The Farmington times and herald. (Farmington, St. Francois Co., Mo.) 1902-1905, 1905-01-20

| believe she cares more for you than
mo. Susan used to say.
Certainly Veras love, which Sh"
gives d. Jack did. with lavish hand
and q captivating -heartedncss,
a glorious warmth. unlike others, has
been a compensation far beyond ms
deserts, or the giving up of those am
bilious dreams Of professional success
which once filled my youth.
OF recent years Vera has driltcd far
thrr away from me, by the force Of
circumstances.
First. her poycrness came between
us. with her childish studies; then
persuaded Susan TO send her to col
lc.c in a big city, for the Childs bril-
liant mind and strong nature mad"
her far superior to her mother on
Miss Barton, her mediocre goycrnoas.
with whom Vera was not on very good
Oorms. ! plainly saw 1t was best 10
place her under different and better
influences.
Susan poor soul like all pretty,
.poilt, weak women, Is irascible when
She should be lorbearing, and unroI-
ain when she should be strong She
.Ould no more control that splendid
mia Vera. either through love on
authority. than dove could manage a
stormy. impotuous little eagle.
During Vcra's holidays | always ar
ranged for them TO summer in the
mountains or on the seashurc, ana !
have insisted on their living abroad
during the past two years. after N"w
anne home to us from college for
( wanted the child to acquire a broader
knowledge of life before her plunge
into the social whirl and the aduIatiun
certain to be hers by reason Of her
great beauty and fascination.
OF course. as manager of this place.
I cannot absent myself, only when |
have rendered an account OF my stew
1rdship will be able to 90 away. and
that will be for all time
Bu, ! learned of Ncra's popularity
and brilliant capture Of the world So
rIa last winter
Yes. this Is an IDEAL hour for the
sitting and probing Of ones inner
/ thoughts and a plain realization Of
one calm desires, while the calm soil
uGe Of these fields and forests, and the
Gentle whispcrings OF nature prompts
/ TO a silent acceptance Of life as fate.
The field hands have all gone homr
md lights are beginning to glimmer
/ in the rows Of whitc-washcd cabins
| near the lcycc.
The sorrcl turns his head ard whin-
/ ui"s. to remind me that dusk prcccdcs
/ night. and already the dew Is bringing
[ ont the sweet scents OF the vanilla
/ grass and the fragile white lilies crow
| ing on the ,dE" of the canal
How beautiful this scene Is, and how
/ It viii remain vivid in memory in all
/ its lovely details when shall have
/ tefl il.
For 20 / must and the reason Is
/ borne in on me with Irresistible fore,
/ this calm spring evening see myself
as ! am worn and weather-bea'cn by
+ r. years of arduuus work. with hair
I turning gray At the temples. a grave
/ 'arIlurn man having none Of the
lraccs OF youth. with a broken career
only the tagl, | set myself TO accom-
plish has been durc, the redemption
Of Jacks fortune. f.. Vera, his huuny
s'ar-oycd daughter
Why leave
because being n man and a fool
could not bear TO live under the
same roof with Vera, seeing her daily
and loving her as / do knowing tho
day viii come when some one. having
q better claim to her affect ms than
the hnmdrum old guardian she has
known from childhood, will take her
irreyocably from me
So. gathering the rcins and going
slowly aluug The path by the canal
separating field from the forest, I
loon muSuriy al thu scene before M
50 rs TO always bear it in memory
Cousin duncan, Cousin Duncan,
Tie ltuIu. 10 that tree and come on I'm
going in thc swamp TO the sawmill
Vera sat in pirogue in the canal
md was gliding up to the bank
you can't 30 this evening; It's re-
diculnusIy late" objected luotIug
down al her
~ can get there in half an hour !
must 90 want to tell Ben Jones his
bog tn TIL" fever ana he mus com,
home Jump down and come on. 30"
Vera looking up and poised lightly.
holding her long paddle. was irr,s.sri-
bic.
Are Nuu aware that II gets a. black
Is Er"hds in the swamp as soon Us
nighl fails asked, throwing Rufus'
hridl" over short limb and stepping
carefully down the bank
Indeed am. That's why | cam.
after YOU wouldn't dare venture in
there by myself"
Vera swept with long strol "s down
the canal and. turning into the swamp
We Wore soon under the shadow OF
moss covered cypress and water oaks
toot tie paddle from her and wr
sped along, for night was coming fast
and the collateral canals through the
swamp are confusing.
Ncra's eaycty was infectious, ana
tn" delight was keen and deep to b,
gliding through the narrow cuts and
the still dark water in the unbrohcn
Solitud" OF the vast silent forest.
We suddenly emerged into sort oI
circular clearing. looked Il, ny
watch. II was one hour since our en-
entrance in the swamp. and looking
around. the place seemed strangely un-
familiar.
In tho hay light an opening ahead
seemed to indicate that II was. the
cut leading to the sawmill.
said nothing, but guided my