Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1926-08-26
SYNOPSIS

him to ask him to marry her, and he
refused. Dunn founded, Frank takes the
course Of reading, astonishing Jean by
Frank, Spool appears. with Mrs Alton
and Gerald, whom he presents to them
as his wife and son.
the busy season l should take my
meals at Jacks, and Jean had volun-
teered the duty of carrying my after
noon lunches to the field. There was
little time now for either poetry or
prose, and yet we lived amazingly In
the spirit. n Between the plowhandles
one must think Of something, and re-
called and re-recalled those things
had read during the winter. At lunch
time, or in the evenings, would talk
Of them with Jean, always trying to
approach her from some new and un.
suspected angle. AS, for instance.
when summer shower threatened US,
l quoted Il had borrowed Shelley
from SpooD:
Il bring fresh showers for the thirst
ing flowers.
From the seas and the stream;
bear light shade for the leaves when
laid
In their MONDAY dreams.
From my wings are shaken the dews
that waken
The sweet buds every one"
One evening Spool came over. car
rying his gun.
There's good crane shooting out at
Reed lake." he said. "Brown and ]
were up last night; got four beauties.
Jean seems to be shooting rather well;
thought you and she might like. to 60
out on a crane hunt. so, brought over
my gum"
but you-you'll come won't your"
mo, not this time" said Spool,
sagely. "Pve got all I can use for
some days."
Jean was enthusiastic, So we quit
work early the next afternoon and
drove to Reed lake, about seven or
eight miles to the west.
fastened a horse blanket to the
side of our wagon, dropping one edge
to the ground. In front of it spread
another on the grass, and here we sat-
sheltered from the cool night breezes
that came solemnly whispering over
the tops Of the reeds that bordered the
lake.
"There they comet" suddenly
breathed, scarce daring to whisper, as
a new note came up from the water.
"Quietly-quietly."
We rose to our feet and stalked
silently to the waters edge. There
was nothing to be seen. We were sur
rounded entirely by reeds higher than
our heads. We were sinking slowly
in the moist mud; water was trickling
through the lace holes in my boots.
well have to 90 in" whispered.
"Are you gamer"
felt the pressure Of her free hand
upon my arm.
"Anywhere-with you"
So we stepped quietly but boldly
into the water. 1t came to the ankles,
the calves, the knees. Then we were
through the reeds and the lake lay be-
fore us, dim and misty, like a sheet
of frosted glass. q
We'll wait here. If we're lucky
they'll come our way"
Presently, and without notice save
the soft splasking Of water, they came
wading down the shadows close to
where we stood, their great bodies dim
and dark against the frosted glass;
their long necks stretched high, or
grubbing In the reeds beside them.
Observation-Disclosures; on
they came
take the first two; I'll take the
next"
Our guns came to our shoulders In
the darkness; we looked, rather than
sighted, at the great birds scarce a
rod away; then-right barrel left bar
rell-we woke the echoes Of the lake
and filled the air with tempestuous
noises. From every side came the
splash Of water and the rush of wings.
The stiffness, the gentleness Of the
night In moment became the widest
babel Of confusion.
But we had no thought for that.
Splashing right before us were great
forms; Tapping. struggling, eddying
about I would have held Jean back
but she rushed ahead Of me into the
melee. She had one by the neck; the
last Of killing was upon her; 1t was a
tight TO finish. Afterward we
dragged them out-three Of them
Jean declared there had been another
but he managed to hide himself In the
rushes
Then we built fire beside the VIII
low and warmed ourselves.
Before the water was warm enough
for bathing I sent to Regina for q
bathing suit. sThe gaudiest thing Won