusk of an evening came a young man
of five and twenty, his face and cloth
ing powdered with the dust of his
journey. That he was no stranger was
shown by the assurance of the course
be took and the mods or hand waves
of the men he passed Without pause
or checking he rode straight to the
corral of Nephi Larsen Larsen sat in
the doorway of his house, smoking a
pipe.
Hello. Master Stillmanr' he greet
ed, and sat on.
Meade swung himself from the sad
die of the horse he was riding. slipped
it's bride over his arm and led it and
the pack animal loaded with his cases
and camping outfit toward the corral
at the back of the house.
I'll be spending the night with you.
Larsen he informed the man in the
doorway
Larsen nodded, and gestured with
his pipe to the animals Stillman led
''Ay will tell mine wife. Ven you haf
put de horses by de corral you will hat
sooper."
Night came down. Meade left the
house of Larsen and walked out to
ward the edge of the river. He
clinched his hands with an instructive
motion, then dropped them at his sides
and looked off across the stream to
the east. Over there was hut in the
mountains, where his father waited
Over there, away. and away beyond
was woman with hair like FURNISHED
copper. whose image dwelt in his heart.
The pink Of morning saw him ready
to start. His mount was wiry In
dian pony, spotted in brown and cream
irregularly. Behind it he led second
dun colored specimen. burdened with
his pack He crossed the river in
fiat bottomed boat, swung from a
hempen cable, and took up the lonely
trail
The sunset of the second day was
growing red when he came to the lip
of the valley, The sun god was shoot
ing his arrows far across it in tlaring
ribbons of color He smiled to him
self through the CRIME of his journey
which powdered his face and hair
Off beyond was a dark wall of or
chard and shade trees. things of his
fathers planting. Among them squat
ted the house of red. stone which that
same father had builded-his own
home for twenty years-the only set
ting of life he had known as he grew
to manhood. Farther beyond 1t all
long, low structure met his eyes-the
laboratory building.
Little creatures which he knew to be
cattle and horses moved slowly across
the green eXpanSe as he gaZed. The
cool of the picture struck up to his eye
and beckoned him to it from the heat
through which he had ridden.
He CLICKED to his horses and urged
them down the trail from the lip of the
plateau And so Meade Stillman came
home.
The purple of evening was creeping
into the valley as he rode up to the
house of red sandstone and slipped
from the saddle. A figure appeared in
the doorway, gazed in surprised recog
milton at. the unexpected arrival, utter
ed a cry and approached.
Meade, my son! Back SO soon"
cried Stillman and seized the hand of
the one who had returned.
Meade nodded. Back again, dad
and glad to get here" he said quickly
you're Woll!
ooh. yes" replied his father, putting
aside the question. "But you? What
brings you backw
II was through with my mission
said Meade.
His father lifted his eyes and gazed
full into those of his son. '"They ac-
cepted it so soon?" he faltered. 1T is
an accomplished thing"
Meade felt choking grip rise in his
throat before that vibrant appeal
Words failed him. He dropped his eyes
from the ones which questioned and
shook his head.
Mop Stillman senior bowed his
head also.
CHAPTER VII.