The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1875-07-30
A Western Sketch.

--scribner for August.
A Western Sketch.
l was at Rushyil and wished to 60 to
Canton, Illinois. The road is plain
enough ''ior new country" but then
my way was not so plain, for was to
call at Doctor Fields, who was sick.
How shall get there? Go by Havana,
cross the river, and 60 back eight
milesP 1t was far out OF the way. 30 q
friend told me-he was physician and
knew all sorts of ways-that / could
cross at Tom Higgins ferry, which was
on my route, and thereby save ten or If
teen miles.
The sun was two or three hours high
yet when left the highway, and struck
through the tall trees, by a still fainter
trace, to the river bank. The beautiful
Illinois rolled, or rather glided, gently
by, its low banks ana still lower islands
covered with tall, magnificent trees, and,
except cabin on the opposite bank and
skitf FAR down the stream, presented
an unbroken solitude.
All around the little spot on which 1
stood, the thick, lofty forest was made
wild and dark and impervious by the
tangled tsunderbrush," woven together
by countless and almost endless grape
vines. 1t was romantic, certainly; but
l can not say thought it SO beautiful
as 10 wish TO remain there. lifted up
my voice, therefore, without delay.
There was no response. Again and
again / called in vain. At length, wien
| had almost concluded to turn back to-
where there were human habitatiens,
nv call was answered, and woman ap-
peared on the shore. Right glad was /,
and hopeful OF del1veraEce. But my
hope was soon destroyed, or at least de-
terred, by the Information that "the men
were all gone over to the slough with
the boats, and would not be back until
sundown."
Well, there was no help for it. I'd
| "be to stay, anyhow" So composed
myself to remain. My horse was tied so
that he could browse, or may be pick
grass little, and set myself down to
read few hours.
stayed two or three long hours, until
the shadows OF the tall trees were thrown
across the river, until the sunshine left
the eastern bank, the ferryman's cabin,
the tree tops, and gray twilight threw a
soft and uniform, but not to me, remark:
ably cheerful shading, over the scene.
WAITED to hear call from the ferry
house, or to see the returning boats, until
the twilight began to fade away; but no
boats were seen, no call was heard. l
raised my voice again, and shouted loud
and clear; and when the echoes had died
away on the eastern shore a voice was
heard in reply. That reply was far from
pleasant. 1.-THE boats have been left at
the slough, and it would take long
while to get them down." After some
time, however, it was agreed to bring
them; but just then the discovery was
made that had O carriage. so, if you
have a carriage we can't get you over no
how. The faps up out OF the water to
get plank or two on the bottom, because
1T leaked SO bad, and We can't run her
till them's put on"
"But, my good friend, what am / to
dor Pve been waiting here these three
hours, and now it's dark. Dc, il you
can, help me out of my difficulty"
"Weil, I'm right sorry, stranger, that
you're in such fix, but you see can't
help it. 1 tell you what you can do.
Jist 20 back to the fust house, and stay
thar tonight. It's my father-in-law's,
and the old man will keep you; and then
you can come down IN the mornin.
Well be at the nat before daylight, and
get her fixed agin ten O'Clock. That's
the best l can do ior you. Pm rally
sorry you got took in So"
u6It was fiO Aclp IOt L H.
horse into the sswheel-track" with not a
few doubts OF the probability of tracing
the faint lines that a few wagons had
made through the tall climber" A lit
tie prairie of an acre or so showed me
that the moon was shining, OF which the
evidence was rather dubious before, and
trusting to my horse, or else walking at
his head to assure myself, came to "the
old mans" and applied tor lodging.
"Pm mighty sorry, stranger" said a
white-headed boy of twelve or SO; ''but
l reckon we can't 'commodate you, no
how; cause daddy's sick, and nanny
amt at home. wish you'd please to go
furder back to Mr.. Stout's. It's the fust
house you come to-; and they live on the
big road; you be sarun TO git to stay
thar"
So went "furder" and ssgot to stays"
though l seemed likely to get nothing
else. / could not guess SO positively
applied, nor the natural complexion, as
L might have done with the aid of a lit
tie water, judiciously applied, but with
very little hesitation came to the conolu-
sion that it was woman, OF which fact
L became more certain alter little con.
yersation.
"Well, don't know. We're not fixed
to keep travellers. l reckon you'll be to
go to Nr. Squire's; they're mighty well
fixed for it,"
.sHow far is it, madamW
"Its maybe two mile - not more'n
three, any how, and plain road; nothin'
10 turn you out"
/ had sufficient evidence on that sub.
ject; tor passed along it about noon,
and had no desire to retrace it at night
After urging the woman, she agreed to
entertain me.
II hain't got a thing for your brute to
ear, and he's gone down to the branch a
huntin coons. But if you're mind to
You may put the hoss in yonder stable."
did as directed; and not long after
found myself at sort OF table, with
meat fried crisp, and floating in fat