Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1878-08-30
THE FIRE TEST.

SAS'S AuS I06T(
never was an evil that some good die
not spring from it. know it is some
times hard to believe-it was for me
nce-but it is truth. Shall 1 tell YOU
why L changed my mind I dom
Know as l ought to, for I am not much
OF story -teller-I can balance an &C.
count or scale load of lumber better
but l will try this time. All. how 7
wished could tell it as I felt it and saw
1t But don't believe anybody ever
could do that, so I'll make the best of
it. '' VI
am in the employ of heavy lumber.
ing company doing business on the lake.
shore, and have been for years. Most OF
the time there are two of us in the office
John Richards, son of one of the
owners, and myself, Jacobed jackson.
John usually goes into the pineries in
the winter.
Well, last winter was unfavorable for
logging-there was no snow to speak of
and our supply of logs was so much
less than usual that we were Obliged to
shut down the mill about the first of
September. That left thirty or forty
men Idle. You know these lumbermen
nave TO eat, sometimes, and wear clothes
ana the firm decided to put crew into
the woods, if it was early. So about the
fourth or fifth of September, lot of
men started.
John Richards went up to boss them
and to be frank, as I always want to be,
Was glad when John was out of my
Sight. There were two or three reasons
why l was glad. First, John Richards
was not very agreeable person to have
around. He was naughty and overbear.
ing to the last degree, and many wordy
tilt have we had. Again, he was paying
attention to beautiful girl whom [
loved. No doubt 1 was little selfish.
but 1 really couldn't help it. There
was no open rivalry between us, how
ever, for l never had intimated, even to
my dearest friend, my mother, that
cared aught for Belle Royalton. But
L loved her; and the idea that John
Rlchards-or anybody else, for that
matter-would bear off the prize, even
before had entered the lists as COM
petltor, was repugnant to my feelings,
to say the least. Lastly, John Rich
ards was my enemy. Wherefore, could
not fathom; unless, indeed, some look
or act of mine had betrayed my love.
But he was my enemy, and I was glad
when he was out of my sight.
John had been gone nearly a month.
when the firm received a letter from
him, in which he stated that he had
found large tract of pine land for sale.
The owner had just been burned ont,
and John advised that should come up
with few thousand dollars, for splen-
did bargain could be made.
The partners held consultation, and
finally decided that I should 20 up. l
was to start Immediately after dinner,
on horseback.
l knew the road well, and was some.
what acquainted with the few people
who had ventured to settle in that will
derness through which I had to pass;
therefore I apprehended no trouble.
Not so with my mother, however. She
took alarm at the first mention of the
journey.
60 wish you were not going, Joe.
she said, with show of much anxiety.
why, mother ?"
"The fires, Joe. They are burning
all over the woods, and you have to camp
out one night"
L laughed at her fears, for I thought
them groundless; and she did not press
the subject further. The look of anxiety
remained on her face, however, and I
promised to be very careful.
chose to use my own horse; 80, after
dlpner, went out to the stable and sad
died Jim, and rode down to the office.
They were not quite ready, and Mr..
Richards said had better take turn
around, and see if there were any letters
to send to the men. 1t was only by some
such transient method that we had any
communication with the pineries, and 1
found many letters already written.
After had visited all who had hus-
bands in the woods, I headed towards
the Office again; but happened to think
that perhaps Belle had some word to
send to John Richards. It was not
pleasant to think of, and I selfshly de-
cided that would not be the bearer of
communication between them. But nv
better nature prevailed, as 1 hope it al
ways may.
rode over to Squire Royalton's, and
asked for Belle. She was at home; and
think l trembled a little, while the
servant was calling her, for I never had
spoken with her except in the presence
OF others, much less visited her in her
own home. 1 was even more apitated
when she entered the room, and the
touch OF her hand thrilled me through
and through. 1t was only by mighty
effort that / controlled my feelings. All,