Norwich bulletin., 1911-10-14
SOCIAL CORNER STORY
A ROMANCE OF LONG AGO
By Marieo1d

It was a cold, clustering night in December of the year 1926, and Daniel Gray stepped lightly down the snow beaten path that led from the little farmhouse across the lots to Dolly Kingsbury's home.
 Daniel was from old, sturdy, historic English stock, and had reached an life in earnest and emulate if possi- ble, the courd ge and bravery of his ancestors.
 He had planned it all out, night aft CT night, in his little room up aunder the rafters. when Aunt Jane though: he was in the land of Nod and the next move must be to consummate these plans. and lay them before Dolly for her approval or disapproval, as the case might be-
 Perhaps she would not be willing to wait until he could make himself home, in what seemed to them far off country, and termed as 'out vest lie must settle the matter then and there, and if the answer was in the affirmative, he would immediately pack the little hair trunk and start upon his journey.
 Dolly Kingsbury was not as enthus- iastic over Daniels project as he had hoped she might be, for she fully realized what such venture meant in those days, especially in part of tHe COUItIy Ludl AaS SpdESelN SGLtIeQ and the population consisted chiefly of Mohawk Indians and wolves nev- ertheiess, she encouraged him in way, and pledged to him her faith and love.
 Long after Uncle John and Aunt Jane had retired for the night, Daniel sat in his room mentally taking leave of each farailiar object and wonder ing show long it might be before he would be able to claim what seemed to him the dearest girl on earth" but away with the dreaming-his few be- longings must be gotten together, and ready for an early start the following morning, as the only means of travel at that time was by stage and on horseback.
 Let us sake an inventory of ths necessary articles of wearing apparel that were to be consigned to the hair trunk studded with brass hea ded nails. There were the wooden socks Aunt Jane had just 'toed off, and the strip ed mittens with the fuzzy roll around each wrist; two heavy, homespun wooden shirts; black silk "neker- Sunday out there) and one home spun linen shirt. Aside from a few memantoes given nim by Dolly, and the clothes he was to wear on his journey. this was about the sum total of DIniels wardrobe.
 The following morning Aunt Jane's savory breakfast of ham and eggs was hurriedly despatched and just Is the sun came peeping over the top of Ayers mountain, the old two-horse stage trandled up the Windham pike, to take on the one lone passenger who, after all reluctantly. bade farewell to the dear old home of his boynood-and to Dolly.
 After long and tedious ride across country via Hartford Albany, Schen- 4, 10 Dorn1 1cfsy3 where Joseph Hall, a distant cousin of Daniels, kept tavern and where he was to stay until he should settle upon a piece Of land and finish clear ing it for the little cabin he was to call home
 The settlements in the Black river country at that time were few and fsr between; ard the Indians and wilG animals were too numerous to be con- genial, although they seldom experi- enced any trouble for the former un less from some local cause; as the pioneers realized the importance of seeking the Indians friendship rather than their enmity.
 Meanwhile the days and weeks rolled by. Dol1y's letters came regularly at first. then 3, longer time intervened between each one.
 understanding, which was true in this case; and before many months had elapsed Daniel was conscious or the fact that there's many slip 'twixt the cup and the lip," and that per- haps, after all, the object of his future happiness might dwell beneath the very roof that sheltered him: and on the morning of April ,, 1927, Daniel Gray rode into Utica on horseback, a distance of twenty miles, with his cousin Catherine seated on billion behind the saddle.
 It was long and wearisome ride even with fieet-footed horse, and with the danger of being overtaken by wolves after dark, it was necessary to make the trip while daylight lasted and every moment must be made to count.
 Their lunch was taken with them and eaten on horseback, before riding into Utica, a S there were no cafes, pr eating establishments, in those days