Clearwater Republican., 1921-04-22
The
HOn1eSfeuder
Copyright. Rights Reserved
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OF man and team on the way devOured
all the proceeds of the wheat; indeed,
there were instances ON record in the
settlement where men who attempted
such trips during the winter actually
came back poorer than they left, while
those who could show a gain of bag
of sugar, Q sack Of -four, or a box Of
groceries were considered fortunate
indeed.
"What shall We eat?" said Harris to
his wife, when, after q full discussion,
it 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
"But we can't eat wheat!"
"Im not SO sure of that. l heard
Mr.. McCrae say that lots of families
had wintered on wheat. Indeed, boiled
wheat is something of delicacy. Even
the best city families rarely have 1t.
although 1t 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.
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 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 a 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
cozy fire, 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 pio-
neerS for the snow and the cold and
the wind whistling 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 Morrisons, where 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.
II will 60 for the doctor, Jack, and
you 60 back and take the wife with
you," was Morrison's kindly offer, but
Harris would not. agree. It was dark
oy this time, and he felt that he could
trust no one else to make the journey
to Plainville. Besides, there was more
than chance that Or. Blain might be
incapable, and in that case it meant a
drive of 80 miles farther.
Its good of you, Morrison" he said,
"but you are more used to your wife's
bidding than l 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
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. Yen have bite Of sup
per an stable the teamr'
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 f1t?" There was an anxiety In
the last words that did not escape the
host. .; So.
"Nothin' serious, I hopef Frost, or
sOmethin'7" Then, without waiting for
reply. he continued: "Yes. doctors
here. Upstairs, bed to the right as ye
60 up. Just got In a little back. As
for flt-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. 1t was a 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
| ucEcs uiShCiuS III Tic Wiuu tAiht "&iS
tied through the cracks in the gables
and by its light Harris found "the bed
to the right" The form of man lay
diagonally across 1t. face downward
with arms extended above the head
and SO still that Harris paused for a
moment In strange alarm. Then he
slipped his hand on the doctors neck
and found it warm.
"Come. Doctor he said, II want you
with me-" .snt the sleeping man an
swered with not SO much as a groan.
"Come, DR.. Blain." Harris repeated
shaking him soundly. II want you to
go home with me-" He might have
been speaking to 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.
DIR. Blain opened his eyes ant
blinkea uncertainty at the light
"Whatche doing, Harrisi" he said n
length. and the recognition brought I
thrill of hope. as no use Got