Arkansas weekly mansion., 1885-11-21
LOST AND WON.
Romance OF Baokwoods Lumber
Region.

Lake Settlement, ana Illuminated as
lonely u region a, could be found In the
whole world. On one side OF the snowy
road deep pine wool rose tall and dark
against the evening sky. On the other
were sire oaes OF fisld aud marsh-laud,
which, even whom warm aud green with
summer, had a desolato aspect with their
BACKGROUND of low, monotonous hills, and
both before and b,hind were more lone.
some hills, more drcary fields aud black
masses OF WOO Hand. Mo- one homely
rool was visible in ths bard, white m lon.
light, nor the Glimmer OF lamp, nor q
wat OF chimIey-smoke; not even the
tinkle CT a slei ;h.bell or a .ootstcp was to
be heard, The lence seemed whispering
to tho hills. One star gllmmcred In the
orausu auer.slow of sunset
1t hal been an unusually warm day for
lac D1c mhar, and the faint, de.icatc
seen .. melting snow was still in tho air,
thougi 1t was growing crisp AMI cold and
icic.es were forming On tic branches OF the
tree.
Two Jnlhs which divcrgod widely as
they t. Il led thiol h the woods came
almost tosolhe. as they rencaod tho road,
and prascnily from ono OF these paths
emerged the dark figure Of man carry
ing a ga 9 intcrn. Stepping into the
road, he lausti for mOmrnt a. the open
ing Il III, other puh, and, hearing foot.
steps and a slow, u rave voice humming an
old lovc.snng, leHnc against tao creakiug
guidc.pust ami waited for the singer To
approach lie was young, apparen ~ not
over twenty eight of uno years, was
dressed like lumherman, and was o'
somewhat broad and clum'y build. Bat
in his face, VIII oh wa, clearly re.
vcaled By tho iiekcring flame o.
the lantern, though ho stood
In deep shadow, ihcrc was no
coarse rnsicitr. ihc iull but finely.
formed iea ures had amosl gentie and
amiahlc vast, ro'emlling those of one oil
Raphaei's cherubs in thor h ,lo of yellow
hair, A g,avo smile fingered in his sea
blue eyes.
AZ he listened to The voice, however, a
look, holt amusement, halt annoyance.
crossed his NIL | countcnanc,, aud his
smiling cyc, b came sicel'eoiorsl and
flashed with some hug lks anSor; but 1t
waa auly for aa ins ant.
"Halluo! that you ut o. the woods,
JohI Bali;eri' h1 eallel, in a smooth,
"iPears tew be; m ycou, Reube weth.
erbee,-it SO ms you're eou' er the woods,
town.
"Oi course am; but then don't how
ter travel twel,o or ilfiesn miles ter git
tor tho settlement. How about III dance
tomorrow nights Holr camp goin' ter
turn oat"
''some o ths hands ca,ilate ter 60, |
"But S lbor fcller like you don't care
for sicl hind or jIlliAea'ions much, !
reckon"
n was tinkin' o. goin'.p
"Ahi M that account, for your journey
10 the selt elnent ton ght. Coin TO the
tavern, Of csu s.. | say, man, we're
bound on the aafnc arranc WHATS goin'
to bc done about itW
"What d. you mean, Reuba Wcther'
beoy exc aimed Barker, with deep
frown up N his ragged features, which
looked almost II otesQue In the delicate
moonlight, =,
"oh, YOU know what ! moan, we'll
enougn, John, and you may as well take II
calmly. Wucn Two mon inko u fancy 10
tho sami woman th,rc's likely 70 be somo
sarse between 'em; bul THAT'S no use,
Now, wore both got 10 the same poini on
ionge,,n mine, ~ II We should try
a race you IN gbt tcach h, tavern a min.
ute lo.ore M. ~ You might not, for I'm
pretty nululc m all'ilrcl long-windoi.
