The banner-enterprise., 1884-04-10
Entered at the Post Office at Wilmington, n, c.,
as second-class asail matter.
CROOKS FERRY.

THIS particular OLD Terry was run across
the Sabine river about forty miles from its
mouth, and the ferryman's house stood on
the Texas side. This was during the slate
unpleasantness between the States. 1t may
he there to this day, but Of that the writer
cannot speak with any degree Of certainty.
Sam Crook was the name of the fsrryman,
and Sam Crook had very pretty daughter,
aged II, whose name was Irene, and whose
everyday occupation was to cook and keep
house for her father and the hired man, who al
ternately ran the ferry and worked few acres
OF land in the rear of the ferry-house. 1t also
happened at times that when her father and
Ned Baggett were both away Irene had to
run passengers across, to and fro, as we'll as
to attend to her household duties.
Now, as we have already said that Irene
WAS pretty girl, it naturally follows that
she had lovers in fact, she had number
Of them, and among the most persistent was
the hired man, Ned Baggett, who insisted
on paying his attentions to her, although
the young lady had told him hundred
times that she detested him and always
would.
Ned Baggett, however, remained firm. and
told her doggedly that she would some day
be glad to take him, for he was determined
that no one else should ever get her.
"How will you help yourself?" Irene asked
him at one time.
"How1l / help myself? I'll jist help my
self by putin daylight through any fellow
o. undertakes to come in my way-that's
what I'll do" answered Ned, with a lower.
ing look.
"Pooh !" said Irene. "You had better not
mention that in Phil Barker's hearing, for if
you do you will never even live to regret it."
"1hi" calculated Ned. so you're sweet
on him, are ye?"
ave are engaged" said Irene, proudly.
CAN that's all you'll ever be-" said Ned,
"for Phil Barker's dead as hammer al
ready. Ha, hap
"What do you mean ?" asked Irene, turn
ing deathly pale. "How did he die? Who
killed himw
"Ths Yankees killed him yesterday" an.
swered Ned.
"I--believe--I hope-you are lying to me,
Ned" gasped Irene.
But over Ned's features there spread
wicked grin of exultation that said very
plainly that he was in earnest in all that he
told her. He replied:
"Not much l amt a-lying to ye. Phil
Barker is dead an no mistake"
"How did he def Where?"
I'm Union camp. He and two others
were tried and convicted of being spies, and
they we're ordered to be shot yesterday
which no doubt they were."
"How did you find this out 7" asked Irene,
holding for support to the post that held up
the great ferry hawser.
my brother crossed the river this morn
ing, an he told me of it. He ran away from
the same camp"
my God gaspsd Irene. "Oh, Phil II
you are in truth dead, then may die, tool"
II hope you won't, my purity one" said
Ned, "for want ye for myself, as told you
before, an I'd heap ruther have ye alive
than dead. Goodbye for awhile" and with
shat he stalked away to the westward in the
direction Of the timber.
II was in the spring, and heavy rains had
fallen, which had on this particular day and
during the previous night caused the river
20 rise very rapidly, SO that it was utterly
impossible to cross at any point save by
ferry.
Three or four horsemen and couple of
freight wagons crossed the river in the after
noon; and ss Sam Crook and Ned Baggett
were both absent, it became necessary for
Irene to run the ferry over several times.
When night approached the river still con-
tinusd rising, and it babe fair to keep ION
the rise" for several days. 1t had now be-
come so high, and the current was so swift
that 10 venture out with the ferry-boat
would have been dangerous indeed. As Mr..
Crook and Ned did not return, Irene was
ysry glad that no one came to cross, for she
would not have dared to set the old scow into
The fosming current. But she was destined
70 Asvs 10 do with some very critical events
before the morning sun should rise.
She bsl Just milked her one cow, and was
sS,snt n, eo4er the ferry.house for the eyen-