The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1889-07-05
A "SQUATTER'S" FATE.
The Report Made by Delegation
OF the Union League"

All night long the low summer wind
had famed the dcwy grass, and stolen
with subdued murmur around tho
rude board structure that nestled in
the high grass on broad stretch OF
level prairie; and now a great lumi-
nous star which had risen from the
prairie sea and from q blue waste Of
sky. shed its white rays down on the
world beneath.
As il rose higher in the heavens, its
feeble rays stole in at the open window
OF the settlers cabin and touched the
tangled cloud OF sunny hair that clus-
tered about the head Of a little girl OF
ten years--the only child OF Amos Lee,
the settler.
The pickering light Of small kero-
sene lamp shed its feeble rays around
the room. revealing a rude bed At one
end Of tho apartment. on which lay the
form Of man, his face flushed with
fever. his eyes wandering vacantly
about the room.
Papa" said the child. bending over
the sick man. "you must have medi-
cine and doctor--what must ! do?
What can l do?'
She claspcd her little hands appeal
ingly. and tear trickled down her
white. troubled face Water. watcr.'
cried the sick man, gazing blankly
about him.
The child hurried to the other end
OF the room. and fetching some water
In tin cup. held it to the sick man
lips.
He drank the water eagerly. and
sank back on his pillow. where he lay
quiet for some time. Then he opened
his eyes and murmured:
I'VE must go way from hyar-they
air talkin' NV hangin' me II ! stay
and mebby- mebpy-we'd better b
movin', for they'll come again. Hits
hard ter halter leave our own homo
but-but ~
His muttcrings grew indistinct. ant
he again closed his eyes
"Oh, papa! my dear papav' cried thu
child. mo one is going to hurt you
am here with you--shall 60 for doc
tor? Oh. papa! what must | do?' an'
she buried her face in the bed clothe
and wept bitterly.
The father made no reply, save som
incoLerent mutterings.
Presently the little girl arose ant
wiped the tears from her eyes. lool
OF determination on her young face
She then took little straw hat iron
peg on the wall and placed II on he
head. She approached her father, an
bending over him, kissed his hot, e
verish cheek.
Papa" shc murmured. her fac
close to his, II am going for docto
be good and lie still till I com
back. I'll run all the way"
She then turned and went out int
the night, and ran swiftly down tn
dim prairie road. her little bare fec
falling noisclossly upon the damn
dcwy ground.
The nearest village, Neutral City
lay five miles away, across stretc
OF wild. unsettled prairie. Here tn
only doctor in that part Of the cour
try resided. and towards this plae
the little girl hurried. She knew u
road. having passed over II before
The wagon with her father. 1T
not long till daylight" she though
rs she hurried forward, glancin
about her, as II expecting 70 sec son
wild animal spring upon her from u
surrounding darkness Onwar
along the dim path. that lay aero
the great stretch o. prairie she flc
while the big white star rose high'
and higher in the hcavensI and Y
dewy breath OF night, laden with u
perfume OF sleeping flowers. sway
the long grasses and rocked the 70
OF the sumachs to and fro, as II stirr'
their slender leaves into o trcmulo
.murmur.
The barking OF = COYOTE came fro