B,l say, leps have things fair M square,
I've q, paca of cards IN my pocket, ~
Pm fur gin' into jones' old cimp-lps
only few stop, beyoni here, IN the eigc
OF Tho woods, you know---'n' playih' 1t
out"
cbances as they come" said Barker, In a
voice which sounded husky and st ange.
And he took srca, strides along the crisp
white road.
"Ynm chaneesl Why, yon know, man,
4. "a
have tho quo \ oil chnuc, ~ II we should
got there nt Tho same time do you s'poso
she'd say yes to you m no 10 mef To
speak up nank. sh, don't cm TO set
great s.ofa by ncither uf us, hu' she fayor'
me iull as much as she does any other fel,
lor, that, certain. doubt whether she'd
go TO the dnncr even with me, though.
fhero's como Ling III, matter Hang II II
4 don't some imcs think she's rot an
other iollor down'rlvcr where She
come from. still. she's hcen to Jones'
prltty near q year now, "a h, amt put
In an appearances, ~ she never gets d
letter from anybody, Mrs Jones says"
"What it IL 10 yoou, cnyhowP bluzc
Barker. "koep yer susplclnn'n', as well
as yor blnrst Il consa ., ter yorsclt.
don't wan. ter hcar .ycou talk about hcr
Where's llenuetty lllandeif VIVA righl
bey ycou ter take a farncy ter anotAoi
woman, whom ye0u'yc bacD a'kocpn' com
pany with her for yoar ~ niofcY IN
yeou pryln' raouni ter rcs u Dfusy gh'
letters"
"Nonsense, Johni A. ! sail before
sar.o won't set things straigh, m lvs
just as good a rFh, as you or any oihe,
man ter make up 70 d usy. nln't bound
TO Henrietta"
"Rlghts seem diiYrunt to difrrunt folks,
cNlllaic, Enyhow, ! hain't a,snIn' tl
lislcn lcr ony more ov your t,nguh I'm
s.soins a,Sas' ~ ~ you Kin g. ah'"l or fol
"WeIl, now, Il scems ter me thai
we 10 IN kinl ov cmbarra ssin' IA, N
tho cards would be q consolln' way to git
out Of II. l."
"come along, ,hen, but quit ehinnin'
about Dru-y,"
And the Two men turned back into the
woods, ~ whose weird darkness INC gu!
Of Rrubs's lantern was no moro man thh'
Of a firefiy The moonll ght s,o's into IT.
tie openings, outlined the treex upon the
ulittrrlng award, and hoverei like q gh sl
en the peih bpfo,e them. The chimp was q
somewhat ruinous affair, but had lately
been occupied by party uf SUI veyors. VIII
tho blaze Of a great iifs It's Inferior m'gh
seemed y ehosily, bnunted place, flllct
with mystcr ious sounds and shadows
One feeble moon.ray siruggled through th'
foliNKe OF tall pine tree, and, rcarhln)
down The vide sui0kv.hol" overhead
ssarched the q hos on the henrlh'tous Tx
4 pallld finger. The wind rustled anon
sotnp dead vines which reached through
the chlnks between the logs, and made
creeping sound like iootfa u over TN
snow.coversd plank door. l..
Nstherbec placei nj, lNntern upon th'
cresklng old shelf which served for
tahle, and, seating themselves upon
bench, the two men commenced th~,
game with dep earnss nest barkoi'l
1caiure, were whits aud ssti his stron,
arm tremlled as he handle the cards, and
his brs ath came quick and hard.
II wa as II he wore aklng his llf'
upon the play, as II his wdole late wer'
% be decided by u.
"ures, Jupiier, mani don't look lik'
that said weth,rles, regarding him fol
ths Ar.t tirns as the game proct sded.
"f'ye boon fee In a. II Twas o case o
life jn' death myself, ~, by ueorge, W
no wonder. this place is so aii.iired un
cAnny. They used 10 say the camp wal
haunted; m b'licve H."
A great gray owl, witch had howi
from his abiding placs In q hollow tire,
near bv md pArcbed upon III roof lust OF