Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-05-30

fiinching the discomforts of the hart
 travel
 America. alone. was miserable-th,
 picture of comic distress
 Lavender was her buoyant self ane
 for the first time appealed to Charle. I in purely personal way Heretofore
 he had regarded her merely as beau
 tiful, but unessential factor n the sit uation-gradually she had come to be
 the sum of it.
 Bent upon ambitious hopes, his flu
 ture late in carving, love was ir 1 Winslow's mind an unwelcome guest; ! an intruder whose visit was to be de. ferred as long as possible. But there
 were signs of it's coming; as Winslow watched Lavender-observed her ten der thoughtfulness toward her mother her regard for the welfare of all He remembered the picture she made when seated in the wood with the h. dians head on her lap. Bare headed her hood the wounded mans pillow. the dying sun tipping her hair with arrow-points of bronze, she had seemed wrath of daylight in the gathering shades. This revelation of the softer side of the girls nature. of her ministrant care and dauntless- ness in danger, touched him where ballroom blandishments or mere blithe maidenhood had failed.
 She rode in advance, often turning for word or smile. Often there were scarlet berries at her throat. or leaves twisted in mocking imitation of Owatoga's headdress.
 Winslow's pleasure in the sight his growing joy in her company, was dampened by self-reproach. Had all his hopes, his ambition for career in the land of promise, come to this? That he. could find content and satis- flying happiness in the mere presence of woman?
 At last they came in sight of the Mississippi; dark, silent, the waters rolled. vast moat; beyond it, steep and sheer, a wall of rock. To the trav- elers, ignorant of all that lay behind. that rocky wall might have been the fortress of the setting sun
 The spring was early, and ice drift ed helplessly under its torn cerements of snow. They were not far from the settlement of New Madrid, and it was determined to follow the course of the river until the town was reached.
 Slowly northward. for the spring rains had begun. and the fens and marshes were slimy underfoot, and foggy overhead.
 The river, bearing its icy burden away to the south, served them in guidance grim, but true.
 At last they reached the point di- rectly opposite New Madrid. The squat stone cabins of the settlement were huddled together on the farther bank like great cakes of ice, thrown from the river. ..
 The day was gloomy; the clustering wind. hag-ridden, hurled snow and rain in their faces with alternate spite.
 This is not exactly a welcome, warm and heartfelt, is it?" laughed Mlnslow, as they dismounted and stood on the bank of the gray river un- der scowling sky.
 Out of the dusk loomed a group of wigwams, and Owatoga went forward to reconnoIter. He returned in com pany with another Indian whom he had engaged to ferry them over. Their few household goods had been carried in crates, bound with deerskin to the backs of ponies. ana these were trans ferred to one pirogue. Two others were reserved for the passengers.
 They arranged for the sale of the ponies and hospitality for the night, but with the first dawn the party em- parked on the river.
 One Indian stood in the prov. push ing aside with long pole the cakes of ice which drifted like inquisitive mon- sters. close to the driving keel.
 America covered in abject fear in the stern: alternately invoking the wrath of Heaven upon the rash under taking, and beseeching Divine aid in it's outcome.
 The other women bore the discom- fort and danger with fortitude, even pleasure. In both was a strong sense or the dramatic. the picturesque To Lavender, especially. this was as a draught of wine-this race with the swirling ice on the dark water in the cold gray dawn. Here and there a vain star yet dalIied for a last look at herself in the watery mirror.
 All was quiet in the village as they neared the shore. and the boats rub ping their sides together in friendly fashion as they grated on the sand. was the only sound.
 There was no tavern then in the town. but every cabin had a spare bed and seat al table where strangers were allowed 10 stay. For it was scarcely a welcome which these frontier folk extended-it vas rather a tolerant suf- ferance. Such a return in money or trade as the guest saw ft to make. vas accepted. but none vas ever de- manded. Their doors were open. and ! with the opening of the door they considered duty done: the stranger could make shift to find his own nook in the chimney corner.
 Such fare the travellers found. and for Lavender the style held a quaint, attractive interest
 T like this kind of hospitslity.- she I said one day. -I like their intepend- I