Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-03-22
Mark Heber's Luck.
AN INDIAN STORY.


Mark Heber returned home from his IA
TIERS funeral with the problem of his own
future pressing upon his thoughts, and de-
manding prompt solution.
His home had been, from his earliest re-
membrance, upon stony, WORKOUT farm
of fifty acres, situated upon the Seneca
Lake, in Western New York. His father
had become so heavily involved in debt,
that Two weeks before his death the farm
had been sold by foreclosure of mortgage.
And now what was Mark TO do?
He was lad of nineteen, slight and boy
ish in frame. but with the strength of a
man in his sinewy arms. lie had had the
usual advantages of education Afforded 10
farmers sons.
He returned home from his fathers grave
to the small, implanted story and half
house, and after him came his fathers only
brother, a well-to do farmer, who resided
in the neighborhoOd.
This uncle, Mr.. William Heber, was
man of sixty years, pompous and self i'm
portrait. His soul was of the smallest pat
Tern, and he had never been known to do a
generous deed, while he had done many
mean ones.
"Well, Mark" said his uncle, "Ive sent
my folks on home, so that can have a
good talk with you. Morgan tells me he
wants the farm. He has held off two weeks
while George was dying, but he wants to
more in next week. What are you going
to dor"
II don't know, uncle. am trying to
think. What can do?''
81 have thought the matter over" said
Mr.. Heber, ''and have thought upon
plan. l am willing to take you, Mark. and
treat you as my own son. You shall have
u home at my house, and a seat at my ia
bic. What do you say ?"
''You forget. uncle, that have some one
to provide for besides myself" said Mark.
II 10
yours, what will you do for Gay ?"
'The girl is no relation Of yours, Mark"
The boy sighed.
"Poorlittle Gay" he said "hers is a hard
lot. do you remember how the child
came by her name? 1t is thirteen years
years this spring since a lady stopped at
our door and asked leave to remain oyer
night. She stad on day after day. growing
weaker and weaker. 1t did not take long
to discover that she was insane. She called
the child Gay, and sometimes Gabrielle,
which is Gays true name. But she did
not tell her surname, nor anything con-
corning herself. Late that summer she
died. No one came TO inquire after her or
the child"
"Her mother was crazy tramp, and
nothing more. No wonder George, was
behndhand, when his wife adopted the
child of tramp and brought her up lady,
said his uncle.
Mark colOred.
II cannot hear a word against my moth
er, sir" he said. 81 shall protect Gay
while l live, and she shall not be separated
from me-"
"Then l wash my hands of you," ex-
claimed Mr.. Heber angrly. "You can go
your own way, and get your own living"
VERY we'll, sir" said Mark quietly /;
"that is settled then"
In one week Mark had sold pair of
colts which he had raised himself, for five
hundred dollars, the household furniture
for nearly as much more, and was on his
way, with little Gay, to the far West, to
seek their fortune.
The Young travellers arrived at Leaven-
worth after a long and fatiguing journey.
Here Mark, while looking for wagon
and yoke of oxen with which to cross the
prairies, fell in with an old farmer named
Whitman, who had been living in western
Kansas, but did not like it, and was now
on his way TO Nebraska. Mark concluded
to Join him. and Mr.. Whitman assisted
him in purch sing a suitable outfit, and
that same night Mark and Gay were snug
~ enscouced in their huge travelling wag-
on, outside OF the city. on the edge of the
prairie, where Mr.. Whitman, with his wife
and seven children, had encamped Six
other families were with them-the seven
wagons being "parked' in the form of n
circle-that is, the pole Of one wagon rest
ing upon the rear of another-and the oxen,
mules, horses, cows, dogs and pigs being
gathered into the circle thus projected.
outside the circle of wagons great fire
was burning, and as Marks wa on drove
up, the conductor of the train, Mr.. Land
ford. came forward and welcomed the ne ~
corners.
1t seemed to Gay and to Mark that they
had entered a new and wondrous world.
Both lay long awake that night in their
wagon, close up under The canvas roof, and
they talked in whispers of their great future,
and wondered what it had in store for
them.
The next morning at daybreak the camp
was aslr. BY sunrise the wagon train W as
on its way toward the northwest.
At night they halted beside n small
stream and parked the wagons, and had
supper, and talked and sang songs and told
stories, like one great Joyous family.
At daybreak, again they were on the
way.
In the course Of ten days, having travell-
ed rapidly for OK teams, they reached the
Little Blue river, branch of the Big Blue.
the women puiit fres and began the pre-.
paration of supper. The men proceeded to
park the wagons.
"The last train took over this route was
attacked by Indians Just here" said Con-
ductor Landlord. "fhey were unusually
bold, and we had tough fight-Good
Heavens What is that ?"
He beheld, by the last rays OF the sunset
mounted band of Indians, their weapons
nodding in the wind, as they came on like
whirlwind.
Indians % yelled the conductor, in 9
voice that made every woman's face turr
white. "Pawnecs or Sioux, 1 can't tel
which. They seem to be on the war path
can see their weapons. They outnumbe
us, counting in our women. Call in tn,
children. We shall have to defend our
selves"
He blew a shrill blast on his bugle thai
rang out far and wide. They were sweep
ing down upon the train, with whoops an q
yells, murder and rapine in their very as
peet.
Conductor Landlord was skilled in In
dian warfare, and was a scout of considera
BILE note.
"There are twenty savages," he an
nounced. "Remember. boys, you ar
fighting for your mothers and sisters
Show us what stuff you are made Of"
Then shouted:
"Now. men, the gun Have out tn
gun! They are in war paint, and meal
mischief. Whom / give the word, fire"
The Indians came nearer and nearer, ad
vanclng in straight line.
snow, boys, give them hint that we arr
not fooling," said the guide grimly.
Mark Heber and his young comrade
fired q volley.
The next moment a shower of bullets
came hurtling toward the defenders OF thu
camp.
"The gum cried Landlord. solve it Il
'em, Whitman"
Whitman did "give II to Them" moving
down three mounted savages, horses ant
riders rolling over and over in horrible
death agony.
The remaining sayages again came to