OCR Text |
Show I I A Man for J A s'sT" f T" JO. -tl2wS I IRVING BACHELLER fr CopjrUht, Irnn Bachsllsr 81 M F.L0PE4. Synopsis. - Bamson nnd Pnrah t Truylor, with their two children, , Joslah and Httssy, travel by vnon -" from their home In Verenne, Vt.. f, t,-, lo (he Went, the Imrt of plenty ,i Their defctlnatlon In the Country of ' ., the Ban-jamon, In Illinois. At N.aR. ' ara Kalis they meet John Mi-Nell. I' who alto dec'des to go to the Sin- i '" unmon country. Sarah's mini f-i- r tlons save the life of Harry Needle i and he accomranles the Traylors , They reach New Halem, Illlno a, tj, and ara welcomed by younc Abe . Lincoln, Jack Kelso and till pretty A''.'' daughter Dim and other fiatnon r raises his cabin I-ncoln tlirnlis ,' Armstrong; Harry atrDtes Hap Mc- NoM Harry la uttartrnl l.v McNoll and hla cans;, and tllm drives off his assdilunts with n shot gun Mc ' ' markedly ttenllve to Ann rtittledare Unroll Is In love with Ann. but has nsver had enough cmirag lo tell her so Harry lo.'es . IJim. Traylor helps two slaves, wh. had run nway from St. Iiii's Ellphalet lllrss. owner of the slaves, has hla arm brnken by Traylor, Digits mrots Il'in and mikes love to hu. Abe announces , Hint he Is a candidate for the Ir's- . lature The It.ack Hawk Mar muxes II . Abe n csn'ahi and ho and llnrry ro II ' ' to the fronl II ) , r- CHAPTER IX. :. io ' ' In Which film Kelso Make History, While Abe and Harry and Other Good Citizens of Nsw Sa'em Aro ; Mak'np an Effort to That End In the . ' Indian War. In the midst of springtime there . mine clioiTlttjc news frwn the old home In Vermont it letter to Surah from her brother, which contained the welcome wel-come promise thnt he was coming to vIhIi them nnd expected to he In Ileanlstown about the fourth of May. Hninson drovo across country to meet the steamer. He wus nt the binding when the Star of the North arrived, .' Ho saw every passenger that cume ashore, and Kllphalct Hlggs, leading '' big bay mnre, waH one of them, but the expected visitor did not urrlve. There would be no other steamer bringing passengers from the East for a number of days, Samson went to a store and bought a new dress und sundry bits of finery for Snrah. Iiu returned to New Salem r ' with a heavy heart. Snrnh stood In the open door us he drove up. "Didn't come," he snld mournfully. Without n word, Smith followed him to the burn, with the tin lantern In her band. He gave her u hug us he got down from the wugun. Ho was lllUo given to like displays of emotion. "Don't feel bad," be said. "I've given them up I don't believe we sbnJI ever see thorn ngnln." sold Sarah, ob they were walking toward the door. "I think I know how tho dead feel who are so soon forgotten." "Ye can't blnmo em," said Samson. "They've probably heart! about the , Injun scare and would expect to bo mnssnereed If they came." Indeed the score, now abating, bad preatl through tho border settlements nnd kept the people awake o' nights. - - Bamson nnd other men, left In Now Salem, had mot to consider plans for a stockade. t "And then there's the fever nn' i Biie." Samson ndded. "Sometimes I feel sorry I told e:n about It, because they'll think It worse than It Is. Hut we've got to tell the - truth If It kills us." "Yes; we'vo got to tell the truth," Bamson rejoined. "There'll be n rail-rood rail-rood coming through hero one of these days and then wo can till get back and forth ensy. If It contra It's going to mnko us rich. Abe says he expects It within three or four years." Sarah had a hot supper rendy for him. As he stood warming himself by the lire she put her arms nround him and gave him a little hug. "You poor tired mnnl" she said, "now patient nnd how good you are I" There was a kind of apology for this moment of weakness In her look and manner. Her face seemed to say : "It's silly but I can't help It." "I've been happy nil the time, for I knew you was waiting for me." Sum- , son remarked. "I feel rich every time I think or you and tho children. Saw look here." He untied the bundle nnd put the dress and finery In her hip. "Well. I want to know I" she ex- claimed, as she heJd It up to the can- fllellght. "That must have cost a pret- . ty penny." "I don't (.