The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1920-11-11

there were instances on record in the
settlement where men who attempted
such trips during the winter actually
came hack poorer than they left. while
those who could show gain Of bag
of sugar. . sack OF -four. or box Of
groceries were considered fortunate
indeed
What shall we eat?" said Harris to
his wife. when. after full discussion,
IL was decided that no more grain
could be marketed until spring.
"Oh. we shall not suffer-" was her
calm reply. I'VE have over 500 bush
els OF wheat"
But we can't eat wheat"
I'm not so sure OF that. heard
Mr.. NcCrae say that lots of families
had wintered on wheat. Indeed. boiled
wheat is something of delieacy. Even
the best city families rarely have IL.
although ii is more nutritious than
-four 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. g..
So. I'm 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 it all they kept
up their courage and their hopeful
ness. Mary spent much time with her
needle, from which John, when he felt
..Ha rl1fn tnO nj nlr
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
coy fire, when the Morrisons, or
the Grants. or the Rileses. dropped i'm
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 whistlihg across the plains?
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 Morrsons. where a few
low words sent Tom TO the stable at
q trot to hitch his own team, while
the good wife hustled about in the
''room." almost overwhelmed with the
importance Of her mission.
Il will 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. 1t 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 chance that DR.. Blain might be
incapable. and in that case ii meant
drive of 30 miles farther.
ITS good of you Morrison" he said.
"but you are more used to your wife's
bidding than am. and you can be of
good service there. If you Will" And
without waiting 10 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
drivin' late. Ye'll have bite of sup
per an stable the team?"
mo, Hank, not tonight. thanking
you the same. But I'm after DR.. Blain,
and I'm in a hurry. Is he here, and
is he ft?" There was an anxiety in
the last words that did not escape the
host
"Nothin' serious. hope? Frost, or
Then, without waiting for
reply, he continued: yes, doctors
here. Upstairs. bed TO the right as We
20 up. just got in little back. AS
for fit-dig i'm out an judge for your
self"
Harris lost no time scaling the lad
der which led TO the upper halfstory
OF the building. IL 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, pickering 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 q man lay
across ii, face downward,
with arms extended above the head.
and so still that Harris paused for q
moment in a strange alarm. Then he
slipped his hand on the doctors neck
and found it warm.
Come, Doctor" he said, 81 want you
with me-" But the sleeping man an
swered with not so much as a groan.
"Come, DR.. Blain," Harris repeated,
shaking him soundly. 81 want you to
90 home with me-" He might have
been speaking 10 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. HarrisY' he said at
length. and the recognition brought a