The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1897-01-16

heyed most OF them, success was at
the end of the trace" and my ambi.
tious blood flowed rapidly with restless
expectation. 1 had saved a little
money, besides being the owner of q
fine span of grays and heavy wagon
not bad outfit, / was told, for a
young man going Yves. with no one to
care for but himself.
Yet there was one, lucky for me, to
work for beside myself, who accom-
panied me the first ten miles of my
long ride. When helped her out OF
the wagon to admit an old chum who
was to make the journey with me, /
could say nothing for the lump in my
throat; and Helen, too, looked very
pale when our lips met; and her "fare-
we'll" was in a whisper.
l did not call a halt until reaching
Bradford, village on the Little
Cedar, nearly hundred miles west of
Dubuque. After looking about over
the timber.skirted prairie for several
days. chancsd upon a young man
who, like myself. hal left his girl be.
hind him. He began to praise the
''dear old State OF Indiana, and 1
knew, before I had talked with him
five minutes, that he was pitiably
homesick. A month before he had
purchased beautiful "quarter, with
in mile and half of the village, and
was now anxious to sell it for what he
. had paid the Government. I at once
accepted the offer, and soon after be-
gan work. There was a square forty
acres without stone, stump, hill or
ledge-and to think it was mine
ours l--for I thought of the partner.
elect just then.
The next six months were hard-work-
. ing ones for me, but / was cheered and
strengthened by such letters as this:
DEAR WILL: 1t is fifty days since I saw
your covered wagon pass out OF sigat over
the hill at unc. e's anu this is my seventeenth
letter. so often writing might seem silly to
some, but it Is the least can do to show now
much am thInSing of you and of what you
are doing fer us. Forgive me this use Of 'us'
but l like TO think of 1t in that way; you
know you told me must. How would like
TO be there, do your cooking and help you
otherwise; but l know God will LEI it be some
time. Keep up good cheer, dear Will. the
weeks are passing. Do you know, am get
ting ready even at this early date. One big
trunk is full aud another well under way.
Two or three of my girl friends think they
have guessed a secret. They tell me I am
foolish to take my accomplishments out
among the Indians. But you can guess what
they would do IL they had a chance. I am
more than pleased to be foolish as they
term iii; l am satisfied. Only one thing re-
IL. A., r,rya. err o IA NJ nm
HELEN +"
When the first snow began to fall, /
was the owner of the most complete
log house in the country, thanks to my
father, who had taught me the uss of
the broadax. Every room, even the
cellar, had coat of plaster and every
window a double sash.
The early days of December found
winter beginning in earnest; then came
the long-anticipated 18TH The morn
ing was crisp, but bright aud calm.
and the horses took the big bob sleighs
over the smooth road at lively pace.
1t was fifty miles to the nearest rail
road station--a six hours ride be-
tween me and supreme happiness.
NV feelings were indescribable as
walked about, that evening, waiting
for the train to arrive. / looked at
everything but saw nothing. was
weak, strong, light, heavy, happy and
miserable, all the same time. When
tie shrill scream OF the locomotive at
last echoed among the Turkey bluas.
had worked myself into feverish ex-
element.
The cars were usually crowded with
emigrants, and this evening it seemed
that scores of persons, mostly men,
were streaming from every coach. l
watched intently, but no vision such
as had been uppermost in my mind
could ] see among the arrivals. With
a limpsy move toward the train, l de.
termined to investigate; perhaps she
was there after-all. passed group
of noisy hotel clerks who were each
trying to induce lady to deliver her
baggage.
no" / heard her say, ~ have not
yet decided where shall stop; l am
looking for friend,
That voice! / would have knownis
anywhere. care Yen Miss Fosser2" ]
exclaimed. stepping near her.
''0h. Williaml''