The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1921-01-22

| Dul we can eat wheat J!
I'm not so sure or that. heard
MIR. 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
Hour 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
or bleak. snow-bOund prairies on ev-
cry side, but through 1t 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
coy fire, when the Morrisons. or
the Grants, or the Rileses, dropped in
10 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?
AT last came the crisis. At 4 in the
afternoon Harris kissed his wife an
arectionate farewell, hitched his
horses TO the sleigh. and started out
post-haste for Plainville. He drove by
way of the Morrisons. where a few
low words sent Tom to the stable at
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
rust 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 a |
drive of 30 miles farther.
tits 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 to argue he sprang
into his sleigh again and was whip
nj INT he 10
might, Harris" said the landlord.
who had speaking acquaintance with
every settler within 20 miles. "Ye're
hrivin' late. Yell have a 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 hurry. Is he here, and
Is he fit?" There was an anxiety i'm
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 a little back. As
Tor fit-dig i'm out an Judge for your
self"
Harris lost no time scaling the lad
Ter which led to the upper half-story
If the building. 1t was a garrett
nothing better-where the cold stars
ooked through knot holes in the pop
ar shingles. and the ends of the shin
lie nails were tipped with frost. An
1o hyIr ;,,Ix |
lere, Pickering in the wind that whis-
led through the cracks In the gables,
nd by its light Harris found "the bed
o the right" The form of a man lay
liagonally across 1t. face downward,
Nth arms extended above the head,
nd so still that Harris paused for a
loment In a strange alarm. Then he
Tipped his hand on the doctors neck
nd found II warm.
Come, Doctor" he said, 81 want you I
nth me-" But the sleeping man an
wered with not so much as a groan. Q
Come, DR.. Blain," Harris repeated, v
baking him soundly. II want you to
o home with me-" He might have e
cen speaking to the dead. S
In sudden evaporation he seized the +
Octor by the shoulders. and with one e
cave of his mighty arms set him up b
ght on the floor and shook him Wig v
rOusly.
DR.. Blain opened his eyes and Il
linked uncertainty at the light. C
doing, Harris?" he said at II
myth. and the recognition brought a Il
lrill of hope. as no use Got Il
sleep it off. g no use. Harris. IS Il
, use." And he crumpled up In the IL
ID. o
But Harris was desperate. snow
m not going to fool with you," he n
i'd. "You get up and come with me h
I'll take you. Which Is it?' a
But the doctor only mumbled "S no a
&C." and fell heavily to sleep. 81
Throwing open his coat to get free Il
otion for his arms. Harris In a mo- OF
ent wrapped the sleeping man in a RI
'uple of blankets from the bed. threw Y
m over his shoulder. carried him d'
'wn the rickety ladder, and deposit In
him, none too gently, in the sleigh. m
here was mild cheer from the men oil
'out the stove over these heroic al
easures, and one of them thoughtfuI.
threw the doctors satchel into the M
eigh. The next moment all were ca
in fhz. 40 |