The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-04-28
AATE DOUGL As WIG0lN
I1tIlor of "Rebecca of SllrlTlybrook Farm =

year" when there was q black frost
every month of the twelve. and.
though almost all the corn along its
shores shriveled on the stalk, there
were two farms where the yapor from
the river saved the crops, and all the
seed for the Rext season came from the
favored spot. to be known as Egypt"
from that day benceforward.
Strange. complex things now began
to happen, and the river played it's own
part in some of these, for there were
disastrous freshets, the sudden break
ing up Of great. jams Of logs and the
drowning Of men who were engulfed
81 the dark whirlpool below the rapids.
Caravans, with menageries Of wild
beasts, crossed the bridge now every
year. An infuriated elephant lifted the
side OF the old Edgewood tavern barn.
and the wild laughter Of the rotsteriuS
rum drinkers who were tantalizing the
animals doated down to the rivers
edge. The roar OF lion, tearing and
chewing the arm of one of the by
ISLANDERS, and-t cheers of the throng
when q plucky captain of the local
militia thrust stake down the beast 8
throat-these sounds displaced the for
mer warwhoep of the Indians and the
ring soe the AK in the virgin forests
along the shores.
! There were days and moonlight
nights. too, when strange sights and
sounds OF quite another nature could
have been noted by, the. river as It
lowed under the bridge that united
the two little villages.
Issuing from the door Of the Rtver-
boro town house and winding down the
hill through the long row Of teams and
carriages that lined the roadside. came
a procession OF singing men and sing
ing women. Convinced OF sin, but en-
tranced with promised pardon. spiritu-
ally intoxicated by the glowing elo-
ouence of the latter day prophet they
were worshipfng the band Of 'Coch-
ranites'' marched down the dusty road
and across the bridge. dancing. sway
ing. waving haudlkerchiefs and shout
ing hosnnnas
Cod watched and listened. knowing
that there would be other prophets.
true and false. in the days to come,
and other PROFESSIONS following them
Ana the river watched and listened,
too. as it hurried on toward the sea
with it's story of the present that was
some time to be the history of the past
When Jacob Cochrane was leading
his overweight, ecstatic band across
the river, Waitstili Baxter, then
child was watching the strange. noisy
company from the window OF a little
brick dwelling on the top Of the Town
House hill.
Her stepmother stood beside her
with young baby In her arms. but
when she, saw what held the gaze OF
the child she drew her away, saying.
I'VE mustn't look, Waitsttll; your ia
Their don't like tt!'
who was the big man at the head
mother?'
"FTis name is Jacob Cochrane, but
you mustn't think or talk about him.
He is very wicked"
"He doesn't look any wickeder than
the Others" said the child. who was
the man that fell down in the road,
mother, and the woman that knelt and
prayed over him? Why did he fali' ana
why did she pray, mother!
"Tlat was Master Aaron Boynton,
the schoolmaster. and his wife. He
only made believe to fall down, as the
Cochranites do: the way they carry on
is disgrace to the village, ana that's
the reason your father won't let US
look at them"
II played with a nice boy over to
Boynton's.'' unused the child.
'That was Ivory. their only child.
He is n good little fellow, but his
mother and father will spoil hiEa with
their crazy ways"
II hone nothing will happen. to him,
for love him. said the child graVely.
HE showed me humming birds nest.
the first / ever saw, and the itttlestP
/. "Don't talk about loving him. child
ed the woman. eff your father should
hear Won he'd send you to bed without
your porridSe."
"Father couldn't hear me. for never
speak when he's at. home said grave
little WaitstiIl "And I'm used to going
to bed without my Porridge.'
The river was still running under the
sudee, but the current OF time had
swept Jacob Cochrane out OF sight,
though not ont Of mind, for he had left
here and there a disciple to preach his
strange and uncertain doctrine Wait
stiIl, the child who never spoke In her
fathers presence, was q young woman
now, the mistress of the house; the
stepnother was dead and the baby a
girl of seventeen
The brick cottage on the hilltop had
grown only a little shabbier.o Deacon
FoxwelI Baxter still slammed It's door
behind him every morning at Z o'clock
and. without any such cheerful conven.
lions as goodbys to his girls, walked
down to tire bridge to open bis store,