The Arvada enterprise., 1922-05-04

1t Is long letter presenting minute
details In the history Of that senti-
mental journey and allusion to mat
tiers which have no part In this record.
Its substance being fully in the con-
sciousness Of the writer, he tenderly
folds II up and returns II to the pack
age-yeuow and brittle and faded and
having that curious fragrance Of pa.
pers that have lain for scores Of year,
In the gloom and silence Of q locked
mahogany drawer. So alive are these
Letters With the passion Of youth In
long forgotten years that the writer
ties the old ribbon and returns them
to their tomb with . feeling Of sad
ness, finding . singular pathos In the
contrast Of their look and their con-
tents. They are turning to dust but
the soul OF them has gone into this
little history.
The young man and woman mounted
their horses and resumed their jour
nsy. II was after two o'clock. The
Grand Prairie lay ahead Of them. The
settlement Of Plains End was twenty
one miles away on its farther side.
They could Just re it, tall oak trees
10 the dim distance.
I'VE must hurry. II Ne get there
before DARK: said the girl. "Above
ALL We must be careful to keep our
direction. It's easy to get lost down
10 the great prairie"
They heard Q cat-bird singing In
. near thicket ~ they left their camp.
II reminded BIN a her favorite bal.
lad and ~ sang II with the spirit Of
old:
NY sweetheart. como aleas-
Doat you hear the glad song
A. the notes Of the nightingale Fowl
Don't yoa hear the fond tale Of the
sweet nightingale
A. shs sinss In the valleys below1
A. she sings In The valleys belowr'
They went On. shoulder-deep 10 the
tall graas on the lower stretches Of
the prairie. Here and there It savs
Harry the Impression that he was
swimming his horss In noisy, vivid
green water" Thsy startled q herd
of deer and Q number Of Wild horses.
Whsn they lost sight Of the woods
1t Plains End the young man. with
HE cavalry training, wss able to ride
standing On his saddle until he had Il
located.
Il reminded him q riding in the
Everglades and he told Of his adven-
lures there ~ they weat On. but very
modestly. He said not . word Of his
heroic light the day that ~ and sixty
Of his comrades were cut Oh and sur.
rounded IN the Hand Of the grassy
waters." But BIN had heard the story
from other lips.
Late In the Afternoon the woods
Ieomed In front Of them. scarcely q
mile OF. Near the end Of the prairie
they came to . road which led them
past the door q Q lonely cabin. II
seemed to be deserted, but Its win.
dows were clean and q faint column
Of smoke rose from it, chimney. There
were ho,lyhocks and sunnowers In Its
small and cleanly dooryard. A morn.
ing.glory vine had been trained around
the windows.
"Broad creek 10 Just beyond" said
BIN. II don't know how the crossing
will BE-"
They came presently to the creek.
Unexpectedly swollen. A man stood
On the farther shore with some seventy
feet Of deep and rapid water between
him and the travellers.
"That man looks like Stephen
Nuckles," said Harry.
at 10 Stephen Nuckles." BIN an.
swered.
-iIowiy. stevei" the young soldier
called.
"Howdy. boy I" said the old minis.
ter. THAT ar creek 10 bilin' over. I
reckon you'll have to swim the hosses.' -
They tried. but Bins horse refused
to 20 beyond good footing.
''You kin light At that Ar house an
spend the night. but the folks have
gone erway." the minister called.
Il guess you'li have to marry ~
right here and now" Harry proposed.
| NV8uk - NOsuhu& ouu SAAS AouSC "a
our only refuge"
"Poor boy! There seems to be NO
escape for you'll" BIN exclaimed with
Z sigh. "Do you really and honestly
want to marry mel II there's any
doubt about II I'll leave the horses
with you and swim the creek. You
could put them In the barn and swim
with ME or spend the night In the
cabin"
"lt's q cool evening and the creek
10 very wet" he answered. am 70.
Ing to take this matter In my own
hands"
lie called to the minister. "Steve,
this 10 the luckiest moment Of my life
and you are just the man Of all otherl
I would have chosen for its most I'm.
portant job. Can you stand right
where you are and marry usf''
"You bet. l kin. suh." the minister
answered. 1--WE often said could
marry any one half a mile erway II
they would only talk ms loud NJ kin
I've got the good book right hese In
my nockcf sub Nv ol' woman n