CO 
 
 SERTRjVD SMITES 
 
 BOOK S? V; ; ? " 
 
 wo P.I c / * / c /i / wv r/e 
 
 LONG BLA( a C \ ! rK.
 
 A FRONTIER ROMANCE. 
 
 MAPLE EANGE. 
 
 BY 
 
 EDNA A. BARNARD. 
 
 "That we may lift from out of dust, 
 
 A voice as unto him that hears. 
 A cry above the conquered years." 
 
 CHICAGO : 
 
 HENRY A. SUMNER & CO., PUBLISHERS. 
 1882.
 
 COPTKIGHT, 
 
 HENKT A. SUMNEK & Co., 
 1882. 
 
 E. B. DONNELLEY A SONS, A. J. COX A CO. 
 
 PBINTEB8. BINDERS.
 
 TO 
 
 MY CHILDREN, 
 
 THESE PAGES ARK OFFERED, BY 
 
 YOUR MOTHER, 
 
 PARTLY AS AN EXPRESSION OF LOVE, AND PARTLY 
 THROUGH GBATITCDE.
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 THE MAPLES, ... 9 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 FOREST DAYS, 48 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 SHADOWS, - 82 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 THE LOVER S STRATEGY, - 108 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 
 
 MARTIAL STRAINS, - - - 151 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 A FAREWELL VISIT, 179 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 IN THE NET, - - 189 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 THE MASSACRE, - 205 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 To Wm OR LOSE, - - - 218 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 A FORTUNATE MEETING, 227 
 
 (vli)
 
 Vlll CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 TAGK. 
 
 THE RETURN HOME, 245 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 THE SEPARATION 23? 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 A MOTHER S STRATEGY, - 264 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 "I TOLD You So," 275 
 
 CHAPTER XV 
 
 Two RECOGNITIONS, 289 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 CHECKMATED, 311 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 RESTORATION, .... 339 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 HEART S-EASE, - - 364 
 
 CHAPTER XIX, 
 MIANNETTA S STORY, - 383 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 READING THE WILL, - 419 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 THE WEDDINGS, - .... 437
 
 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 THE MAPLES. 
 
 "The liberal board for welcome stranger spread." 
 
 "TTTHOA! Hold on, Nellie! Don t you see 
 
 V V here is the winning tree, and you are past 
 it ever so much ? " 
 
 "Yes, Robbie, but we came so suddenly upon the 
 tree, galloping round that old Indian mound, that I 
 could not stop my pony at once. Yonder is home, 
 too, and allow me to quote from my old text-book, 
 At the right hand I descry the dark blue waters of 
 an inland sea. I was ahead at the tree. I won the 
 race ! " 
 
 " Yes, you are the winner, and I am as ready to 
 meet the consequences and pay up, as I would be 
 exacting if old Deacon had been more fleet. Let s 
 see ! I was to row you across Lake Loui, Nellie, 
 and so I will tie the horses, and leave them here in 
 the shade till we come back. Whoa, Sampson ! you 
 savage ! A girl s pony ought to be less ready to show 
 bite. Whoa ! I say." 
 
 "Now, don t be cross with my pony; he thinks 
 it time for something to eat after that race." 
 
 " He can t dine off me if he is hungry ; I need 
 U
 
 10 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 my own shoulder to carry my gun, and if divided 
 with him, we should all fare poorly for game, I think. 
 He likes post meat, and he may eat this tree, bark 
 and all, and welcome. 
 
 Come and glide along the tide, 
 And sing to tuning oar. " 
 
 "There s not an oar here, brother, and the boat 
 is half full of water. How about our afternoon 
 sail ? 
 
 " Oh, that is certain enough. I shall bail out the 
 boat with my old straw hat, and show you how old 
 Mock-ane-sah propels a dug-out independently of oars. 
 I can take you over the lake in a jiffy, and make you 
 just as proud of me, as if I was really an Indian, 
 instead of being only an Indian s pupil in the art of 
 boating. " 
 
 And whose pupil in the art of bragging, eh ? " 
 
 "Nobody s; that is not an acquisition. Blowing 
 is just as natural as winking." 
 
