Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-08-05
NO. 1873.
"WE CAN'T SOMEHOW MOST ALWAYS
TELL, PERHAPS"


Afternoon"
'All this time I'd been lookin' around
trying to settle, an never seein' any one
it seemed as il I'd went round all the time.
Anton had married--that was my man;
an I'd built on another part for him, SOS
not to have any mixing up, in case did
settle. Everything fixed itself straight off.
you might say, different from what I'd laid
out for, as things always does I'd about
made up my mind Laviny Harvey, Con-
necticut woman with farm an three
children, was the one for me. Her hus-
band ID been killed in a JAM goin' down
with Tidd's gang two years before but
she an hired man had carried on the
farm, with what hand I could lend now
and then. an said to myself, Here's q
stirrin' woman, an family all ready to
my hand, jest about old enough an I'm
pretty certain she won't say No il ask
her made up my mind I'd do it after
my next trip down to 81. Peters, an
went below that time pretty easy an set
tied in my mind. laid in good many
things thought she an the young ones
would like, an instid o hangn' round
day or two an gettin' what news there
was to take back. didn't stay but one
night. an started off next mornin' before
light. Fact was, wanted to be more
settled yet; an as drove along | kept
thinkin' more an more. how me an La
why might pull together.
1T was September then-cool mornings
and warm moons; an my team stepped
along so lively pretty nearly run over
somethin' sittin' by the side o. the road
done up in blue cloak. thought it was
a squaw, an stopped a moment to see if 1
had done any harm, askin' her pretty loud
in Sioux. what she sat in the middle o. The
road torp But it wasn't black eyes an
cheek bones an strings o. black hair.
can tell YOU. I'd never in all the days o.
my lite seen Just such face, an never
have since. All wet with cryin', an the
tears streamin' down yet but blue eyed
baby couldn't have looked up more inno-
cent. | couldn't think of anything but
the forget-me-nots in the medder by the
river to home. For all her baby face and
her long braids of hair below ner waist,
she looked tall and strong as she stood
up; but she wasn't day over seventeen,
and a voice as sweet as bird. You new
er heard voice like that out of a German
woman throat before.
"Id picked up little German from An
ton kreiger an some of the Germans
rouLd, an | made out little of what she
wanted. She'd come to st. Paul by emf
grant train, just as they do-packed like
sheep an about as senseless-an' then
down to st. Peters to wait for some one
to take her up to the Redwood settlement
or New Ulm. Her money was all gone,
and she'd got kind o. scarf an set out to
walk, an lost her way, an when ! found
her she d been out all night with nothing
to eat, and sat there like a hungry baby,
jest cryn'. | took her into the wagon an
give her what had, an she looked up as
grateful as if I'd saved her life.
Il found she was cousin Of Anton's,
and had come expectln' to live with them.
She said she'd written, but Anton hadn't
got the letter; an his mother she'd calki-
lated to be with was dead. His wife was
back-eyed. snappn' German woman,
an the more thought the more said to
myselfit never was going to do. / slow
ed up, an at last | got out and walked
SOS t) think it over, an then l looked
back. for I'd got considerable ahead;
an she sat there with face to make a
fool out of harder man than was.
Il made up my mind, There was
Catholic Priest in the next village. Not
that I'm a Catholic, for I'm rather agin
more than for them but priests priest,
an he could fix what | wanted we'll as an
other. Igot back in the wagon, an l said.
quiet an easy as if was askin' her to
take more bread an cheese an 10 all the
German could muster, 'Anton's mother
is dead. Anton is married. His house is
too little for him and you. Mine is large.
VIII you live in it a1d help me P'
First she thought wanted her for
servant, and began to show me her arms.
and how strong she was, and could milk
and make butter. "Oh, yes, she would
he good servant and work much No.
| said then. i want you for something
more. want little frau. I'm all alone
and nobody to think much about, and I'll
be good to you. and there's minister
right here, and will you marry me notCF'
How she ever did it | don't know. She
looked at me through and through. 1t
was searchn' as the day o judgment,
an my heart beat SO | couldn't breathe.
Then she put one hand in mine, an bowed
her head. | couldn't speak one word, but
| put my arm round her, an swore an
oath to myself stronger'n the priest could
get out o me, an then tied the hores an
walked over the prairie to old Pere
Lacroixs. He didn't ask any questions.
We knew well enough about one another,
an he jest went over to the little chapel
an married US then and there, an drove
s.A