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

The slow, sad words rolled in sonor-
GUS measure from floor 10 rafter, until
a solemn hush fell upon all. At tnis
moment America filled the threatening
gap and turned the tide of sadne5s
which seemed setting in. Back in the
shadow she rocked to and fro, auj
with the squeak of her chair the only
accompaniment she sang the old camp
meeting hymn, in a voice loud. but
tuneful:
"wras;le, Jacob, dayights a-breakin'.
Oh. wrastle, Jacob. ! will not let thee go"
CHAPTER ".
Toward the close of raw day IN
January there was a stir on board
the Cumberland was in sight! Cray
and green, the water of the two rivers
blended in a muddy torrent At the
last bend in the Ohio they came in
sight of the flotilla. Moored on the
bank we're the boats, and moving about
the shore the pilgrim voyagers. There
was fiutter of handkerchiefs, and
halloo of welcome as the newcomer
glided to landing place. and The tired
travellers stepped to shore.
Mrs. Blennerhasset's eyes sought but
one face In the crowd. Her husband
sat on a fallen tree in the background.
His companion, with whom be was in
earnest conversation. was a small, lilhe
man, below the medium height, under
whose high, pointed forehead dark eyes
flashed with mesmeric power. These,
and the dilated nostrils, were the only
signs of excitement. His voice was
very low his manner quiet, with mo ge-
ments restrained, except that he con-
| stantly poked one long forefinger in mis-
| listeners face. All the vehemence Of
a strong soul seemed condensed in that
| gesture.
/ A man approached and bowling, said:
! Col Burr, our party from the east
has come, and word has it that Mrs.
! Blennerhasset is with them"
Harmon Blennerhasset rose with a
startled exclamation: MY wife-herc? ?
| But that is not our boat" And ne
rushed TO the landing, whc"e his wife
/ with her little sons and the Others were
disembarking
Welcome, Mavourneen! And you,
| Mrs. Creighton? And Lavender? VAL
wonders never cease?'
In the midst of the hurried explana-
ton which followed, Col. Burr APP
preached He greeted the ladies with
n soft cordiality rather fitted to ne
drawing room than this river bank,
where every lingering ray of sun
served but to illumine the embracing
waters leaving the snow-pied bluffs on
either side in dusky gloom.
The leader invited the newly arrived
voyagers TO supper on his boat, and
the time passed delightfully."-; enlivened
by the seductive charm of his manner
and conversation. Winslow. too, was
brilliant talker when the spir,
moved and they, with the two eide,
women, flashed wit and wisdom tc
which the others listened with an ad'
miring attention which was a good
fashion of the time.
Later, however. a current of sadness
lay underneath the gayety. and Laven
der sliEDed out, and up to the decl
alone.
The moon, low-hung and wan, like {
dim torch lighted wandering wracl
of clouds. The quiet beauty of th'
night, and the lullaby of waves rocking
the anchored boat, soothed herds
PEELED her forebodings of the uncertain
morrow.
Pardon mel seem destined to dis
turb your reveries."
She smiled family at Winslow's ap
proach but made no reply, and for {
time they stood together in silence. H'
was conscious of her mood, with an in
stinctive delicacy commonly calieC
feminine. but which, when it exists a
all in men, is above that of women
The power of Winslows personallt!
lay in a happy adaptation, when he 81
pleased, to the moods of others.
THE moon has unsociably drawn be
hind that veil of cloud. Can't | taxi
her place, and share your thoughts?
will be as silent as confessor, if yol
command"
you are very kind. but for your owl
sake do not open your ears to my bur
dens, Why, they are heavy for me
: and am a woman!" she concluded
! smiling.
"In the name of my sex, accept tn
inference"
He loaned against the boats edge
Watching her. Only her profile shone
clear-cut against the background !
cloud-swept sky. Winslow was
lover of beauty in the abstract; 1t
poetical value appealed to him, and /
was with an interest at once sensuou
and impersonal that.he studied the gir
before him. An almost classical cor
rectness of outline was given warmA
and tone by subtle charm tha
, seemed original with her This charm
lay in the indehnable atmospheT
which enveloped her-gave her
unique personality. She seems s.
much aliye!" was his mental commen
upon the girl whose thread of life IA
become so closely and suddenly en-
tangled with his own.
Meanwhile the object of his thought
| said: This has been happy evening
= but | am all the more sad now, realIz
ing that it is our last glimpse of civil
ized society for many long day. 20
morrow-ah! what will to-morroN
be- Her voice broke, and Winsloy
fastened 70 say: when left th
cabin Col. Burr and Mr. Blennerhasse
were in consultation with your mother
no doubt matters will be arranged a
you would wish. IL am only sorr
IL