 " I know it is, with big things, such as whales and 
 the wind, but somehow I never thought you 
 
 "There, now the water is out! Nellie, jump in 
 and take a seat well forward, so as to give plenty 
 space for the shifting of my birchen propeller. Away 
 we go ! " 
 
 "O goodness me ! we shall surely roll over. See 
 how the awful thing tips ! We shall be drowned, I 
 know we shall ! Stop and let me jump out ! I will 
 get out right here ! " 
 
 " How much better is it to jump into water than 
 to tip in, I should like to ask ? When you get a little 
 more placid, tell me. In any case you are sure of a
 
 THE MAPLES. 11 
 
 good ducking. But don t be scared, little sister ; we 
 are not going over. If you sit still and keep cool, 
 you are all right in my boat. There, is n t that nice, 
 now 2 " 
 
 " Splendid ! But why don t you sing, my brave 
 poler ? " 
 
 "Sing ! Yes, that s appropriate ; but what shall 
 I sing ? Swiftly glides my bonny boat ? 
 
 Not that song, in a dug-out ! Let s sing together 
 something more in keeping with the style of our craft." 
 
 "Will you sing, too ? " 
 
 " Gladly. I feel just like singing." 
 
 A sweet, thin, girlish pipe and a youth s fresh 
 voice, something between a woman s treble and a 
 man s falsetto, bear up the boatman s well-known air. 
 
 Push along, boys, push along, boys. 
 
 Merrily, cheerily, push along ! 
 And whilst our prow makes merry music, 
 
 We 11, too, raise the song. 
 Each to his pole, boys, bend to each pole, boys, 
 
 And whilst the waters ripple round us. 
 
 We 11, too, raise the song. " 
 
 "How clear the water is, Robbie! I believe I 
 could reach the bottom, and get a handful of pebbles, 
 if you would not shove along at such a rate." 
 
 "Don t try that, Nell ! Those pebbles, that look 
 now so near, are many feet below the surface. T is 
 refraction makes them seem so near. This boat 
 requires an equilibrium of ballast. You are safe 
 enough, if you sit still ; but if you lean over the side, 
 we shall capsize. It is necessary to keep your per-
 
 12 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 pendicular while navigating this inland sea, in an out 
 landish craft." 
 
 "Why don t you post that caution in some con 
 spicuous place in your cabin ? The safety of the 
 traveling public demands it." 
 
 "Oh, I prefer repeating it to my passengers, and 
 getting up a reputation as a sociable, attentive and 
 jolly sea-captain, who looks to the safety and comfort 
 of those who sail with him, while he spins yarns and 
 sings for their entertainment." 
 
 " But do you ever transport mermaids in your 
 old canoe ? " 
 
 "Both out of date." 
 
 "Both what?" 
 
 "Why, transportation as a penalty, and the queer 
 water-women you mention that makes two, don t it ? " 
 
 "I s pose ; but say, are those mounds, so thick 
 upon the shore, the graves of the obsolete mermen 
 and maidens ? " 
 
 "Oh, those are not graves of the dead ; they are 
 homes of the living. They are muskrat houses, with 
 hollow runways beneath the shore. There are some 
 of my traps which I ll take along, and bring out 
 again when fur is prime." 
 
 " What a lovely cove at our right. I wish we 
 could explore it so sheltered, dark and cool ! " 
 
 " I ll just cut a pigeon wing with the dug-out and we 
 will go clear up that arm of the lake. Here is where 
 we killed the doe, last week, and captured her fawn. 
 T was a mistake. Father did not mean to kill a deer 
 this time of year was fire-hunting for other game. 
 I wish you could, or would come with us some night.
 
 THE MAPLES. 13 
 
 I know you would be charmed with lamp-lit views 
 of green trees and still waters, the night sending back 
 the rays of light, and perhaps, of a great antlered 
 buck, standing out bold and beautiful on the margin 
 of the bay, his eyes blinded by the unaccustomed bril 
 liancy, turning toward strange sounds. I will push to 
 deeper water over there, and show you where I caught 
 the curiously mustached pout, armed with his danger 
 ous dagger, the other night. I told you how mourn 
 fully the loon cried, and you thought fishing at night 
 must be dismal work ; but I like it. " 
 
 "Oh, show me where you find trout. " 
 
 Directly. Let s sing again. " 
 
 Over the waves and among the interlacing trees, 
 leaps and creeps the batteau man s song, " Push 
 along, boys," while rapidly is ascended the long 
 watery avenue. Suddenly Robert cries : "Bend low 
 now ! This vicious willow took hold of me, Absalom- 
 fashion, once. It guards the mouth of Willow Run, 
 a little brook that has no self-assertion, or impor 
 tance. But here, a little more demonstrative," he 
 added a moment later, " is Dimple Run. Bend while 
 we pass the pikes of defense ; now we are in the 
 deepest, though "narrowest, channel of the stream 
 my favorite haunt, where I decoy the speckled trout." 
 
