Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-08-17

half laughing to herself.
The goods we had ordered began to
arrive after breakfast, Bert bringing
them from the freight house in his
large wagon. took the day off. and
devoted the morning TO laying a stair
carpet, probably the hottest job l ever
tackled. Thank goodness, the stairs
went straight up. without curve or
angle! As I worked, small feet pat
tered by me, up and down. and gar
ments from big trunk in the lower
hall brushed my face as they were be-
ing carried past-brushed their faint
feminine perfume into my nostrils and
made my hammer paul in midair.
After the carpet was laid there were
a thousand and one other things to do.
There We're pictures OF Stella's TO be
hung, and them we put in the hitherto
vacant room at the front of the house,
next to the dining room, where Stella's
wall desk was also placed, and a case
Of her books, and some chairs.
"Now I can work here when you
want to create literature in your room,
or I can receive my distinguished Wis
itors here when you are busy" she
laughed, setting some ornaments on
the mantel. my, but I've got lot
Of curtains to make! I never did SO
much sewing in my life"
Bureaus were carried upstairs with
Mixes assistance, and the ivory backs
Of woman's toilet articles appeared
upon them; open closets showed me
rows of women's garments; glass
candlesticks were unpacked and set
upon the dining table, and the new
dining chairs dressed up" the room
remarkably. Everywhere we went
Mrs. Ptilig followed with dustpan and
broom, Sticking up behind us. When
night came II was still an incomplete
house-"Oh, a million things yet to
get" cried Stella, "just one by one, as
we can afford 1t, which will be funP'-
but house that spoke everywhere Of
dainty mistress. Outside, by the
woodshed, was a pile Of packing boxes
and opened crates and excelsior.
''There's your work, Peter" said,
pointing.
Peter looked rueful, but said moth
ing.
That evening l tried to work, but
found 1t difficult, for watching my wife
sew.
you've no technique" laughed.
She made a little moue at me, and
went on hemming the curtains, getting
up now and then to measure them.
why should I have?" she said pres
emily. you knew I was a Phi. D.
when you married me. These curtains
be on your own head! I'm doing the
best I can"
There was suddenly the suspicion Of
moisture in her eyes, and I ran to
comfort her.
II SO want to make Twin Fires
lovely" she added, pricking her finger.
"Oh, tell me I can, il am only a
highbroww
OF course the finger had to be kissed,
and she had to be kissed, and the hem
had to be inspected and praised, and
now, long, long afterward, / smile to
think how alike we all Of US are on a
honeymoon.
1t was the next morning that we re-
solved to begin The pool. II don't ex-
pect to be married again for several
years." said 1, land so I'm going to
take a holiday this week Well carry
the vegetables to market and bring
back the cement, and begin on our
water garden"
Mike loaded the wagon with peas,
the last Of the rhubarb, and ten quarts
Of currants picked by Peter, and off
we started.
What Is this horses nameW asked
Stella, taking the reins to learn to
drive.
"He has none, I guess. Mike calls
him 'Giddup.'"
"No, it's Dobbin. He looks just like
a Dobbin. He has a kind of conven-
tional, discouraged tail, like a Dobbin.
Giddup, Dobbinw
The horse started to trot "There,
you see, it is his name" she laughed.
On Bentford Main street we passed
several motors and trap drawn by a
prancing span, and all the occupants
stared at us, or rather at Stella, who
was beaming from her humble seat
on the farm wagon more like an
eighteenth century shepherdess than a
New England farmers wife. We added
over three dollars more in the account
book with the market, and read with
delight the grand total Of $4O.SO al
ready in two weeks.
"Next year." said I, "I'll double it,"
Then spent the IS, and some more,
FOR Portland cement.
We got into our oldest clothes when
we reached home, I put on rubber
boots, and we tackled the pool. Even
with the brook as low as 1t was, the
engineering feat was not easy for our
unskillful hands. Peter soon joined
US, and lent at least unlimited enthu-
siasm.
Peter" said I, "you never worked
this hard splitting kindlings."
Peter grinned. "Ho, like to make
dams" he said. .-
The first thing we did was to divert
the brook by digging a new channel
above the spot where we were to build
the dam, and letting the water flow
around to the left, close to one of the
flower beds. Then, when the old chan
mel had dried out little, spaded a.