The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1897-01-16


( " % into Big Meadows. 1t was
! lK9~a long drive and warm
SKVO drive from Soda Springs,
t ~, and the horses were
~ - fecked with spume, and
~ W Old Hanks, the driver,
was very peevish because be- WAS very
thirsty.
Two tired travellers climbed down
from the coach and stretched their
limbs and yawned, meanwhile looking
about them in o bewillered sort OF
way.
The time OF day was early evening.
the month was July, and the year was
1861; and Big Meadows was a cross
roads resting place for hunters and
fishermen in Plumas County. in Cali
fornia. There was general store in
kig Meadows, log house or two. the
Eureka Tavern and shed for the stage
horses.
The tired travellers in looking abont
them saw johnny Blount, with his
arms akimbo, standing in tho open
doorway OF the Eureka. Johnny kept
the tavern and kept it well, and Old
Hanks, the driver had sung his
praises into the ears OF the travellers
at intervals all the way from Soda
Springs. The venison steaks that
Johnny broiled were famous not only
lr4 oil $hn
round about.
"Supper are awaitin' ye. gents, ,"
said Blount with a smile of welcome,
as the two passengers walked toward
him. yell fine er place 10 wash up
in ther back room.
"From Frisco, presume9" he add.
ed inquiringly. as he followed them
through the barroom.
"Yes," replied tho taller OF the
young men. "My names Martin
Henry Martin, and I'm from Fr,co,
AL right"
sand mine is Moorc-Samuel
Moore-and I sell at Wholesale down
in the CITY,"
When the young men emerged from
the room back Of the bar their faces
we're free from the dust OF the long
ride, and they looked decently respec.
table, and sat down to the hot supper
in the dining room very much re-
freshed and very hungry.
Young Mr.. Martin had finished his
venison when an exclamation OF sur
prise from Moore caused him to look
up quickly from his empty plate, and
he saw his friend staring madly at d
young girl who was entering the room.
She was as graceful and pretty as
the fawn OF o mountain deer. lie hair
was of deep yellow, like the flowers
on the hill near by. and her eyes were
rs blue Us the clear waters of the trout
stream in the gulch below. The fresh
ness and the beauty, and the childliko
Innocence and sweetness OF her face
fascinated the eyes of the young men,
and they quite agreed that she was the
prettiest creature they had over seen.
Gas graceful rs sylph," whispered
Moore.
"And as modest as num-" echoed
Martin.
Edith May Blount was all that the
young men from Frisco had said of
her, and her father was very proud of
her, and if she had been eighteen o.
twenty instead OF more little miss of
fourteen he would have fretted him
self to death over the thought of los.
ing her, for girls are girls. and they
will marry and forsake their poor old
fathers, even in the hills and gulohes
OF California.
The Blounts had made tho journey
overland. three years before all the
way from Maine, where Edith hal
been born. and where the friends of
her childhood lived in the memory OF
her. 1t must be remembered that
down in Maine she had childish |
sweetheart, a sturdy little chap OF
twelve years named John Phillips,
who loved her only, of course, as n |
small brother, and as soon Us he WAS
able to write with pen and ink be sent
letters to her--the queerest, little
childish love letters one. could i'm
aglne; and now three years had
elapsed. Edith was fourteen andJohn
was fifteen. and there were three
thousand long miles between them.
Moore and Martin were Mt Big
Meadows for trout nothing hut |
trout, and for a week they kept their
eyes on the fishing; but tho hearts Of
both Of them were smitten with john.
ny Blount's little girl-with her hair
OF deep yellow and her clear eyes OF |
blue.
When The time arrived for their de.
parture young Mr.. Moore, perhaps
more Jealous than his companion, h.a
evolved plan of the future. wherein
little Miss Blo"nt would play no small
part. He confessed it all to Martin,
and the proposition he made WIS Us 70.
mantlc ns 1t WAS honorable and Gener-
GUS. He suggested the plan to pay
for the edncat!on OF the girl in fnsh
lOuaJle seminary on1 IN +rro+ =, 4: