Mower County transcript., 1906-08-01

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Lavender was her buoyant self, and
for the first time appealed to Charles
in a purely personal way. Heretofore
he had regarded her merely as a beau
tiful. but unessential factor N the sit
uation-gradually she had come to be
the sum of it.
Bent upon ambitious hopes, his fu-
ture late in carving, love was in
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 In
dams head on her lap. Bare-headed,
her hood the wossaded mans pillow,
the dying sun ttppfng her hair with
arrow-points Of bronze, she had
seemed a 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 Establishments or mere
5lithe maidenhood had failed.
She rode in advance, often turning
tor a word or smile. Often there
we're 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 a career in
the land of promise, come to this?
That he could find content and satis-
tying happiness in the mere presence
Of q woman?
At last they came III sight of the
Mississippi; dark, silent, the waters
rolled, a 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 it's 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 Shiny underfoot, and
:oggy overhead.
The river, bearing it's icy burden
away to the south, served them in
guidance grim, but true.
At last they reached the point d.
-ectly 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 welcome,
warm and heartfelt is it?" laughed
" lnslow, as they dismounted and
stood on the bank of the gray river up-
der scowling sky.
Out of the dusk loomed a group of
wigwams, and Owatoga went forward
to reconno4ter. 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, anu 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 en-
barked 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
OF the dramatic, the picturesque To
Lavender, especially, this was as
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 dallied 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
bing 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 at table where strangers were
allowed to stay. For it was scarcely
a welcome which these frontier folk
extended-it was rather Tolerant suf.
ferance. Such a return in money or
trade as the guest saw fit to make,
was accepted, but none was 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