Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1915-12-01
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%:*:~%~~~~~~ THE wEum CLOTHING co. ~:%%*~~
/ I

directions to his companion, took the
light and said to us:
Come on" and we walked after
him out into the nmitless blackness,
nothing doubling. We went what
seemed a long way, following this bri.
gand-lOOking stranger, without seeing
sign of life or hearing any sound save
the roar of wind and water, but on
turning fence corner, we came in
sight Of a large two-story house, with
a bright light streaming out through
many windows, and wide open door.
There was a large stone barn on the
other side of the road, and to this
our conductor turned, saying to us:
Go on to the house." This we did,
and were met at the open door by q
middle-aged woman, shading with one
hand the candle held in the other.
This threw strong light on her face,
which instantly reminded me of an
eagle. She wore double-bordered
white cap over her black hair, and
looked suspiciously at us through her
small keen, black eyes, but kindly
babe us come in to a low wainscoted
hall, with broad stairway and many
open doors. Through one of these
and second door we saw great fire
of logs, and should have liked to sit
by it, but she led us into a square
wainscoted room on the opposite side,
in which blaZed a coal fire almost as
large as the log heap in the kitchen.
She gave us seats, and a white-hair-
ed man who sat in the corner, spoke
to us, and made me feel comfortable.
Up to this time all the surroundings
had had an air: Of enchanted castles,
brdgands, ghosts, witches. The alert
woman with the eagle face, in spite
of her kindness, made me feel myself
an object of doubtful character, but
this old man set me quite at ease. We
were no more than we'll warmed when
the wagon drove to the door, and the
BOWMAN with the lantern appeared,
saying,
"Come on"
We followed him again, and he lift
ed us into the wagon, while the mis-
tress of the house stood on the large
f1ag-stone doorstep, shading her can.
dle-fame, and giving directions about
our wraps.
Coming events cast their shadows
BEFORE" when they are between ua
and the light; but that night the light
must have been between them and
me; for I babe goodbye to our hos
tess without any premonition we
| should ever again meet, or that
should sit alone, as do tonight, over
half century later, in that same old
/ wafnscoted room, listening to the roar
OF those same angry waters and the
| rush Of the wind wrestling with the
groaning trees, in the dense dark
ness Of this low valley.
When we had been carefully be
slowed in the wagon, our deliverel
took up his lantern, saying to Father
Clever: +
"Drive on"
He was obeyed, and led the way
over bridge across another noisy
stream, and along a road, where there
was the sound Of a waterfall very
near, then up a steep, rocky way unit
he stopped, saying,
II guess you can get along now"
To Father Olever's thanks he only
replied by q low, contemptuous bu
good-humored laugh, as he turned t.
retrace his steps. All comfort ant
strength and hope seemed to go will
him. We were abandoned to our fate
babes In the woods again, with onl.
God for our reliance. But after a whlll
we could see the horizon, and arrived
at our destination several minutes be