Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-05-23

HIM 70 abandon his wildwood exist
ence and to return to civtiszatica: and
II did-partially. He seemed happy To
meet his daughter again. consented to
return with them when ready. and
after q couple OF weeks sojourp hers.
the canoes were packed and AL set cut
for civilization and Greenvale once
moro.
But home. sweet home" albeit II
was, as IN this case. lonely log eabiz
in vast wilderness, proved stronger
than parental love or Rnght else: sud
sometime during first nights eanp en-
The way out, this strange rccluse stole
away In his canoe and returned.
It's natur," Old Cy observed wheR
morning came, AN home ig tbs hard
est spot IN the world TO fergit Amzi's
lived In that old shack all lone fer 80
years. Hes got wonted 10 Il like a
dog TO his kennel, an all the powers
o the univarse can't break ur the
feslin'.-
1t seemed an indisputable. II dissp-
pointing. fact, and Martin led HIS party
back TO the hernit's home once mere
AnSthsr plan was new considered
~ Hartin-to buy the township. or At
ieast u large tract enclosing tails lake,
build a more eommodious leg oaSin fer
the use Of himself and his wife, and
spend q portion of each SUMMER there.
Thsrs were several reasons ether than
those II affection for this desisisr-
This lake, perhaps half q nile In
diameter. tssHed with trevt Ths lew
mountains enclosing Il were thiskly
covered with hR0 spruce ard ar.
groves 81 pine with sems beech and
birch grew IN the valleys; deer, moose
and fsathsrsd game RbouadeS here.
and best Of all. NO Vsndal lumbernsn
ever enorssched upon this region
II was, all considered. a vsritable
sportsmaR's paradise. Mort hkSly =
few thousand dollars would purchase
-, and SO. fer these collective feAsons
Martin decided 20 buy IL
Old Cy was left 10 keep the hermit
company; Martin. HIS wife, and Ray.
with Levi. started for civilization TO
obtain needed supplies. and had been
four days upon the way whoa this
much-sbused waif appeared On the
scene. The party we're tournoying IN
had already learned to wiold a paddle.
which carried the tents and luggage:
while the other was occupied By Mar
tin. his wife, and Levi. The only avail
able seat for the new arrival was in
Rays canoe. and when breakfast was
disposed Of and the voyREers ready to
start. she was given a place therein.
The river at this point was broad
sad OF slow current, only two days
Journey was needful TO reach the set
tiemsnt and no cause for worry APP
psared-but Levi felt otherwise.
You'd best hug the futher shore. {"
he observed 90 Ray quietly whom the
boy pushed or. an don't git out o.
sight o. us" Il amt sartin bout the
outcome O this matter" he said 70
Martin later. Il know that hSlf-bresd,
Bolduo. and he's a bad 'un. From the
gals story he paid big money fer her.
He don't know the meanin' O law, and
n he folders down the tote road. as
callate he viii. n ketches sight o. her,
the 1rst Wen know ont II be tho
crack o. a rife. The wonder 10 me L.
he didn't ketch her fore she got 70 us.
run. I don't want 70 1arm you folks.
but I shan't feel easy till were out O
the woods"
II wasn't reassuring.
But no thought OF this came 70 Ray,
At least. and these two young people,
| yielding 70 the magic OF the morning.
! the rippled river that bore them on
ward. the birds singing along the FIR
clad banks. and all the exhilarNtion Of
the wilderness, soon reached the care
| free converse Of youthful friends.
I never had nothin' but work n
eussin'.- Chip responded. wheR Ray
asked II she never had any time she
I could call her own. Tim thinked I
couldn't get tired. I guess. He'd roust
rue W fUst OF all n larrup mo II he
caught NE shirkin'. Once had a lit
Tie posey bed back o. the piEpeR- ]
n1ed it after dark an mornin's whom ]
ketehed the chance. He ketehed me
thar one mornin' a-weedin' Il n
Knocked me sprawlin' an then stomped
AL over the posies. That night vent
out into the woods n begged the spites
TO git him killed somehow. Mother
time 1 forgot to put up the bars. an
the COVE got into the taters. That
night he tied me 70 a stump clus TO the
bars. an left me thar all night. I used
TO be more skeered o nay dad n was
q Tim. tho. He'd look ct me like he
hated me, an say, Shut up II said
. word, an ! most believed he'd Kill
me. just fer nothin'. Once he said
he'd take me out into the woods a
night n bait a bear trap with me II
he hesrd didn't mind Tim. told old
TomGh that an he sid II he did, he'C
shoot hin: but Old Tomah wasnr
round only winters. hated dad so 70
a shot hin myself. 1 guess, II cue
n got hold o a gun when he wan
wAtchin'"
It's awful to have to feel that WAY
toward your own father" interrupted
Ray, for he was your father"
!. i s'poss twas admitted Chip, can
dtdly. "but / never felt much different
I've seen him slap mother when sh,
was On her knees a-bawliA', and tn,
way hs would cuss her was awful"
l. But you had some frieudship from