-are what It cost It ain't half good enough not half," said Bamson, As he sat down to his supper he aid: "I saw that slaver, Hlggs, get off the boat with hla big hay mare. There was n darky following him with nn other horse." "Good laud I" said Sarah. "I hope he Isn't coming here. Mrs. Onstot told me today thnt lllm Kelso hns been getting get-ting letters from him." fjMUk "She's such an odd little critter and H she's got a mind of he.- own any jH body touM see that.'' Snmsnn reflect jH etl. "She ought tn S looked nftei H putty caref"l. Ilei ii rents are a. H taken up with shooting and llshlm IS! nd books they kind torget the glr and seo whut's up. Jack Is uwuy, you know." "I will," said Sarah. It viih nearly two o'clock when Snmtwii, having fed and watered his hones, got Into bed. Vet he was up he'.oro daylight, next morning, nnd singing n hymn of praise as he kindled the Are and filled the ten kettle nnd lighted his candle lantern nnd went out to tin his chores while Sarah, pnrtly reran llci! to her new tllunp-poliilment. tllunp-poliilment. dressed nnd begun the work of another day. So they nnd be nutl llnrry nnd others like them, each under the urge of his own ambition, ambi-tion, spent their great strength In the building nnd defense of the republic and grew prematurely old. Their work began and ended In darkness and often their days were doubled by the burdens of the night. So In the reckoning of their time each year was more than one. Sarah went tlnwn to the village In the afternoon of I he next day. When Samson came In from the fields to his supper slip said: "Mr. Hlggs Is slopping nt the tavern. He brought n new silk dress nnd some beautiful linen -for Sirs. Kelso. He tells her that Mint hns made a new man of him. Claims he bus quit drliridng nnd gone to work. Him nnd her mother are terribly excited. He wants them to move to St. Louis nnd Ihe on bis big Jnntnllon In u house next to his rent free." Samson knew thnt Hlggs was tho type of man who weds Virtue for her dowry. "A man's Judgment Is needed there," said he. "It's a pity .lack Is gone. Hlggs will take thnt girl nwny with him sure as shooting If we don't look out." "Oh, I don't believe he'd do thnt," said Sarah. "I hope he has turned over n new leaf nnd become a gentleman." gentle-man." "Wo'll see," said Samson. They saw and without much delny the bnckground of his pretensions, for one day within the week lie end Dim rode nway and did not return. Soon a letter came from Him to her mother, moth-er, mailed nt Hcnrdstnwn. It told of their mrtrrlnge In that place and said thnt they would bo starting for St. I.nuls In a few hours on the Stnr of the North. She begged the forgiveness forgive-ness of her parents nnd declared that she was very happy. "Too bad! Isn't lt7" snld Surnh when Mrs. Waddell, who had come out with her husband one evening to. bring tlilH news, hnd finished the stpry. "Yes. It kind o spyles the place," Mild Samson. "I'm afraid for Jack Kelso 'frnld It'll bust his fiddle If It don't break his heart. Ills wife Is nlnno now. Wo must ask her to come nnd stny with us." "The Aliens hnvo taken her In," snld Mrs. Waddell. "That's good," said Sarah. "I'll go down thero tomorrow and offer to do anything we cnn." When Mr. und Mrs. Wnddell had gone Sarah said: "I can't help thinking think-ing of poor Harry. He wns terribly In love with her." "Well, he'll have to get over It that's nil," said Samson. "He's young and the wound will heal." It was well for Harry that he was out of the way of all Ibis, and entered upon adventures which absorbed his thought. As to what was passing with him we have conclusive evidence In two letters, one from Col. Zachnry Taylor, In which he snys: "llnrry Needles Is also recommend, ed for the most Intrepid conduct us a scout and for securing Information of great nlue. Compelled to abandon his wounded horse he swam u river under tire and under tho observation of three of our otllcers, through whoso help be got back to his command, bringing a bullet In bis thigh." Willi no knowledge of military service ser-vice and u company of untrained men, Abe hail no chance to win laurels In Ihe campaign. Ills command did not get In touch with the enemy. He had his hands full maintaining a decent re-gard