The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1888-12-13

2A eastern isss, es snsss q srs a.s4 =.
mile wide, two hundred feet deep very
epic poem written in water by Natures
own hand.
At bend in its course, half way between
the two lakes it connects, stands substan-
tial farmhouse surrounded by neat outbuild-
ings and blossoming orchards. 1t is from
the latter feature that 1t inherits its name
the Orchard House.
Ard in that pretty dwelling lives family
which has history.
When you look at the little summer-house
in the garden, which was evidently once
the pilot-house OF a steamer, and see the
tall, tapering mast with the stars and stripes
floating in the breeze, you are prepared TO
be told that it is the home of a sailor.
A very old, weather-beaten hulk is Daniel
Winthrop now, but in the year when my
story opens, nearly three decades ago. he was
a hale, well-preserved man of sixty, whose
silvery hair was the only external Fremont
ton of advancing age.
When the glad spring sun of 1851 was tint
ing tho surface Of his beloved river with
every hue of the rainbow, who had a greater
right to says "The Lord has prospered me
and my cup is full of joy" than Daniel Win
thropl
For thirty years he had sailed the lakes as
captain of his own ships. Before "the pes
XIV railroads. as he expressed 1t, had
''dropped the bottom out of freights,n he
had made money ''hand over fist" and
while yet enjoying the vigor Of man
hood, had settled down to retirement
in sailors Elysium-a well-stocked farm
house, where he could sit on his own stoop
and watch the vessels glide by and the
Bver-changing beauty Of the lordly river
But he had bigger treasures than bank
stocks, broad acres and shares in ships
his wife, Martha, who was the sweetest,
simplest helpmate that ever made sunshine
in mans home; his daughter, Nell, just
twenty years old, whom he had done his
best to spoil, bu5 whose gentle nature had
been proof against every indulgence; and
his son, Harry, four years older than his
darling daughter, who had never given
him an hours anxiety, but had been stu
diously inclined, had taken fair degree at
college, and was now occupying well-paid
position as teacher in the public schools Of
distant city.
Moreover, during that winter his home
had been frightened by the visit OF radi-
ant girl, Kate Frobisham, the daughter
Of distant relative of his wife, who had
married Southern gentleman living in the
Shenandoah valley, and the old sailor had
learned to love the beautiful young Virgin
ian maiden, who became especially dear TO
him when he learned that she had promised
to become his sons wife.
But lightning came out of clear sky and
struck the Winthrop homestead-as it did
the whole fair land, which had for years
been basking in the sunshine of prosperity.
Fort Sumter had surrendered, and the
terrible war of secession was reality.
An American of Americans, coming of an
old Puritan stock of New England, Daniel
Winthrop's heart was afiame with honest
indignation.
Thus, one day in spring, just as the big
ice barriers of winter had been swept away
and the glorious waters Of his loved river,
rejoicing to be free, were once more rolling
In their accustomed grandeur, Daniel Win
throp sat in the "best room" of his farm
house in council with his women folk.
In his hand he held letter, which boy
had brought from a neighboring post-office.
eyes, he said, i'll reply to the appealing
looks Of the ladies, as he hastily skinned
its contents; "it is from Harry, sure
enough. Don't take on about it, mother;
but he's done just what winthrop should
do when his country calls on him; he's"
mot enlisted!n Martha gasped, her face
white as her snowy apron.
''That is just what the high-spirited lad
has done, God bless himr' the farmer
chuckled. "Pshawl Martha, / am aston
ished at YOU. What is there to whimper
about 1t won't take more than month or
two To bring these stubborn rebs to their
knees, and them
He paused abruptly, for Kate Frobisham
was standing before him with flashing eyes
and heaying bosom.
nCaptain Winthrop" she said, speaking
. more calmly for her suppressed passion,
ulet me retire before YOU have said what
would make. me forget all your kindness.
This night leave your house to return to
INV own peopIe; do not make my parting
more bitter than is necessary,
nWby. God bless nv life, Winthrop
stammered, "you don't mean to say that
Won arc al heart a rebel-you, u gentle,
loyable Girl not six months out Of school.
Ths tb;nt Ia nrenosto rousn
az am a Scutherner,n Kate said, quietly,
uana T newer 1vas az proud ~ the land ~
INV birth as am at this moment. The
meanest trooper in my brothers regiment
Is. in nv syes, a hero.n
"And Harry; my boy, Harryln the father
n,eaded
us no more to me. Captain Winthrop
than anv other of the band of marauders
whose ranks he has joinedn
"0h. KateI, Nell sobbingly reproached
I. and he loves Won sor,
aAnd 7 loved him. Nell. All, God knows
how loved him. the girl acknowledged
with tremulous lips.