Ellsworth American., 1920-05-26
THE BROOK
BY IRENE BLUE.
9. 1870. BY Mcclure Nswspaper szndIcata

pretty little cottage well situated In
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. well, If 1t isn't just like me
to forget that you do not know them
and probably nave not heard their
story. In town like this all news
Is meat and drink to us, and will tell
you the story about George and May.
II you care to listen.
Now" said she, 81 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 vii
iage, and as necessity for the COM
panlonship Of playmates they were
more rather than less together.
Back from the house about a mile
or so there Is between the farms, equal
ly divided as to ownership. a piece Of
woodland that was the playground of
George and May until the time came
when the village school and academy
were unable to 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 clutched 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 Ioneli-
ness. waiting for George, had passed.
zone of Mays favorlte 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 brock. He told her the In
dian legend, and he said that anyone
who drank of the water and breathed
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 book. she sought for
the last time. she said to herself. the
Wishing brook and It's charm. Finally
reaching the bank. she stopped over
the stream. and cupptng her hands,
brought the water to the level of her
lips and unconsciously said aloud:
Dear brook, let me have my wish.
Send my love to George, and let II
bring him home TO me safe
ut 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
clous 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.
ticed before. And the young people
and the children-surely she knew
them, but only In 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 1t. But, see Here comes an
Indian maiden. Certainly said May,
I know her; perhaps she will 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 to my brave and
bring him safely back TO me-
MAY was all ready to call out. when
the maiden and the tents slowly faded
from view. and In their place was the
house Of an early settler. Well. that
seems queer May thought, and just
as I was going to speak to her. Now
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 10 not know this girl who
Is coming now. although her clothes
look like some that are in our attic
at 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, so deep
ly that she never noticed May and her
smile. Dipping pewter mug into the
brook. she lifted II 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
side by the Indian maid and her brave,
together with the colonial maid and
her lover, also clad in the garb Of an
early settler, did not notice her.
"Only this last girl, the one who
looked like her, was alone. and she
must be made to speak and tell who
they all were and why she alone had
har wish unanswered