The Connecticut labor press., 1920-11-20
The Hon1eSteQder Copyright, Rights


Sd6666Sd666d6 calm reply. "We have over 500 bush els of wheat"
 "But we can't eat wheat".
 I'm not so sure of that. I heard MT. McCrae say that lots of families had wintered on wheat. Indeed, boiled wheat is something of delicacy. Even the best city families rarely have it, although 1t is more nutritious than flour and much easier to prepare"
 Harris thrilled with joy over his wife's vivacity. \ The strange gloom that oppressed her so much of late had cost him many anxious hours.
 So. in high spirits, they planned for their winter. There were long hours. and little diversion, and the desolation of bleak, snow-bound prairfes on ev- cry side, but through it all they kept up their courage and their hopeful ness. Mary spent much time with her needle, from which John, when he felt she was applying herself too closely, beguiled her to game of checkers or an hour with one of their few but val ued books. And there were frequent visits and long evenings spent about cozy fire, vixen the Morrisons, or the Grants, or the Ri1eses, dropped in to while away the time. The little sod house was warm and snug, and as the men played checkers while the women sewed, what cared the pio- neers for the snow and the cold and the wind whistling across the plains? t#
 At last came the crisis At in the afternoon Harris kissed his wife an affectionate farewell, hitched his horses to the sleigh, and started out post-haste for Plainville. He drove by way of the Morrisons, where few low words sent Tom to the stable at a trot to hitch his own team, while the good wife hustled about in the room" almost overwhelmed with the importance of her mission.
 Twill go for the doctor, Jack, and you go back and take the wife with you" was Morrison's kindly offer, but Harris would not agree. It was dark oy this time, and he felt that he could trust no one else to make the Journey to Plainville. Besides, there was more than chance that Dr. Blain might be incapable, and in that case it meant drive of 30 miles farther.
 "It's good of you, Morrison" he said, "but you are more used to your wife's bidding than I am, and you can be of good service there, if you will" And without waiting to argue he sprang into his sleigh again and was whip ping his team into the darkness.
 Might, Harris" said the landlord, who had speaking acquaintance with every settler within 20 miles. 'Ye're drfvin' late. Ye1l have bite of sup per an stable the .team?''
 "No, Hank, not tonight, thanking you the same. But I'm after Dr. Blain, and I'm in hurry. Is he here, and is he fit?" There was an anxiety in the last words that did not escape the host.
 'tNothin' serious, I hope? Frost, or somethin'?" Then, without waiting for reply, he continued: "Yes, doctors here. Upstairs, bed to the right as ye go\up. Just got in a little, back. AS for Nfit-dig i'm out an judge for your self"
 Harris lost no time scaling the lad der which led to the upper half-story of the building. It was garrett nothing better-where the cold stars looked through knot holes in the pop lar shingles. and the ends of the shin gle nails were tipped with frost. An other wall lamp burned uncertainty here, f1ickering in the wind that whis- tied through the cracks in the gables. and by its light Harris found "the bed to the right" The form of a man lay diagonally across 1t, face downward, with arms extended above the head, and so still that Harris paused for moment in a strange alarm. Then he slipped his hand on the doctors neck and found it warm.
 Come, Doctor" he said, "I want you with me-" But the sleeping man an swered with not so much as a groan.
 "Come, pr. Blain," Harris repeated, shaking him soundly. "I want you to go home with me-" He might have been speaking to the dead.
 In sudden evaporation he seized the doctor by the shoulders, and with one heave of his mighty arms set, him up- right on the floor and shook him wig orously.
 Dr. Blain opened his eyes and blinked uncertainty at the light. "Whatche doing, Harris?" he said at length, and the recognition brought thrill of hope. "'S no use Got ta sleep it off. s no use, Harris. s no use.' And he crumpled up in the bed.
 But Harris was desperate. "Now I'm not going to fool with you," he said. ''You get up and come with me or I'll take you. Which is it2"
 But the doctor only mumbled "S no use," and fell heavily to sleep.
 Throwing open his coat to get free motion for his arms, Harris in a mo- ment wrapped the sleeping man in a couple of blankets from the bed. threw him over his shoulder, carried him down the rickety ladder, and deposit ed him, none too gently, in the sleigh. There was mild cheer from the men about the stove over these heroic measures, and one of them thoughtful Iy threw the doctors satchel into the sleigh. The next moment all were lost in the darkness.
 Harris drove for an hour, watching the trail keenly in the whitish mist of the winters night, and urging the horses to the limit of their exertions. He had almost forgotten his passen- opr when he felt a stir in the hOttom