Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1874-03-12
JOHNS TRIAL.
BY 2. DEMING.

BY =. DEMlNG.
rps, where the Wilderness road of the
Adirondack Highlands strikes the edge
ii the great Champiain Valley, IN little
clearing, is lonely log house. On the
10Th day OF July, 1852, muscular, gaunt
Woman stood at the door of the house
overlooking the vast extent Of the valley
From her standpoint ten miles OF green
6re,, swept down to the lakes winding
shore. she saw the indentation made in the
Shore Inc 10y 1.-The bay" and beyond the
vide waters cleaning in the fervid bright
ness of summer. Specks were here and
there discernibe in the light flashed back
hom the blue, mirrow-like surface, and by
long watching it could be seen that these
wpcks were moving to and fro.
The woman knew that these distant,
moving atoms were boats freighting lum.
Der through Lake Champlain. She knew
| there was but one boat that would be
likely to turn aside and come into the
little bay, and that this boat would be her
0nJohn's sloop.
Thatwa why she watched so anxiously
speCk that neared the bay and at length
entered it. To make doubly sure she
brought to bear an old spy-glass whose
principal lens was cracked entirely
through II gave her smoky view OF
letamous sloop, The Dolly Ann, Johns
property, and then she was entirely Ger
tain that her son, who had been three
weeks absent on his voyage, was coming
home
Jupiter, the house-dog, who had been
watching her, seemed to know it too
perfectly well; for as she turned from her
survey through the glass his canine ma
We developed a degree of wriggling
'FSkinass Of which the grave old dog
seemed half ashamed. He whined and
walked about the door-yard for few
moments, then gave his mistress a long
Steady look, and, seeming satisfied with
What he read in her face, jumped over the
ls1ce and started down the road into the
valley at full run.
The woman knew that three or four
hours must yet elapse before John and
jupiter would come along the path to-
se'AeT, tired by their long tramp up the
mountain side She thought and waited
as lonely mothers think and wait for alb
SEMI sons
Al about four o'clock young, dark
EYED man and the dog came up the road
aA4 10 the house. Heigho, mother, al
wei. - was the mans greeting. The
Som.a's greeting was only, Glow dc
you DO, John ~ There was no show o.
,Nnument, not even hand shake; but 6
"'-Ai look in the mans face, and 6
1tmor IN the voice of the woman, con
wye. the impression that these plair
People felt great deal more than they
oppressed.
I"o hours passed away, and after sup
sr' The neighbors who had seen John an(
~s ~ = come up the road dropped in TO
q .. 'a.N with the Captain" as John wa
sa.ed by his friends.
A.. 2S'oa the inquiry was made, "Wher
wy you leave your cousin William ?"
''4n had taken his cousin William
S"' wed upon the lake shore, with hin
.,lA ihis last trip, and hence the ques
~. oa' John did not answer the question
."'I..F lie seemed troubled and IN
,L'rt's about IT, He finally acknowledged
u, ,''. ne and William had not agreed, an,
''1. A' Oh words and blows had passet
I"s.ea them. and added that his cousil
--' aaally left the boat and had gon
way IN a huff, he knew not where, bu
~ --."44ere into the pineries of Canads
| Heciared, getting warm in his reco
Ion OF the quarrel, that he "didn
aarn' where viii went, an
Ga month passed away; it was Angus
,.N2 VIII did not return. But Gel
m range stories came up the lax
canada, and reached the dweller
N Inc Adirondack Wilderness roaC
0sln William had been seen in tn
but just across the Canada lin,
mouth of Fish River, where tn
We're moored to receive their ladin
43eT, bruised, swollen, festerin