The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1881-10-14

*@< y v 49," " - VIC AWWI ~
her fathers log cabin on the banks Of
the Angelina River in Texas. She was
gazing ~intently across the stream. The
river was narrow, and the crossing was
in the primitive style which prevails in
some portions Of the State-a rope.
stretched tightly from bank TO bank.
and tied 10 convenient trees. By means
Of which q small flat. or "bateau.'
usually manned by two persons, was
drawn back and forth.
This hot. drowsy. summer afternoon,
Martha--a girl d seventeen years
thought the longest she had ever spent.
The cattle stood painting In the stream
near the shore. Not q breeze stirred
the jungle Of trees and bushes on the
other side Of the river. and the field
around the house was q sun baked
waste. Would her father never Gomez
He and the hired man had gone that
morning to town for supplies. leaving
her alone with Bobbie, her little six
year~Old brother-w who at that moment
was lying asleep on the floor In an inner
room and Eph. q little colored boy Of
ten. who had slipped into the woods TO
hunt squirrels.
Now Martha was not . Texas girl,
and was not accustomed 70 these wild
solitudes. Two years before. her
father had decided 70 mend. il possible.
his fortunes on q Texas farm. but had
proposed to Martha to remain with his
relatives in Virginia until he had q suit
able home for her.
"Tou are not accustomed to rough
ing Il. Y he said; land life where l shall
settle will be hard and lonely for years.
II i a new place. Our nearest neigh
Dor will BE- live miles AWAY. I do not
like To take You there a. all, and II You
are wise You win stay with your aunt,
who wants you very much"
Then I'm moi a bit wise.' Martha
said. with her bright face full Of deter
mlnation. "And l think my kind
father Is not quite wise IN proposing
such a thing to me. WHY. who will
attend 70 you and Robbie - mere baby
he j. tooP II you are sick. who will
nurse vonP / dare say. I'm not the
most helpful girl n the world. but DO
you really think | should be happy in
Striking an my duties and STAYING in
luxury, while YOU are undergoing all
kinds of privation?'
50 Martha had her own way. and be-
ing q bright. intelligent girl. had
adapted herself 10 her new life with
wonderful facility. Her neighbors were
kind, good people. but they had little
time 10 visit. and then they were SO far
On that frequent social calls were inn
possible.
But Martha interested herself in do
nestle duties. She raised poultry and
made the BEES butter in the county.
She had a good collection Of books, and
received some periodicals. She tried
also 20 keep up her studies; for she
reasoned Justly that. If improved cir
cumstances allowed them again 10 mix
in cultivated society. IL would not do
for her 70 blush for her own ignorance.
But this afternoon time hung heavy
on her hands. Her father in going over
the river had len the Hat fastened on
the other side. that il might be ready
Tor him on his return. Vainly she
strained her ewes through the thick I'M
~dergr0wih Of the opposite bank. hop
ing 70 see him coming down the mar
row path.
Its been Is long as ten days. she
said. throwing herself down IN q rock
ing-chair on the small porch. ~ be-
licye I'm getting tired Of this lonely
lite. Day in and day ont its the same
thing. and n0thing happens one day
different from any other day. And
when fathers away it's d thousand
times worse. wouldn't care much
what happened. we're IL only something
out of the OH routine. I'm getting
like tho old sluggish pond in the field,
and feel the green scum growing over
me-
Her discontinued eycs fixed them
selves on the swampy forest before tho
cabin. and they did not move. even
when she heard the gallop of q horse
coming down the road.