Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-01-14


IT'D your.-your mother would come into
ny heat. l was coming down the edge OF
inc wood when l saw you, and l don't
know why it was that you seemed SO dit
terens, all at once"
Here he paused, and was silent for
minnie. Then he said, in grave, COM
handing tone:
"Just let me know the whole story.
have that much right yet.
Jacob related the history of the evening,
somewhat awkardly and confusedly, 1t is
true, but his fathers brief, pointed ques-
tiops kept him to the narrative, and forced
him to explain the full significance OF the
expressions he repeated. At the mention
OF :" Wnitney's place" a singular express
sion of malice touched the old mans face.
$40 you love Becky Morton ?" he asked
bluntlv, when all had been told.
81 don't know" Jacob stammered "
think not; because wien | seem to like
her most, feel afraid of her.
Its lucky that you're not sure OF 1t =
exclaimed the old man with energy; be-
cause you should never have her.
mo" said Jacob. with mournful
acquiescence, 81 can never have her, or
any other one.
s'But you shall-and will when l help
YOU. lis true I've not seemed to care
much about you. and l suppose you're free
to think as you like but this | say I'll
not stand by and see you spit upon ! Gov
cred with as much as it'll bear ? That's
a piece o luck anyhow. II we're poor,
your wife must take your poverty with
you, or she don't come into my doors. But
first OF all you must make your journey =
My journey !" repeated Jacob.
Weren't you thinking of 1t this night,
before you took your seat on that stump :?
A little more, and you'd gone clean oil, l
reckon"
Jacob was Silent and hung MS head.
"Never mind I've no right to think
hard OF it. In week we'll have finished
our haying, and then it's fortnight to
wheat but, for that matter, Harry and
can manage the wheat by ourselves. You
NAV take a month. two months, If any
thing comes Of it. Under month l don't
mean that you shall come back. I'll
give YOU tive nty dollars for a start !;
If YOU want more you must earn it on the
road, any way you please. And, mark
you, Jacob, since you are poor, don't let
anybody suppose You are rich. For my
part, shall not expect you to buy Whit
news place; all ask is that you tell me,
fair and square. Just what things and what
people you've got acquainted with. Get
to bed now-the matters settled l will
have it so"
They rose and walked across the meadow
to the house. Jacob had quite forgotten
the events of the evening il the new pros
pect suddenly opened to him, which filled
him with wonderful confusion of fear and
desire. His father said nothing more,
They entered the lonely house together at
midnight. and went to their beds; but
Jacob slept very little.
Six days afterwards he left home, on a
sparkling June morning, with small
bundle tied in a yellow silk handkerchief
under his arm. His father had furnished
him with the promised money, but had
positively refused to tell him what road he
should take, or what plan of action he
should adopt. The only stipulation was
that his absence from home should not be
less than month.
After he had passed the wood and
reached the highway which followed the
course of the brook, he paused to consider
which course to take. Southwark the road
led past Pardon's, and he longed to see his
only friends once more before encountering
untried hazards but the village was be-
yond, and he had no courage to walk
through its one long street with a bundle,
denoting journey, under his arm. North
ward he would have to pass the mill and
blacksmiths shop at the crossroads. Then
L /. - 4
the stream at point where it was shallow,
and keep in the shelter of the woods on
the opposite hill until he struck the road
farther on, and in that direction two or
three miles would take him into neigh
borhood where he was not known.
Once in the woods an exquisite sense of
freedom came upon him. There was moth
ing mocking in the soft, graceful stir of the
expanded foliage, in the twittering of the
unfrightened birds, or the scampering of
the squirrels, over the rustling carpet of
dead leaves He lay down upon the moss
under spreading beech tree and tried to
think but the thoughts would not come.
He could not even clearly recall the keen
troubles and notifications he had endured (;
all things were so peaceful and beautiful
that portion of their peace and beauty
fell upon men and invested them with a
more kindly character.
Towards noon acob found himself beyond
the limited geography of his life. The first
man he encountered was stranger, who
greeted him with a hearty and respectful
s. How do you do, sir ?"
"Perhaps, thought Jacob, 81 am not
so very different from other people, if l
only thought so myself.
At noon he stopped at farm house by
the wayside to get drink of water. A
pleasant woman, who came from the door
at the moment with a pitcher, allowed him
to lower the bucket and haul it up drip
ping with precious GOODNESS. She looked
upon him with goodwill, for he had allowed
her to see his eyes. and something in their
honest, appealing expression went to her
heart.
"We're going to have dinner in few
minutes, " she said; won't you stay and
have something
Jacob stayed and broke bread with the
plain, hospitable family. Their kindly at
tention to him during the meal gave him
the lacking nerve; for moment he re-
solved to offer his services to the farmer,
but be presently saw that they were not
really needed, and, besides, the place was
still too near home.
Towards night he reached an old country
tavern, lording it over an incipient vii
lage of six houses. The landlord and
hostler were inspecting a dropping
looking horse in front of the sta
bles. Now, if there is anything which
Jacob understood to the extent of his lin
tied experience, it was horse nature. He
drew near, listened to the views OF the two
men, examined the animal with his eyes,
and was ready to answer, "Yes, l guess
so," when the landlord said, Perhaps,
sir, you can tell what is the matter with
him."
His prompt detection of the ailment, and
prescription of remedy which in an hour
showed it's good effects, installed him in
the landlords best graces. The latter said,
" Well, it shall cost you nothing to. night"
as he led the way to the supper-room.
When Jacob went to bed he was surprised
on rejecting that he had not only been
TALKING for a full hour In the bar-room, but