The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1904-12-16

Tore me on niy Saddle each time ! came
Ia from the fc,ds She would coax
me 70 let old Fan .hctto come out with
her In ne pony -eauIar1 20 where the
hands were ai work. end her gay
laughter 0ua loteiy Ease hl.d 'ny
heart wl.b content
David. you are spelling that child.
| believe she care more Tor you than
me. Susan used 90 say.
Certainly Nora's love. which she
gives as Jack did. with q lavish hand
and captivating whole heart edness.
a glorious warmth. unlike others. has
been a compensation FAR beyond NY
deserts, or tie giving up Of those am
bilious dreams Of professional success
which once filed my youth.
or recent years Vera has drifted far
Their away from me. by the force Of
circumstances.
First her goyerness came between
us. with her childish studies then
persuaded Susan 90 send her TO a col
legc in big city. Tor the child's brill
liant mind and strong nature made
her far superior 10 her mothers OF
Miss Barton. her mediocre governess.
with whom Vera was not on very good
terms. plainly saw il was best TO
place her under different and better
influences.
Susan, poor soul. Ike 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 OF
authority. than a dove could manage a
stormy. impetuous little eagle.
During Vera's holidays | 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 20 acquire a 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 20 away and
that Will be for all time.
But I 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 a plain realization Of
ones calm desires while the calm soli-
tude OF these fields and forests. and the
gentle whisperines Of nature prompts
10 a silent acceptance Of life as fate.
Tho field hands have all gone home
and lights are beginning to glimmer
in the rows OF white-washed cabins
near the levee
The sorrel turns his head and whin-
MES. 10 remind me that dusk precedes
night. and already the dew IS bringing
out the sweet scents Of the vanilla
grass and the fragile white liiies grow
ing on the edge OF the canal.
How beautiful this scene is and how
il will remain vivid in memory in all
its lovely details when l shall have
left H.
for 80 1 ulus.. ~-a 49, $1,000 -
borne in on ne with irresistible force
his calm spring evening. ! see myself
as | am. worn and weather-beaten by
Is years OF arduous work, with hair
turning gray az the temples, grave
taciturn man having none or the
graces OF youth. with q broken career
only the task | set myself TO accom-
push has been done. the redemption
OF Jacks fortune. for Vera, his benny
star-eyed daughter.
Why leaveg
Because. heins a man and fool
could not bear 10 live under tbs
same roof with Vera. seeing her daill
and loving her as ! do knowing The
dav will come when some one, hayin'
n better claim to her affections thar
! the humdrum old guardian she ha
known from childhood. will take he
irreyocably from me.
, So. gathering the rcins and soin
slowly along the path by the cana
separating field from the forest,
. look musingly at the scene before m
: so as TO always bear IL in memory.
. cousin Duncan. Cousin Duncan
n Tie Rufus to that tree and come on. I
Going IN the swamp TO the sawmiiL
Vera sat in a pirogue in the cans
and was gliding up TO the bank.
i you can't 90 this evening; it's =
:, diculously late" I objected, looHin
down al her
II can get there in half an hour
must 90 | want 10 tell Ben Jones b
. boy has the fever and he must con
!, home. Jump down and come on. DO
= Vera. looking up and poised light
r h-,ding her long paddle was irresis'
"A BILE
"A Are you aware that II gets as bla'
~ as Erebus in the swamp as soon
~ night falls?" asked. throwing Run
bride over a short limb and steppll
i, carefully down the bank
No Indeed | am. That's why car
no after YOU. | wouldn't dare venture
oil there by myself.
of Vera swept with long strokes do'
% the canal and. turning into the swan
,,r we were soon under the shadow