The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-11-18
EsnE TEST,

YOU why cnaHgett NY sh.u. -, ~ q cforr
as ought to, forI am not mucl. VI s ssI !.
te,ler 81 can balance m account, OF senc
la AZ Inmher but will try this time. An !!
,,n,s. Isw;sh could tell it as SAW II! bue
IJa,,. bel,eye anybody ever could do that,
q, Til make The best oil IT,.
~, IN the employ of a heavy lumber com,
n,ny doing business on the lake shore, aho
have been for years. Most of the timc tIsit
,rs two of us in the cffice---John Richards, q
CON al. one of the owners, and myself, jacob
Jackson. John usually goes into the plhclies
in the winter.
Well, last winter was unfarorable Tor ioS
aing there was no snow to speak oi' anu
our supply of logs was so much Jess siial'
1,s,ro, that we were obliged to shut down the
mil, nv the LIST of September. That ieit
th;rty ar forty men idle. You know these
b,pberrucn have to cat something, ana wear
clothes. and the firm decided to put crew
into the woods. if it was early. so, about
the 4.h or 9Th Of September n lot Of men
started.
John Richards went up to boss them; and,
70 be frank, az ! always want to he, was
clad when John was out OF my sight. 1hcre
were two Or three reasons why was glad.
First, John Richards was not very agrcea-
bic person to have around. He was naughty
and oyerbearing to the last degree, and many
IL wordy tilt have we had. Again, ne was
paving attention to a beautiful girl whom l
loved No doubt / was Il little selfish, but l
really could not help it. There was no open
rivalry between us, however, for had never
insinjlated even TO my dearest friend, my
mother, that cared aught for Belle Royal
ton. But loved her, and the idea that Rich
ards, or ANYBODY else for that matter, would
bear of the prize. even before had entered
the lists as a competitor, was repugnant to
nv feelings, to say the least. Lastly, John
Richards was nv enemy. Wherefore,
could not fatEom. unless some act or look OF
mine had betrayed my love. But he was my
enemy, and l was glad when he was out Of
my sight.
John had been gone nearly month when
the firm received a letter from him, i'll
which he had stated that he had found q
large tract Of pine land for sale. The owner
had lust been burned out, and John advised
that should come up with few thousand
dollars, for splendid bargain could be
made.
The partners held consultation, and
fnaIly decided that | should 90 up. | was
to start immediately after dinner, on horse
back.
knew the road well, and was somewhat
acquainted with the few people who had
yentured to settle in that wilderness through
which / had TO pass; therefore l appre.
hcnded no trouble. Not so with my mother,
however. She took alarm at the first mention
of the journey.
"Iwish you were not going. Jacob" she
said, with show of much anxiety.
"Why, mother?'
"Thc fires. They arc burning all over
Il, 1u,,n to ont nnn
night"
laughed at her fears, for thought
them groundless, and she did not press the
s,lisjcct further. The look Of anxiety re-
,nained ON her face, and promised to be
very careful.
! chose to use my own horse; so after
dinner went out to the stable and saddlcd
jim. and rode down to the office.
They were not quite ready, and Mr.. Rich
ards said had better take turn around and
sec if there were any letters to send to the
men.
twas only by some such transient method
thut we had any communication with the
pineries, and l found many letters already
written.
After had visited all who had husbands
in the woods, headed towards the Office
again: but happened to think that perhaps
Belle had some word TO send to John Rich
ards Ii was not pleasant to think of, and
sellishly decided that / would not be the
bearer of communications between them.
But my better nature prevailed, MS hope it
ALWAYS may. / rode over to Squire Royal
toms. and asked for Belle. She was at home,
aud think trembled little while the SER
want was calling her, for never had spoken
with her except in the presence Of others,
much less visited her i'll her home. /
was even agitated when she entered the
room, and the touch Of her hand thrilled ne
through and through. 1t was only by a
mighty effort that controlled my feelings.
All, how lovely she looked. ..
Iuared not dwell upon such thoughts, so
| stammercd out the business that brought
me there. She smiled when l told her, Il
mischevous smile, and said:
.tThank you very much, Mr.. Jackson, but
/ have no word for Nh. Richards that know
Of"
twas surprised, and she saw it.
.tYou have been led into an crror,' she
said more seriously, but thank YOU all the
same. I hope you will see no trouble on
your journey. You must be very careful,
however, for fires are burning through all that
REGION"
You don't know how these words chcered
me. Notwithstanding my embarrassing po-
sition, I could not feel sorry that went;
and, apologizng for my mistake, took my
Leave, very much happier, yet, withal, feeling
Il sort of pity for John Richards.
The first part of my journey was per-
formed without serious trouble. Ii is true
] had some narrow escapes from the fires,
which found everywhere, thus proving my
mothers fears not without foundation. But
on Saturday night, the night for camping
out, met with the first Of series of mis-
haps that promised q very unfortunate end
ing to my trip.
The amping.out, however, was not so
tlisaSreeable as anticipated, for our men on
the way up had erected cabin for them
selves and Il sort of stable for the horses. In
the latter I tied Jim, finding hay and grain
enough for feed, aud then betook myself TO
the other cabin, where made preparations
for passing Il comfortable night. But could
not sleep at first. Ten thousand dollars in
ones pocket is not remarkable narcotic,
especially when one is in lonely cedar
swamp, with fires lighting the heavens above
the suttucating smoke retarding respiration
ana men prowling around for prey. But
sleep came to me after awhile, and money
fire. smoke, and robbers were forgotten.
do not know how long ] slept, but do
know that was awakened very suddenly.
slrang from the heap of straw, which had
been my bed, and, by the light of the fires,
which had burned nearer, saw man stand
ing in the door. His face was towards ne
black face it was, too. but whether artiti-
cially colored or natural could not say.
"Ifyou don't want TO get burned up you'd
better get out Of here! he said. grutfly.
sSTen mip,,fpS more and the hut will he