Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1892-01-15
I'm ALLIGATOR COUNTRY

Nhont 4 small clcnrinc. Nov Ne
stopned III nxsck IL bright rchiie. then
hupred forward to examine 4 bunch
of 9tussock arasx. Then 4 rrasshopper
.attracted III attention. And an the
time he was oefttnr farther away
nom home. Al last he nausea an the
hank VI i dark creek and Looked
shout curiously. III visa i new world
to him. Near III 1 long. black object
NV hair emheddedin the sand. After
Wetchinr d few moments he hopped
nearer. Then came i Quick dash III:
1napptne of teeth; the chickens short
drama vas over. And the aliigator's
taii slid hack into the saad, and his
half-closed eyes resumed their air u
ACKNOWLEDGMENT.
Overhead magnolias and live oaks
mlagled their branches, while here
md there rssee the stately trunks Of
royal palms. Great masses 0f axalea,
Agave, and sensitive plants crept up
from the waters edge and spread out
over the banks. And everywhere
the fox grape bignonia and
beyond the creek, and stretching
away for q hundred miles to the south
.nd west, yer the Everglades. In
the distance cleaned the blue waters
Of Lake OkeechObee. To the east
w1s q wilderness, to the north twenty
miles OF almOst impenetrable jungle.
And In the midst, the little clearing,
and Wild and ugly. For, ex-
cept where the log cabin stood
neas the center, the trees had been
merely girdled. and now rose white
and ghOstly, their gray, skeleton arms
creaking and groaning with every
passing breeze. Among them were
long ridges OF sweet potato vines. and.
nearer the cabin, d few clumps OF
gumbo aud banana stalks. A tall.
solitary oleaudcr III full hoOn, stood
near the water-harrel, Its fragrant
branches nearly hiding one end oil
the cabin. A little to one side were
several neglected orange trees.
The cabin had but two windows,
small openings which were closed with
boards when it ruined. Near one oi
these q young girl was preparing
scomptie.n On the stove behind her
was the inevitable kettle Of hominy.
AZ sho worked she occasionally broke
into snatches Of negro melody, her
fresh younv voice floating out into
the forest and bringing quick re-
euOnsea from mockino-hiras and
warhlerR
asTwO men were working their way
through the thick masses OF PALMETTO.
Suddenly they paused to listen.
"What q yOicc!r one Of them ex.
claimed. "a backwoods Nightingale
ct must be old Dobesson's dauQh.
tar.u aid the other. ~ was here Ave
wears 400. and she was then the wild,
est ana happiest little thing / eveI
saW-all the time In the woods chas.
Inc squirrels and initiating the mock.
inc birds.n
Again the voice foated to them.
AZ It died away the frst speakel
drew i long breath.
.Nhat an acquisition she would tt
10 nv rustic chorus!n he said,
His cOmnanfon laughed.
ssThere YOU 90 again! Never a fn.
voice but YOU must be coyetous, tn.
nanalty IL heinv 4 theater manager.
supnOse. But really. Daniclsou. 70,
must. mot, wake the ambition If Mi,
child az nature. She is like the birds
and New York would stihe her..
a few moments later they emerged
from the nalmetto. IA they crosset
the clearing the Young oirl left tn,
window and appeared ia the doorway
FOr = moment she merely looked
curious. then q glow OF recognition
crept into her face, Before they haf
time to epeak she spran0 down IN,
steps with o~utstretched hands.
sIff. EoWery. fer all ther worF,
Ahe cried. her eve snarklInr viii
nleasure. nHit's mighty Dleasan
tar "a ven rom, arin. pawn sui,
Timely be glad Ter ! VEN.
HAnd shall Dc glad 10 6 him,
Liar aaid Mr.. Lowery. heartily
ssWc,ye had some rare hunts together
HI1G how Won nave Qf1WNf YAll Wpft
only 1 little Qirl when i left"
siAs liked Ter aomehody ter max.
her bows an, arrers an 20 huntin
scooters.,p
Nj. Lowery smiled.
ssyNe did have snn,e fine scuoter
hunta" he sa,d. then. noddine 10
ward his comnani0n. added. ssI,ye
brorrht my friend. Nj. Danialson,
down "a. try alligator hunting. / tsiI
him your father is probably the besi
gator guide IN South Florida"
The olrl,s face clouded.
sspaw,a in right rnre shane.. sh1
said alowly. ale var los, il the,
Br,slades ia, ent tee shakes now.fnl
had. / low he cayn,t do no mo
guidin' Ter er long time.
The men looked al each other IN
perplexity, Seeing this, the Vir]
hastened TO add,
saCleb KIN guide voa,.uas aratter n
anybody ,cept paw. lie Amt bnt Il
year on, but paw says what he don't
~ 44Z KIAL. .G&r GAA..