The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1888-03-24
MONROE LOUISIANA SATURDAY. MARCH "a. 1883

0ttaC8eu OO"Us WossS ou0 sAsN0s ~Ss.A~ l
aud ferry them over the river, the
leader said, and she must keep sharp
lookout for the men, and II they came
that way she was to send word at once
to the crossroads store. So the men,
aud the hounds that had been hsrcs'y
tapping at the bitter water, went over
on the ferry and dashed on Into the
dismal forest. Aud the woman stood
wriuging her hands and looking aiter
them with anguish In her eyes. Night
came on, the children ate their supper
Of sweet patatoes that had been roasted
Ia the ashes aud then went down to
the river 10 wash their feet. after
which they crept Oh to bed. But the
forry-woman could not sleep. She
opsnssi the wooden shutters and put
pine knot, flaming brightly, on tho
hearth. It sent forth rich, smoky,
joyous light thst could be seen far be-
yond the black, flowing tide Of the
river. Tnis done she gsthered the
skirt of her pink calico gown up over
her head aud went down by the ferry |
watching and waiting In . mysterious
fashion. The moon came and then
went away. The dswy night. with all
its strange noises, grew space. The
watcher looked with calm, confidtng
case UP into the stais. Theirs were
faces she knew. They seemed to an
swer her back. An owl hooted off tn
the swamp. A bit Of caving bank fell
with splash into the waters and
fish leaped up In midstream and SEEM
ed, poised, for q single breath Of time,
like Q silver cone in the blue-dark Of
the night.
| Suddenly the woman stepped softly
into the raft, put het hand on the rope
and leaning there stared into the dark
ness beyond the further bank. A
slieht, unusual noise had startled her
the breaking OF twigs, something
brushing by the jungle of brlar and
bramble ut the edge Of the path, and
which was not done by any alligator
or thing of the woods aud swamp.
Straining her eyes and ears she
seemed to make out two dark shapes
creeping along towards the river's
brim. "Bill! I'm coming ~ the wo-
man whispered, but whisper 80 tn-
tense and hoarse 1t was heard across
the narrow stream, and then, as OF
old. straining at her task, the woman
pulled the ferry over and the two men
stumbled in and laid upon the bottom
Of the raft. AS fast as she could the
!. lerry.woman pulled her boat back tn
> tho home shore, and with whispered
!. uwait," sped or to he cabin, where
. she put out the light that had done Its
: work. When she came back she car.
. ried food aud some clothes, two old
:. worn suits, across her arm, and these
/. she flung At the men. Not word was
!, spoken, Tho woman leaned on the
rope aud looked up at the stars, thai
seemed to speak back to her. The
j. two men hiding In the shadow OF
yellow bluff put of their strange
striped garments for the clothes th'
ferrywoman had siven them. As they
j came forth she turned and pointed thu
u way OF into the forest. One Of tn
men crspt close to the woman leaning
" on the iesry.rope and looking at he
curiously, whispered "Why did yo'
- do it," With q little smothered CT!
. in her throat she said: 81 though
u YOU wuz BIll-sure ez shootin. Bil
y wears them striped things. Go lona
y You'se iist a. welcome as ef you WI
!. him anyhow"
D: The shapes sped of into the woo
III and the woman on her knees In tn
er shadow of the yellow blun rolled th
~ cast-ofI garments into huge bund
~ and made as II she would bury the'
10 the sand. She thought better OF
'n however, and stepping into her ferl
u pulled Il out into the middle OF tf
u stream. Leaning over the edge OF II
" raft she tossed the bundle far out In
~ the water. For a little while itbobbs
~ along on the wave made by the ferr
% looking like the bloated carcass OF
=, drowned hog or calf, and then stes
- thily the strange waters sucked
~ down. The ferrywoman looked up
Nv the stars, sighed and graspiog the roI
pulled her ferry back to shore.
90 The next afternoon, mud-staine
up travel.woru and dirty, the men
'u horseback and their baying dogs car
1I, Gn back and were ferried over the riv'
~ ~ "You seen anything OF them ours
e raskills ?" asked the leader, leaning
'ay his gun aud looking down on the be
Wy ded back of the woman stratning M
q. ~ Willy at the ferry rope.
ue' WNo / haint," said she, not raisi
10. '. her head, and she did not 80 much
..s s turn her eyes to gaze upon the spot
'uu the river where the black waters 8
seemed 10 bubble over the hide
ou sunken bundle she had cast into 1t
'nn nioht before. CATHARINE COLI
uly "s"' '0'''
80. Special Notice to the Ladies.
lere III,
,vorl We have the finest variety of FLO
- e,oad oyor hrouCht To Monroe, All