The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-11-21
4 SAD STORY.

county. Kentucky, man named Amos
Vaughn. lie owned a farm not far
from the foot of the knobs, near the
White Oak lick, His farm though large
was not fertile for either grain crops or
grass. But, MI. Vaughn was a capital
FARMER for that day and he acquired
the means of Independence, though in
this day he would be deemed poor man.
His house was made of hewn logs.
The huge stone chimneyS had immense
fiTe-places ; and of winter nights, VIII zen
almost quarter of cord of wood was
piled on and burning the sense of COM
fort and cheerfulneSS was abundantly
diffuSed. 1t was around such fires that
the young people of fifty years ago sat
of winter evenings. Apples and cider
crowned tie board and how the mer-
ry laughter and songs rcsounded, none
now know except those still living who
were young at that period.
Mr.. Vaughn had but one child, a son,
Whose name YVES Foster. He was in
dustTiOus and exemplary. Never were
the hearts of parents more completely
bound up in a child and never Were
parents more happily rewarded for their
tender affection. lie was a noble type
of manly beauty in his person-tall,
erect. robust. His eyes were large
shaded by long eye lashes and his au,
burn suit of hair curled Il little so as &c
fall in WaveletS over his well formed
head His education had not been ne
elected
Many were the girls who set then
caps for Foster Vaughn, but they were
all defeated. He did not seem inclined
to enter the marriage covenant. though
he paid the girls great respect, often
putting himself TO serious Inconvenience
to gratifv their whims. Mrs. Vaughn
often took occasion to suggest to hel
son certain girls for a wife, alway:
pointing out the daughters of ,he veal
thiest men of the adjoining counties
/ but her suggestions did not seem Il
make any impression on the mind of hel
son.
/ In the Knobs. which are the spurs o.
/ the Cumberland mountain, the farmers
at the time of which | speak, had herd!
of wild hogs which grew fat ON the
mast in the fall, and were hunted will
dogs and killed when the weather be
! came cold enough to preserve the meat
: These annual hunts were participated
/ in by dozen or twenty neighbOrs, and
/ they furnished a number of days of eX
: cellent sport.
In one of these hunts Foster Vaughn
Z was a party The day was cold, and.il
/ the evening the snow poured down in
/ binding storm. Near night FOste
found himself twelve miles from hom,
/ The storm had ceased. The clouds haI
/ parted, leaving broad patches of deel
1 blue sky which contrasted fOrcibly Will
/ the woods that were heavily clad will
SNOW. He accordingly accepted tn
! invitation Of a Mr.. Kidd to remain al
night.
Mr.. Kidd had but poor accommodation
/ His cabin consisted of only two rooms
/ He had five children, four SONS and ont
daughter, who was the eldest of tn
family. She was nineteen years old AM
was a marvellous specimen of femal
beauty. Her person was absolutely per
feet developed in perfect harmony, ant
presenting the most captivating appear
ance that can be imagined.
Her forehead was ample, revealing
vigorous intellectual faculties evenl
balanced, and it was like the whites
1 marble. Her hands were models fO
the ambitious artist who cOYet an in
mortality of fame. Added to these wa
voice whose tones of melody and CON
pass cannot be represented in VOID,
Such was the mountain maiden-Mill
Kidd.
Afeer a frugal supper, Milly enter
tanned Mr.. Vaughn. They sat alOn
IN one OF the rooms of the cabin. Mi
iy was wholly uneducatedi but her III
tive good sense and intuitive perceptio
Of prOpriety rendered her interesting
She knew a number of fine old ballad.
which she sang with sweetness an
feeling
The houTsfiew away on golden wing:
Foster was confused with strange emC
tions,-strange because he had nevt
/ experienced them before. 1t was mic
, night and Milly retired, her fatht
coming in to invite his guest to bed.
Foster could nOC sleep. His soul We
full of troubled sweetness and myster
i Gus Joy. lie was under the influence {
t a master power, such as he had nevt
experienced. As the winter wind wal
: ed round Che cabin, and mOaned ava
! in the distant forest, the image al
/ sweet voice of Milly rose before him
! he still heard her thrilling voice sti
saw her queenly form still seemed
6 be gazing on her angelic face. Not II
til just before day-break did he fall i
to troubled sleep.
The next morning here turned HON
, but home was not home to him n
, more. The turault of his soul cOnti
; ued. He was abSent-minded, solitaC
I | moody. His mother observed the cham
4 in his habits, and asked him if he we
: i'll.
lie replied:
g ''No, not in the least.
s'Why then, she demanded. "a
i you so changed =