The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1880-10-30
AN ARDENT LOVER.
By KATE TRUE.

His name was Jacob, It had been bis
fathers before him, and his fathers
fathers. The Storms were a hard-work-
ing, money-getting race. Jacob Storm,
the father Of our hero, constantly said
that ''he couldn't See why under the
shining sun o man needed an education;
t any rate, more'n 'nough to reckon his
crops and cattle. Jacob, the younger,
had once expressed desire to attend
school out OF town; but Storm, senior,
killed his ambition in that respect with
few words.
The inhabitants Of Putneyville were
not all conservatives Of the Storm order.
Sons OF rich farmers were in college,
daughters Of Woodworking fathers and
mothers were away at school, and Put
neyville felt their influence when they
camS home for vacation. One of the
gayect, brightest, protest girls in town
was Sallie Rivers. Her father had
poorer farm and fewer bonds than his
neighbor Jacob Storm, but the Rivers
family worshipped another idol. From
the mother down every one valued q
good education. The father had been
denied it, as he was the eldest of a large
family, and compelled to aid in support.
ing the rest. He was q man of excellent
natural ability, and extravagantly fond
Of reading
The boys Of the family were compelled
to work their way through college, and
Sallie, the jovial, was determined to fol-
low their example.
No wonder jacob Storm, Junior, loved
Sallie. He had lived near her for years,
had carried her dinner pail back and
forth. for her, had purposely misspelIed
words to let her pass above him, and in
all her maddest pranks, he had rejoiced
while others blamed. When one OF the
neighbors gave party, the verbal invi-
tAtion was generally, 'Sallie, and the
rest Of the boys"
Sallie liked it; she was full of bound
ing fun; she hated silly airs; and as her
brothers were, with one exception, older
than herself, it was quite proper that
she should do as they did. Jacob Storm
had once called her "Wil1 o'-the-wisp, I"
and the name fitted her so well that the
boys took it mp. The widest colt on the
farm would obey Sallie; she feared moth
ing, went and came as she pleased, and
did more work in one morning than her
mother and Huldah, the maid, could pos
aibly do together.
Naturally, this warm-hearted, active,
cheerful girl, was the light of her faith
ers eyes. He could not send her away
from him, like the boys, not even for the
coveted education. For three years in
her teens she bore the restraint as meek
ly as possible; but the fourth year could
not he borne. How, much the girl had
suffered in secret, no one knew.
Father" she said one day, as she
aprang from her saddle, ''my mind is
made up. shall go into the mill and
earn money enough to attend school,"
''But mother can't spare you, my
daughter.
NfosheYis willing, ;, said Sallie; ''she
always wanted to study, herself"
"WelI, we seem to need you here,
somehow" said the old gentleman, strok-
ing tie colts neck to hide his feelings.
"Yes, father, and you shall have me.
I can work hard, and come home to spend
every vacation; and won't you be glad to
SCENE r.
Mr. Rivers led the colt away, and did
not answer.
''Why not ?'' he said to himself; "why
shouldn't she have q fair chance? I
suppose / might sell of the meadow to
old Storm, and send my only girl away
in good shape; but it will spoil the farm,
and hate to-
He could not think Of the house with
out her: he dreaded the long winter
evenings, and the warm summer days,
without his darling; and at last he sat
down in one corner of the barn On an
old grindstone, which Sallic had often
turned for him. He sat there long
time. trying to overcome his selfshness
and at last, as he heard the girls ringing
voice calling him to supper, he rose up,
saying, tsShe's my only girl; and she
shall have chance, come what will.
Tho boys were delighted. They were
proud of Sallie, and quite sure she would
do herself and the family credit. To be
sure, Toms pride was hurt when he heard
she was to work IN tho mill at Glenmere;
but the new house which Tom had urged
his father to build had cost more than
they expected, and every year some new
machinery must be purchased. 1t was
twenty miles to Glenmere-twenty miles
from homo love, care and comfort; but
Sallie did not falter. To be sure, it was
a trial to leave them all, hard thing to
select from her little store of girls be-
lonRings; and small room in a board
ing-house would never afford the delight
that her own large, sunny chamber did.
SalIie felt thousand tears, but did not
shed one, although her mother and Hull
deh wept profusely as the carriage drove
away, with Sallie's father on the back
seat with her, and Jacob Storm in front
with Sallie's brother Dixie.
''I wish I had her chance" said Jacob.
as the father and daughter talked in low
tones on the back seat.
"Great chance" said Dixie, ito go
down there and work among all sorts.
and never have any music evenings, or
any homo, Or
bike paused; his seelings were too
much for him, and yet he would not let
Jake Storm see tear in his eyes.
ITS o chance to make yourself some
thing better than drudge chance to
see and know what is going on in the
great world. Reading is good, Dixie
but seeing is million times better.
Jacob road early and late, he thought
and studied; but after all, he knew that
the discipline which Tom and Joe Rivers
were having would be great blessing to
him. His one dread was that Saliie
might consider him inferior to her.
''She shall not get before me il die try
ing" he said.
Satlle 3 room was not so DAD after ali /;
Mrs. Mora had done her best to please
her old friend Mrs. Rivers. When
Sallie's books were unpacked, and her
piano was in one corner, and her pet
bird Glory hung mp, the place was quite
delightful.
room-mate was impossible, as she
desired to spend all her spare moments
in preparation for her future work
About this time she wrote TO Tom : "It
is hard grind, dear old boy; aud some
times, when my head whirls about with
the noise, or the associations vex me, L
feel like running away to China or japan;
but don't, only 60 homo when I am
free, and take good dose of Chopin or
Beethoyen; they tone me up. By care
full management, I shall be able to save
some money. There is little French
girl here, who IS anxious to study Eng
lish; every week give her lesson for 3
lesson; speak and read French with her;
then, two of Mrs. Mora's children take
Lessons on the piano, and my board bill
Who do you think comes here
'.Y? Wby, Jacob Storm. His
te.. him 60 to college, and