The Republican journal., 1880-10-21
Kate's Adventure.

| tulcS great uetll Dcltef lndn any one
else can tell them for me. That stands
to nature. I'm not practical writer,
and | don't know how to produce what
the fashionable authors call grand pen
effects" but | believe | can make you
understand how it was. And that is all
that is necessary.
Leeman had sprained his anke-that's
my brother and he could not 90 to town
with the load of russet apples that was
already piled into barrels, and stood wait
ing under the big red shed.
Its too badr said he. '"Those russet
apples are worth q deal at this time Of
| year-and we shall miss the market day"
Cant You ask Neighbor Hutton to
take them y said my mother.
HNeghbor Hutton iSa deal too sharp a
| practitioner for me- said I.peman. "It's
a hard thing to say about a neighbor;
but can't trust his honesty"
"AIr. lall?'
Hall would be casting it up in my
face for the next six months, that | had
asked a tavoro him." said Leeman, "No,
| I'd rather lose the apples than lose
my independence. But it is too proyok
ing that | must needs have slipped on
| that piece Of orange peel now, IF all
times in the world. | have been saving
up these apples all the winter with a
special eye to this particular market day"
'Ieeman,' said |, ''I'll gow
NONSENSE :" said Leeman.
"But why not ?" said l. ''Oll PomD is
as gentle as a kitten, and know every
inch of the way"
"But there are the Red Swamp Woods
that desolate stretch Of three miles,
with never a house on either side Of the
way, except the deserted cabin where the
old negro hanged himself, twenty years
ago" argued my mother
'4Who cares for the Red Swamp
Woods z" said l. yalianty. II never
was afraid oftrogs and whip-poor-wilis,
and I'm not going to begin now. Lii will
you go out and help me harness, early in
the morning, and
"Oh, | wish was going, too Can't
go, Kate ?" cried Lii, my hoyden younger
sister, with her blue eyes glittering with
delight at the idea of anything unusual.
'Stutt" cried |, impcrously. ''Of
course YOU can't. Hasn't Pomp heavy
load enough, without your ninety pounds
Of mischief loaded on Besides, you
/ must stay at home and take care Of
mother, and Leeman, and finish the
chintz curtains for the big west chamber;
for Col Hay may come home at any time
now"
Col. Hay was our city boarder a
. gentleman who had been recommended
by his physician to try the fresh, pine
scented breezes of the Shawaugecnta
Mountains, and whom our rector had
recommended to the 10y Spring Farm.
We are not rich, although mother and
\ Leeman had managed the farm economic
ally and Well since fathers death, and the
weekly addition to our income would be
something worth considering.
The idea Of a city boarder was very
/ pleasant, too, and IcySpring Farm. was
a very lovely spot, although WE seldom
allowed ourselves to think OF that
50, after a little, coaXed mother and
Lccman to consent and the next morn
mg Lii and | We're up long before day
break, Harvesting old Pomp, and getting
ready for the day S journey
IiN thc time the red, level light Of the
rising Stln touched Old Ponps gray mane
with radiance, WAS driving through the
Red swamp, where The maple trees, from
which it took its namc We're All agow
with crimson blossoms, and the thrusheS
ana robbins called to each other with
ttute-lIke notes.
Wei, | managed splendidlN | knew
where | was going to when started. |
sold the sin barrels of rIsSets to the man
who kept the Park Hotel for II apiece,
/ and that Was more than Leeman himself
anticipated
''l}e careful you don't get robbed, nov"
said the man, as he put the bills into my
little pOrtmonnae.
Robbed 4 said |, with 4 laugh. ''Why,
who should rob Inc Z"
''Oh, don't know said the landlord.
"Ghere's always tramps and burglars
around They re Il crop that don't belong
to any particular season Of the year"
AS turned away did not notice at
the time, but it came back to Inc after
wards, as things do come back, like a
sudden flash across the dark shield of
memory "A man who was lounging upon
the steps, looking hard at me.
colored little and thought to my
self
"Well, he will know me the next time
he sees me" ana then forgot all about it |;
for | had mothers black bombaLne to
match, and Ills spring hat to buy, and
dinner china to select, and the doctors
prescription for Leeman to fill cut at the
druggists 50 that it was well on to 9 when
| turned old Pomp's head homeward, in
the suburbs of the town, with feeling
of elation which was quite pardona Die,
when one considers my experience i'll The
marketing line and my exceptionally
The sunshine was warm ana atll On the
hlghroad' ana was rather glad when az
last We came to the cocl sha1ows OF the
Red swamp where the blrCs were all
silent in the noon heats, the sweetest Of
odors came floatlng up from The tangled
recesSes OF tern ana c)W-sllp, on either
SIDE OF the solitary ralltd-ln road.
All at once old Pomp gave sidewise
start-hls ancient idea OF shying-and
then | saw man, pale, dusky and tired
looking, sitting on fallen log was like
-h, al ,l,l,