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

one evening and very frankly and
honestly told tho tavern keeper of his
plan, and he urged and he coaxed,
and he opened up bis life to Blount,
and his heart rs we'll. Johnny Blount
was honest and blunt and poor, and,
after looking at all the lights and
shadows OF the future, he saw a rare
chance for Edith, and an education
worthy of her grace and beauty. He
consented finally, and Moore climbed
on the down stage the next day Salts
fed with himself and tho world-even
with his friend Martin, who, somewhat
chagrined, joined in the chorus like o
sweet bell out of tune.
In the autumn Edith and her father
went down to San Francisco, taking
with them small leather trunk filled
with the modest frocks Of the noun
tain maid, together with dried ferns
from the gulches, and pressed flowers
from the hills around Big Meadows,
and her bundle of childish love letters
from John Phillips back in Maine, and
many other mementos Of her girlhood
days at Eureka Tavern.
There was an honest welcome for
them in the city by the sea, and Mr..
Moore's elder sister took Edith homo
and soon learned to love her rs sister
should, and though there were tears
in the blue eyes of Edith when her
father started back for Big Meadows,
she was quite content with the golden
promises Of the future, and what the
world Of books had III store for her.
Across the bay in Oakland she found
new friends in Miss Marks's school,
and met with new delights in the com.
partnership Of her books. The winter
passed away much more quickly than
it had the previous year at Big
Meadows, and when the summer raca-
ton came she again saw the hills back
of Eureka Tavern that she had learned
to love so we'll. Then another winter
passed even more quickly at the Oak.
land school, and a third winter, and a
fourth, and then calne her graduation
the browning epoch of girlhood
days.
At nineteen Edith Blount was in the
fulness or womanlY perfection, her
childish beauty rounded, the deep
yellow of her bnir queen]y golden,
her modesty and her grace retained
and rare6ed. Quite in harmony with
the fate in store for hor, she followed
then to the altar the man whose love
and generous heart had made her-a
simple mountain ma;d--his social and
intellectual equal.
Moore was no longer in trade, for
in Pine street, in the Stock Exchange,
he had become a power, and his for
tune had grown until he could we'll
afford the beautiful home be made for
Edith Blount on the brow OF California
street hill, in the midst OF tho palaces
built by tho gold and silver kings. \
score OF years they lived peaceful,
happy lie, with old friends and new
oues to share their joys and the good
things kind world bestowed upon
them.
A bachelor. with gray in his hair,
was Henry Martin, and although he
never forgave his friend Moore for
plucking tho readost, prettiest rose in
the Golden State, be was o frequent
and welcome guest in the house in
California street; and Moore, proud
of the woman who bore his name,
often chided his friend, with an ill.
concealed chuckle md q poke IN the
waist coat. on his religious adherence
to baohelorhood.
"Sam Moore, you old rascal" Mar
tin would say to him with shake OF
the finger, "~hen I find woman in
this world who is the counterpart of
Mrs. Moore I will marry, but not be-
FORE"
One afternoon in February, 1887.
Samuel Moore entered bis home in
California street with chill upon
MIN. The morning had been stormy,
and he had exposed himself 80 the
blasts of u driving rain. The servants
md the good wife, anxious to n degree
Of alarm at his condition, found their
efforts OF little avail in arresting the
tho illness that had oyertaken him,
and his physician WAS quickly sum-
moned.