Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1885-11-05
CHAPTER XIII.
THE COTTAGE AT THE SLOUGH.


Avery happy little group it was that
sat under the new porch OF the shanty
until long after the stars came out thas
night.
So many changes had taken place;
there was so much to talk about that it
was ten o'clock before they once
thought of the time, and still they
talked on for another hour before retIr-
ing-the family to their beds ana Eras-
tus to bunk on the floor.
The Young man remained three days
with them. and during that time they
talked over all matters relating to fam
iiy afiairs-past. present aud future.
Mrs. aud Mr.. Parsons of course
gladly gave their consent to the en-
gaeement of the young people, but 1t
was necessary to postpone the wedding
until E-astus could get hss-f,4aee- frrI-
<,a.x.d and ia sh~<>a-%-rr ouece
It seemed very hard to part again SO
soon. but since he coud no. saAe
Iucy with him. every day spen. away
from his own ranch deiayeo 'heh AliA'
riaoe that much the longer.
"a then there would be the pleas
no IF writing and receiving letters
which, of course, they "o"io oo
week at the farthest.
The project of selling the mountain
..neb and all going to the Slough t
H. vas talkei of, and Mr.. and MRS
parsons agreed that when Erastus 60
h;s rlace irrigsted and was reauy
,,arrv If he was satisfied Win III
country and the prospect. they Woul
sali their own home and buy again
.ar him as possible, and II not the
would both sell and go elsewhere an
buy together. h,- :,
thought that Lucy 5 marriage, When
.hould occur. would, instead OF sep
rating her from her parents. reun'
+hem ali with Erastus, and 1t IS pro
anle that for these three days the
mates of the shanty upon the n1oul
ain side we're as happy as 1t often la
40 the lot of people to be-
Certainly John Parsons was HAPPY.
Incy and Erastus wandered aoou.
nlaee. and through the gulch anu
the mountain side together:
Together they went for the cows,
Lucy had done alone the h'gh' III "s
came .,,ro,,.
prape-vines, and Lucy neipeu FL 40
and if occasionally, as they "ol 49,
,,ether at a vine. their hands he'
-, .ha tender reudrils of the vine
we're trimming did.
TT as they walked hand IN mana
A. mountain. or sat to rest In s.
cn;et nook, his lips sought hers
drank deep OF loves nectar tneS
followed the example OF the plras
ro.r them billed and cooed, anu I'd
~ where their next years nest sh
And have not you. dear reader
A., a,,eo Then have you not kn
Tho sweetest and the best thihs
life has to give' =
Lost the day and the hour came
the roam horse stood ready
mounted at the door.
There ia enough of sadness au,
fer:ng in this true story without
inc upon the parting OF those
hearts s,art
his return; it was night on tne
d,y when he led the roam into n y
at the Slough and ate supper VIZ.
and Mrs. Johnson, to whom ne =
told the purpose and result OF NE
and from whom he received neal ::
CALCULATIONS ~. h,
The next morning ne
~ork on the ditch. and II his Co
ions were ready with their !okes'
in far too good humor win sae
and all things in it to be omen
that he knew was kindly meant
For months he worked cary ~
ut the ditch, and when II MAJ !,
completed, and the water, IN =
seeping through the SOIL had re Re
r capable of sustaining vegesao
he began planting trees ana VIM
breaking the soil for future croPs1,
xhe wear closed he found ms pa
c;nning to look quite like living.
He had intended going again !.
Lucy and her parsats at ths u
his place still lacked dweiliI
the little it would cost to make U
new would aid just that much !
buying the material towards the
which ne had planned, and ne
decided not to 60. but insseas