The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1875-12-02

only as ne wanted. W1thdraW1ng with
his stolen booty he placed the plants in
his game-bag, slung the goat and the
kids on his shoulder and made his way
back to his mountain home. A few
nights after he returned to the scene of
his depredations and repeated his for
mer exploit. He now took a sheep and
two lambs; and besides these spade
and a hoe, and a quantity of different
kinds of grain from the stalls.
Basset had now the means of creating
occupation for himself. He titled the.
little plateau on which his hut was
raised, and planting his flowers and
sowing his grains he cultivated, tended
and nursed the patch of ground morn
ing and night with assiduous care. The
pleasure and pride Of ownership which
he now experienced in the possession of
his garden, his field and his live stock
was a new and very agreeable feeling to
him. He enjoyed perfect freedom, to-
gether with a certain sense of civiliza-
ton. He was dependent upon no man;
he was entirely self-sufficing and self
supporting. Now and then, indeed, at
long intervals, he paid visit to Mr..
Kavanagh's station, and-well, stole
several articles which it was beyond his
resources to produce himself. On one
occasion, finding the family all from
home during the day, he entered the
house itself, and took thence number
of books. To the reading of these he
gave himself in the hot summer moons
and the long winter evenings.
Thus the hermit lived, solitary, but
suficing for all things in himself, and
for five years he was contented and
happy. He thought he could live thus
forever; but he was mistaken. The life
he had been leading for the past FIVE
years had, unconsciously to himself,
been working gradual but decided
change in the mans nature.
Among the books which he had taken
from Mr.. Kavanagh's house was one of
German legends, grim, fantastic stories
of the mysterious and the supernatural.
On stormy nights, sitting by his lonely
wood fire, his fancy peopled the tumul-
tuous elements outside with the strange
beings of these old legends; he could
imagine legion of storm-spirits abroad
On the wind, to whose turbulent do
minion the valley had for the time been
surrendered. Gradually these influences
had an awing effect upon Basset's mind.
The intense solitude Of the mountains,
which in stormy seasons became desc
lation, was beginning to overpower and
almost to COW him. Whatever of will
fulness and stubborn resistance was in
nate>in him was becoming tanned and
subdued. He now acknowledged nc
human master, and the stern impassive
forces of nature were Overmastering
him. His lonely liberty was making
him a grave, thoughtful and joyless
man. He went about his daily occupa,
ton in his garden, his field and among
his animals, but they were ceasing tt
yield him the satisfaction and the pleas
ure which they had once done.
Seven years he passed in this valley
seven golden summers, seven stormfu
and dreary winters, and then the soil
tude had fairly overmastered him. Alb
solute freedom had worn him out.
It was again summer, calm ant
beautiful evening in November. Mrs
Kavanagh sat at the door of her house
working at some piece of sewing, watch
ling the sunset and awaiting the returl
1 of her husband from his days occupa
ton. Her two children, q boy and girl
played together near at hand. AS sh
looked up ever and anon to view tn
fading sunset and to gaze in the diret
ton whence her husband should appear
figure came suddenly into her field {
vision, emerging from the scattere
clumps of woodland that fringed th
horizontal line. 1t could not be he
husband, for it was the figure of p'
destrian. It advanced steadily, and th
clearer its outlines became the more I'll
/ familiar it looked to Mrs. Kayanagh
eyes. When at length she made o.
distinctly the appearance Of Il
stranger, some slight discomposul
mingled with her wonder. The ms
3 advanced till within half dozen yar'
of where she sat and then paused. Fl
E a woman, Mrs. Kavanagh was NJ
o easily frightened. The wife of an Au
: ltralian backwoodsman in those da,
. sometimes felt the advantage of . STEAK
q heart and nerve, and frequently q
/ ouired both. But Mrs. Kavanagh
) pulse quickened and her heart beat fas
I or as She regarded the strange fgu
before her, clad in rough goat-skin
d with long thick hair falling over /
: | shoulders, . face worn and hagga
{ with solitude, half hidden in q da
9 flowing growth Of beard. The childr'
q were crouching about their mother
s knees the girl hidden completely am
! the folds of her dress, the boy peepil
s timidly forth with eyes Of startled wo
a der. Yet Basset had not q repulsi
+ face, and his form was straight a
e shapely. He was still in the prime
: life. and the Influences that had fl