Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1925-05-27
MRS. PERvUs DE JONG
AT Home Fridays"

MRS. PERVUS DE JONG
AT Home Fridays"
She recalled this later, grimly, when
she was Mrs. PervuI DeJong, at home
not only Fridays, but Saturdays, Sun
days, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednes-
days and Thursdays.
They drove down the road to De
Jong's place. Selma thought, "Now 1
am driving home with my husband.
| feel his shoulder against mine. 1
wish he would talk. l wish he would
say something. Still, 1 am not
frightened"
Pervus' market wagon was standing
in the yard, shafts down. He should
have gone to market today; would GER
| tainly have to go tomorrow, starting
| early in the afternoon so as to get a
good stand in the Haymarket By the
light of his lantern the wagon seemed
to Selma to be a symbol. She had
often seen 1t before, but now that it
was to be a part of her life-this the
! DeJong market wagon and she Mrs.
| DeJong-she saw clearly what a crazy,
disreputable and poverty-proclaiming
| old vehicle 1t was; in contrast with the
neat strong wagon in Klaas Pools
yard, smart with green paint and red
lettering that announced, "Klaas Pool,
| Garden Produce" With the two sleek
farm horses the turnout looked as
prosperous and comfortable as Klaas
himself.
Pervus swung her down from the
seat Of the buggy, his hand about her
waist, and held her so for a moment,
close Selma said: "You must have
that wagon painted, Pervus. And the
seat-springs fixed and the sideboard
mended."
He stared Wagon"
Yves. 1t looks a sight"
The house was tidy enough, hut none
too clean. Pervus lighted the lamps
There was a fire in the kitchen stove
It made the house seem stuffy on this
mild May night. Selma thought that
her own little bedroom at the Pools
no longer hers, must be deliciously COO
and still with the breeze tanning fresh
from the west. Pervus was putting
the horse into the barn. The bedroom
was off the sitting room. The window
was shut. This last year had taught
| Selma to prepare the night before for
next mornings rising, so as to lose the
least possible time. She did this now
unconSciously. She brushed her hair
laid out tomorrow's garments, put or
her high-necked, long sleeved night
gown and got into this strange bed
She heard Pervus DeJong shut the
kitchen door; the latch clicked, the
lock turned. Heavy quick footsteps
across the bare kitchen floor. This
man was coming into her room.
you can't run far enough" Maartje
Pool had said. Except you stop llv,
ing you can't run away from life
Next morning it was dark when he
awakened her at four. She started VI
with a little cry and sat up, straining
her ears, her eyes. rs that you
father?' She was little Selma Peake
again, and Simeon Peake had come in
gay, debonair, from a nights gaming
Pervus DeJong was already padding
about the room in stocking feet. 'What
what time is it? What's the matter
father? Why are you up? Haven't
you gone to bed. :" Then she re
membered.
Pervus DeJong laughed and came
toward her. Get up, little lazy bones
It's after four. All yesterdays work
I've got to do, and all today's. Break
fast, little Lima, breakfast. You are q
farmers wife now"
|
Dirk DeJong was born in the bed
room off the sitting room on the fif
teenth day of March, of bewildered
somewhat reSentful, but deeply inter
ested mother; and q proud, foolish
and vainglorious father whose air OF
achievement, considering the really
slight part he had played In the long
tedious. and racking business, was dis