The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1874-10-23
AGNES HAvILAND,s RIDE.

down the struggling. ll-buiIt principal
street OF the new Western village one
warm September day, her hands full OF
letters and papers. The dry goods
clerks and the druggists had kept a
sharp lookout for the hutter of her blue
muslin, and came casually to the door
in time for bow and a smile. The
editor of the Wa91et0 NeacS, who did
more than the brainwork of his journal,
on the contrary, kept carefully out of
sight, lest he should be seen in his shirt
sleeves, while he got a passing vision of
a fair face and sunny brown curls, un-
der broad hat.
Young DIR. Hadden made minute in
quiries concerning Mrs. Haviland's 8
health since her last attack, in the
vain hope of eliciting some symptom
that would justify his immediate at
tendance.
It might have been very well for his
suit if he had /; but mamma was "much
better than usual, thank you," and he
was obliged to let her pass on home
ward alone.
The sun was still high in the western
sky behind her, gliding the waters of a
beautiful broad river. Aggie fingered
on the long bridge, looking at sky and
water, the shaded banks and fair
meadows beyond, but quickened her
steps when she perceived that Melissa
Briggs was making signals to her from
the front gate.
" "Aggie, your ma Ia jest in peck of
half bushels p said Miss Briggs as Ag-
nes drew near. "She's got a oalvanIc
dispatch for your pa. and he's up to the
fruit-farm. y
Agnes ran up the flower bordered
walk, and hurried into the sitting room,
where her mother, nervous invalid,
sat, excited and troubled, with the tele-
gram in her hand.
t'Agnes, how can we get word right
away to your father? Here is a mes
sage from Mr. Knox for him to be in
New York by Friday, without fail. Ag-
gle, the whole suit depends upon his
being there I''
''Don't be troubled, mamma we can
find plenty of ways, said Aggie, smil-
her mother leaned back with an air of
relief, as if she had handed over all re-
sponsibility with the paper. for Agnes
had learned self-reHance as her mother
had lost it.
"Let me see papa went up with
Martin and the peach-boxes, and ex-
poets to come back by the Jones Settle
ment stage
IS And that doesn't come down until
Thursday night, said Mrs. Haviland,
worrying again. agnes, your father
is full of notions. The loss of that suit
would be more than twenty farms in the
Sand Ridger -
''The fruit-farm is a pretty good no.
ton, though" said Agnes, brightly.
sF I'll tell you what I think, mamma it
will be better to go after him myself
then there will be no mistake.
tsIt is twelve miles through the
woods" objected Mrs. Haviland.
ssOnly three or four miles of forest,
mamma and I shall be there before
night.
aBut I shall be uneasy about you.
Haven't heard something bad about
the people up that way"
81 guess not, laughed Aggie. "Now,
mother, don't worry about me ! AS if ]
couldn't ride up to the farm and back.
with papa, in time for the train in the
morning"
So it was settled, and Aggie ran out
to the stables to have the horses sad
died, Melissa Briggs following.
Sc What's up, Aggie p querie6 the
damsel.
ST am going after father" replied
Agnes.
"Who's goin' along ?"
E' No one."
tI wouldn't do it for nothin' in this
1ivin' world !" cried Melissa. "The
horse thievesIl ketch you I"
g I guess not" said Agnes, with in
difference.
'sWhy, Aggie, you sha'n't do it. They
killed a peddler up there once for his
money"
" Melissa, isn't that what you call a
bogle-stery.
No, stree ~ chimed in Billy, the
stable-boy; +" the stage-driver always
carries pistols.
"a Well, I've got to go, at any rate, -
said she, turning toward the house ;
IS and don't either of you tell those sto-
ries to mother for anything"
Mr.. Havi1and was engaged in Htiga-
ton which might leave him million
aire or the possessor of only very mod
crate means. In anticipation of the lat
ter result, he prudently resolved to lay
c he foundation for another fortune,
bought Western lands and engaged in
various enterprises.
The Sand Ridge region extends over
miles and miles of country, consisting
of wooded, sandy ridges, with interven-
ing marshes and occasional openings.
Game of all sorts was plentiful, but the
soil was thought to be worthless, and
&C. k(n t1a