The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1874-03-13
SeIerte0 Stotp.
JOHN'R TRIAL.
BY P. DEAIING.

just where the wilderness road of
the Adirondack Highlands strikes
the edge of the great Champlain Val
lev, in little clearing,is q lonely log
house. On the 10th day of July 1852
IA muscular, gaunt woman stood at
the door of the house, overlooking
the vast extent of the valley. From
her stand point ten miles Of green
forest swept down to the lakes wind
ing shore. She saw the indentations
made in the shore line by t'the bay"
and beyond the wide waters, gleam-
ing in the fervid brightness Of sum-
Imer. Specks were here and there
discernible in the light flashed back
from the blue, mirror-like surface,
and by long watching it could be
seen that these specks were moving
to and fro.
The woman knew that these dis
tant moving atoms, were boats freight
ling lumber 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 boat would be her son Johns
sloop.
That was why she watched so anx-
liously a speck that neared the bay
land at length entered it. To make
Idoublv sure she brought to bear an
old spy glass whose principal lens
was cracked entirely through. i
lgave her a smoky view of the famous
Isloop, the Dolly Ann, Johns proper
lty, and then she was entirely certain
THAT her son, who had been three
weeks absent on his voyage, was con
ling home.
Juniper, the house dog, who haC
been watching her, seemed to know
lit too, perfectly well; for as she turn
ed from her survey through the glas
Ibis canine nature developed degrel
of wriggling friskiness of which th
Igrave old dog seemed half ashamed
lie whined and walked about tn
door yard for few moments, then h
gave his mistress a long,steady look
and seeming satisfied with what h
read in her face, jumped over tn
fence and started down the road int
the valley on fall run.
| The woman knew that three O
four hours must yet elapse befor
E John and Juniper would come alon
the path together, tired by their lon
. tramp up the mountain side. Sh
Thought and waited as lonely mother
!. think and wait for absent sons.
At about four o'clock yOun.
d dark. eyed man and dog came up th
road and to the house.
eHeigho, Aother, all wellg'
Was the mans greeting.
The woman's greeting was only
"How do you do, John?'
There was no show of sentimen
mot even hand shake; but brigl
Hook in the mans face, and a tremC
in the voice of Che woman, conveye
the impression that these plain PEI
pie felt a great deal mere than the
Expressed.
Two hours passed away, and I'll
supper over the neighbors who hf
tseen John and the dog come up Il
road, dropped in for a talk with Il
captain" as John wss called by h
friends.
(, Soon the inquiry was made
"Where did you leave your cous
1y William
John had taken his cousin Villa
, who lived upon the lake shore, wi
es him upon his last trip, and hence t
al all question.
But John did not answer the que
e, ton directly. He seemed troubl
ng and unhappy about it. He fna-
nd acknowledged that he and Willis
had not agreed, and that high wor
Tg iegg and blows had passed between the
2gn 2n- and added that his cousin had fin
lv left the boat and had gone-aw
Q in a huff, he knew rot where,
somewheres into the pineries of
l@d D1i NADIA. He declared, getting warm
5, his recollection of the quarrel, Il
o. she didn't care a darn" where v
went, any way.
'di- A month passed away: it v
August, Cousin Will did not retu
=, But certain strange stories came
IA. the lake from Canada, and reacl
the dwellers along the AdirOndi
Wilderness road. No cousin v
ION liam had been seen in the pineri
!. Of but Just across the Canada line,
Few ey- the mouth of Fish River, where
Srn- b sloops were moOred to receive Il
lading of lumber, bruised, swoll