The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-02-08
SIMON SEYMOUR'S HEIR

SIMON SEYMOUR'S HEIR
The 18th of August 1876, was my sxty.fft
birthday. | was passing it friendless and alon
IN little town on the boardcrs of the wilder
derness; waiting with a scorc of others for tn
stage that left the place once day for Sarana
Lake.
The handbook OF the Rev W II. II. Murra
had been my constant companion during
long trip from the Black Hills To New York
and when disappointment overlook me, IN,
thoughts ran on the perfect peace of baIsamI
pines, and the heaven on earth for the tlrcC
soul which according 10 Murray awarded m,
in the Adirondacks.
Mine bad been hard experience. hat
shaved pOverty-strickcn bOyEood had bccl
tied to u desk in early manhood and middle
age, till, wearlcd with overwork and small re
turns, | had joined an adventurous party o
younger spirits and gone TO the Black Hill.
with the first rush thither for gold.
There had passed arough life for two years
TIL, by ii "iluke," as the DeadwoOd sport my
partner, termed it, we had both made our for
tunes.
tarricd not to increase the unexpected
windInil, but with dreams and longingS fol
peace and quiet comfort went back to the
II is unnecessary to relate the story of my
return. ! was not prying, suspicious man
but accident led to my hearing myself dicuss
ed by the family to which | belonged, when
in full conclavc, my belongings and their cx.
pectahons were fully canvassed
After that disastrous hour, every fond word
ud Smllc-and there. were plenty bestowed
upon mc-rOuScd "A spirit Of distrust | sighed
for the days when there was nothing to gain
by being civil To Simon Seymour | shed n
bitter tear over the grave of old Aunt lIepsv
Turner, remembered for the only disinterestcd
affection that ever fell into my life When |
was an oycrworked Illicd boy of twelve, and
living on sulcrance with my hard old Uncle
Marsdcn, one day, for some shortcoming, he
gave me an unmerciful beating in his barn
land like one dead praying for death, when
compassionate lIepsy Turner stole me away
and nursed me for weeks.
She had been dead many years, poor woman,
and all trace Of her family was lost had
nothing to remain for, and ! suddenly an
nounced my intention Of spending the sum
mer in the Adirondacks.
"As If you had not had enough of wild life
out in Deadwood and the Black Hilsw said
Mrs Mardcn, my fashionable cousin.
at wouldn't be so bad an idea if Won take
Charley with YOU" asscnted the widow Scy-
mour who was the relic Of my half brother,
and mother Of the heir cxpectan,
on might take Carrie and !, Nunky,"|
ehlmed in the silvcry voice OF Lou Barnett
who, though only IA haliCousin, addressed me
afcctionately rs "Nunky"
Alas for their hopes That slvery voice
had been advising her mother TO indulge in
some extravaganza, since the old IInnkerI
with that liver complaint couldn't last until
spring.
And the festive Charles, already trading ON
his prospects, had heartlessly counted up with
Mrs. Marsdcn the probable length of DAYS II
might keep them out OF their own.
81 shall 20 alone"
This said solemnly, to their united surprise
and discontinue.
And made my arrangements accordipglv
There was wild dismay in the camp | was
leaving. There was mysterious meeting off
the intercstcd-a sort of IUHatico iagujyl0do
There were plans land for my detention and
projects broached for my incarceration AS AMI
imhcclle
But IN the midst of the excitement wasI
gone
quietly, without an argument giving them
no Opportunity for rcmOnstrancc or anpcal
but alter ! was many hours away they rel
ctlyeu document in which, mildly but firm.
~ stated my decision in regard to them.
w hateycr fortune | did not spend bctnrrI
my deaih"-so | wrote-"would 20 To found,
an asylum Tor the amclloration of the condi-j
ton OF wealthy old gentlemen, and TO proyidcI
Sftaei security against rapaciouS relations"
having iired this parting shot, nv short.
NNeu resentment was over, and bitter disap
ppih'Aieht TOOK possession Of my heart. III
seemed 50 hard 10 find after all nv dreams a
lone and loveless old aye must be- nv nortinr
and 50 the 18th Of August came and fnnnJ
me rs have said, soured in iempcr and nm.
certain IN purpose, lounging away NV sIyty-!
hith birthday on the piazza of the Ausable Uo
tel Kecsville. i'o
Are there any places of lnteres, IN th.
HHigh6orhood:' asked of the CHEEKY Land
lord. iihu
Il should say so. Have you never heard or
the AuSable Chasm?" he replied. WV
Never"
"Mores the pity, then: it's as rare n sbo,,
as those famous Falls Of Niagara, really he
lieve." oe
The day hung heavy on my hands and ,f,.r
d lio-iehts preparation was placed in charge
oi aliase Jehu anu on the road for the much |
boas.ed 'Chasm" 'A'"'
at deserves all NINE host has said os :, +,
was my verdict when, after DESCENDING bnn.
drcds OF steps, roughly fashioned at irregular
heights, and wedged into the terrible fissnrcs |
winch, not more than three feet wide cleft ,be
earth to depth of two hundred feet I stood a,
last on the level rock at the bottom; far and
wide spread out the wondrous chamber, a mer.
~ stream of water rushed across the place. the
grim rocks stretched far away up, and gazing
through the narrow passage by which the grot