The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1906-06-21
CHAPTER TX.

little house had sunk below the
hill crest, Trove was looking back
ward. Now and ever after he was to
think and tarry also In the road of life
and look behind him for the golden
towers of memory. The drovers saw
change In Trove and flung at him
with their stock of rusty, ancestral
witticisms. But Thurst lilly had
way Of saying and doing quite his own.
"Never see any one knocked so fat
as ye was" said he. "Ye didn't know
enough keep ahead o. the cattle.
declare, l thought they'd trample ye
fore we could git yer eye unsot"
Trove made no answer.
"That air gal had mighty power In
her eye," Tburst went on. when
see her totin' you off las night says
& the boys. says L: sid Is goin' T. git
stepped on. He amt never goln' T. be
the same boy ag'in.'"
The boy held his peace, and for days
neither ridlcule nor excitement-save
only for the time II lasted-was able to
bring him out of his dream.
That night they came to n wild coun-
try, where men and cattle 10y down to
rest by the roadway, thing Trove en-
joyed. In the wagon were bread and
butter and boiled eggs and tea and
doughnuts and cake and dried herring.
The men built fires and made tea and
ate their suppers and sang, as the night
fell. those olden ballads Of the frontier,
Barbara Allen" "Bonaparte's Dream"
aud the "Drover's Daughter"
For days they were driving In the
wild country. At bedtime each wound
himself In q blanket and lay down to
rest beneath a rude lean-to II 1t were
raining. but mostly under the stars.
On this journey Trove got his habit Of
sleeping out Of doors In fair weather.
After 1t, save In midwinter, walls
seemed to weary and roofs to smother
him. The drove began to low at day
break. and soon they were all cropping
the grass or browsing In the briers.
Then the milking and breakfast over
campfire, and soon after sunrise they
were all tramping In the road again.
1t was q pleasant journey, the way
sides glowing with the blue Of violets.
the green of tender grass. the thick
sown, starry gold OF dandelions. Wild
fowl crossed the sky In wedge and bat
talon, their vedettes out. their lines
now firm. now wheeling In long curve
to take the path Of the wind. Every
thicket was fount Of song that fell
to silence when darkness came and the
low chant of the marshes.
When they came into settled country
below the big woods they began sell
ing At length the drove was reduced
to one section. Trove following with the
helper named Thurston Tilly. familiar
ly known as Thurst.
He was a tall. heavy. good natured
man. distinguished for fat. happiness
and singular aptitudes. He had lifted
barrel Of salt by the chimes and put
II on a wagon; once he had eaten two
mince pies at n meal; again, he had
put his heels six inches above his head
on a barn door. and any time he could
wiggle one ear or both or whistle on
his thumb.
II was not easy to dispose Of cattle
In the southern counties that year. but
they found a better market as they
bore west, and were across the border
Of Ohio when the last of the drove
were sold. That done. Trove and
Thurst Tilly took the main road tC
Cleveland. whence they were to return
home by steamboat.
1t led them into woods and by
stumpy fields and pine odored hamlets
The first day of their walk was rainy
and they went up toteway into thick
timber and built fire and kept dry
and warm until the rain ceased. That
evening they fell In with emigrants on
their way to the far west.
The latter were camped on the edge
of wood near the roadway and cook
Ing supper as the two came along. Be
ing far from town Trove and Tilly
were glad to accept the hospitality OF
the travellers.
They had come to the great highway
of travel from east to west. Every
day It was cut by wagons Of the mover
overloaded with I.ares and Penates
with old and young. enduring hard
ships and the loss of home and old &C
Quaintance for hope Of better fortune
A man and wife and three boys wert
the party. travelling with two wagons
They were bound for Iowa and. beinl
heavy loaded. were having a hard
time. All sat on heap Of boughs ir
the freight after supper.
TITS long. long road to Iowa. ia
ther." said the woman.
"It'll soon be over" said he. with q
tone of encouragement.
"Tve been thinking all day Of the
lilacs and the old house." said she.
They looked In silence at the fire q
moment.
"We're a bit homesick," said the
man. turning to Trove. "an' no won
Le.. 4. been hai travelling. an we've
broke down every few miles. But well
have better luck the rest O. the Jour-
pey."
Evidently his cheerful courage had
been all that kept them going
Lost all we had In the great fire OF
as" said he thoughtfully. II went ia
bed rich man, but when rose In the
morning had not enough to pay a
weeks board. Everything had been
swept away"
"a merchantT Trovs inquired.
"A partner In the great Star mill on
East river" said the man. ~ could
have got fortune for my share--at
least 500, ,000-and had worked hard
for It,"