The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-08-22


up to the mounting-block. Molly had
mounted with light leap. Luther
tucked her little foot into the stirrup,
and she babe father. mother and
brothers good-by simply. though it
was most momentous setting out into
the world.
On Molly's summer of school-teach-
ing it is not my purpose to dwell. She
taught the children to knit and to sew.
and every Saturday drilled them in the
catechism. The school-house was not
unlike some we may see in primitive
New England towns to day, square in
shape, painted red, u good deal battered
without and within, and anchored in a
treeless sea of sand. Once only during
the summer she heard from home. Asa
Parker, a Quaker, riding through Man.
omet and Douglas on his way to Guar
terly Meeting, stopped over night with
his friend, Squire Crowde. and became
the bearer of the messages.
1t was on a morning in early October
that, her school closed, Molly started
alone on her ride home. The sixteen
dollars she had earned Ga dollar week
and board were Mollyss wages) were
carefully packed in the saddle-bag.
Captain Israel had arranged to go to
Boston about that time, and as his
route lay through Douglas arrangements
had been made for Molly TO go home
under his protection. But Mrs. Israel
had recurrence of certain ''spells" to
which she was subject, and the Cap
tain's departure became Indefinitely
postponed.
Molly, however, determined 10 90 on
the day set. She rode Baal. a coal
black horse, one that she had ridden
and petted all summer, and which her
father hal consented to buy for her use,
and had bargained for one Captain Israel 5
visit. Molly had no fears at all about
riding the twenty miles alone though
eight of them led through thick
woods.
For the first five miles her wav lay
between sunny reaches of farms, w tn
here and tn re farmhouse. Great
heaps of yellow pumpkins lay in the
corn-fields, and piles of greetings and
golden-sweets under the trees IN the
orchards. The sunny, bazy air was de-
liciOus with fragrant, fruity smells, ard
Molly was conscious Of quiet happi-
ness as she rode along, her summer S
work successfully ended. Many regrets
had been expressed that she would not
stay till after the husking frolic at Seth
Blackmer's; the -husking feast was
already in preparation, and as she drew
rein at the great gate, in obedience 10
a signal, Love Blackmer came running
down to the road to bring pound
cake and mince turnover for Molly's
refreshment by the. way. Her father
came along behind her.
You better stay. Molly" said Seth.
"Ef you's my gal, wouldn't risk yer
through that woods alone. n don't be-
iieve bat Squire Crowded be my way O.
But Molly only laughed. what is
there to he afraid OPP she said. "If
there are any wolves or wildcats in
Manomet woods they don't roam by
daylight; and as for Indians. there
isn't wild Indian within hundreds of
miles"
elf there amt any wild IEjuns
there's drunk ones enough" said Seth.
Anyhow it's borne in on me that faint
right flyer to go alone"
The golden rod and the deep purple
blue asters bloomed by the wayside in
great lush crowds and the corners OF
the ST. aggling fences; and there afar off
in the east cleaned the blue line of the
ocean. The ar was of that electric
quality that eXhilarates Ike an intoXi-
eating draught, and it was in brisk
and cheerful mood that Molly rode away
and plunged into the forest. Their, al
most at once the bright sunshine gave
place to shade, pleasant but dense. Here
was truly primeval forest, Ferns grew
close and high. Grape and bitt ,r-sweet
vines linked trees and shrubs into al
most impenetrable thickets.
Molly had ridden bat mile when she
was surprised to find herself conscious
of feeling of uneasiness. feeling we
should call, in our modern phrase,
nervousness. The least sound, the
flight of partridge, the fall of nut
dropped by squirrel. startled her.
She caught herself peering into the
thicke,s by the roadside, and looking
ahead with feeling of apprehension at
every turn and wind of the road, which
made gradual as ent for about three
miles to the crest of the ridge, known
as Saddleback, which separated Mano-
met from the adjoining town of Seaside
Baai cantered slowly along, Molly not
caring to urge him up the ascent. 81
am almost tempted TO 90 back, Baal,"
she said. Thereat Baal, bent back one
ear and listened. They two had had
many condolences during their sum-
mer's intimacy, and understood each
other. But l should be ashamed to
do it. What would my grandmother
say if was Such a coward? 1t was
my grandmother, you know, Baal, who
was cooking her dinner one day bend
ing over the fire place when she heard
an ugh! ugh!'' and turning saw an
Indian in his war-paint standing in the
doorway with his tomahawk raised,
and she never hesitated moment-if
she had she would have been scalped,
Baal-but went towards him, laughing.
with both hands held out in welcome
and gave him meat; but that very night.
sure all was not right. fed TO the
block-house with her baby-that was
my father whom you have never seen,
Baal-and that very week the Indians
ravaged the whole country and killed
forty people. My grandmother's grand
daughter ought 70 have more pluck than
20 be scared by squirrel, or rustling
leaf. Baal."
However, Molly was Enthusiastically
nervous; and one result of her nervous
ness was that she held the reins tight
ly and sat firmly in the saddle. 1t
was often her habit while riding TO let
the reins lie loosely on her horses
neck willie her thoughts were busy