The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1908-02-01

1t was, all considered, a veritable
sportsman's paradise. Most likely q
few thousand dollars would purchase
1t, and so, for these collective reasons,
Martin decided to buy it.
Old Cy was left to 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 when this
much-abused waif appeared on the
scene. The party were journeying in
two canoes, one manned by Ray, who
had already learned to WELD 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 voyagers ready to
start, she was given a place therein.
The river at this point was broad
and OF slow current, only two days
journey was needful to reach the SET
Element and no cause for worry ap-
peared-but Levi felt otherwise.
You'd best hug the futher Shore"
he observed to Ray quietly when the
boy pushed of, IAN don't git out o.
sight O. u.s." Il amt sartin bout the
outcome o. this matter" he said to
Martin later. Il know that half-breed,
Bolduc, 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
if he follers down the tote road, as l
callate he will. n ketches sight O. her,
the first wen know ont II be the
crack O. rifle. The wonder to me is
he didn't ketch her fore she got to us.
He could track her Eastern she could
run. / don't want to 'larm you folks,
but shan't feel easy till we're out O.
the woods"
1t wasn't reassuring.
But no thought OF this came to Ray,
at least, and these two young people,
yielding to the magic of the morning,
the rippled river that bore them on
ward. the birds singing along the fir
clad banks, and all the exhilaration of
the wilderness, soon reached the care
free converse of youthful friends.
Il never had nothin' but work n
cussin'." Chip responded, when Ray
asked If she never had any time she
could call her own. Tim thinked /
couldn't get tired, guess. He'd roust
me up fust of all n larrup me If he
caught me shirkin' Once had a lit
tie posey bed back O. the pigpen. /
fixed it after dark an mornin's when I
ketched the chance. He ketched me
thar one mornin' a-weedin' 1t n
knocked me sprawlin' an then stomped
all over the posies. That night went
out into the woods n begged the spites
to git him killed somehow. Mother
time / forgot to put up the bars, an
the cows got into the taters. That
night he tied me to stump clus to the
bars, an left me thar all night used
to be more skeered o. my dad n I was
O. Tim, tho. He'd look at me like he
hated me, an say, Shut up if l said
a word. an most believed he'd kill
me, just fer nothin'. Once he said
he'd take me out into the woods at
night n bait bear trap with me II
he heerd didn't mind Tim. / told Old
Tomah that, an he sid If he did, he'd
shoot him; but Old Tomah wasn't
round only winters. l hated dad so I'd
"a shot him myself, 1 guess, II 1 cud
a got hold o. gun when he want
watchin'."
IT'S awful to have to feel that way
toward your own father" interrupted
Ray, for he was your father"
Il s'pose twas" admitted Chip, can
didly. but never felt much different.
I've seen him slap mother when she
was on her knees a-bawlin'. and the
way he would cuss her was awful"
But you had some friendship from
this old Indian" queried Ray, who be-
gan to realize what a pitiful life the
girl had led; ''he was good to you,
wasn't he?"
He was, sartin," returned Chip,
eagerly; 'he used to tell me the spites
'ud fix dad fore long, so he'd never
show up agin, n when got big 'nuff
he'd sneak me on some night n take
me to the settlement, whar could arm
a Twin. Old Tomah was the only one
who cared a cuss fer me- 1 used to
bawl when he went away every spring,
an beg him to take me long n help
him camp n cook. I'd "a done most
anything fer Old Tomah. / didn't
mind wearin' clothes made out o. old
buds n bein' cussed fer not workin'
hard nun. What l did mind was not
havin' nobody who cared whether I
lived or died, or said good word to
me. Sometimes l got so lonesome. I
used to go out in the woods nights
when twas moonlight n beg the
spites to help me. used to think
mother might be one on 'em n she'd
keer fer me. think she was, an
twas her as kept me goin' till found
you folks camp. got awful skeered
how, v,sObfc I mos ~,,x,x. R,s