The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1900-01-27
and you have travelled IL almost every

land you have Travelled IL almost every
day of your lifc."
"Ah sometimes tell fathsh I know
every ole blacksnake on tn whole
stream. As fob tn buzzahds, they ali
ma chickens, yo' may say" She
laughed unsteady and tossed the hood
of her long gray cloak back from q
little, dark face. "Ah play games all
by myself when All stand out hcah
nights. sab. l play that used to live
in the ruined castles yeahs and yeahs
ago, an that l understood enchant-
ment, and could be anything or any
body that pleased. They look like
ruined castles, don't yo' think. sab 2"
She pointed to the mystic structures
fashioned by trees and moss.
Indeed, i was playing the same sort
of game myself only few minutes
ago." cried Ethan. sHow strange that
we should have been thinking the
same thoughts"
"Yes, sah.". Her voice was like sad
music; her manner compacted of gen.
tie boldness and sort of proud diff
dence. Ethan found her enchanting,
and he remained with her till the
songs of the crew ceased.
9TH boys ali all goin' to sleep, All
think, sab. All mus be sayin' good
night"
Good night, Miss Jones. To-mor-
row fear our journey ends. would
willingly go up and down this stream
indefinitely, but the ladies complain
of monotony. This making a house.
boat of the Lulu Jones and following
her up and down her route is not to
their liking"
"Ah'm sorry, Mistah Bahtlett."
"You cannot possibly be as sorry as
|, Miss Jones'" He spoke with ear
nestness.
''Oh, All don't know, Mistah Baht-
lett. Perhaps All can" She flung q
look at him which bewildered him, and
then fed down the ladder.
And the next day he shook her dark
little hand in farewell and started for
the north. Once back in Boston, he
expected to forget her. His profess
sion was beginning to make demands
upon him; his social obligations were
many; and it was time that he was
to think of his duty to Miss |
Long. But this duty was now OBJ
scured. 1t seemed as if duty, or some
thing much more alluring, continual
ly drew him to the moss-draped |
swamps by the Okobogee; nor could |
he enjoy the electric lights of his his
toric city for dreaming of the glow of |
a pine knot on dark river.
So one day, to his own astonishment,
he quilted the city. though he had
some business and many engagements
OF pleasure, and made fast and furi-
ously for the lazy stream, where the
lolled undisturbed, the
lazy turtles watched the river with an
eyes and the buzzards
wheeled and wheeled, ever expectant.
He had to wait three days before the
Lulu Jones tied up at the wharf, but
when once its nose was made fast he
was soon on board. He sought out
the captain and went straight to the
point.
Capt. Jones, love your daughter.
tried to think / didn't, but 1 do. 1
went north expecting to forget her,
but | can do absolutely nothing else
but remember. Do you think che
would marry me, and, if she would.
'h0ald I have your consent?"
1he old captain looked him over
With an appraising eye.
All don't know about her loving
TO-, sab, but All do know for cehtain
10 one gets Lulu that doesn't take the
,oat." |,
Il don't know what you mean, sir"
"Ah mean Alive got nothin' but TIL
'ahl an tn boat, and they go to- !
'ethah. Lulu understands it. We've
alked it ovah. Whoevah takes Lulu
las got to leahn to run this heah boat. ]
ah, up an down the Okobogee. That's
fact"
But you are running it yourself,
apt. JONES'" /,
so 1 be-now. But won't TO- long. !,
la days ali almos' done, All. reckon.
IN feel maself gettin' stiff an un-
andy. An All want to see tn boat
n tn gail in safe hands,"
But l have my profession, captain,
nd my home and friends. You
ouldn't expect me to give them all up !
nd come down here to run "a
Feamboat up and down the river, cap. :
lin!" 4
he looked about with ill-concealed
at the old craft
mo. No, sab. All don't expec' any
nm OF tn kim. Oh, no! All was ius'
YIN what Aid expect of whoevah i.
Dt Lulu" And he walked softly
way, leaving Ethan staring at q fat
lrtle on a Shiny log.
c. A. x n