St. Landry democrat., 1882-03-18
TREASURE.

It wa lonely little country cross
road, with only two or three houses
along it's way, SO little travelled that the
alder and blackberry bushes grew down
to the wagon track, and the sun-bon-
neted women, who of summer mornings
might be seen gathering the ripened
fruit, would start in surprise at the
sound of wheels. But while these homes
seemed isolated enough, their aspect
was cheerful, convivial even, by contrast
with one that crowned a low hill across
the fields. A dark, weather-stained
house, with its face turned obliquely
away from the road, and hidden in
veil of somber pines, as though seeking
to hide itself from the memory OF some
shame Or the stain of some old sorrow
full crime. Even the lane, that wonted
thread of communication between re-
tirement and the world was wanting,
and thus intensified its air OF forlorn
solitude. Aloof, remote, apart, 1t stood
tenantless, it would seem, but for the
plume of smoke that crested it, and the
evening lights that shone from its Win
dows.
The mystery, however, OF its isolation,
like many another apparent mystery, is
easily solved. 1t had been built to front
a road, now changed or. abandoned so
long that all trace of its existence had
faded from the hills, and the occupants,
never having been able to acquire, by
purchase, the strip Of land that inter-
vened betwixt them and the highway,
had contented themselves with right OF
way through the field, whose slender
trace was hardly observable along the
edge of the stubble. Neither was the
remote 90 homesteading'' so somber as it
appeared at distance. Nowhere
meadows waved greener than those
around it, or fruits ripened sweeter,
than in the wide outlying orchard, or sun
shine fingered later and more golden
than on the little MISUNDERSTANDING pine
shed Enclosure that had once been the
proudly-cherished and tended s. front
yard" and that forsaken. neglected, and
doomed to decay, showed pathetic traces
of it's former state. The tall lilac
bushes still lifted on each side the
sunken gate, whose latch had grown
rusty with long disuse. Daffodils,
sweet Williams, larkspurs, and
columbines pushing sturdily through
the sward, showed where trim
borders had edged the walks long eff
faced by lush grasses, and chlmps OF
day lilacs flanked the seldom trodden
steps, and filled the still air with faint,
sweet oder. Not that the spot was al
WAYS deserted. Often, as on one sunny
August afternoon, it held two occu-
pants, girl sitting on the lower step
knitting on long white stocking, and a
tall young fellow Of eighteen, q well
built, handsome boy, lounging on the
grass near by; A yellow haze brooded
over the wooded hills; not a breath OF
air was stirring in the pines, only the
tinkle of distant sheep-bell and the
buzzing of bee among the flowers
stirred the perfect quiet. elbow still it
ISL said the girl, her eyes going over
the pleasant view, while her hands me-
chemically busted themselves with their
task .Stilln' echoed her companion,
with an accent of scorn. Il should
think it was; one might as well be dead
and buried. You don't know, Treas
ure,n his tone growing more impetu-
Gus, chow loathe it all; how sick the
thought makes me Of being shutup here
among these sitting little hills all my
life, never seeing or knowing anything
more of the world than as il were a
cabbage" Eyes, I know said she,
with d wistful look in her eyes, pale
gray eyes they were, in salloW, irreg-
ular face. but clear and steady, while
her voice was. that excellent thing in
women, soft and low. eyes, you do, y
he assented bitterly, g and you are al
the one who knows or cares. Father
thinks ought to be contented to drudge
my life away, as he has his, but cam
or won't. Every man has right to {
chance for life and syhy shouldn't II
Treasure, there is such fever burning
here laying his hand with a dramatic
gesture on his breast, ssurging me or
and on, something within that tells me-
/ was born for something higher anc
finer than this treadmill around, anG
that il / could only measure mysel
with other men, could make place
for myself. OF course you would
and Treasure smiled down into his eager
uplifted face. At that instant LOUD
call came sounding around the house
ssIsrael! Israel! FIVE O clock; time to gt
after the cows
There it isl exclaimed the lad, i'm
patiently! sits forever Israel d.
something blowing, or hoeing, or NOW
ing, or milking, continually, and r
brought my book out and meant to tr,
and study little" ssNever mind