The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1914-05-14

you?" 1t was his friend, Meredith
Bond. His wife, who had been a chuml
Of Dobson's sister, was the "she" Of
whom the milkmaid had spoken a few!
minutes before. The milkmaid herself
was Miss Mildred Wyatt, quite the,
most fetching dream of femininity that
the young man had ever seen.
Bond Immediately insisted on Dob
sons changing his quarters from
Pierre's to the lodge, and Dobson
tramped back to the canoe and fixed it
I'D with the guide. He astonished that
party with a most liberal tip and
brought the bass back to the lodge.
The guide went back for his traps and
in another day he was safely housed at
Merediths.
But the fishing languished. Bond,
who was keen fisherman, complained
to his wife that Frank was neglecting
the sport. His wife, aware of the at
traction, simply smiled and shrugged
her shoulders. Dobson and the milk
maid took long walks together and at
night she sat at the piano and played
TO his singing. He had a very rich
baritone voice and 1t was pleasant
there in the twilight to listen to their
music. AT times he took her on the
river and taught her to cast for bass,
and amused her by naming the birds
and trees for her and teaching her
some of the wonderful lore Of nature.
1t was getting to be a very serious
matter. Mrs. Bond took Mildred to
task about it one morning.
Look here, Mildred" said her
friend, this must not go on any long
er. The man is desperately in love
with you. It was always said that
Frank Dobson would never fall in love,
but l know what he means, and 1t
isn't fair to let him go on in this way.
l really am sorry for him. He doesn't
know that you are engaged and every
day only makes matters worse. me
milkmaid smiled encouragingly. IL 1t
is as bad as that / will tell him some
day about my engagement" was her
reply. Besides, he may only be anus
ing himself with backwoods idyl.
You ought not to say that, Mildred,
was Mrs. Bonds reply. HE is good
fellow, and Bob's friend as well as
mine"
The next day the sun shone down
gloriously on the glittering Flambeau.
A kingfisher scalloped along the river
with his harsh, challenging cry, and
overhead, far up, an eagle sailed. The
plash of leaping fish here and there
scattered spray of silver beads on the
surface of the water, and a few faint
clouds swung low on the far-of horl-
Zon.
Dobson and the milkmaid were seat
ed on the bank of the stream and en-
gagged in earnest conversation. He had
told her that she was the one woman
in the world and she had informed him
that she was already the wife-to-be or
another man. The deep scar on his
right cheek turned white.
well, in that case," he said, "of
course the other fellow isn't here to
make his talk, and I haven't got word
to say" But, why don't you reproach
LILO lOI HUI tClilue wv VI This 1919
the girl said "Reproach you." was the
rams reply. why, l wouldn't have
missed the privilege of loving you for
twenty years out of my life."
She put her hand tenderly on his
SCARED face. Il love you" she STAN
mered. II am going to break my
engagement. He is old enough to be
my father. 1t was an idea of loyalty
to my father. 1 am going to be loyal
to you; to myself
And that is how it came to be her.
aided abroad that Dobson, the gay, the
debonair, the handsome, the cultured
and fastidious, had married milk
maid.
| Copyright, 1914, by Daily Story PUP. Coz