Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1920-04-07
THE BROOK
BY IRENE BLUE.

&C. 1870. BY Mcclure Newspaper Syndteate-l
During the early part OF an after
noon l was sitting on the veranda OF
pretty little cottage we'll situated In
a town of central New Hampshire.
Mrs. Dawson. my hostess. on COM
Ing out, remarked: Here are George
and May coming" and looking up
noticed young couple.
"What Is the special Interest?'
asked. We'll. II it isn't just like me
to forget that you do not know them
and probably have not heard their
story. In town like this all news
Is meat and drink TO US. and VIII tell
you the story about George and May.
II you care TO listen.
"Now." said she. IT mentioned that
George and May were coming. as II Is
only lately that they have been seen
together. This was not always So"
she continued. "Since their early days
they had lived side by side on farms
about three miles out from the viii
lage, and as. n necessity for the COM
panionShlp Of playmates they were
more rather than less together.
Back from the house about a mile
or so there is between the farms equal
IS divided as 10 ownership. piece OF
woodland that was the playground OF
George and May until the time came
when the village school and academy
were unable 10 teach them more.
George. graduating first. was to
leave for college; and while his en-
thusiasm ran high in his preparation
for new scenes, fear elutched at the
heart of May that George. while he
was away. might learn to care more
for the university city and its young
people. and forget the home folk.
1.-TWO years Of waiting and. lOneli-
ness. waiting for George. had passed.
zone OF Mays favorite walks was
down through the woodland to the
meadow where ran the little brook
that. an old Indian basket weaver had
told her, was called by his people the
Wishing brook. He told her the In
dian legend, and he said that anyone
who drank of the water and breathed
a wish at the same time. would have
the wish granted.
"And here on this afternoon. tired
from her exertions in the work of the
morning. taking a book. she sought for
the last time. she said 10 herself. the
Wishing brook and its charm. Finally
reaching the bank, she stopped over
the stream. and cupplng her hands.
brought the water 10 the level OF her
lips and uncOnsciOusly said aloud:
Dear brook, let me have my wish.
Send my love to George, and let IL
bring him home to me safe
"It was just as well for her peace
OF mind that she had not seen two fine
looking young men who, when they
saw her approaching. stepped behind
trees where. watching her. they could
remain unseen.
"She was conscious only of a deli
ciOus sense of rest; and as she sat
there II seemed strange that on the
other side of the brook. which seemed
wider than usual. there were several
Indian tents that she had never no.
siced before And the young people
and the children-surely she knew
them. but only i'm an indefinite way. II
was strange. also. that none OF them
apparently noticed the brook-perhaps
the children had been told to keep
away from II. But. see! Here comes an
Indian maiden. Certainly said May.
I know her: perhaps she viii come
and talk with me- The Indian maid
approached the brook; dipping into
the water with a cup made Of birch
bark. she looked TO the heavens and
cried aloud: oh, Great Spirit Of the
Wish. send my love 10 my brave and
bring him safely hack 10 me-
May was all ready 70 call out. when
the maiden and the tents slowly faded
from view, and in their place was the
house OF an early settler. We'll. that
seems queer May thought. and just
as was going TO speak to her Now
I wonder who occupies that Old-fash-
lionel little house. and where They
came from. thought that | knew all
the people that live near here. am
sure that I 10 not know this girl who
Is coming now, although her clothes
look like some that are In our attic
az hOme.' This was going through her
mind as another girl came toward her.
"She. too. came on. and as May
looked at her she smiled a welcome.
The girl was thinking deeply. 50 deep
smile. Dipping pewter mug into the
brook. she lifted IL to her lips and
cried aloud: Maker of the Universe,
send my love to my man and bring him
here To me-
MAY could stand their indifference
no longer Even this last girl. who
now was accompanied at the brook
a 4.