Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1897-06-17

immense dyke that fronted the river
for many miles. keeping off the salt wa
/ ter of the Atlantic, which at flood tide
would otherwise have converted the
fertile fields into an inland sea.
While on the other side, some two
miles from the river front, the surface
of the earth gradually arose, and for
full mile width was sloping ridge,
which then descended to what would
have been vast plain, but for the fact
that here grew in all their grandeur
the yellow pines of the Carolinas-
rearing their heads aloft, while their
green boughs bent beneath the pressure
of the sea breeze, which comes moan
ing, whispering through them, and the
words seem to come. wailing from the
green treetops:
ssLook at our SCARED and hacked
sides-we are yielding up our life blood
year by year. Mingo and Caesar, Pom
pey and Ben are hacking us to death for
the turpentine, the roSin and the pitch
that we contain-it is our bloodi our
life blood! and when you have sapped
it all, our green boughs will wither-
you will then level US to the earth, and
saw US into lumber st the miIls-even
as all die, so die we to satisfy the never
ending wants of man."
The Manor house at Orion was fine
residence for the times; it stood ON the
ridge some 800 yards from the edge
of the rice lands. Stretching away to
the right was long row of negro
cabins, while to the left stood the barns,
stables, carriage houses and rice mill,
and over the ridge and on the bank of
Orion creek was the sawmiIl; this
same creek supplied the water with
which at certain seasons of the year
the rice fields were flooded
Arrived at the house, a waiting negro
took the squire's horse, and he strobe
up on the piazza; at the door he was
met by his daughter, beautiful girl,
with large black eyes, and an abundant
head of hair, hanging in ringlets clear
to her shoulders.
''Oh, father; you did not obey my
orders
Come here, child, and give your old
father kiss: Lloyd and Herbert and
Fannie will be down on the Sunshine,
Sunday; now tell me, child. which will
you be the most pleased to see? nv
friend, John lloyd, the coy Fannie, or
Nephew Herbert? All, child, you are
young lady now, and young ladies
catch beauX, and beauX catch wives
All, Clara!"
''We1, father, I'll never set my net to
catch Herbert Lathrop for a beau, and
he need never set his to catch me for
wife, for he is a young man l not
only dislike but fear; Mr.. Lloyd is so
different / like him well, and Fannie,
she's treasure. Do you know, papa,
I think our Clarence is in love with
Fannie
so, so. Well then, if Fannie be in love
with him., am well pleased. John
Loyd's dollars and these broad acres
would go we'll together; but I would
have my daughter make a brilliant
match. Remember the lands and slaves
of the Hills, with few exceptions, all
go TO the eldest son. 1t is following the
English custom of our ancestors; true,
we generally find an odd penny to dow
er our daughters with, and the young
est son we make a man of letters, a
preacher, or doctor. or put him in the
army Tom chose the army, and will,
/ think. in time, do credit to it-but
you, my daughter. must marry man of
wealth"
''Abner," said Mrs Hill, who had
joined them, don't be putting mar
riage into my daughters head. I can
not consent to losing her for many
years to come"
Nor shall you, mother" said Clara
''And as for DOVER said Sophia Hill,
leave your last penny to your boys.
I've money enough and land enough
TO dover Clara HILL
why, wife, so you have but
wealth's a thing a person can't have
too much Of"
I'll not have my daughter wed a
money-bag that she does not love and
live life of torture. Let her marry a
man. when she does wed, and I'll pro-
vide the dover to set them both af1oat in
life
well said, my wife,
Don't be afraid, mother, dear. You
will not get rid of me for many days to
come"
ANY mail to-day, Abner?"
s'Yes, a letter from Tom"
ssWhy do you say Tom when Thomas
is his name? Tom is the name of a
negro or a cat. I'll not have my boy
called Tom. But what said he, Abner?''
Thomas is well, and will be home
the first of June on three months leave.
But here's the letter. wife"
There's John Corbett on the lawn.
I'm bound he wants something. Where
is Clarence %
He said it was good day for fish to
| bite and he took his gun and rod and
went off toward the creek with Uncle
Jobe."
Squire Hill passed out on the lawn
where the overseer was standing.
well, Corbett, anything amiss?"
NO, squire, not much but Uncle
Jobe's drowned"
/ ssWhat, No, and nothing amisS9