re-gard for discipline among the raw frontiersmen of his company. When the dissatisfied volunteers were mustered out late In May, Kelso and McNeil, being sick with n stubborn fever, were declared unfit for service nnd sent back to New Salem as soon as they were able to ride. Abe and Hurry Joined Captain lies' company of Indeiiendent Hangers and a month or so Inter Abu rc-enllsted to Bene with Captain Early, Harry being under n surgeon's care. The letter's wound whs not serious and on July thin! h loo Joined Early's command. This company wns chiefly occupied In the moving of supplies und the burying bury-ing of a few men who had been killed In small engagements with the enemy. It wns a band of rough-looking fellows In tho costume of tho frontier farm und workshop ragged, dirty und tin-diorn. tin-diorn. The company was disbanded luly tenth at Whitewater. Wisconsin. -her, that night, the horses of Hurry and Abe were stolen, prom that pnin'r hey started on their long homeward rump with a wounded sense of do nicy ami Justice. They felt Hun Is lujjaus hail been wronged 'hut the JsHBsassWMssaiafchassti-.-. . . ,.. ..., " ' "" tll sS I greed of laud grabbers had brutally violated their rights. This feeling bod hecji deepened by the mussnero of the red women und children nt Had Ax. A number of mounted men went with them nnd gave them u ride now nnil then. Some of the travelers had little to ent on the Journey. Hot It Abe and Harry suffered from hunger nnd sore feet before they reached I'eorlu. where they bought a canoe nnd In the morning of a bright day started down the Illinois river. They hnd n long day of comfort In Its current with a good store of brent! and butter nnd cold meat nnd pie. The prospect ot being llfly miles nearer home before nightfall lightened their henrts nnd they laughed freely while Abe told of his adventures In tl.e campaign. cam-paign. To him It wns nil n wild comedy com-edy with tragic scenes dragged !nto It and woefully out of place. Indeed he thought ll no more like war thntt u pig sticking nnd thnt was the kind of thing he haled. Harry hnd not board from home since he left It. Abe bad hud n letter from Itutledge which gave him the news of Hlm's elopement. The letter said : "I wns over to Heardstown the day Ketso and McNeil got off the steamer. I brought them home with inc. Kelso wns bigger than his trouble. Sqld that the ways of youth were a part of the great plan. Thorns I Thorns V he snld. They nre the teachers of wisdom and who ntn I thnt I should think myself or my daughter' too good for the like, since It Is written that Jesus Christ did not complnln of them?'" They Had a Long Day of Comfort In Its Current "Hnvc you henrd from home?" Abe asked us they puddled on. "Not u word," snld Harry. "You're not expecting to meet Him Kelso?" "That's the best part of getting home for toe," snld Hurry, turning with a smile. "Let her drift for a minute," snld Abe. "I've got a letter from Jumes Itutledge thnt I wnnt to rend to you. There's a Idg lesson In It for both of us bonicthliig to remember us long us we live." Abe rend the letter. Harry, sut motionless. mo-tionless. Slowly Ills head bent forward for-ward until his chin touched his bream. Abe said with a tender note Id hU voice as be folded the letter: "This man Is well along In life. Hu hnsn't youth to help him ns you have. See how he takes It nnd she's the only child he has. There nre millions of pretty girls In the world for you to choose from." '-'1 know It, but there's only one Him Kelso In the world," Harry answered mournfully. "She wus the one I loved." "Yes, but you'll Hnd another. It looks serious, but It Isn't you're so young. Hold up your bend and keep going. You'll bo happy again soon." "Maybe, but I don't see how," said the boy. "There nre lots of things you cau't see from where oj are ul this present moment. There are a good niutiy miles iilien! o' you, I reckon, and one thing you'll see plainly, by und by that It's all for Ihe best. I've suffered a lot myself my-self but I can see new It hoi been a help to me. There Irn't ou hour of It I'd be willing to give up." They paddled !onr In alienee for a time. "It wns my fault," said Harry presently. pres-ently. "I never could say the