The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1889-09-04
FATHER AND |.
BY MANDA l.. CROKER.

Il nau 1luuen all DAY, ana now, at
shutdown, found myself in an isolated
spot, without any prospect of decent
nights lodging.
No sign of habitation could see,
as l peered this side and that in the
dusky Misunderstanding but hilly,
sparsely timbered country, as far as
the eve might discern.
/ had started some six weeks pre-
vious for the cheap lands in the West,
intending TO purchase n home with the
little allowance / possessed. ! had
been rather unfortunate all my life.
When a mere child my father went to
the frontier, and my mother, after hav-
ing looked In vain for word from him
for year or more concluded that the
Indians had murdered him-they at
that time being in a state of hostility
and, gathering her little all about
her, went back to New York, broken
hearted and disconsolate. In few
months after her arrival she sank into
the grave, leaving me a penniless or
phan.
A gentleman of her acquaintance
adopted me and removed me. with his
family, to Indiana, before the grass
grew green on my mothers grave. and
thus hurried me away from all | held
dear on earth, and many were the bit
Ter tears shed IN the deep woods of
Hoosierdom IN memory of the lonely
grave near Utica.
Nevertheless, when / became of age
L remembered, in looking over the
past, that L had had n kind father in
my foster-parent, and when he gave
me quite little sum and sprightlv
pony. saying, Go West, Clifford, and
get rich, l started at once.
As sequel, at the close of cold
raw November day, l found myself
toiling over q winding. isolated road
bound for somewhere. / hardly knew
where.
Dismounting, / slipped the rein over
my arm and concluded to walk down
the rocky declivity before me: as /
proceeded slowly, wondering where l
might camp out for the night, [ came
suddenly on an old man, with bundle
on his back, at turn in the road
He looked up with a quiet "Good
evening" and turned aside to let me
pass. Gould you tell me-" 1 said,
where l might find shelter for the
night?"
He looked at me again steadily for a
moment, then, without answering my
question, asked cautiously where i
hailed from.
From Indiana" / replied. Il am
hunting fortune in the great West,
and l rather think / have struck a poor
section to-day"
,s,,ocu. va 1ova 1,,,f
You'd these hills lies beautiful strip of
farming land, >" he said.
As to your stopping for the night"
he continued, shifting his bundle lit
tie, If you're not over particular as to
'commodatious, why, reckon you can
bunk with me; and your nag can do
very well in the shed with bunch o.
fodder. 'Taint the finest in the
world, stranger, but it is the best
know of, Mess You go ten miles further
up the creek"
Il shall be very thankful for your
hospitality" | said; and we trudged on
together in the gathering night, until
we came TO auo her road branching off
into the scattered timber
Il live up here ways, heremarked,
turning abruptly iSto the dimly out
lined way. A quartN of nile further
on and we came 20 his domicile. Here's
where l STAY" he said, opening the
door to q rude log hut which seemed
to have grown into the side of hill
On entering found it quite COM
Portable on the inside. despite the I'M
promising exterior. Now rest your
self, he said, putting down his bundle
and striking light, while / give your
nag bite under the shed" With this
the old man laughed little, as sort
of apology / thought, and disappeared
outside.
/ sat thinking. Somehow l rather
liked his looks Not so very old. he
seemed cheerful. notwithstanding his
gloomy surroundings, and | wondered
why he was here alone. "Wife is
dead" 1 thought, looking about me
around the plainly furnished, one
roomed abode. Maybe a confirmed
old bachelor, ORA notorious character
hiding from justice and one who in
tends finishing me for his own aggran-
dizement," whispered an evil genius in
sav ear.
This suggestion made me shiver and
4 sat revolving it in my mind until it
seemed the most natural thing in the
world. and by the time he returned
was in good trim to watch every move
znent of the unususpecting old man as
ne busted himself about the evening
zneal.
a short nag is soon curried," he
sid with a smile, arranging the corn
bread, bacon and coffee on the table.
wa somewhat taken aback. however
in the evil prompting considerably
wken mine host of the cabin bowed his
hrus reverently and asked Gods bles-
zjpg on the frugal repast.
Well" l thought, I" he surely isn't
"a escaped convict, unless he haskre-
Gented here among the hills Ana