River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-04-16
On A GATE POST.
CHAPTER I.

CHAPTER /.
Ambrose Nettleson has what he
thinks is a valuable manuscript. He
thinks so, doubtless because it records
part of his life. One night recently.
while l was at his house, he BROUGHT
out the manuscript and read it to ne.
Although l did not ask permission.
vet DO not feel that | violate his CON
fidence by giving, as nearly as | can
remember, the contents of the paDer
which he treasures with such affection.
The prospect was not .eerful. I
was riding a horse across a country
whose loneliness was as deep as a
SIGH which bespeaks the long absence
Of some one. Night was cominr on
and storm was gathering It's forces.
A heightened owl fitted past me.
screaming in my face. The time of
year was when nature hesitates
whether to continue winter or beGin
spring. My horse almost shook me
Oil when he stopped and shiyered.
The owl screamed in my face again.
DEAD leaves, for a moment would
whlrI before me, and then fall. scatter
ca ana torn as though they had, by an
angry hand, been swept from their
long, damp rest, only to be Knocked.
wv hat dreary, dreary place it isl"
mused. Il feel as though something
terrible is gong to happen. The air.
just before the great agitation which
must come, seems quivering in its de-
sire to bear the sound of murder, muir
der! As live, yonder is a light. Is
1t possible that | shall receive shell
ter?''
Urging my horse forward. | SOON
reached Il small house. near the sum-
NIT OF a desolate peak, overlooking
the Arkansaw river. | dismounted
near the door-thcre was no fence
around the house NY horse looked
appea!ln%lv at me and without asking
permission from any one within. | led
the animal to a stable close at hand
and took off saddle and bride. Ash
was returning, the storm burst upon
the river. When | approached the
door, heard a wall. | knocked and
l heard the vail coming slowly toward
me. The door was opened bv a girl
scarcely moro than twelve wears Old.
her face was the picture Of DESPAIR.
She said nothing. but pointed to a bed.
upon which lay an old man, gaspin0
for breath! Approaching him, saw
that he had but few moments to live.
The girl knelt beside the old man.
lie tried to put his hand upon her head.
Failing he looked at me and assisted
him. He tried to speak, but could
not The girl sObbed franticalIy.
The rain poured down and the storm
shook the house.
HE will never get wcll! she cried.
''My grandpa win die"
Eyes, her grandpa would die. His
life had passed away. The hand lying
on her head was growing cold. She
looked at him and shrieked.
What a night we spent IN that house.
The storm howled and the rain fell
until nearly daylight. The girl, who
| saw was intelligent. with an i'm
pressivc face, said that her name was
Munettc Loggemon, and that since
her earliest recollection she had lived
with the old man who had spent the
most OF his time, since she had begun
to talk, in teaching her.
Il have no relatives" she said in
answer to question
''Any friends?"
''NO friends
''You have neighbOrs?''
''NOne. The nearest house is nearly
eight miles away"
| knew not what to do. Surely
the situation was serious. Early at
morning, we buried the old man in
the yard. As best | could, | made a
coffin of a trough which found IN the
stable. After the burial, | went out
and found enough corn for my horse.
left Alunette ut the grave. on which
she had, sobbiug bitterly, thrown her
self
"Where are you going, little grip
| asked when | returned, still finding
her on the grave.
GLOW can l go anywhercP" she
asked. Il have no friends, told
you.
"You cannot remain here"
81 cannot go away"
Il will not leave you here. You
must 90 with me. Ny mother has no
little girl. She Will receive YOU"
Still lying on the grave, and without
looking ur, she replied:
4 will 60 and work for my board"
You Will not have to work. When
! tell my mother of the circumstances
under which | found you, she will
take you in her arms. Come, get your
clothes 1t is time we were eavling
here. See. the sun is shining beauti-
fully. 1t is a new day for you.
Without replying, she arose and
turned toward me. Her face, even
aside from her grief, was so sad. and
her eyes wore a look of such tender
appeal that even though she had had
relatives | would have thought it my
duty to take her home with me. She
went into the house and soon returned
with a small bundle
Il haven't much to take, she said
"Grandpa and were very poor, and
you see. having inherited his poverty,
am poorer than ever"
was not surprised to hear her make
such a remark, for | had discovered
that she had hevcr associated with
children, and was consequently wise
Of her age.
you shall have some nice dresses
after awhile. / replied.
pretty red oneS?'
The child was asserting itself.
Yes, and blue ones
She wept anew as we mounted the
horse she seated behind me. As long
rs we were within sight of the house
She said nothing, but when we had de
sceuded into tho thick woods, she
said:
i won't cry any more, if can
help it,
Your grandfather must have been
good to you?'
Yes. but he made me read many
books that were very dull-great law
books | don't like them. His eyes
for many years have been so bad that
| hazel to do all his reading for him.
lie wrote a book full of awful curious
things and murders, but one day when
ne found nue. reading it, he took it
away from me and burned it up. 1t
must have been bad and he must have
been sorry that he wrote it. What is
your ulme?'
l told her. and expressed my sur
prise that she had not sooner asked
me.
1T was your place to tell me with
out my asking she said. when I
told YOU my name, you should have
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