Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-05-30
Lavender Creighton's
 Lovers
By OLIVIA B. sTRoHM-


y Olivia B. Strohm).
 The winter carpet of sodden leaves
 was changed to one of bright young
 grass. Pussy-willows, like moltine birds. dotted the marshy land with
 their yellow feathers, and every shady
 nook was dappled with pale and droop,
 ing wild-fowers.
 On an afternoon in early March I Winslow and Lavender strolled to the
 waters edge to look for the boat
 which was hourly expected. A skin
 was moored on the beach, and Laven-
 der jumped to its prov, and, shad,
 ing her eyes from the dancing sun. l light gazed down the river.
 "In faith, fine fgure-head," Wins low called, then stood. with the ma.
 licious enjoyment sometimes felt in
 defying conscience, watching her with every sense alive to the boise of her head and delicate wrist-to the curves of the slender figure in the homespun gown, as it swayed unsteadily in the rocking boat.
 From her belt dangled a bunch of dogwood blossoms-the first trophy of the season.
 See, look! they are coming!" and piroquetting joyously, she shook the frail skiff until the oarlocks rattled.
 Winslow sprang into the boat with her, his arm steadying her swaying figure, his hand in hers. The black hulk of the unwieldy keel boat was plainly visible-a dark line in the agate of river and sky.
 Soon they could distinguish the forms of men on shore as they walked with bent head. and arms straining at the long cordelle, and there was . chorus of greeting.
 It was indeed a cosmopolitan cry. The foreign twang of Spaniard and Frenchman joined to the lusty call of the American pioneer, while here and there an Indian gave whoop of wei. come, and even America added her unctuous dialect to the greeting that sounded over the water. On came the men, and after them the boat, drawn like the carcass of some huge thing of the sea.
 A landing was soon made, and the captain came ashore-a swaggering, ill-conditioned fellow, whose ox-like strength and ferocity of temper held his little world in check.
 There was clamorous outcry for goods expected or space for new cargo, but it consumed little time, since a large dry goods box carried the average shipment.
 The appearance of the boat--her crew and passengers, was anything but prepossessing. Rough. uncouth, and, for the most part, depraved, the pros- pect of journey with such men was disheartening.
 But Winslow and his party resolved to make the best of it, keeping them selves and their inopportune refine ment as much in the background as possible. Cramped quarters were pro vided them, and when the boat was ready they took leave of the settle ment, with surprisingly little regret, considering your fondness for pot luck" Winslow said, laughingly to Lavender.
 The boat made slow progress. but they found ample entertainment in the beauties of the view. The sky and water, the now verdant banks on either side, were constant food for thought or converse. But to the majority of their fellow-voyagers. blind to shift ing cloud and changing shadow, to ice scanned bluff and towering pine, the hours dragged wearily.
 Gambling was the chief diversion, and most of the men were inveterate players. Among these was a once wealthy planter journeying in company with an oetoroon slave. He had lost fortune at the gaming table. but was possessed with a fever to win 1t back at like hazard. The woman usually watched his play. and her influence alone had thus far prevented his utter ruin. Over his shoulder she often hung, and her dark comeliness would attract him from the dice or cards.
 Toward the close of the second days travel Winslow walked into the for ward cabin, where the planter sat at cards with two men. One of them. Pat Finch, the captain. shouted as winslow entered: Take hand?'
 No. thanks, I'll look on"
 There was silence. broken only by the rattle of coin. and the oaths of the players.
 The air was stifing with the fumes of drink and tobacco. but Winslow re- mained. fascinated by the tense atti- | tnde of the gamblers. Evidently some untoward excitement was pending the stakes were high.
 Suddenly there was a gurgling cry of . Lost by God." and the planter fell I face downward on the table. scatter ing cards and money in blind eonfu- sion.
 Another pause. then Finch. the cap tain. spoke: ''lt was fair game. and, | damme. If she sin't mine,"
 At the brutal words. the prostrate man rose. and shot look of mingled hatred and pleading as would have touched heart not mailed and proof.
 Suspicion of the frightful barter came over winslor. but controlling . sickening sense of disgust. he asked. calmly: Then the stakes were high.