half ! wanted to when she was with me. My tongue Is too slow. She gave me a chance nnd I wasn't man enough to tvke It. That's all !'v cot to say on thnt .subject." Some time nfton'nrd In a letter to his father the boy wrute: "I often think of thnt ride down the r:er nnd the way he talked to me. It rs o gentle. He was u big, power- ul uluiit of a innn wl'to weighed oter sJSSswwsaaMshaafc-. . mAi' i , two hundred pounds, all of It boneauj muscle. Hut under his great strength was a woman's gentleness; under tin dirty, rugged clothes nnd the rough brown skin grimy with dust and perspiration, wns one of the cleauest souls that ever enmc to this world. I don't menu that he was like a minister. minis-ter. Hu could tell a story wall pretty rough talk In It, but alwuys for a purpose. pur-pose. He hated dirt on the hands or on the tongue. He .oved flowers like a woman. He loved to Took at the stars at night nnd tho colors of tht sunset nnd the morning dew on the meadows. I never saw a man no much In love with fun nnd beauty." They reuched Hnvunu that Avcnlng uud sold their cnuoc to a man who kept bouts to rent on the river shore. They ate a hot supper at tho tavern und got a rldo with a farmer who was going ten miles In their direction. From his cabin some two horrp Inter they set out afoot In the darkness. "doing home Is the end of nil Journeys," Jour-neys," said Abe as they tramped nlon'. "Did It ever occur to you tnnt every live creature has Its home? Thu fish ot the sen, the birds of the air, the beasts of the Held and forest, the creepers In the grass, ull go home. Most of them turn townrd It when the dny wane. The call of home is the one voice hm"d and respected nil the way down tht line of life. And, ye know, the tuott wonderful nnd mysterious thing In in tttre Is the power that fool animals bnve to -go home through great distances, dis-tances, like thu turtle Hint swam from the Hny of Hlscny to his home off Vun Dlemnn's Land. Somehow, coming over In n ship, he hnd blazed a trail through the pathless deep mom than ten thoia sand miles long. It's the one miraculous miracu-lous gift the oue cull that's Irresistible. Irresist-ible. Don't you hear It now? I never lie down In the darkness without thinking of home when I am away." "And It's hard to change your home when you're wonted to It," said Harry. "Yes, Its a little IIkc dying When you pull up the roots and move. It's been hard on your folks." This remark brought them up to th grentest of mysteries. They tramped In silence for a moment. Abe broke In upon It with these words: "I reckon there must be nnothel home somewhere to 30 to afler we huve broke the Inst camp here, nnd n kind of a bird's compass to help u llnd It. I reckon wu'll bear thu call of It as we grow older." Hu stopped and took off his lint and looked up ut the stars und ndded : "If It Isn't so I don't see why tie long procession of life keeps harping on this subject of homo. I think I see the point of the whole thing. It Isn't tho place or the furniture that inaUe.-t It home, but the love nnd peace that's In It. Hy and by our home Isn't here any more. It hns moved Our mind begin to bent about In the undiscovered undiscov-ered countries looking fo' "It. Somehow Some-how we got It located eti? It man for himself." Kor another space they hurried nloni without speaking. "I tell you, Hurry, whatever a large number of Intelligent folks have ngreed upon for some generations Is so If they have been nlhttved to do their own thinking," said the. "It's about the only wisdom the Is." He had sounded the kevtiote of thi new Democracy. So, tinder the lights of heaven speaking In the nllcnce of the night ol Impenetrable mysterleH, they Journeyed Jour-neyed on toward tho land of plenty. "It's ns still as a gravojnnl," Hnrn whispered when they had climbed tit-bluff tit-bluff by tho mill long after mldulgh und wero near the little village. "They're nil hurled In sleep," snb Abe. "We'll get Itutledge out of bed He'll give us a shnkeduwn stim whore." Ills loud rap nn the door of tho tav urn signalized uioh than a desire fci rest In thu wear travelers, for Jul' then a cycle of their Uvea hnd ended. Raiders try ts hum out ' Traylor's "underground rail road station." |