The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-03-14
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
For Self and Wife.
BY lZoLA FORESTER

HE night clerk at the Barclay
house was sleepy that night. It
was about 1850 when the boat
train got ia. and the bus met 1t on
time, more from habit and precedent
than any actual gain in patronage.
Few guests ever wandered to the
island after the first spring rush up
the river A rambling tramp steamer
from Seattle or Vancouver would
sometimes bring few belated passen
gers up, WAC finding themselves mar.
rooned at Barclays, with no chance oil
getting any further up the river would
take the next steamer down,
But tonight there was an expected
guest. Reservations had been made
for her, special privileges requested.
and new fire built in the little low
ceEled room next the office. And on
the old canvas-bound registry was
written in bold splashy hand
Craig Falion and Wife"
FaIlon had arrived on the river boat
the day before a big good looking
youngster who had spent the last two
years around Nome, and had finally
taken steady position, he told Jim
my the clerk, with trading company.
Soon as j was sure I sent for the
young lady I'm going to marry" he
added confidentially. Coming way up
here from Nebraska, Miss Kendall's
her name. Who's the minister here?'
II don't know where you'll find any
unless it was Sandwiches" Jimmy
meditated in friendly fashion. Hes
got little shack over the south shore
IL you can catch him home"
He's out with the injuns most OF
the time teaching them. We call him
Sandwiches cause he hands you out
a feed before he tries to give you any
dose Of religion. He was the worst
one up here when he first came out,
and then he got sudden light. That's
the way he puts it Says the Lord
shone on him and he's walked straight
ever since. Wish a lot more were
like him"
Fallon had not returned when the
bus drew up before the hotel, and
Chuck handed down the one lone pas.
senger girl in a brown cloak and
veil. Chuch tried to see past the veil
but failed, ana had to be content with
a glimpse when she threw it back
at the desk and asked rather tremu.
lousy if Mr.. Craig Fallon was there.
well Miss, he is and he amt"
Jimmy told her, trying to break it to
her gently. HE came and engaged
the rooms anG then he went out after
administer, mad that's the scarcest ar.
tiele we have up here. Only one in
the whole district, ceptin the priest
down the river. but he's gone after
Sandwiches. Guess you had better
get to bed and make yourself easy.
He'll be back"
That was the end of April, Day af'
ter day passed By and the little bride
elect waited. Rosalie Kendall she
gave her name. Amakeaug Island
got used to seeing her when she walk
ed for hours along it's lonely shores,
gazing over at the far off mainland,
or up the Yukon In silent questioning.
There was no mystery about her.
She told Jimmy's mother, the land
lady, all about herself. She had gone
to school with Craig Fallon and they
had been sweethearts before he had
gone away, she had waited for him TO
send for her so they could be married,
oughter have married him before
he started out" advised Mrs. Barclay
sacely. "Never let them out OF your
sight, Amt any stability in any OF
EN-. not one. l had three husbands
and !, know what I'm talking about
Here you are stranded dead on this
forsaken dab of earth in the middle
Of nowhere and land knows where he
Is. You may stay here till you're as
old as l be before they ever find his
bones."
The word struck Rosalie oddly.
There was the old fearlessness OF
pioneers in her blood, and she had a
good part OF the money that Craig
sent her for her outfit right with her.
Get me guide and supplies" she
said suddenly. I'm going after him."
They found her chakomo silent,
rather dumpy indian who made his
way unerringly to the house of the
minister, twenty-four mile up the
river on the south shore. And ar
irving there, they found it buried un-
der mud and debris. Chakomo shrug.
ged his shoulders at sight of it,
River rise too much" he said grim.
+ 10 GtNHahha kill -
He struck at the pile Of earth with
bis toe idly, and Rosalie turned away
with q shuGdder.
we go on" she ordered.
mo 60 on. Go back" said Chako-
mo, starting for thu boat. She tried to
run after him to dill cut, but the Ut
ter hopeless weari ,ss Of the fruitIess
quest swept her, and she stood by the
ruins, her hands pressed across her
eyes. And here Sandwiches found her
when be made his semi-weekly trip at,
ter supplies cached in the shack.
EIe vas Ike scarecrow she thought