The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1920-05-13
! BROOK
/. BY IRENE BLUE.
o. 1899. BY Mcclure Newspaper syndicate.

airs. Dawson. my hostess on com.
ans out, remarked: "Here are George
and May coming" and looking up
noticed young couple.
What is the special interest?" l
asked. well. if it isn't just like me
90 forget that you do not know them
and probably have not heard their
story. In town like this all news
Us meat and drink to us, and will tell
you the story about George and May.
IL you care to listen.
New," said she, II mentioned that
George and May were coming. as it 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
sage, and as necessity for the COM
wamlonship of playmates they were
more rather than less together.
Back from the house about a mile
.or so there is between the farms, equal
ay divided as to ownership, 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-
Ghusiasm ran high in his preparation
Tor 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 it's young
people, and forget the home folk.
Two years of waiting and lOneli-
ness. waiting for George, had passed.
zone Of Mays favorite walks was
Gown 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 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 cupping her hands,
brought the water to the level of her
aips and unconsciously said aloud !:
Dear brook, let me have my wish.
Send my love to George, and let it
bring him home to me SAFE
1T 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
Eensain unseen.
She was conscious only of deli
CiUus 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.
e1ced. before. And the young people
and the children-surely she knew
them, but only in an indefinite way. It
was strange, also, that none of them
apparently noticed the brook-Eterhaps
the children had been told to keep
away from it. But, see! Here comes an
Indian maiden. Certainly said May,
II 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
mouse of an early settler We'll, that
seems queer May thought, and just
as i was going to speak to her. Now
I wonder who occupies that old-fash-
lionel little house, and where they
came from. l thought that knew all
the people that live near here. am
sure that I do not know this girl who
Is coming now, although her clothes
Cook 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
al06iIud at her she smiled a welcome.
The gin was thinking deeply, so deep
+ ~ that She never noticed May and her
smile. Dipping a pewter mug into the
brook she lifted it to her lips and
cred aloud: Maker of the Universe,
send my love to my man and bring him
here to me-
MAY could: stand their Indifference
FRO 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
Cooked like her, was alone, and she
must be made to speak and tell who
9aey all were and why she alone had
her wish unanswered.
1.As May called out, she heard an
nnrestrained laugh, aHd opening her
,eyes she lost sight Of the lovers, and
there In i1feir place tbod George laugh
ling and calling to h9r.
0The brook had resumed its normal
sssze, and as May \stood up George
1eaped across the BROOK, and as in an.