The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1904-12-15
/ Abide in the Swamp
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5 BY IS. RHE7T ROMAN.

Observation-Disclosures
THE result is what counts, and
i the finality striven for by every
one is contentment, If not happiness.
A 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 I was
abstractedly watching the gangs of Ia
borers at work.
When Jack died leaving Susan and
her baby girl practically penniless, it
was plain to me that I 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
jeopardized sugar place into a prosper
GUS condition for those two.
Beileview 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. PA
So, as in our school and college
days, Jack and 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
Travers which l for one could never
resist.
He had certain dash and daring
and gay ight-heartedness, and for all
he was impulsively headstrong, yet
could not remember anyone falling to
fall under his influence, be quite ready
to condone his follies and declare his
mistakes and blunders unkind cuts
of fate.
Poor old Jack! Vera is very much
like him, but il possible even hand
somer.
Jack was certainly the handsomest
man ever saw.
1T is now Is years since I closed up
my law Office. packed away my books,
and refused to run for the attorney
generalship, although I knew I was
practically elected. 3 Il Il
But there was. something else, 1
knew. 1t was that unless l devoted
my entire attention and time and en-
ergy to the task of, redeeming Belle
view, Jacks noble property would go
under the auctioneer's hammer.
Results have proved was right.
Each grinding season has netted a
handsome amount, have long since
cleared off the mortgage, and one
year will see 1000 acres planted in
cane, besides diversified crops
The sawmill I put up as a venture,
in the heart of the swamp, is bringing
in big returns, and when Vera will
reach her majority in few months
time she may lay claim to being a
wealthy young woman in her own
right Then will turn over my stew
ardship, and go back to my law books,
grown musty from disuse-like their
weather-b beaten and taciturn master.
1t means an arduous life to super
wise, as have done, an embarrassed
estate. redeem it and make its broad
fields justify and answer to the call
made upon them, and to bring wealth
out of ruin. But it has its rewards.
One grows to love the rich, black
lands, the glorious growth of the long
stretch of cane, the straight run of the
pillow through the burrows, the smell
of the upturned earth. the sight of
cattle in the pasture, and the song 81
the laborers going home when their
days work is done. ~. y
And when the last slanting rays
of the sun have left the fields to dim
shades. of purple, green and gray, while
gliding the crest of the forest, and
the katydids and nesting birds give
their last sweet calls, the hour is pro.
pitious for self
drop the rein on my sorrel's neck
and let him crop tuft of grass along
the edge of the ditch. as we go slowly
along, and count up the cost of my
ambition sacrificed to vera's happi.
ness and find the debt is in my favor
Poor Jacks baby girl crept into my
heart that first night when took hel
in my arms and sobbingly she went tt
sleep, her tangled nut-brown curl.
close to my cheek, while explained
to her mother that would provide ant
care for Jacks widow and child wit!
tireless devotion.
Vera, in those early years, was m,