Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-05-22
LOVE REFORMS TILE MAN.

1t was now winter, and the prai-
ries were robed in snow. The hoary
old sun, rising with brace of sun
dogs, looked ocross the dazzling ex-
panse of prairie ridges that lay still
and unruffied as an ocean of chaos
frozen, and saw, as he had for ages
seen, the dark channel OF the Missis-
sippi, with its branches, like man.
moth tree pictured upon the snowy
globe, and smiled upon farms, and
villages, and cities, just created by
the magic of steam and civilization,
and looked serenely down into the
great lakes as into mirror newly
framed, and bordered with the thrift
and elegance of civilized society.
Far-far away on the border of many
a distant grove, that morning could
be seen for the first time the column
of blue smoke streaming up from the
new lime painted log cabin and
you could see to count the very logs
OF which it was the day before con.
structed, and distinctly hear the axe
at the wood pile. 1t was one of
those mornings peculiar to the North
West, when distance seems tc be
annihilated, and the power of the
senses doubled 1t was dangerous
morning for whether tor the
lady-footed deer that congregate in
the sunny ravines upon the borders
of the leafiess grove--or TO the pla-
toons OF prairie chickens that sit
upon a thousand zig gag rail fences,
counting the effulgence of the sun
or to the poor little bare footed quails
that run tripping through the brush
like miniature ostriches or to the
hungry wolf that stands upon some
bleak knob, and looking impudently
back, first over one shoulder and then
over the other. challenges the pur-
suit of the well mounted horseman.
Such was the morning on which
Major James White returned from a
hunting excursion of two hours, and
dismounted his foaming thorough.
bred horse-after riding fifteen or
twenty miles, and killing one doe,
one wolf, and thirteen prairie chick
ems. During this animated ride, the
Major formed resolution which
ever after governed him through life
He determined to be a Just man, a
just and COOL man-worthy of the
woman he loved. He reflected that
much OF his money was spent that
was nothing; he believed in his
good fortune and fancied he could
strike lead any day After break
fast he went to Mr. Leecb, and tell !.
ing him he had done a wrong and an
injury in selling him the prospect, he
drew from his purse all the money
he had remaining and paid it to the
ex-cashier; went home to his room
with light heart, disposed of bis
horses, dogs, bjouterie, paid all his
debts, even his wash bill, informed
Buff what he had done, bought Buff s
interest in the prospect, hired dig
ger by the month to work with him,
and put on his miners dress and
went back to Little Blue Rabbit to
dig again upon his old prospect. He
lett behind him the following letter
addressed to the lady OF the ex-cash-
Ter:
NY Friend You will look at my
window to see me, but you will look
in vain. That love you more dear
ly than the whole world beside, You
know better than / can tell YOU how
unecorthtty am to love you, you
know not, and heaven only knows.
| never knew the blackness of my
own heart until had contrasted it
with the parity of yours. You have
awed my Maynard spirit into tue
worship OF moral beauty. | thank
you for It, | now feel compelled by
a sense of justice and honor, to sur.
render my ill-gotten wealth TO its
rlghtful owner, and to rely upon hon
est industry for my support. Dear
est woman ! with the rising sun, and
at MONDAY, aud at twilight, and In
the solemn watches of the night. aud
until the moment we meet again Ct
hope .under happier auspices,) your
dear image, the angel OF. my hopes,
will ever be living, moving and
breathing in the memory of your IN.
worthy friend,
JAMES WHITE"
To be continued.