The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1882-12-22
Mark Bushman's Ro-
nance.
e ngonfritz, in Lippincott's Magazine

MASTER, when no was himself just pudding
into authorship, and was SO delighted with
that faithful history that he resolved to make
s sally into the Butternut state and see if he
could not collect material in that rich field for
another romance of like amusing character.
Leaving the railroad at convenient point, he
took passage in wheezy old stage-coach, and
penetrated some twenty miles into the heart
Of Hoosierdom, landing at sunset in what he
decided at once was characteristic village,
called Bodson's Creek, so named from tiny
rivulet that crept along under natural hedge
Of willows bordering Mr.. Bodson's@back lots. +"
Mr.. Bodson was the proprietor of the village
tavern, an edifce which struck our young
author as promising much for his purpose,
but not desirable viewed in any other light.
@By Jove What pictured" he exclaimed,
as the coach drew up in front of the long, low,
covered porch @But not an ideal picture; de-
cidedly of the realistic school, which is happi-
ly now in vogue"
The roof Of the porch was supported by halfa
dozen crude wooden pillows-too massive to
be called posts-ornamented with great va
riety Of pen-knife carvings, the work of vii
lage loungers. A young girl, with brown
dreamy eyes and pale complexion, leaned Ian
guidly against one Of the pillars and gazed at
the stranger, or beyond him-he could not tell
which with an air of abstraction and total
lack Of interest Bushman had chosen the
fall of the year for his adventure, and, although
it was Indian summer and haze was in the
air, it was quite chilly at that time of day, and
he wondered how 30 fragile creature could
stand there so long and so listlessly with no pro-
lection for her Slim, brown hands and round,
slender stem of a neck on which the small head
was set with dainty poise q quote from
his own description.l AS he followed his
trunk upstairs he heard shrill female voice
call, "Evangeline!"
Eyes, motherl" answered the young girl
and went in.
The room assigned to him was very small,
and exceedingly comfortless; but it was
unique and suggestive, and ne meant to get
good deal out Of it The one window, looking
westward commanded a view of the shack
lots" which hau been converted into cow
J
erative plan. 1t was feeding time, and
great quantity of corn had just been pitched
from the crib into the midst of the promis-
cuous company The pigs squealed and
fought among themselves; the chickens dut-
tered greodily around, to the imminent danger
of their lives; and the COWS snatched an ear
here and there and retired peaceably to one
side
Bushman noticed that the lower branches of
the willows, naturally so dropping and grace
full, were broken and scraggy and despatched
with mud from the wallowing of pigs in the
shallow ST. cam. But beyond was the magnif-
icently tinted foliage of great forest, glorifed
by the mellow sun-light-a spectacle so
grand and beautiful that the young man lost
himself in ecstasy Of admiration, and started
when the landlord called at the foot of the
stairs, @Hello! Supports ready"
He drew in his head and let down the win
dow, observing that it was not very far from
the ground, and that in case Of fire he could
easily escape by jumping down.
By tho light Of single oil-lamp on the long
supper-tabIe he could distinguish the faces of
the company. At the head of the table sat the
host himself, eating with great apparent
relish, and monopolizing the conversation
On his right was the stage-driver, person
of importance, and opposite him young man
of rather stylish air and dress and an intelli-
gent, though not prepossessing countenance
Bushman's delight was unbounded when he
discovered, in the course of the meal, that this
young gentlemen was the village school
master
@Why," thought he, @my material all comes
to my hand without seeking will begin my
romance tomorrow"
Evangeline brought in plate of hot soda
biscuits, and in setting it down near the
schoelmaster carelessly brushed his sleeve, at
which he looked up furtively and met her
eyes Bushman, being an adept in the knowl-
edge of the human heart and the wiles of
youth, read volumes in the glance. So, it APP
peared, did the girls watchful mother, who,
catching her eye in AN unguarded moment
gave her meaning and savage look, which,
however, had no visible effect
Not caring to go into the bar-room, as the
landlord designated his tobacco-stained of
flee, where a promiscuous company had as
sembled during the supper, Bushman
found himself drifting off in an OPP
posite direction, with the school
master, who introduced himself as "Penrose.
from Connecticut" He led the way into the
parlor which was furnished with rag carpet,
an unpublished stove, wooden settee, and half
dozen chairs. In the course of a very few
minutes he had made himself as much &C
quainted with Bushmans past history as he
cared to do, and also fathomed to some extent
his present plans and intentions for the can
did young man saw no necessity for reserve,
and in fact was rather proud of his profess
sion.
"rd be willing to lay wager" said Mr..
Penrose, that you've read THE Hoosier
Schoolmaster'
"Why, yes. Who has not read it?" replied
Bushman, with some embarrassment
"Ha, ha! | read it: that's tho way | am
here" laughed Penrose. Il wanted to study
some of these quaint characters and amuse
myself"
@Y9n are amusing yourself, I supposed"
said Bushman dryly
sTo the best Of my ability" answered the
school-master
Bushman, not finding his company partcu-
larly agreeable, excused himself at an early
hour and went upstairs, bearing in his hand
slender tallow "dip" in brass eandlestick.
The light of this feeble illumination was so
Pickering and unsteady that, after a few
attempts to scribble little in his note book,
he became eXssperated, blew it out, and
seated himself on the edge Of the bed to medi-
tate AZ this moment he was undecided
whether to make a hero of Mr.. Penrose
(Which would require his utmost license as a
wliter of 1ction), and allow him to carry off
Eyangelne, or turn him into villain and
aide with the girls mother.
While the question was pending, he thought
he heard the patter of a few big rain drops ON
the ROOT, and, pushing up the window he leaned
eut, turning his face skyward. 1t was pitch
dark, but there was no rain. simultaneously
another window on the same floor and,
in his near neighborhood had come up
whereupon voice from below asked
guardedly, "Is that you, Eva?"
yes" came soft response from the win
dow.
Il will put letter on the end of stick and
hand it up to you," said the voice from below.
"There have you got it?"
"Yes; all right Now go away quick; am
afraid somebody will hear you"
Haven't you got anything for me?" asked
ooh, yes; forgot There it is Don'tleti.
blow away"
Bushman's eyes had become so well accus-
toned to the darkness that he could easily see
tho white mass fiuttering down and distinguish
the dark figure below which intercepted it and
Immediately moved off with stealthy tread
He listened for the schoolmasters step on the
stairs; but it did not come.
Il suppose he has some other mode Of
ingress and egress," he thought con-
temptuously at strikes me he mag
,j6as bis 1;a;c,,1t;as Az oil ax,o,+, -