The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1920-11-18
Copyright All Rights Reserved

80" S'"i'u NdEuely NJ tne
tight
Suddenly thought came 10 him
Tie rushed outside. 10 find that the
horses. ~ their own accord. had taken
shelter beside the stable. Here from
the Wagon he drew n little bundle and
hurried back to the house.
She was sitting whore he left her
shiverlng slightly and watching the
play Of the light ms II nickered M and
down the wall. lie tore the package
open and spread its contents before
her.
Al first she took no notice. but
gradually her eyes found the outline ~
soft cloth and dainty feminine de
vices. With great Joy he watched
the color returning as her set fnce re
Taxed In smile Of lnaffable tender
ness. She raised her face 20 his and
slipped her arms about his neck. and
he knew that for the moment he had
snatched her out OF the valley OF the
shadow.
Harris made no more attempts 10
market his wheat that winter. His
wife's health now became his first con
siderntlon. but. even had there been
no such problem. experience had
shown that nothing was 20 be gained
by making the long and expensive trip
90 Emerson. The cost OF subsistence
Of man and team on the way devoured
all the proceeds Of the wheat; indeed
In lta
settlement where men who attempted
such trips during the winter actually
came hack poorer than they left. while
those who could show n gain Of n bag
OF sugar. snck Of -four. or box OF
groceries were considered fortunate
indeed
"What shall we eatI" said Harris 10
his wife. when. after full discussion,
II was decided that no more grain
could be marketed until spring.
"Oh. We shall not suffer" was her
calm reply 1--WE have over 500 BUSH
els Of wheat"
"Rut we can't eat wheat"
I'm not so sure OF that. heard
Mr.. McCrne say that lots OF families
had winiered on wheat. Indeed. boiled
wheat IL something Of a dellcacy. Even
the best city families rarely have IL,
although II il more nutritious than
-four and much easier TO prepare"
Harris thrilled with Joy over his
wife's vivRcity. The strange gloom
that oppressed her so much 81 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 prairies on ev-
cry side. but through II 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 hut val
ued books And there were frequent
visits and long evenings spent about
n coy nre. when the Morrisons. or
the Grants. or the Rileses. 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 pho
ncers for the snow and the cold ana
the wind whistling across the plainsi
Al last came the crisis At 4 In the
afternoon Harris kissed his wife an
affectiOnate farewell, hitched his
horses TO the sleigh. and started out
post-haste for Plalnville. He drove by
way OF the MorrisOns, where a few
low words sent Tom 10 the stable M
a trot 20 hitch his own team. while
the good wife hustled about in the
room" almost overwhelmed with the
importance Of her mission.
II will go for the doctor. Jack. and
you go back and take the wife with
you" was Morrison's kindly offer. hut
Harris would not agree. II was dark
oy this time. and he felt that he could
trust no one else to make the journey
10 Plainville. Besides. there was more
than a chance that DIR. Blain might be
incapable. and In that case II meant a
drive OF 30 miles farther.
TITS good OF you. Morrison" he said.
hut you are more used 20 your wife's
bidding than I am. and yos can be OF
good service there. II you WILL" And
without waiting TO argue he sprang
into his sleigh again and was whip
ping his team into the darkness.
"Night. Harris" said the landlord.
who had a speaking acquaintance with
every settler within 20 miles. "Ye're
drivin' late. Yen have a bite OF sup
per an stable the team
mo. Hank. not tonight. thanking
you the same. But I'm after Or. Blain.
and I'm In a hurry. Is he here. and
Is he fitr There was an anxiety In
the last words that did not escape the
host.
"Nothin' serious. I hopei Frost. or
somethln'f" Then. without waiting for
reply. he continued: "Yes. doctors
here. Upstairs. bed 10 the right as ye
20 up. Just got In little back. As
for ft-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. II was a garrett
nothing better-where the cold stars
looked through knot holes In the pop
lar shingles and the ends OF the shin