Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1895-05-30
Waiting at the Old Farm Gate.

Waiting at the Old Farm Gate.
1t was beautiful nj ght in the month
of June. The stars seem to twinkle
with delight, and the rays of the full
moon made the night one of those long
to be remembered nights of the early
summer in the highlands of West Fir-
giIia. Mary Anderson stood by the
old farm gate, waiting the coming of
her lover, who was soon to become
her husband. Two years before, her
that never returned, and from which
no tidings had ever been received. The
scene was a delightful one: the wide
spreading meadows, with here and
there shade tree. and the wooded
mountain range in the distance dimly
outlined against the sky.
Suddenly the sound of footsteps
heart throbbed with joy. for she was
expecting James Ford, the son of a
prosperous neighbor and the choice of
her heart.
Suddenly the form of man came
into view. A few more steps and he
was by her side. ..Maryr he cried,
and clasped her to his bosom, and she
fa;,+od a,r,y Il, fba or,,o of bar lopr
lost brother, Charles Anderson!
At this moment another figure ap-
preached, stood for a moment watch
ing the couple clasped in each others
arms, and then silently stole away un-
observed.
On Mary's return to consciousness
she informed her brother of the ex-
though they waited until the moon
was high in the heavens, no lover APP
peared. And news came the next
morning that he had left the country
during the night, and gone no one
knew whittier.
The news of her lovers silent and
mysterious departure prostrated Mary
Anderson with grief. She uttered no
word of complaint but silently bore her
trouble and sorrow. Her cheeks be-
came wan and pale, and her step slow
and faltering.
Her friends strove to cheer her and
cause her to forget her grief, but all
in vain. She went abroad for year
with her brother, and she tried to be
interested in all the scenes and amuse-
ments shown her, but although it
seemed to improve her somewhat, she
gradually settled into state of mel
ancholy from which she made heroic
efforts to rouse herself in order to ap
pear interested in her frien6s' efforts
to distract her mind from her cause of
grief. When, at last, she returned to
the old home, she might be seen al
most every evening standing at the old
farm gate, waiting for her absent
lover.
At last, goaded to desperation by
his sisters pitlab1e condition. Charles
Anderson took her to the old farm gate
and said, "Dear sister, here is where
you found your long-lost brother, and
| now swear to find Jas. Ford or find
his grave. Cheer up, dear sister, and
pray God to give me success" With
these words Charles took his depart
ure.
Week after week, and month after
rolled slowly by, until the
flowers had bloomed again, when
Charles returned, but brought no It'd
ings from the absent lover. Again
and again Charles Anderson repeated
his hopeless errand. until he had spent
eight years in what seemed to be a
fruitless search for an unworthy lover.
This time he crossed the continent,
and sailed up the coast to Puget Sound,
to search every city and
town from there to Southern California.
He had made his way as far south as
the Columbia River, and, arriving at
Oregon, he heard that gold
had been discovered on Tileman Bay,
and that large numbers of men were
crossing the country overland from
Oregon City. Deciding to visit the
scene of excitement. he soon arrived
in Oregon City and joined a small COM
pany who were just ready to start.
He made only small preparation for /
the journey, as he only intended to
stay long enough to satisfy himself
that Jas. Ford was not there.
The first night out from Oregon City |
was a beautiful moonlight night in
June, and the stars peeped through the
Ieafy branches of the giant frs and
cedars; but, as the nights are always
cold in those parts, the party found it
necessary to gather around the camp
fire.