 " What makes the water look so green ? Don t 
 dip your hat in it ! " 
 
 "I want to show you how mistaken you are. The 
 water is as clear as crystal. See ! In my hat, it is 
 not green, but clear and pure and cool as in our 
 own spring at home. The appearance of deep green 
 is caused by the water-cress that covers the bottom,
 
 14 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 and affords a lurking-place for the most delicate and 
 dainty fish that is beguiled by the angler, which in turn 
 beguiles the epicure." 
 
 u This place is growing really dark and lonesome, 
 Robert. If you would only go back now ! I am 
 afraid, it is so still here, with the rushes and alders so 
 thick and high upon the bank. I shudder as I fancy 
 some huge, wild creature, man or beast, crouched 
 low in that tangled growth, ready to pick me out of 
 the canoe. Most terrible now comes the thought, we 
 can t turn round, the brook is so narrow. What will 
 we do with this great long unwieldy log, our only 
 method of escape, and that useless to return." 
 
 Don t go distracted over nothing, you foolish 
 little puss ! There is nothing to be afraid of. Every 
 bush and willow on the bank are friends of mine, 
 and consequently yours. I will go back with you 
 certainly, you look so scared and white ; but as 
 to turning the boat round, that is not necessary. Our 
 barge is like a craw-fish ; will go as well one way as 
 the other. The propeller only has to change ends." 
 
 " Oh, I comprehend. You stand on your head, 
 going back ! " 
 
 "That laughing relieves me,- Nell ! I am sure 
 your fright is past, and I grant you license to make 
 the woods ring with your fun, though I generally 
 caution my passengers not to poke fun at, or sass 
 the commander, while they still have to cross the 
 high seas with him." 
 
 Thanks, for the courteous exception in my favor. 
 Still, I think I will defer all indecorum of spirits till 
 we have crossed the still and silent lake. "
 
 THE MAPLES. 15 
 
 "Now we are once more on the bosom of Lake 
 Loui, I will sit down and rest my pole while enjoy 
 ing with you a tranquil float on this enchanted 
 wave. Look up, Nellie, and look again below. See 
 how, at rest, we seem to hang between two equally 
 distant and curving skies. I have floated this way 
 alone hundreds of times. This spot, which makes 
 me seem an atom with no visible relation, has a 
 peculiar attraction for me. I am always so happy 
 here, I could muse and sing and float forever ! I 
 sometimes think, by a little study, I could learn to 
 read marvelous things. Looking down into the 
 lower sky, where the white clouds glide, one from 
 below another, are the slow-sliding leaves of a great 
 manuscript. Look closely, Nellie. They unfold for 
 us either a poem, a revelation, or a prophecy." 
 
 "We had better consult the sun, which lays a 
 command upon us to hunt up our horses and hurry 
 home." 
 
 "A very sensible command, too ! My inner con 
 science enjoins absolute obedience, as I believe it s a 
 commandment, with promise of supper, and true as 
 I live, a long walk for me. Old Deacon has slipped 
 his bridle and gone home without me ! " 
 
 "Well, what of that? Sampson carried off the 
 gates of Gaza, and his namesake ought to be able to 
 carry double. 
 
 "All right! I will ride with you, Nellie, and we 
 won t be long going home." 
 
 The speaker was, perhaps, fifteen years old, large 
 of his age, and of bright intellect. Well-trained
 
 16 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 thought lent a luster to his eyes, and spread its grace 
 over his handsome face. 
 
