The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1906-09-27
CHAPTER III.


A thick mist hung over the island
when. at sunrise next day, the boat with
its little band of voyagers set out on the
Journey down the Ohio
There were none 10 molest them, the
soldiers vet asleep after the drunken
carouse OF the night previous. The is
land In its dressing gown of fog through
which the rising sun blinked stupidly,
was but a dark blur between the lighter
gray of river and sky They seemed
a ghostly crew setting out from the land
of shadows, as silently they moved with
the noiseless stream. A bleak wind
blew OF shore, bringing frosty promises
of earnest winter.
Two women, pale and somber-eyed,
leaned against the railing aft, watch
ing the island recede and fade until ii
seemed mirage caught in the long
shafts OF growing, purple light With
every leap of the narrow craft they were
being borne away 10 new life.
But In Mrs. Blennerhassets mind re-
gret had little place. A ruined home-a
present helplessness, were light evils
TO an ambition so strong, a courage so
dauntless and hope that would not see
defeat. She gazed with wide, fearless
eyes at the blot in the fog, which she
had once called home. Then resolutely
turned her gaze westward.
Come. look ahead, dear" she said TO
Mrs. Creighton. Let US go into the
cabin and make merry with the rest
Think only OF the future; we are begin
ming again"
Mrs. Creighton tried to smile In an
swer. Il will join you in a moment, I"
she said
But. left alone. the smile died from
her lips. the color from her eyes. Fer
| TO this woman-no longer young, 10
whom worldly ambition seemed a Will
o-the-wisp, beginning again" was a
task not worth while. Before her men,
tai vision swept a swift phantasma
| goria In which past, present and future
were strangely mingled.
She saw the home they had lately left,
that spot Of all to her most sacred, the
home of others. On the hearth burned
strangers fire; the old paths were
| trodden by other feet; her flowers were
! spoil for other hands.
And then fancy tried to picture the
| home awaiting her-that new home in
| the far west which her husband and son
had gone TO prepare, that beyond the
| great river they might begin life again,
But between these two-the dear home
she had left and the one in store. there
were wild forests, yet wilder men, and
| that great mysterious barrier, the Mis-
sissippi.
But II was not in her nature to rebel
at the inevitable.
Too wise in experience for high expec-
tations, and too philosophic for despair,
she had also a fine optimism. faith in
the future. And IL was easier to leave
now, that the old home was no longer
theirs. The claim To the grant of land
in the old Dominion was declared in
valid. their title contested Gradually
their savings had been swept away, un-
TIL after the havoc of legal battle, no
property remained. Ruined. broken in
spirit, Mr.. Creighton had gone to the new
country-to that far western territory
that land where, so swift had been the
change OF masters, there yet waved the
Gags OF Spain, of France and of the new
republic. There, If fortune awaited, he
,ould spend a few years, at last to 70
back, his head high, prosperous dwell.
er in the old haunts. II uot-then let
the wilderness swallow up his failure
His wife, and daughter, TOO. had left
Virginia but had intended remaining
on Blennerhasset island until spring.
|
a deep undertaking; one, indeed, which
as 1t unraveled, was proving perilous
perhaps disastrous
This protection denied them, they
must, nevertheless, continue The jour.
ney; but how, and under what guild
ance? They had little money and no
influence. So far they were safe with
Mrs, Blennerhasset and her party. but
soon their paths diverged, and then
Lavender's voice recalled her
Mother, lei us go in; you are cold. "
The girl had been talking to the man
Al the pole, and turned TO see her moth
er the poise of whose head, the droop of
whose shoulders, indicated sorrowful
reflection
Lavender, in her brilliant cloak, with
flush on her fsir cheek. seemed TO con-
centrate within her own glad self, all the
radiance and glow OF the morning. As
the elder fingered, with wistful gaze
On the swirl OF water, she continued,
| pleadingly:
Don't be dawnsOme, dearest-surely,
| you are hopeful of our success and hap
piness in the new life?"
1t is never best to be too sanguine,
daughter; hope is the mother OF disap-
pointment; faith and love are the best
OF the trio"
Lavender's eyes grew moist and all
the violet in them paled to the gray
OF the morning. Her mother smiled