St. Landry democrat., 1886-01-23

they did not fear the courts or the State
authorities.
They already controlled these, and
were prepared to bride or threaten, as
they deemed most likely to accomplish
their ends, any official who stood in the
way of their plans for wholesale rob-
berry
The leaders in the plot stood nigh in
social and political circles
The settlers had small means of max
ing the outrage upon their rights
known, and their cause was, indeed,
desperate, and it is small wonder, when
in every dwelling at the Slough were
women whose eyes were red with weep
ing, that there should be men whose
lips uttered curses, and whose muscles
twitched with eagerness to lay hand
upon the authors OF their Woe,
Only few days before the notices to
pay or vacate reached the settlers,
Erastus and Lucy had received a letter
from Mrs. Parsons saying that they had
at last found probable purchaser for
their place.
They would know in a few days she
wrote, and if they sold they should pack
up and start for the Slough at once, rs
they did not wish, even if the purchaser
of the property would permit, 70 re-
main on the mountain through the WIN
ter. 1t would seem more lonely than
ever when the place was no longer their
own.
The only thing that would delay
their coming, if they sold, was john
ny's health.
The boy had not been as well as
common the past summer, and had
been quite sick recently, but was get
ting better now, and she thought would
be able to be moved. and if they sold
she would take him and start at once
by boat, leaving Mr.. Parsons to drive
across with their household goods, rs
Erastus and Lucy had done.
The reception of this news had
| caused much pleasure to the young
couple, who were both DESTROYS of hav-
ing their parents near them.
Lucy was especially anxious for the
presence, of her mother at this time,
| and fastened to reply, urging that they
sell if they could get anything like a
fair price, and that they come at once.
But when the determination OF the
| railroad corporation to rob them OF
their own home became known to
them, they felt it would be better for
their parents not to sell, at least for the
present; and Lucy again wrote, telling
her parents of the difficulty they We're
in, aud that if they had not sold. il
might be better not to do so.
It was hard thing to do, and the
poor young wife had often to pause ant
wipe away the tears that blinded hel
ewes as she wrote of their troubles
thinking, too, of the sorrow it woulc
bring to the hearts of the old people
upon the mountain side.
She was expecting to become moth
er soon, and all the sweet Joy with
which she had been looking forward tt
the coming of the babe had given place
| to q terrible fear of what the future
might have in store for them all.
Erastus had not been loud in hi
threats. as had others. Indeed he hat
not threatened at all; but he was not :
man of many words. And she had no
forgotten how at the Suscol Ranch
when but boy, he had taken her moth
er and Mrs Richie with the children
of which she was one, to place o
safety and then returned to defend thu
cottage with his life. And now th
thought kept coming to her: ''What i
the company should actually attemp
the eviction of the settlers and Erastu
should again defend their home AM
be killed5''
| She tried to put the thought from
her, but it kept coming back, each TIM
with increasing strength, until it cam
almost to be conviction. She knew
or thought she knew, that if effort
were made at an eviction, her HUSBAND
would call upon his #neighbors to de
fend their homes with their lives, an
would set them the example.
It was a horrible thought. But
came and it chung to her; and though sh
tried hard not to make her letter 10 he
parents be without a CLEAN of hope, SD
vet felt when it was written and scale
that she had failed, and was still furtf
er depressed by the thought Of the q
feet it would have upon those to whor
it was to be sent; and especially upo
her father, who she knew would bea
the blow even less stoutly than ne
mother.
Meantime the verbal sale of tn
mountain ranch had been conclude
between MIR. and Mrs. Parsons and tb
gentleman of whom Mrs. Parsons ha
written.
They were to receive two thousan
dollars cash down and to give immed
ate possession; and on the morning bt
one following that on which Lucy's Sc
ond letter was mailed, John Parsol
started to town with the deed made OF
and signed By his wife.
! He was to meet the purchaser at I'll
courthouse in Phippsburg. deliver tt