The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1904-12-16
Abide in The Swamp
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BY S. RHET ROMAN.

THE result is what counts, and
L the fnality striven for by every
one is contentment, if not happiness.
sacrifice of personal ambition, in
pursuit of some imperious call, which
gives us eventually the content We
crave for, is, therefore, the height OF
human wisdom.
This was my conclusion, reached
while riding slowly along the planta-
ton road which runs through the
center of the canefields, while l was
abstractedly watching tho gangs OF la
borers at work.
When Jack died leaving Susan and
her baby girl practically penniless, it
was plain to me that l must give UP
my law practice and take hold OF poor
old Jacks tangled affairs and, bring
ing order out of chaos, get back his
jeopa rdized sugar place into prosper
Gus condition for those two.
Belleview is a glorious country
home, for behind the stately old colo
NAL house stretch 5000 acres of fine
cane and pasture lands, cut off By a
rim OF thick forest and swamp, where
splendid timber has been growing for
centuries.
With reckless improvidence Jack
had heavily mortgaged the old place
against my advice.
So, as in orr school and college
days, Jack and l had been more like
brothers than cousins. | felt l must
come forward and save his widow and
child from bankruptcy.
There was a fascination about Jack
Trayers which | for one could never
resist.
He had certain dash and daring
and gay iight-heartedness, and for all
he was impulsively headstrong, yet
could not remember anyone failing to
fall under his influence, be quite ready
to condore his follies and declare his
mistakes and plumbers unkind cuts
of fate
Poor old Jack! Vera is very much
like him, bat if possible even hand
somer.
Jack was certainly the handsomesi
man l ever saw.
1t is now Is years since l closed VI
my law office, packed away my books
and refused 10 run for the attorney
generalship, although | knew l wa:
practically elected.
But there was something else,
knew. 1t was that unless | devoted
my entire attention and time and en-
; ergy to the task of redeening Belle
view, Jacks noble property would g
under the auctioneer's hammer.
Results have proved l was right
Each grinding season has Melted
handsome amount, l have long sine
cleared off the mortgage, and on
year will see 1000 acres planted il
cane, besides diversified crops
The sawmill l put up as venture
in the heart of the swamp, is bringing
in big returns. and when Vera viii
reach her majority in a few month
time she may lay claim to being
wealthy young woman in her owl
right. Then | will turn over my stew
ardship, and go back to my law books
grown musty from disuSe-like thei
weather-beaten and taciturn master
1t means an arduous life to super
wise, as l have done, an embarrasse
estate, redeem it and make it's broa
fields justify and answer to the ca
made upon them, and to bring wealt
out of ruin. But it has its rewards.
One grows to love the rich, blac
lands, the glorious growth of the Ion
stretch of cane, the straight run of tn
pillow through the burrows, the SINE
of the upturned earth. the sight {
cattle in the pasture, and the song {
the laborers going home when thei
days work is done.
And when the last slanting ray
of the sun have left the fields to dill
shades of purple, green and gray, Will
gliding the crest of the forest, an
the katydids and nesting birds Civ
their last sweet calls, the hour is pre-
pitious for self-communing.
l drop the rein on my sorrel's nee
and let him crop tuft of grass alon
the edge of the ditch, as we go slowl
along, and l count up the cost of m
ambition sacrificed to Vera's happ
ness and find the debt is in my favo
Poor Jacks baby girl crept into m
heart that first night when took h,
in my arms and sobbingly she went I
sleep, her tangled nut-broWn cur
close to my cheek, while explaine
to her mother that would provide ar
care for Jacks widow and child wit
tireless devotion.
Vera, in those early years, was N
constant companion. She would wa