The Lamar register., 1920-04-28
THE BROOK
BY IRENE BLUE.

tS. 1890. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate }
During the early part of an after
noon l was sitting on the veranda Of
pretty little cottage well situated in
n town Of central New Hampshire.
Mrs. Dawson, my hostess, on COM
ing out, remarked: Here are George
and May coming;" and looking up I
noticed young couple.
What is the special INTEREST,"" I
asked. well. II It isn't Just Ike 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 I will tell
you the story about George and May.
If you care to listen.
Now" said she, 81 mentioned that
George and May were coming. us 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
lage. and ms n necessity for the com
paniunshlp OF playmates they We're
more rather than less together.
Back from the house about n mile
or so there is between the farms. equal
iy 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.
Two years of waiting and loneli-
ness. waiting for George. had passed.
"One 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
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 Its charm. Finally
reaching the bank, she stopped over
the stream. and cupping 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 1t
bring him home to me safe
at 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 deli
cious sense Of rest; and as she sat
there It 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. 1t
was strange, also. that none OF them
apparently noticed the brook-perhaps
the children had been told to keep
away from It. But, seei 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-
.'-- --'-s all rasdv to call out when