The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1904-12-16

fore me on my saddle each time | came
in from the fields. She would coax
me to let old Fanchette come out with
her in the pony-carriage to where the
hands were at work, and her gay
laughter and lovely face filled my
heart with content.
David, you are spelling that child.
believe she cares more for you than
me-" Susan used to say.
Certainly Vera's love, which she
gives as Jack did, with lavish hand
and a captivating whole-heartedness,
a glorious warmth, unlike others, has
been a compensation far beyond my
deserts, or the giving up of those am
bilious dreams of professional success
which once filled my youth.
OF recent years Vera has drifted far
circumstances.
First, her governesS came between
us, with her childish studies; then
persuaded Susan to send her to a col
lege in big city. for the child's brill
liant mind and strong nature made
Miss Barton, her mediocre governess,
with whom Vera was not on very good
terms. | plainly saw it was best to
place her under different and better
influences.
Susan, poor soul, like all pretty,
spoilt, weak women, is irascible, when
she should be fOrbearing, and uncer-
tain when she should be strong. She
could no more control that splendid
child Vera, either through love or
authority, than a dove could manage a
stormy, .mpetuous little eagle.
During Veras holidays l always ar
ranged for them to summer in the
mountains or on the seashore, and
have insisted on their living abroad
during the past two years, after Vera
came home TO us from college, for
wanted the child to acquire broader
knowledge of life before her plunge
into the social whirl and the adulation
certain to be hers by reason Of her
great beauty and fascination.
Of course, as manager of this place,
| cannot absent myself; only when
have rendered an account of my stew
ardship VIII be able to go away, and
that will be for all time.
But | learned of Vera's popularity
and brilliant capture of the world So
cial last winter.
Yes, this is an ideal hour for the
sitting and probing of ones inner
thoughts and plain realization OF
cne'S calm desires, while the calm soil
trde OF these fields and forests, and the
asnyle whisperings of nature prompts
IT, 81 silent acceptance of life as fate.
The field hands have all gone home
ami lights are beginning to glimmeI
"a the rows of white-washed cabins
near the levee.
The sorrel turns his head and whin-
MES, to remind me that dusk precedes
night, and already the dew is bringing
out the sweet scents Of the vanilla
Grass and the fragile white lilies grow
ing on the edge of the canal.
How beautiful this scene is, and how
It will remain vivid in memory in al
it's lovely details when l shall have
left it,
Fer go | must, and the reason is
borne in on me with irresistible force
this calm spring evening. l see myself
as | am, worn and weather-beaten by
Is years of arduous work, with hail
turning gray AT the temples, a grave
taciturn man having none of the
graces of youth, with broken career
Only the task l set myself to accom-
plish has been done, the redemption
Of Jacks fortune, for Vera, his bonny
star-eyed daughter.
Why leave?
Because, being a man and fool
| | could not bear to live under thu
same roof with Vera, seeing her dali.
day will come when some one, havin:
a better claim to her affections thai
the humdrum old guardian she ha
known from childhood, will take he
irrevocably from me.
So, gathering the reins and goini
slowly along the path by the cana
separating field from the forest,
look musinely at the scene before m
so as to always bear it in memory.
Cousin Duncan! Cousin Duncan
Tie Rufus to that tree and come on. In
going in the swamp to the sawmill.'
Vera sat in a pirogue in the cana
and was gliding up to the bank.
you can't go this evening; it's re
diculously late" l objected, lookin
down at her
81 can get there in half an hour.
must go. l want to tell Ben Jones hi
boy has the fever and he must com
home Jump down and come on. Do!
Vera, looking up and poised lightly
holding her long paddle, was irresisti
BILE.
Are you aware that it gets as blac
as Erebus in the swamp as soon a
night falls?" l asked, throwing Rufus
bride over a short limb and steppin
carefully down the bank.
Indeed l am. That's why l cam
after you / wouldn't dare venture
| there by myself"
Vera swept with long strokes dow
, the canal, and, turning into the swami
; we were soon under the shadow {
moss covered cypress and water oaks
took the paddle from her and W
sped along, for night was coming ia:
and the collateral canals through til
swamp are confusing