The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-03-11

ers had changed, and after drifting from
one subject to another, had settled on the
prospects OF new saw-mill in the swamp.
During the year several strangers had
appeared in the locality and inspected the
timber thereabouts. They had gone
away, however, and nothing further had
been Heard OF their proposed enterprise.
1t seemed that there was fortune in those
! broad immense trees, that would make
such splendid logs. The cypress and yel-
low pine was always marketable, aud the
river, tributary 20 the great Mississippi,
was only few miles away. Labor was
, hard 10 obtain in an unhealthy country,
and lumbermen were afraid to make their
investments.
Recently young man had visited the
region and gone carefully about the
country making inquiries here and there.
He spent the large portion of the day in
the swamp back OF Capt. Minion's etore.
Protected by high rubber boots he splashed
about and blazed several of tie big trees.
Wien he came out he mounted his horse
that had been left IN AIinion's care and
rode away. 1t was evident that his inter
est was in the lumber.
The report became current that he
would return the next fall with gang OF
negroes and erect mill.
Capt. Minion incidentally mentioned
! his visit to the farmers, and Tor lew min
utes he was extensively cross-questioned,
| but his store of information was meager
and consisted OF snap glances OF the man s
| appearance. Porter had seen him as he
rode down the road and the two compared
notes. Mollie listened intent!y as her
| father went over each little reproduction
| OF the Stranger manners and she stopped
| down on her knee. She had seen the man
when he first came TO the place and had
noticed him as he disappeared behind the
| trees into the swamp.
She could have supplemental her fa.n-
! er's description with one OF more acCu-
racy But her opinions were her own.
She had thought OF the stranger often
times since his visit, and well remembered
his commanding appearance, his broad
shoulders and sunburnt face. He was q
man different frcin the uuCsinly people
whom she mad met in her late years Be
fore hlr father moved TO the swamps her
life had not been as monOtonOus on the
river.
George Brewster walked ont on the plat
form; and, edging toward the young
woman, spoke again TO her:
what keeps YOU a thinking all the
time, MoilieI Z" he asked her in a nalf en-
treating tone.
"You have no right 10 ask ME such
questions" she snapped, rising TO her
feet.
"Well, don't be so shifting about It," he
bearishly replied, I've treated youss
folks oil right" She answered him by
elevating her nose in the air, and he re-
treated to the group that was still dis
cussing the lumber question.
The stars we're becoming bright in the
dark background, and the tree frogs had
their nightly chorus well under way when
old man Porter suggested that Sunday
morning was not far Oft, aud gathering
his coffee, sugar and other commodities
in his arms, trudgeG up the road with his
youngest son in his wake.
The mules were hooked 10 the teams,
and one b. one the farmers set Out Tor
their homes, the humping noise of the few
wagons dying away In the distance.
Capt. AiiHion stretched himself several
times and gaped, while Mollie bounced
into the store with 4 look OF general DIS
gust on her face. Her father slowly moved
about 81 ne put up the wooden shutters
on the front window, slammed the door
and laboriously drew the heavy iron bolt
across II inside.
In a few minutes the light inside the
frame house was eXtinguished and all
was quiet, save for the unCeasing feeble
croaking of each mali frog in the swamp.
A light mist came up from the ground and
settled about the place.