The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1892-08-06

T&NAAN old homestead OF
NAiWy the Widow Downs.
\N-f 1t was located in
che mountainous region of Western
Pennsylvania, where little thread-like
watercourses wind around the bases
OF the hills in the dry season, swelling
- tho spring to roaring boisterous
torrents, which often inundate the
banks and sweep away houses and
barns.
The "affair" was OF the deepest con-
Germ to Aida Downs, one of the
brightest, handsomest and best OF
Turkey Creek girls. 1t simply the
matter of her wedding.
Everybody knew her. From the
time she ran barefooted with the chill
dren over the hills and waded the
brooks, through her girlhood, which
was thoughtful and studious beyond
her years, to the day that she kept
school in the dingy little house half
way up Bald Mountain, she was
general favorite. She was beautiful in
mind and person, winning in dispo-
sition, kind and generous. At the
cuttings, the appleparings and the
class-meetings the rural beaux con-
tended for the honor OF "seeing her
home"
In fact, could such an experience be
applied to the Bald Mountain neigh
borhood it might be said that Ida
was therage. And it would seem to
be in accord with the facts OF the situa-
ton, and the probabilities, that she
should marry the best, perhaps the
wealthiest, other homekeepn gadmires.
But she did not. She married. Curtis
Nash, young surveyor from Phil
adelphia; and the occurrences attend
ing that event furnish this sketch.
One year before the time which was
afterward fixed for the wedding the
pleasant-faced and well-spoken youth
had been sent up into this out-of-the.
way region, with q chainbearer and
stakebearer, to make adifficult survey
OF n large tract of wild land, compris.
ing thousands Of acres ofmountain and
vale, that had been for many years in
irrigation. He and his assistants were
to jump over one hundred of square
miles; there were no inns in the vicin-
ity, and they must be boarded and
lodged somewhere. Was it chance or
some kindlier fate that directed them
to the Widow Downsp At any rate
for six months Curtis Nash and his
assistants remained there. Many
long evenings OF this time they passed
in the old house, and the result SEEM
ed inevitable. When he babe farewell
to the family it was with the under
standing that he was to return on the
Sd OF April following to marry Ali
da.
1t was midsummer when they part
ed. The whole episode seemed 40 be-
wildering to the girl, 30 like a dream,
that she babe him farewell with serious
misgivings.
81 can hardly believe it all, Curtis"
she said at doesn't seem real. Will
you really-"and she smiled family
"come back next year,"
He held both her hands and looked
steadfastly into her face. Truth and
honesty shone from his brown eyes
and comforted her soul exceedingly.
/ "My darling he said, "do you think
any power on earth would keep me
away2"
81 am only a plain country GIRL"
she faltered, land you are we'll born
strange If you were to forget me-"
THAT l can never do; you are the
one woman in the world for me, and
on the third OF April, God willing, you
shall become my wife. Where is the
nearest minister"
"Ten miles from here, Curtis, beyond
Turkey Creek"
IL shall bring him with me when l
come. Tell your mother to have her
wedding party ready, if she chooses to
have one, at noon on the day appoint
ed. There will be no failure on my
part. II live will be here"
So he left her, happy, yet hardly
daring to believe in her happiness.
month after her lovers departure
q letter came to Aida from far-off
Philadelphia. It's contents it is not
necessary to divulge, to her they were
entirely satisfactory.
Then there was a painful hiatus.
Long months passed when no tidings |
came from the absent lover. Aida |
bore the trial bravely and hopefully,
all the gossip OF the neighborhood on
the subject being detailed to her daily |
in the meantime.
In some way or other the intelligence
had worked its way up to Bald Noun
tain settlement that Nash's parents
were among the wealthiest and most
aristocratic people in Philadelphia,
and had sternly vetoed his matrimon-
ial alliance. Some said they had sent
him of on Government exploring
to the Northwest border
that he might be cured OF his passion
'or Ida; and the majority OF the