Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-08-10

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"The Bed Clothes Aren't Tucked in
Right"
Then her old laugh came bubblfng
up. Il suspect Mrs. Pillig is more of
an authority on pies than propriety,"
she said in a cautious voice, "and, be-
sides, I'm going away tomorrow, and
besides, don't care anyway. Lead
on
We went up the uncarpeted front
stairs, into the square upper hall which
was lighted by an east window over
the front door. l showed her first the
spare room on the northeast corner,
which connected with the bath, and
then the second front chamber oppo-
site, which was not yet furnished even
with bed. Then we entered my
chamber, where the western sun was
streaming in. She stood in the door a
second, looking about, and then ad-
vanced and surveyed the bed.
'"The bedclothes aren't tucked in
right" she said.
81 know it, answered SADLY. 81
have to fix them myself every night.
Mrs. Pillig is better on pies
The girl leaned over and remade my
monastic white cot, giving the pillow a
final pat to smooth it. Then she in
spected the shingles and old photo
graphs on the walls, turning from an
Undergraduate picture of me, in a
! RI hoJ
| her head.
whats the matter?" I asked. 'Don't
| tell me I'm getting bald.'
mo, not bald" she answered. "but
your eyes don't see visions as they did
| them
l looked at her, startled a little.
| 'What makes you say that?" asked.
Forgive me-" she replied quickly. ST
meant nothing"
you meant what you said" I an
swered, moving close to her, land it is
true. It is true of all men, and all
women, in a Way-Of all save the
| chosen few who are the poets and
seers. Shades of the prison house be-
| gin to close-you know that shadow,
too, I guess. have no picture of you
when you were younger. No-you are
still the poet; you see aqueducts Of
! roses. So you think I'm prosy nowp'
II didn't say that" she answered.
very low.
zone vision I've seen," went on,
zone vision, lately. 1t vast was
I broke abruptly off, remembering
suddenly my resolve.
Come" said l, "and I'll show you
Mrs Pilhg's quarters"
| She followed in silence, and peeped
with me into the chambers of the ell,
smiling a little as she saw Peters
clothes scattered on the floor and bed.
| Then, still in silence, and with the
golden light of afternoon streaming
| across the slopes of my farm, we en-
tered the pines by the Woodshed, and
followed the new path along by the
| potato field and the pasture wall, paus-
| ing here and there to gather the first
wild rose buds, and turning down
| through the cloister at the south.
AS we slipped into the corner of the
| tamarack swamp my heart was beat
ing high, my pulses racing with the
| recollection of all the tense moments
in that grove ahead, since first L met
her there. I know not with what feel
ings she entered. It was plain now
even to me that she was masking them
in a mood Of Iightness. She danced
ahead over the new plank walk, and
laughed back at me over her shoulder
As she disappeared into the pines. A
second later found her sitting on the
stone I had placed by the pool.
She looked up out of the corners OF
| her eyes. II should think this would
be a good place to wade" she said.
so it might" said 1. "Do you want
to try it?''
DO you want to run along to the
turn by the road and waltz" The eyes
still Knocked me-
"No," said 1.
She shook her head sadly. "And
did so want to wade,' she sighed.
Really" l asked.
Really, yes. I won't have a chance
again for-oh, never, maybe"
Then Of course I'll go ahead"
| stepped over the brook, out or slgnt.
moment later I heard soft splashtng
| of the water, and voice called, I'm
only six now. Oh, it's such fun-and
so cold"
I made no reply. In fancy l could
see her white feet in the water, her
| face tipped up in the shadows, her eyes
| large with delight. How sweet she
was. how desirable! l stood lost in
rosy reverie, when suddenly felt her
| beside me, and turned to meet her
| smile.
How you Ike the brook" l said.
| Glow l love tt!' she exclaimed
| Don't think me silly, but 1t really says
! secret things to me-"
| "Such secrets as the stream told to
| Rossetti?' I asked.
| She looked away. 81 said secret
| things" she answered.
| We moved on, around the bend by
J the road where the little picture Of far
| bills came into view, and back into the
| dusk of the thickest pines. At the sec
ond crossing of the brook. l took her