St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1884-07-12
MARRIED UNDER DIFFICULTIES.
A western sketch.


The Grahams were very good and
respectable family land atthe time of our
story consisted of three sisters, Della,
Alice and Ellen, and an older brother,
Edward. Their prairie farm ST eighty
acres was but little broken; and as it
was not vet entirely paid for, it yielded
Them only scanty support Their
home was very unpretending: wool
colorets house containing three small
rooms ard an airy shelter or shed on the
back where the stove could stand in
summer, vet this structure was consld-
cred quite aristocratic for the locality
of Barton, as it was the Only house
there battened and plastered.
Then the large willows by the road
side, which their father had planted
TWENTY-FIVE wears ago when he came to
Iowa, gave the place quite patriarchal
look
Don't feel so badly about it, girls, :"
said Alice to Della and Ellen, who
were wiping their eyes as they packed
away the bed-quilts of many patterns,
and the sheets and rugs and other
household articles, tat they had man
aged by most rigid economy and I'M
firing energy to procure for Affects
housekeeping. You know | shall be
home every summer. and winters you
can come and see me, that is, after
Edward is married and Jennie gets
Wonted to the house. Y
The sisters and brother were very
fond and tender of each other, and it
was not without much sorrow and
many talks over the matter that Alice
had finally concluded to accept the
hand of Charles Goodwin and leave the
dear home.
Della especially took the matter seri-
ously to heart. She had been the
mother to her sisters for twenty-five
years now, and only a year ago they
had tearfullv laid their dear father in
the grave, and now to part with Alice,
who was the sunshine of the house, =
as they all declared, seemed hard in
deed.
"Alice, it is four o'clock now, you
must dress yourself at once as they will
soon be here. said Elem, looking
at the cl:ck. They then hastily
finished packing the box and lighted the
fire for ten, and it is doubtful if in the
trying and amusing experiences con-
nectea with Alice's marriage there was
any more shedding Of tears or particu-
larIy sad thoughts.
Edward and his future brother-in-law
were in the meantime nearing Barton.
During the twenty-five miles ride from
the railroad station, Mr.. Goodwin
found much to delight the eye and
many subjects of common interest upon
which to converse.
This is Barton. / dare say you
thought it larger and more thriving,
remarked Edward as they drove past
the Corners, Boosting only a,post-office
in a country store and blacksmith
shop, and q pretty white school-house.
'sAnd that is your house" pointing
to a house some four rods from the post
office Il know it by Alice's descrip-
ton.
Eyes, we live just across the line, in
Wright County"
'.But don't you live in Franklin
County? / always directed my letters
to Barton, Franklin County," said Mr..
Goodwin, looking suddenly anxious and
nervously feeling for something in his
coat pocket.
'.That il our post-ofice, but we live
Just over the line, you see. :
s.Well, that is sorry joke Here is
my license; I got it while waiting fol-
YOU. as / learned Hampton was the
county seat, but it is of no value now.
What is your county seat and how
farP'' said Mr.. Goodwin, tearing up the
license and giving it to the prairie
breeze.
4.Clarion, some thirty miles. 7