Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-08-08
NO. 1877.
Tales aud Sketehes.
LOVE AND LOGGING.

team up into the woods, sixty miles away,
to make the camp before the winters log
ging should begin. She felt very lonely
as soon as he was out of sight, for more
reasons than one. In the first place, there
was nobody at home but little Tim, who
could dig the paths, to be sure, and look
alter the cattle; grandmother, who was
companionable enough, with her stories
OF old times, but a care more than pro-
tector; and Susette, who helped about the
house, but was only child. The second
reason was that she had quarreled with
Ben; and last, but not least, he and her
uncle Simon had driven off on the OK team
with her father. II there had ever been
time since their quarrel when she had felt
disposed to make it up, it was when the
OK team had disposed to make it up, it
was then the OK team had disappeared
from sight, and it was impossible to do
So
The fact of the case was that Ben had
been looking upon Louisa as his own
property ever since he could remember.
He had beaued her to and from singing
school; he had helped her out with her
hard problems at district school, and had
carried her home on sled at quilting,
sewing circle, or picnic, he had chosen
her tor his partner in the dance, had paid
his forfeits to her, and had revolved about
her daily. And she had seemed to relish
the whole thing till she went away to the
city one winter to work in a milliner's
shop, and so came home quite out of con-
ceit with country living and country men,
and had rather given Ben the cold shoul-
der, refusing his gifts and attentions, and
showing pretty plainly that she looked
higher. But Ben, with the instincts of
tree-born American, felt himself as good
as anybody, and charged her one day with
having come by hitaulutin ideas of herself
and life in the city, which didn't in the
least become her, and ayerred that she
couldn't do better than to marry him.
''Well. Mr.. benjamin Thurman, hope
you're conceited enough" she answered
him. ''Marry you! l won't say but
you're .wel enough yourself; but to live
in this slow, backwoods fashion forever
would be the death of me; and not so
much as a lecture or concert to while
away the time; to be wearing homespun
all my days, and worrying about the
crops. Oh. dear, no, thank you; I've had
enough of hard times. believe III wait
a while before l settle down.
Perhaps there's somebody else?" ven
tured Ben.
mo can't say that there is though
don't mind telling you that didn t come
home single for want of chance. He
had house too, in the suburbs, and
housekeeper, and he said never should
bring the water to wash my hands,"
And why didn't you marry him ?" ask
ed Ben frigidly. 81, ~
'Oh, he didn't exactly suit me: he'd
lost his front teeth and his hearing.
There's rs good fish I'M the sea as ever
yet were caught" she sang. gayly.
'Well," said Ben, rising, and looking
blue lightnings, ION the whole. I'm glad
that You won't marry me, for you've got
no more heart than an adder" And then he
could have bitten his lounge out for say
ing what wasn't true, when his heart was
almost breaking for love Of her: and if
she had showed that she was wounded,
by word or look, he was ready to abase
himself beneath her feet, and take it all
back.
You're amazing polite, Mr.. Thurman,
| must say" she returned. "Tm sorry
you asked for what you didn't want, be-
cause it would have been awkward i'll
hadn't refused. Il didn't know that this
was the way folks made loye-calling
names, when I've always treated you
welln
''Treated me well with vengence! I"
cried Ben, his face white as star, and
his eyes like thunder-bolts. '.Do you call
il handsome treatment to let me go on
loving you year after year, while it
strengthened with my strength, without a
hint that you couldn't return measure for
And then to go back upon
fellow. and throw him over because he
doesn't live like nabob, though he loved
the ground you walked on, and thought
nothing too hard too do for you. Ii that's
what you call treating me we'll, good by
i don't ever want to see you again"
Louisa had been looking at him with
sparkling eyes. She rather liked 10 see
him angry it was vastly becoming And
then he loved her SO desperately. She
felt strange, delightful thrill at her
heart, as if it responded secretly. She
had halt a mind to go to him and hold out
her arms and be closped to his beating
heart, and forge. ambition and luxury
and choose rather a heaven on earth; and
while she had hesitated he had said.
good BY don't want ever to see you
again-good-by."
II return the sentiment" said she, in
stead ii believe can live without you.
"Good-by And when he was safely out
OF sight she took revenge in good cry.
But now that he was gone she began to
find how much she depended upon him,
how much more his presence was to her
than any dream OF worldly prosperity
however golden. Perhaps but for this
breach she nigh. never have known how
dear he was to her, nor how little she
valued the supertiuities OF life in compari.
SON Well, one OF the three was to return
before the winter season of logging began
IN order TO lay in provisions for the camp
Is they had only taken up enough for
week or ten days-and perhaps Ben would
Dc the one to come in which case he
,ould hardly avoid bringing her some word
Of her father and uncle. And then who
would predict but he might think il worth
MS while to reiterate his love in his elo-
luent style? And then Louisa laughed
at the prospect. and decided
hat il he was enough in love to do thus
and thus, it would be safe for her beyond
a peradventure TO take her. own time about
making up, to show supreme indifference
to his regard, No more heart than an