The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-03-19

Ypu held on e the chase web 2, ,L Z
ant" said the conductor $40 - = =, Z
: IT can't bear to go bsck 70 the fort with
excitement exc tame ali through the feft, Poor Fal.
Ion was nearly murdered, and was LETT for
dead. He was flung over into Deep Canyon,
md happened to lodge In clump Of bushes.
There he clme to himself an hour or more
afterwards, and, more dead than alive, he
climbed up to the ground above, and fell
down in dead faint. a party WINS .inIne-
diatcly organized and sent In pursuit Of the
outlaw" ~ gasai i.
The next day they encountered the party
of soldiers that had been sent In pursuit Of
Blue Jack. They had found no trace of the
desperate or his companion.
=" No use looking for Blue Jack, " said the
officer in charge of the party, addressing
Landlord. "There fias been party of Sioux
about this quarter for a few days past, and no
doubt Blue jack lns fallen in with them
The party is hardly large enough to attack
your train, and understand they have gone
I'D toward Dakotah. Blue Jack has On In
dian wife somewhere up there" .
Upon the second day after leaving Fort
MCPHERSON, the cmigrants made their mid
daiy lalt In grove of cotton-woods upon the
hank of the south fork of the Platte, ut its
junction with wide, tree-fringed river, winch
descended from the northward; ana mere
they concluded to settle. go ~, =.
The site of the village was selected exactly
at The junction Of two rivers, upon a low DUN
overlooking the two streams. :, ,,,,., VI.
Then public square was carefully iald OUT
with mathematical eXactness. .,,..,..r-r
Then each mans lot was assigned MN.
Mark Heber's was next to Whltmans, on
the eastern side Of the square, facing west,
and his future garden ran back to the edge OF
the low bluff. .e inf
Mark Heber did mans work, and from the
first day of this hard toll Whitman ceased TO
class the youth among the boys. *.'.'."f
In the course of week eight strong log-
houses, each a story in height, and pierced
with loop-hoes, and each provided with q
single capacious chimney, were 1lnlshed, ana
fronted the little naked square.
Mark Hebcr's house was simply arranged,
built upon the plan generally adopted by the
settlers. There were but two rooms, one
being entered through the other. The inner
room was to be Gays. The outer room was
to be parlor, dining room, kitchen, library,
and Marks bedroom.
"The house is your province, Gay," said
the youth upon the morning after the house
was finished. 81 shall leave you to furnish
it and transform it into a home while work
upon the Stockade. If you need my help
when the stockade and block-house are mn
ished, will turn myself into house-carpen-
ter"
81 shan't need you, sir" said Gay saucily.
| "You attend to the farm, and leave the house
to me-" ...-..- s.....-..
Tile shelter provided, the eight houses
were left entirely to the management OF the
women, the men working upon the stockade,
| which was constructed upon strict military
principles, and was model OF worth and
excellence.
II required two weeks and the labor of SIX
teen men to complete this work.
Whitman and his family had been living in
| their house for week. All the families had
moved into their homes save the Hebers, but
GAY with pretty tyranny had not allowed
Mark to cross the threshold of his house
since he had finished it.
Now, when Mark unyoked his oxen, turn
| ing them loose in his own yard, and drew his
wagon under great cottonwood in his back
garden, Gay called to him with bright smile,
saving that he might enter the house with
her.
He came pleased and smiling, but paused
upon the threshold in mute amazemcnt.
Was this the room with four rough log
walls which he had given into her hands?
Was this. sunny little home log house on
the plains?
1t seemed incredible.
For little clever-witted Gay, with her deli
cate, skilful fingers, had fashioned lovely
home out Of her barren materials, such a
one as would delight the eye to rest upon,
and her sole helps had been two kindly boys
Of fifteen years, who had worked under her
directions.
dts the prettiest room ever saw cried
Mark, with enthusiasm. "There isn't a
house in town like it, Won't the people
open their eyes Y It's just lovely" cried
Mark delightedly. "You are regular home
fairy, Gay. You were meant for the frontier,
and you are the fairest flower on all the
plains! My precious little sister !"
He drew her to him and kissed her ten
derby. But Gay, most unaccountably, broke
from him blushing like rose.
"I'll call Whitman in to see the house,"
exclaimed Mark, not noticing Gays conftl-
sion. "We shall set UP for the aristocrats of
the town.
He dashed out in boyish eX,lberance and
calleQ IN Tue eHtTe populatloH Vi Lie Village.
They all came in, and there was general
request that Gay should christen the settle
| ment.
Gays eyes frightened, even while she
Shrank from the honor thus put upon her.
81 CAN'T she said. I" Mr.. Whitman is the
oldest of us all, and is our Mayor. Let him
name the village" ~s.. a... ;.-
"Then I'll call it Heber, in honor Of our
little Gay" cried Mr.. Whitman. "What do
you all say, my friends?"
"Heber it is |" cried dozen voices, in
acclaim. p.
At that moment boy who had been play.
ing upon the platform inside the stockade
came in, gasping the words:
"IndidnS!" The above we publish as
specimen chapter but the continuation of
this story will be found in the New York
Ledger. Ask for the number dated March
30, which can be had at any news Office or
bookstore. If You are not within reach of
news office, you can have the Ledger mailed
to you for one year by sending three dollars
to Robert Bonner, publisher, New York.