The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-27
Prsntea sy Special Arrangement scita The Aaihor.
THE LUCKY DRIVE.
BY HARRIET PRESCOTT sPOFFORD.
Copyrighted 1885, by s. s. McClure-An
Rights Reserved.l
A S TO r Y.
PART I.


beard and hair telling something of his strength
and vitality. My first glance at him, when l
joined the camp, was one of satisfaction at sight
of such physical force in my service, but my
next glance gave me precisely the opposite SEN
satlon an apprehension of possible malign in
fuence among the men from such a source, and,
although I trust to first impressions as the an
ever of the brain when fresh from the impress,
yet it sometimes takes second thoughts to read
that impression rightly
Before dark / found that second thoughts
were right at any rate, in this 'instance, and
Farrar was to be the ruling spirit among the
loggers at Old Cedars that winter, and in the
spring drive as well.
1t was a matter of life and death to me- that
drive. OF more than life and death, might
cay, for on it depended all my chance of happi-
ness; and not my chance only, but that of Hes
ter, who was dearer to me than life, without
whom death would have been welcome She
was my promised wife-promised, that is to say,
with the condition of her fathers consent-a
promise that had its bitterness as we'll as its
sweetness. She would love me forever she
would be mine in worlds to come, but without
the fathers consent she could not be mine in
this world: nor could any persuasion used effect
more.
Her father had laid his wife away many years
before; she had, since that sad time, been all in
all to him; and to disobey him. to leave him, to
rob him of the one delight of his life, to break
his heart by the means of it, was the one thing
shewould not do. If she could not bring
home to him, she would, at all events,
And / was son whom the old Doctor
would not have brought to him. Never having
liked my family, he could augur nothing good Of
me. Personally, l was well enough he ad-
mitted-that is, il most respects. But had no
fortune; and had as yet exhibited no capability
of making the beginning of one; and, moreover,
should make fortune, it would as surely slip
through my fingers as theirs had slipped the
fingers of my father. He had seen enough evil
result from the cramping life of poverty to be
unwilling to let his own and only darling meet
it; he thought little sentimental trouble now
would do her much less harm than long life of
repression, denial, labor ahd worriment might
bring to pass; and mis- remarks in this view were
exceedingly plain and to the point on the occa-
sion when l spoke impatiently to him upon the
subject having some dim idea, as young people
will, that in the eternal balance love outweighs
dross.
II tell you frankly" he said 'sthat, knowing
my daughter body and soul, as do I would
rather bury her than marry her to you, Justus;
and that, with everything else, because know
you so well also, know your wants and needs,
and know how i'll you will be able to endure the
sight of your wife poor and ailing, and desiring
everything she has not"
''But don't see, feebly urged, 'why you
should take all this for granted 1t is an i'll
wind of prophecy. Why is it that may not
become as we'll off as the next man in time"
There is no next man. And because, you
never will
''That is mere assertion, Doctor
'And so is my refusal to accept you as SON.
in-,aw"
'You are precipitate,' I said. you forget
that choice here is limited There is no one in
the region any better fitted than 1 to be your
son-inlaw-since it seems to have become a
question of your son-in-law and not of her hus-
band. And she must mary some one."
81 don't see the necessity" said the Doctor
II don't intend that she shall"
"You don't intend"
mo; that is-the fact is Justus, you are all
very WE'LL as have said before this You are
all very well except for your pride, which, if
mortified, would react on your wife and sting
her to undue exertion; and your temper, which
would be kept on the alert and ready to strike
fire at the first alarm, by your needy circum-
stances and your love of luxury that would cause
you to spend as you go, and leave nothing out of
your income for rainy season."
II am certainly at loss, sir, to tell you from
what you infer all this Pride and temper may
have, but the manner in which listen and reply
to you hardly declares so much. And if have
had the opportunity of exhibiting love of lux
ury, you would give me pleasant memory by
calling it to my recollection"
''Your last words exhibit it plainly enough.
However /. won't refuse you absolutely. On
the contrary, will even help you on your way.
AS you may imagine have given good deal
of thought to this affair. You have been in the
lumber trade"
''And out of it."
VERY we'll. You can 60 in again. You know
the way. There is the Township of Old Cedars
up above the iakes--a wilderness of pine. high
enough almost to rival the Sequoia giants. /
forget lust how many acres-enough to make
fortune If you can get the logs down. Come;
win give you the stumpage of that track of
woodland, and throw Hester into the bargain, if
you can get the logs down. If you can't get the
logs down, why, you're not up to the serious
business of life where you live. In other words,
you're not fit for her and can't have her. If you
succeed in we shall not be likely to quarrel, hav-
ing one and the same object in life. If you
don't succeed, shall see no more of you. For,
understand, don't intend she shall marry you
unless you convince me of your ability. And if
she does not marry you she will not marry any
body and so, as | said, at least shall carry out
my wish and intention, and don't intend that
of.a1l -l.oIx.