Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1918-12-26
The Meeting
BY CLIFFORD HOWARD.

ne uiu not ueeU Tue WHSu 1 uTSI dC-
costed him. 1t was not until / ran
up close to the buggy and repeated my
salutation, that he drew rein and
seemed to wake from his reverie.
Excuse me-" said; but If you ara
going into town. would you mind let
ting me ride with your"
''Why. no, guess not" he answered
indifferently; and without further i'm
vitation he moved to one side, to
make room for me.
Il have been out for a tramp across
the country" l explained to him. as
l seated myself beside him. land
find have miscalculated my time.
am due at home by three-thirty. and
it's within half a. hour of that now.
Otherwise, would not have troubled
you"
"'Taint no trouble" replied the
man quietly, as he coaxed the horse
into trot with a gentle flap of the
lines. Nothing amt no trouble to
me now" A fleeting smile illuminated
his countenance, and his eyes grew
suddenly bright as boys I'm ON
my way to meet my wife," he added,
after a, moments silence. II amt
seen her for more an a year. It's a
year last April"
She's been away quite while," I
commented. "You must have missed
her"
Missed her!" The man did not
raise his voice nor did he turn to look
at me. Only the tense CULVER in his
tone revealed his earnestness.
Il waited for him to proceed, but he
held his peace. The light had faded
from his countenance, leaving it again
dull and almost expressionless: hut
his eyes grown soft as with the near
approach of tears-I caught gleam
OF some deep-hidden emotion.
This has been a beautiful day."
ventured to remark.
Eyes," he responded slowly; at In
beautiful day. amt ever seen the
country look so sweet and quiet and
peaceful-like. 1t reminds me Of her.
Tomorrow will be four years that We
were married. It was just such q
day as this" He let his gaze rove
dreamily over the landscape, and then
once more rested it upon the distant
mountains.
"You will be glad to see her again."
I said, feeling that I ought to say
something.
His face again lighted up with a
smile-a smile radiant with Joy. But
this was his only response He did
not speak--not until we had gone an
other half mile. Then he said: "You
see that dig white cloud over the
mountain there? What does it look
like to you? What does it make you
think of" He did not wait for an
answer, but continued at once, speak
ing more to himself than to me: II
can see beautiful river and gardens
and fountains; and there's little val-
ley, with the sunlight shining in IL.
And you would never know there was
any separation or any sorrow or any
suffering; it's all over now. To look
at 1t off yonder it seems like it's q
long way off. and so it has been; but
it's only little way now; only little
way. 'Twon't be shutdown before we're
together again, Mary and me-"
He lapsed once more into silence:
his eyes fixed upon the glorious mass
of summer cloud that lowered above
the mountain, and his smiling lips
a-tremble with unuttered feeling.
made no further effort to engage
him in conversation; nor did speak
again until, reaching the outskirts OF
the town, we turned into the street
leading down to the station. Then I
touched him on the arm and asked
him to slow up, that might alight. as
/ had got as nearly home as his way
would take me.
He brought his horse to stop and
waited for me to get safely out. I'm
a thousand times obliged to you" I
said. 'Tt was very good of you to
bring me this far"
The sun had set, and the soft twt-
light of the peaceful day lent q tran
sient charm even to the dingy and UNI
kempt street that struggled along the
river front. A business engagement
had called me to that part Of town inn
mediately after tea. And now as l
was strolling homeward, conscious for
the first time of being fatigued by my
mornings tramp in the country, waa
attracted by a crowd of men and boys
at one of the boat landings. L
whats the trouble?" asked OF
those on the outside of the circle, as
l joined the throng
Someone's been drowned" was the 4
answer. ~ssasr rs
1 worked my way through to the
center; and there; lying before me-
dead and cold in the fading light was
he with whom I had ridden into town
only few hours before.
Someone near me mentioned his
name, and another recounted that a
boy had seen him fall from the bridge
a short distance Up the river. There
was a choke in my throat as stood
there for moment and gazed upon