Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1884-01-31
KATE'S ADVENTURE.


am Kate. OF course | can tell my
own adventures II great deal better than
any one can tell them for me. That
stands to nature. Im not practical
writer, and | don't know how to pro.
duce what the fashionable authors call
"grand pen-eilects," but | believe can
make you understand how it was, and
thai is all that Is necessary.
Leeman had sprained his ankle
that's my brother-and he could not go
to town with the load of russell apples
that was already piled into barrels, and
stood waiting under tho big red shed.
"It's too bad ~ said he. "Those
russell apples are worth deal at this
time of the year-and we Shall miss the
market to-day ~
Cant you ask neighbor Hutton to
take them?" said my mother.
"Neigbbor Hutton is deal too sharp
a practitioner for me-" said Leeman.
"lts hard thing to say about neigh.
Dor, but cant trust his honesty"
"Mr. Hall P"
"Hull would be casting it up in my
face for the next six months that | had
asked a favor OF him." said Leeman.
mo, I'd rather lose the apples than
lose my independence. But it's too
provoking that | must needs have
slipped on that piece of orange peel,
now of all the times in the world.
have been saving up these apples all
the winter with special eye to this
particular market day"
"Leeman," said |, I'm 60"
"Nonsenac - said Leeman.
"But why not?" said |. "O.d POmp
is as gentle as It kitten, and know ev-
cry inch of the way perfectly"
"But there are the Red Swamp
Woods-a dcsolato stretch of three
miles, with never a house on either side
of the way, except the deserted cabin
where the old negro hanged himself
twenty years ago. argued my mother
"Who cares for the Rod Swamp
Woods P" said l., valiently. II never
was afraid of frogs and whip-poor-
wills, and I'm not going to begin now
Lii, will you go out and help mo har-
ness, carly in the morning, and"
"Oh, lwish was going too Can't
| go, Kate?n cried Lii, my hoyden
younger sister, with her blue eyes gilt
toring with delight at the idea OF any
thir G unusual.
"Stuli'' cried |, imperiously. "Oi
course you cant. Hasn't POmp a
heavy load enough, without your ninety
pounds OF mischief loaded on? Beside,
you must stay at home and take care
of mother and Leeman, and finish the
chintz curtain for the big west cham
Der; for Col. Hay may como home at
any time now."
Col. Hay was our city boarder-a
gentleman who had been recommended
by his physician to try tho fresh, pine
scented breezes of the Shawaugoenta
Mountains, and whom our rector had
recommended to the Icy Spring Farm.
We are not rich, although mother and
Leemau had managed the farm eco
nomicaly and well since fathers death,
and the weekly addition to our income
would be something worth consider.
ing.
Tho idea OF a city boardor was very
pleasant, too, and Icy Spring Farm
was lovely spot, although we seldom
allowed ourselves to think of that.
So, after little, | coaXed my mother
and Leeman to consent, and tho next
morning Lii and | were up long before
day break, Harvesting old PomP, and
getting ready for the days journey.
BY the time the red, level light of the
rising sun touched Old Pomp's gray
name with radiance, l was driving
through the Red Swamp, where the
maple trees, from which it took Its
name, were all aglow with crimson
blossoms, and the thrushes and robins
called to ono another with flute-like
notes.
Well, managed splenddly, knew
where was going to when | started.
| sold the six barrels of russets to the
man who kept tie Park Hotel for -four
dollars apiece, and that was more than
Leeman himself anticipated.
"Be careful you don't get robbed,
now," said the man as he watched me
put the bills into my little leather
portemonnaie.
"Robbed!" said /, with laugh,
"Why, who should rob mep"
"Oh, l don't know!' said the land
lord. "There's always tramps and
burglars round. They're n crop that
don It belong to any particular season
of the year.
As l turned away-I didn't notice j,
at the time, but it came back after.
ward, as things do come back, like O
sudden flash across the dark shield Of
memory-a man who was lounging on
the steps looked hard at mo.
Icolored a little, and thought 10 my.
self, "Well, he will know me the next
time he sees me-" and then forgot all
about it; for had mothers black bonn,
bazine to match, and Ills spring bon,
net to buy, and some dinner china to
select, and the Doctors prescription
for Leeman TO fill out at the druggist Is
so it was well on to seven when
turned old Pomp's head homeward in
the suburbs of the town, with n feeling
of elation which was quite pardonable,
when one considers my experience in
the marketing line, and my exception
ally good success.
The sunshine was warm, and still on
the high road, and | was rather glad
when at last we came to the cool shad-
lows Of the Red Swamp, where the