Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1918-03-01

and Marthy's gift of money would have
been tragedy, and SO selfish is mother
love sometimes that she would have
| accepted the gift even if she had known
| what it cost the giver.
at eighteen, then, Billy Louise knew
some things not taught by the wide
| plains and the wild hills around her.
She was not spoiled by her little learn
| ing, which was good thing. And
when her father died tragically be-
meath an overturned load of poles from
! the mountain at the head Of the can
| yon Billy Louise came home. The Billy
Of her tried to take his place and the
Louise of her attempted to take care
of her mother, who was unified both
| by nature and habit to take care Of her
self. Which was, after FL, a rather
big thing for any one to attempt.
Jase began to complain Of having
"all gone'' feelings during the winter
| after Billy Louise came home and took
| up the whole burden Of the Wolverine
ranch. He complained to Billy Louise
when she rode over one clear, sunny
day in January. He said that he was
| getting old, which was perfectly true,
and that he was not as ablebodied as
| he might be and didn't expect to last
much longer. Billy Louise spoke of it
| to Marthy, and Marthy snorted.
"He's ablebodied enough at meal
| times. / notice." she retorted. 1--WE
heard that tune ever since I knowed
| t.s,oo IT. oo1,,% foil map
Jase maundered in at thet moment,
/ and Marthy turned and glared at Jase
with what Billy Louise considered a
i perfectly uncalled for animosity. In
reality, Marthy was covertly looking
for visible symptoms of the all-gone-
ness. She shut her harsh lips together
tightly at what she saw. Jase certain
" was puffy under his watery, pink
trimmed eyes, and the withered cheeks
above his thin grazing beard really did
have pasty gray look.
"D'you turn them calves out into the
corraI?'' she demanded, her voice hard
er because of her secret uneasiness.
81 was goin' to, but the winds
changed into the north, n / thought
Il
Jase turned back aimlessly to the door
His voice was getting cracked and
husky, and the deprecating note dom
mated pathetically all that he said
you'll have to face the wind goin'
home,' he said to Billy Louise. ''More'n
likely you'll be facin' snow too. Looks
bad off that way"
M %s1w w
xoutv' Marthy commanded him harshly
BILLY Louise amt goin' home il il
storms. I sh'd think you'd know
enough to know that"
"Oh, but I'll have to go anyway, .
! the girl interrupted. "Mommie can't
be there alone; she'd worry herself to
death If I didn't show up by dark.
She worries about every little thing
since daddy died. ought to have gone
before-or oughtn't to have come
But she was worrying about you, Mar
thy. She hadn't seen or heard Of you
for a month, and she was afraid you
| might be sick or something. Why
don't you get some one to stay with
you? think you ought to-" She look.
ed toward the door, which Jase had
closed upon his departure. IF Jase
should-get sick or anything
"Jase amt goin' to git SICK" Mar
thy retorted glumly. ''Yuh don't want
to let him worry yuh, Billy Louise. II
I'd worried every time he yowled
around about being sick I'd be dead OF
crazy by now. l dunno but maybe
I'll have somebody to help with the
work, though" she added after pause
during which she had swiped the dish
rag around the sides of the pan once
or twice and had opened the door and
thrown the water out beyond the door
step like the sloven she was. II got d
been in bank, but he's quit and wants
to git on to ranch. / dunno but III
have him come in the spring."
DO" urged Billy Louise, perfectly
unconscious of the potentialities Of tie
future. 81 hate to think of you two
down here alone. / don't suppose any
one ever comes down here except me-
and that isn't often.' :.
''NObody's got any call to come
down." said Marthy stolidly. 'They
sure amt going to come for our com
p'ny, and there amt nothing else tt
bring 'em.''
swell, there aren't many to come
you know" laughed Billy Louise, shak
ing out the dish towel and spreading
it over two nails, as she did at home
I'm your nearest neigbbor, and I've
got six miles to ride ainst the wind
at that. think I'd better start. We've
got half breed doing chores for us
but he has to be looked after or he
neglects things. I'll not get another
chance to come very soon, I'm afraid
Mommie hates to have me ride around
much in the writer. You send for that
nephew right away, why don't you
Marthy?" 1t was like Billy Louise to
mix command and entreaty together.
Really, don't think Jase looks Bit
well.''
"a good strong steepin' of sage II
fix him all right, only he amt sick, as
| Gao Won taxa This shawl ~