The Opelousas courier., 1899-09-02
Mrs. Buckler's Sweet Apples
by CHARLES G. D. ROBERTG,

S
shoulders of the hills had o most brac'
ing SAVIOR. Mrs. Buckler, atfreckec
but comcly and tall young woman
was just setting out for ajtwelye'
milo tramp to the little settlement in
tho Valley, wherc she hadito return
fatiron and q pair Of wool-cards
which she had borrowed from an
obliging neighbor.
Neighbors, in those days, were few
and far between in the country dis.
tricts of Nova Scotia. Tho great
emptiness created by the expulsion OF
the Acadians had not yet been filled
up. For the neighbors, it bohooved
them to be neighborly.
Mrs. Buckler was an untiring work
or, and her rare visits to the Valley
constituted her only holiday. She
had to walk, Of course, Us her husband
had no horse, and she had no ambi-
ton to ride one of the faithful but ex-
tremely deliberate oxen. And, indeed,
q matter of twelve miles seemed
nothing of consequence to her.
"Be sure and get back before dark,
'Miry!" admonishel her husband,
leaning meditatively against the wood
pile at he watched her kiss the chill
dren for good-by.
"Shooh! Steve, I reckon you can
put the babies to bed all right for
once, can't you? It amt often I get
of; and when I do, I like to make o
good day of It'll"
"It alma lookin' after the children
that I'm thinking of. 'Miry, as you
know right well!" replied Steve Buck
Ter, earnestly. "But you know how
thick the bears are on the mountain
this year and there's no manner Of
doubt that was a wolf brushed by me
in the pasture night before last. It
amt safe for you to he coming up
through the woods after dark all alone
that way. Stay all night, if you find
it getting late!"
'sOhl I amt afraid!" averred Mrs.
Buckler, stoutly. II may get back
afore dark; but If I don't, I'll be care
full and carry a light with mel"
These confident words she flung
back over her shoulders. as she started
gaily down the rough woodland way.
Arriving in due time at the settle.
ment in the Valley, she did her
brands, picked up the news, and richly
enjoyed the rare luxury of a gossip.
Time went all too quickly; and it was
on the edge of dark ere she thought
of starting for home. Then, of course,
there were vehement protests. Her
friends urged her ito stay all night,
picturing the perils of the journey,
and representing that her husband
would never dream of expecting her.
But Mrs Buckler, as her friends al
ways said, was very ''set." Putting
aside oil arguments, she started out on
her long and lonely tramp.
She had little to carry, but that
little was somewhat troublesome to
manage. It was an apronful Of sweet
apples for the children, q treat which
she knew they would enjoy. Sweet
apples were then q rarity in South
Mountain. When at length Mrs.
Buckler reached the last house on the
edge Of the Valley, and found herself
face to face with the long climb up the
mountain, she felt compelled to ac-
knowledge in her heart that the night
was very dark. And she had yet four
miles to 60, through almost unbroken
woods. In those four miles there
were bat two cabins to break the mo-
notony Of the way; and the further of
these was a mile and a half from her
home. She hesjtated q moment, then
went into the house, and asked for q
pine-knot to light her on her journey.
Here again she wa urged to stay;
but lighting he1,torch she set her face
resolutely to ths mountain side. As
she penetrated, among the ancient
trees the unsteady light of the pine
knot cast strangely moving shadows,
and monstrous shapes seemed to spring
up and disappear on all sides. For
the first time shs grew nervous, and
felt an inclination to glance over her
shoulder. This she presently con-
quered with some scorn Neverthe-
less, she could not help Fastening her
steps; and the first cabin in the noun
tain had the air of . refuge to her, as
she turned in to get a fresh pine
knot.
Here. too. she was strongly pressed
to end her journey for the night. But
now her ubstiaaey was we'll aroused.
8hs vss nestled d hsssslt TOP hsyins