The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-07-17
Annette.

All in the party excepting the guide and
myself had gone to the nelghboring camp.
Uncle Ben and were seated on a huge
rock followed in the center which nature
had provided as fire place for us; the
flames were leaping high in the air, throw
ing fantastic shadows on the trees Uncle
Ben sat busily mending net, preparing
for the next days fishing, Isilently watched
him, wondering whether any romance had
fallen into his prosaic life. Uncouth and
awkward as he was, felt attracted to him
because Of the mingled strength, shrewd-
ness and tenderness of his character.
At last he broke the silence by saying:
"Wel, if the wind don't change we shall
get good haul of fish tomorrow. Yes, a
good haul, ma'am."
''unclo Ben," asked, shave you al
ways lived in Maine2"
''Ycs, nigh upon fifty years, excepting
nlre niYnths :whpn waa in Californy, about
ten years ago.
'tBut why did you stay so short time,
and why did you gof Please tell me all
about It,"
"Why there isn't much to tell," he an
swored. 81 was half sick; folks said there
was nothing would cure me this way, but l
should sartin sure get well in Californy. So
| started, thinkin' Id get health and work
there, and by-and-by could send for my
family. had long voyage, but every
day grow better, and by tho time I got to
Californy I was all right agin. Then
got place Oh ranch, earned my board
and little besides to send home; but tell
you was downright lonesome, and mighty
glad to get letters, but every time my
woman wrote she wanted me to come right
home to Maine. was planin' to send
for her in couple of years, when at last
came three letters from folks in the village
tellin' me if l didn't come home soon I
shouldn't have any wife, she was a frettln'
and grievin' so, for fear she'd never see me
ag'in. Then she wrote if I'd only come
back she'd be willin' to live on potatoes,
frozen at that. toll you, that argument
fetched ME, and just packed up and
started, and rather guess she was some
glad whom she seed ME a-comin' in at the
door.
''By the freight saw a tear on the old
trapper's cheek.
Eyes" he continued, "that's the only
time I've been moved 10 quit homo.
can't understand how some mon can leave
their women as they do. Even gojn' out
blue -berryin' take twice agin rs much
comfort if my Annette is with NO."
There was something very pathetic in
this plain mans love for his wifo,-his
wife who was on the other side of the
mountain from us, keeping, with her boys,
the little farm during the summer months,
while her husband guided the parties com
ing up into the Wilderness from the far
away cities.
The following day, rs Uncle Ben had
predicted, we did have good ''haul OF
fish," but I noticed that every now and
then he glanced toward an ominous cloud
of smoke hanging over the mountain.
"What is that, Uncic Benz" asked.
"a fire in the woods. My little farm
lies thcreabouts, and if the wind changes
fear nothing can save IT,"
lie said no more, but was grayely silent
l know his heart was with Annette. Al
night the wind did change, but alasI in the
wrong direction. We told him to leave II.
at once; we could stay alone that night
and he could return to us the next day. Il
needed no urging for him to step into hi
boat; his sinewy arms sent tswlftly through
the dark waves, and in moment was los
to view.
We returned to our campfire, but no
to tell stories or to sing songs, as we usually
did, hut to watch the silent stars above
and to listen to the plash Of the wave
upon the sands Our thoughts were will
Annette, and the brave lnan going TO he
relief.
Our guide did return tho next day. bu
not alone; Annette was with him. Uncl,
Ben awkwardly but with tender, chivalri,
spirits, helped his wife from tho boat.
| "We have no home now, a'am," Ii,
said, turning to me.
Annette could not speak; she trembled
and sat down On the fallen trunk OF
tree.
"She is well-nigh used up" tho guid
continued, in broken voice, "a-fghtin
the flames. got there jest in season, fo
she'd used up all her strength a-savin' th'
goods. Yes, ms'am, she saved ncarl,
everything, and sent them by Jim down t
the village, five miles away. We have lef
the children there at a neighbor's." Thcl
he added, with touch Of pride and low
in his tone, "but brought her along, TO-
she wanted to be with me to-day, ant