Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1873-08-07
LOVE AND LOGGING.

LUvE AMI LUUUANUs
Louisa's father had gone off with the
ox-team up into the woods, sixty miles
away, to make the camp before the win
ter's logging 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 after the cattle; grandmother, who
was companiohable enough, with her
stories of old times, but care more than
a protector; and Susette, who helped
about the house, but was only child.
The second reason was that she had quar-
relied with Ben; and last, but not least,
he and her uncle Simon had driven off on
the ox-team with her father. If there had
ever been time since their quarrel when
she felt disposed TO make it up, it was
when the ox-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 his sled; at quilting,
sewing circle, or picnic he had chosen
her for 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 shout
der, refusing his gifts and attentions, and
showing pretty plainly that she looked
higher. But Ben, with the instincts of
free-born American, felt himself as good
as anybody, and charged her one day
with having come by hifalutin ideas OF
herself and life in the city, which didn't
in the least become her, and averred 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 well enough yourself; but to live
in this slow, backwoods fashion forever
would be the death of me; and not SO
much as 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 I'll wal
awhile before 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 a chance. lie
had house too, in the suburbs, and a
housekeeper, and he said never should
bring the water to wash my hands"
And why didn't you marry him?'
asked Ben, frigidly.
"Oh, he didn't exactly suit me; he'd
lost his front teeth and his hearing
"There's as good fish in 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 tongue out fOr
saying what wasn't true, when his heart
was almost breaking for love of her; and
II she had shown 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
l must say" she returned. "I'm sorry
you asked for what you didn't want, be
cause it would have been awkward if
hadn't refused didn't know that this
was the way folks made loye-calline
names, when I've always treated yos
we'll"
Treated me well with vengeance!
cried Ben, his face white as a star, and his
eyes like thunder-bolts. "Do you call il
handsome treatment 10 let me 60 on low
ing you year after year, while it strength
ened with my strength, without hint
that you couldn't return measure fol
measure? And then to go back upon q
fellow, and throw him over because he
doesn't live like a nabob, though he loved
the ground you walked on, and thought
nothing too hard to do for you! If that's
what you call treating me we'll, good-by-
i don't want ever to see you again.
Louisa had been looking at him with
sparkling eyes She rather liked to sec
him angry it was vastly becoming. And
then he loved her so desperately. She fell
a strange, delightful thrill at her heart, as
If 1t responded secretly. She had half 8
mind to 60 to him and hold out her arm'
and be clasped to his beating heart, and
forget ambition and luxury and choose
rather heaven on earth; and while she
hesitated he had said, "Good.by-I dom
want ever to see you again--good-by."
Il return the sentiment said she, in
stead. 81 believe I can live without you
Good-by." And when he was safely on
OF sight she took revenge in a good cry
But now that he was gone she began Il
find how much she had depended upol
him, how much more his mere presenc'
was to her than any dream of world,
, prosperity, however golden. Perhaps bu
Tor this breach she might never hav'
known how dear he was TO her, nor hov
little she valued the superfiuities of life il
comparison. Well, one Of the three wa
to return before the winters season of log
ing began in order to lay in provision
Tor the camp--as they had only taken VI
enough for week or ten days-and pei
haps Ben would be the one to come; il
which case he could hardly avoid bring
ng her some word Of her father and un