Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1882-12-28
Mark Bushman's Ro-
nance
nance

kutO 6utLlOESulp, Auu WAS 80 utlSutSu VIII
that faithful history that he resolved to make
. 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 st convenient point he
took passage in 8 wheeZy old stage-coach, and
penetrated some twenty n sAss into the heart
Of Hoosierdom, landing Al sunset in what he
decided at once was characteristic village,
called Bodson's Greek so named from tiny
rivulet that crept along under natural hedge
Of willows bordering Mr.. Bodson' st back lots"
Mr.. Bodson was the proprietor of the village
tavern, an edifce which struck our young
author as promising much - mis- purpose,
out not desirable viewed in any other light
by Joye! What plcture!" he exclaimed
as the coach drew up in front of the long, low,
covered porch. But not al ideal picture; de-
cidedly of the realistic school, which is happi-
~ now in vogue"
The roof of the porch was supported by halfa
dozen crude wooden pillows-too massive to
De called posts-oruamented with a great va
riety of pen-knifs carvings, the work of vii
lage loungers. young girl, with brown
dreamy eyes and pale complexion, leaned Ian
SullllN against Que VI Niio HIlIdiS dlIl SiLtu III
the stranger, or beyond him-he could not tell
which with an air of abstraction aid total
lack of interest Bushman had chosen tho
= fall of the year for his adventure and, although
il was Indian summer and haze was i'll the
air, it was quite chilly at that time of day, and
he wondered how so fragile 4 creature could
stand there long and so iistleSslv, With no pro
lection for her slim, brown hands and round,
slender stem of neck on which the small uead
was set with dainty poise Il quote from
his own descriptionl As he followed his
trunk upstairs ne heard shrill female voice
call, "Eyaugeline."
Yes mother" answered the Young girl
and went in
The room assigned 10 him was very small,
and exceedingly comfortless; huI it was
unique and suggestive, and he me ,lt 20 get Il
good deal out Of it. TNr one wlodaw, tossing
westward. commanded A view q tue back
lots" which haG been couverte mo COW
pen, chickeu-yard, and pig sly, on the co OPP
erahve plan 1t feeding time and
great quantity of corn had Just beeu pitched
from the crib into the midst of the pruiuis-
CT GUS company The pigs s!m,neI and
fought among themselves; the ch ~ - Hut
- tered greediiy around, to tie imrniur Il danger
Of their lives; and the cows suatcneI al
Aere aud there and retired peaseably to one
siIe
Bushmsn noticed that the lower branches of
the willows naturally 50 droopiaS and grace
tUl, were broken and scraggy and despatched
with mud from the waIlowlng Of pigs in the
- shallow stream. But beyond was the ma|nif-
icently tinted foliage OF great forest, glorlied
= by the mellow suu-hsht,-a spectacle so
grand and beautiful that the young man lost
himself in ecstasy of admiration, and started
when the landlord called al the foot Of the
seSirs, Hello! Supper's ready"
he drew in his head and let down the win
! dow, observing that it was not very far from
! u,a ground, and that il case of fire he could
easily escape by jumping down
By the light Of single ol-lamp on the long
supper table he could distinguish the faces Of
/ the company. A. the head Of the table sat the
host himself, eating with great apparent
relish, and monopohlng the conversation.
On his right was the stage driver, a person
! Of importance, and opposite him young man
/ OF rather stylish air and dress and an inteli-
{ 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
Y master.
Why" thought he my material all comes
to my hand without seeking. will begin my
romance to- morrow"
Evangeine brought in a plate of hot soda
and in II down tho
schoolmaster carelessIy brushed his sleeve at
which he looked up turtively and met her
eyes. Bushman being an adept in the knOwl-
edge Of the human heart and the wiles OF
nth, read volumes IL the glance. So, it ap
. peared, did the girl watcnIul mother, who,
catching her eye III 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
fee, where promiscuous company had as
sembled during the supper, Bushman
found himself drifting off in an OPP
oosite direction, with the school
master, who introduced himself ~Penrose,
rom Connecticut" He led the way into the
7arlor, which was furnished with rag CARPET,
II unpublished stove, wooden settee, and half
dozen chairs. In the course of very few
Iinutes he had made himself as much &C
uanted with BushmAns past history he
4red to do, and also fejh0mei to some extent
- pItScuI pIdItS dIiNl lliItItlD4S, LOi the Cali
d young man saw no necessity for reserve,
I'd in fact was rather proud of his profess
I'D be willing to lay a wager" said Mr..
enrose, that youve read The Hoosier
2hoolmaster.'
why, yes. Who has not read it," replied
ushman, with some emharras -mcnt
~Ha, la. l read it: that the way l am
ere!" laughed Penrose, i wanted to study
jrne of these quaint characters and anluse
lysef."
~Yo" are amusing yourself, l suppose?"
aid Bushman dryly.
@To the best of my ability" answered the
;hoOl-master.
Bushman, not finding his company rarticu-
rly agreeable, excused himself at an curly
our and went upstairs, bearing in his hand
slender tallow @dip" in brass caudesti:k
he light of this feeble illumination was so
ickering and unsteady that, after a few
tempts to scribble little in his note book,
became exasperated, blew it out and
,ated himself on the edge of the bed TO medi-
tie. At this moment he was undecided
neither to make hero of Mr. Penrose
Thich would require his utmost license as a
Liter Of fictionl, and allow him to carry off
yangelne, or turn him into villain and
lie with the girls mother
While the question pending, he thought
heard the patter of few big rain drops on
roof, and, pushing up the window he leaned
IT, turning his face skyward 1t was pitch
rk, but there was no rain. simultaneously
other window on the same floor and
his near neighborhood had come uI
nereupon voice from below asked
lardedly, @Is that you, Eva?"
"Yos," came soft response from the win,
W..
II will put letter on the end of stick and
md it mp to you,' said the voice from below
here; have you got it?"
yes; all right Now go away quick; am
raid somebody will hear YOU
@Hayen't you got anything for me?" asked
evc'ce.
@oh, yes; forgot There it is. Don'sleti
ow away"
Bushmans eyes had become so well accus
med to the darkness that he could easily SCI
9 white mass futteriug down and distinguish
dark figure below which int e "a It ant
nnediately moved off with a stealthy tread
listened for the schoolmaster's etep on tn
sirs; but it did not come.
4 suppose he has some other mode o
;ress and egress," he thought con
aptuously. at strikes me he mag