Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-05-11

with open candor
THE money is only a means to an
end-as yours will be. You know very
well what I meant when | told you
that three times we have been obliged
to come back to the mountains toto
try again. / dreaded the coming Of
your camp; I dread a thousand times
more the other changes that are COM
ing-the temptations that a mush-
room city will offer. This time father
has promised me that when he can
make his stake he will go back to Ken
lucky and settle down; and he will
keep his promise More than that,
Stevie has promised me that he will
go, too, if he can have a stock-farm
and raise fine horses-his one healthy
ambition. Now you know it ALL"
He reached up from the lower step
where he was standing and took her
hand
Yes; and | know more than that.
| know that you are a mighty brave
little girl and that your load is heavier
than mine-worlds heavier But you're
going to win out; if not today or to-
morrow, why, then, the day after It's
written in the book
She returned his hand-grip OF en-
couragement impulsively and smiled
down upon him through quick-spring-
ing tears.
You'll win out, too, Victor, because
it's in you to do it. I'm sure Of it
l know it. There Is only one thing
that scares me-
Name it, he said. I'm taking ev-
erything that comes today-from you"
you are strong man; you have
a reserve of strength that Is greater
than most mems full gift; you can cut
and slash your way to the thing you
really want, and nothing can stop you
But you'll forgive me for being plain,
won't you?-there is little, just the
least little bit Of desperation in the
present point OF view, and"
"Say it," he commanded when she
hesitated
Il hardly know how to say it. There
were ideals in the beginning; don't let
them fall down in the dust or in the
in the mud. It's got to be clean money,
you know; the money that is going to
give you the chance to say. Come, girl,
let's go and get married. You won't
forget that, will your"
He relinquished the hand of encour-
agement because he dared not hold it
| any longer, and turned away to stare
ahcopt1v Of tho fjp,barad funnel mouth
| whence a faint clinking of hammer
upon steel issued with monotonous
regularity.
Il wish you hadn't said that, Amy
about the ideals"
Il don't know what you mean," she
said simply.
Perhaps 1t is just as well that you
| don't. Let's talk about something
| e1se-about the railroad President
Ford hasn't decided; he won't decide
until he has looked the ground over
and had chance to confer with me-"
She bridged all the gaps with swift
intuition. He means to give you the
casting vote? He will build the extern
sion if you advise it? Then it will lie
keep us poor" she laughed. BE a
good g0d-in-the-car, please, and your
petitioners will ever pray" Then, with
an instant return to seriousness: But
you mustn't think of that-of course,
you won't-with so many other and
greater things to consider"
"On the contrary, | shall think very
pointedly of that; pointedly and re-
gretfully-because your brother has .
made it practically impossible for me
to help
"My brother?" with q little gasp.
Eyes. He offered to buy my vote
with g. block of Little Susan stock
That wouldn't have been so bad II he
hadn't talked about it"
When Mr.. Ford comes you must
forget what Stevie said and what /
have said. Good-by"
An hour later Brouillard was closet.
ed in his log-built office quarters with
a big, fair-faced man, whose rough,
tweeds and unbrushed soft hat pro.
claimed him fresh from the dusty-dIy,
reaches of the Quesado trail.
GU are dougIng the issue, Victor
and you know it," he objected. What
l want is your personal notion. II you
were the executive committee of tie
Pacific Southwestern, would you, or
would you not, build the extension?
That's the point I'm trying to make" D.
Brouillard got up and went to the,
window When he turned back to the,
man at the desk he was frowning
thoughtfully, and his eyes were the
eyes Of one who sees only the clearly
etched lines of picture which OBJ
scures all outward and visual objects.
|. . the picture he saw was of a
sWeet-faced young woman, laughing
through hes tears and saying: BE
sides, the railroad Is coming; It's got
to come"
"If you put it that way" ne said to
the man who was waiting, eff you in
sist on pulling my private opinion out
by the roots, you may have it. I'd build
the extension
(To be COntinued)