The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-09-19
How long have you lived here2''

asked. -
 "Oh, ever Sd long. never did live anywhere else"
 "Is your mother living ?" "No, sir, but reckon you have found out that my father is"
 "Yes,"I replied, "I have seen him. Have you ever gone to school?"
 "No, but can read little bit, a heap better than Lank can. Lank has to spell the shortest sorter words when he reads I wish could read great big books"
 "i will teach you
 "But you can't stay here long enough, can you?"
 "Yes, if your father will permit me-" | He won't care"
 "I will pay board"
 "Just to learn me how to read ?"
 "Oh, no, not that entirely. The fact is left home to rest in the country and this place suits me better than any have found."
 "I am awful glad of that"
 forgot the gloominess of the day. l forgot everything but a charming face and sweet voice. Is it possible," 1 unused, "that am falling in love with thls girl2" Yes, it was possible, for late at night, while I, unable to sleep was ly ing in bed, that bewitchjng little face came up before me. l could hear her voice. could feel her deep brown eyes, fixed upon my face.
 Old man Barker was more than willing to board me, but he spoke in discourage ment of my educational plan, declaring that Madam knew quite much as was good for her. He did not believe in book learning. His wife had been a great reader of books and she had grieved herself to death, still, if wanted to teach Madam might do so.
 The girl learned rapidly, but frankly speaking, was much more tender, not to say sentimental, tn an a teacher should be.
 A short distance from the house there was field of about sixty acres of not very productive land. This field was cultivated by Lank. could not under stand the fellow. He was an able bodied man and wondered why he preferred to work for his viddults." Could it be possible that he was in love with Madam No, that could hardly be his incentive to remain with old Barker Madam was mere child when Lank took up his resi- dence with the old man. During a longer time than three weeks such thoughts ran through my mind. knew that Madam loved me. When she spoke to me her eyes assumed peculiar tenderness. She, reared in the backwoods, seemed to re- gard me as a superior person. was not sorry of this. The lover is never sorry of anything that creates for him an advan- tage.
 One morning just as had started in to breakfast, heard Madam shriek. The cause was sad one. The girl, upon go- ing to her fathers room, had found the old man dead. Poor child, how did pity her. Love and pity go hand in hand. This time pity put its arms around love. When the neighbors came in neighbors, though some of them lived fif- teen miles away, the old man who had experienced so much suffering, was laid out in the "big room." When led Madam away from the grave-when felt the dependence with which she clung to me, resolved within myself that she should soon become my wife. could not doubt her love. She was the embod- iment of affection.
 One day about two weeks after the funeral, and before had told Madam of my love for her, Lank Ben and took a stroll on the side of the mountain. We had stopped and were standing on a great shelving rock when Lank said:
 "I reckon thar never was man as bad of as ann"
 "Why, Lank ?"
 "Wall, I'll tell you: A long time ago I was at camp meetin' an seed wo- man with little girl in her arms. coulder trapped down right thar an wor- shiped that little girl. followed the woman everywhar she went, jest to look at that child. followed wer home an told her husband old man Barker-that would work fur him if he would give me my viddults. Wall, he agreed to do it. All wanted when felt bad was to look at that little girl. She never tuck to me so mighty much, but that didn't make no difference. was happy when they let me tote her round the lot. Right then, though she want nothin' but child, l coulder trapped on the ground A,MI G,w km~ Tka II lsAl