Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1872-03-26
Mark Heber's Lack.
And Indian Story.

~ npsAoVst uPonh stonys Horn-oat isW ,
y hfsI Aesss, situs.sd upoa the Seneca
Laks, u -Wssssra New York, His father
had become 90 heavily iavolvsd 10 debt
that tsO weeks before his death the farm
had been. sold by foreclosure OF a0r'gsge.
And now what vas Mark 20 dot
He was . lad Of nineteen, slight and
boyish In frame, but With the strength OF
man in his sinsuy arms. He had had the
usasl advantages Of education afforded to
farmers sons
He relornsd homo from his fathers grave
10 the small, implanted story and half
house, and after him came bis fathers only
brother, . vel 70 do farmer, who resided 10
che hsig hborhood.
This uaols, Mr.. William Hsber, was q
man Of siIty years, pompous aad solf-im-
portAnt. HIS soul was OF the smallest pat.
tera, aud he had never been knoun to do
generous deed, while be had done many
mean ones.
swell, Mark, said bis uncle, I've sent
my folks on home, 90 that eau have
good talk With you. Morgan tells me he
wants the farm. lie has held OF t~o weeks
while George vas dying. but be wants to
move in next week. What are yOa going to
do7"
II don Know uuOlos sW AJANb ~
think. What can l do2"
IL have IhoaghI the natter over, said Mr.
Heber, "And have thought upon a plan. am
willing 10 take you, Mark, aud treat you -
nv own son. You shall have . bone 81 my
house, sad see. ., my table. What do you
HyT
TO provide for besides myself" said Mark.
"Sappose were 10 accept thi, oGsr OF you're,
What gill you do for Gay ?"
"The girl is no relation Of you're, Mark "
TIE boz sighed.
Poor little Gay he said; "hsrs is hard
loL
"Do you remember how the child came
BY her namsH IL 10 thirteen years this
sprisE since lady stopped at COR door aud
ssked leave 10 remain over night She
s,sid on day after day, growing weaker and
weaker. IL did not take long to discover
that shs wAs insane. She cHllsi the child
Gay, aud sometimes Gabrielle, which IL
Gays true name. But sha did not tell her
surname, nor snyIhing concerning herself
Late that summer she died. No one ever
came 70 inquire after her or the child"
"Hsr mother vas . crazy tramp, aud
nothiog more. No wouder George was be
hindhsnd, when he wife adopted the child
Of tramp snd brought her up lady said
his uncle.
Mark colorsd.
81 csnuoI hear . word against my mother
sir" he said. al shall protect Gay Will,
live, aud she shall not be separated frou
me-"
"Then wash my hands Of you," exolaim
cd Mr.. Hsbsr angriiy. "Yoa eau 20 your
own way, and get your own living"
Every we'll, CIR, said Mark quietly; "'hA
10 settled then"
10 Que week Mark had sold . pair Of colts
which be he'd raised himself, for Eve hund-
red dJliArs, the household furniture foi
nearly as much more, and vac on his WAy
with lille Cal, to the far West, 70 seek thsii
fortune.
The young travellers arrived at LeAven
worth after Q long add fAUguing Journey.
Here Mark, while looking for wsgol
aud . yoke OF oxen with which TO cross ,h
prairiss, fell ia vith an old farmer name,
Whitman, Who had been living IN WssIsri
Kansas, bot did not like Il, aud was po~ Of
his vay TO Nsbrssta. Mark conc! adsd &
Join hin, And Mr.. Whitman assisted ki N u
purchasing q suitable oatht, and tbsI san
night Mark and Gay we're sBugly ensoobce
In their huge travelling wagon, outside o
the city, on the edge Of the prairie, uhsr
Mr.. Whitman, With bis wife and sevei
children, had SncAmpsd. Six other familie
we're With thsm--the seven Wagons beinl
parked" IN the form Of circle that i.
the polls Of one wagon resting upon the reA
Of Aaother aud The Oxen, mules rises, COZ
dogs and pigs being gathered into the cirei
thus protected.
Oatside the circle Of wagons = great 6r
vAa barniag. aud as MARKS wagon drov
up, the conductor OF the train, Mr.. Land
ford, cans forward and welcomed the mes
oomsr.
= Il seemed to Gay and TO Mark that the
had catered . nsw aud wondrous world.
Both lay long Avske that night 10 the
wagon close up under the canvas roof, 40
they talked 10 whispers OF their grel
future, aud wondered what IL had in sIoi
for them.
The next morning at day break the can
vas Astir. By sunrise the wagon train wi
on hs vAy toward the north vest.
Al night they halted beside = small s,res
and parked the wagons, aud had suppe
and talked and sang songs and told Store
like one great joyous family.
Al daybrsak, again they we're on the va
In the course Of tsn days, having trave
cd rapidly for or teams, they reached q
Little Blue river, . branch Of the Bib Blu
The women built 6rss and began the pc
parstion Of supper. The men proceeded
park the wagons.
"Ths last train / took over this route vi
STACKED BY Indians jusi here said CO.
ductor Landlord. "fbey wore unusual
bold, aud we had . tough fight Goo
Heavens What 10 thAt2"
He bsheld, by the last rAyE Of the sunss
mounted band Of Indians, their vsapol
glitteriaE r. in the yellow light, their plum
Dodding in the wind, as they came on like
vbiFlvind,
Indians I" yelled the conductor, in
voice shat made every womsn's face 10
whiis. "Paunses or Sioux, l cAnt
which. They seem 10 be on the war pat
/ can $50 their weapons. They outnui
Der rs, coanting In our women. Call
the children. We shall have TO defend OF
solves.n
He blew a shrill blast on his bugle ii
rang out far and vide. They we're swes
ing down upon the train, with whoops .
yells, mBrdsr and rspine in their We
aspect.
Conductor Landlord was skilled in Iudi
NeHAHef anu vas noOah VI NS~s'~N--'
note.
"rhere arc twenty savaess," be
nouncsd. "Rsmember, boys; you are hg
ing for your mothers and sisters. Show
what stuff you are made OF,
Then he shouted;
'Now, men, the gunl Have out the 8,
They are in war paint, and mean misoh'
When give the word, 6rel
The Indians came nearer and nearer,
vahoiug in . straight line,
Nov boys, give them hint that We
not fooling," said the guide grimly.
Marx Hsber and bis young comardes t'
svollsy.
The next moment q shower Of bull
came hurIling toward the defenders Of I
camp
The gun r. cried Laudf.rd. "Givs it
'sm Whitman"
WhiisuAn did "give 1t to them mowi
oovn three mounted savAges. horses a