 His companion was a lovely girl, many years his 
 junior ; fair of face, so pearly in tint and delicate in 
 outline that, but for a gaiety of manner amounting to 
 playfulness, you would have called her spirituelle. 
 She was a fragile, wavering, half-timid vine, clinging 
 to sturdier natures. But fragile as she was, her very 
 clinging strengthened and ennobled her brother, who, 
 adventurous and daring to a fault, became gentle and 
 thoughtful as a girl, in her companionship. Looking 
 with his clear blue eyes into her own as blue, he 
 would talk of her flowers, or listen to the curious 
 dreams she had a charming way of relating, for 
 getful that other companionship would be desirable. 
 These two, all in all to each other, were the only 
 children of the only white settler in a new, unculti 
 vated region, the then frontier of Minnesota. Their 
 father, Mr. James Maynard, an English gentleman of 
 means, had settled recently in plain sight of Lake 
 Loui, though a goodly two miles away. Look 
 you directly north from the lake, across the green, 
 billowy prairie, whose grasses sweep to the foot of 
 an upland that rises abruptly, and then spreads out to 
 a table, broad and magnificent. This table was orig 
 inally heavily timbered ; but the larger trees have 
 been cut down, leaving a fine grove as great pro 
 tection against the furious snows and winds that 
 often threaten to overwhelm the traveler. North of 
 this table another rises, and another of less depth 
 and more inclination, which retains also much of 
 the forest growth of maples, and presents a beautiful
 
 THE MAPLES. 17 
 
 outline as it stretches back. At the distance of 
 half a mile, the timber grows moro dense, forming a 
 right royal crown to this commanding eminence, and 
 is the commencement of a maple forest of many 
 miles extent. A double log house stands (or did, 
 at the time our story commences) on the first-men 
 tioned, or lowest table-land, midway in the maple 
 grove. Its new shining roof was a land-mark by 
 day, and its lighted Avindows beacons by night, to the 
 chance pilgrim along the territorial road. This road 
 followed Lake Loui s western shore, a mile or more 
 perhaps, then, keeping due north across its outlet 
 turned east at the foot of the first plateau, con 
 tinuing at its base, and following its contour to 
 the entrance of a ravine, which led up to the high 
 land of the maple forest ; then stretched away on 
 through the wood to an old stockade, built long ago 
 for Indian defense, but now in decay. 
 
 In the vicinity of the lake, nature has been par 
 ticularly lavish of noble views. The one from the 
 lake of the twin plateaus, the new home in the grove 
 nestled up to the bosom of a high forest. Looking 
 eastward over an immense prairie under certain atmo 
 spheric conditions you will see the blue waves of a 
 lake, fifteen miles away. Nearer, your eye may trace 
 the sinuous course, and in some places you may even 
 see the waters, of Dimple Run, as it comes down 
 from its forest source, threading the prairie and con 
 tributing its liquid wealth to the picturesque Lake 
 Loui. 
 
 When this eastern view palls the senses, bend 
 your gaze upon that smooth prairie directly south, 
 B 1*
 
 18 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 and thank heaven for the blessedness of vision that 
 embraces not only the prairie but the lake and 
 forest beyond, as an emerald frame, reflected in the 
 deep crystal mirror. 
 
 A sunset mist often hangs over the outlet of Lake 
 Loui, as it creeps down toward the west, and the 
 delicious languor of the vine-clad hills of Italy is re 
 peated in the atmosphere of this broad valley. The 
 Waubece river comes silently around the heights of 
 the northwest, and, meeting the outlet, grows noisy 
 as it dashes down in numberless cascades. Your 
 eye may follow this broad valley by its northern 
 bluffy battlements, hoary and gray and scarred with 
 time, or its southern line, sooner lost to view, of green 
 hills and shady vales. 
 
 The home of Mr. Maynard, builded in this grove 
 of marvelous beauty, was christened THE MAPLES. 
 It was one of Minnesota s new and lone homes, but had 
 already become known afar for the rest and guid 
 ance, food and fire," insured those who crossed its 
 friendly threshold. Its owner had found this part of 
 Minnesota wild and sparsely settled, but beautiful 
 beyond all his . most extravagant fancies ; containing 
 the elements of commercial and agricultural gran 
 deur. He believed its settlement hazardous only as 
 it was remote from white neighborhood and pro 
 tection, as the Indians would certainly manifest hos 
 tility, and guard with jealous eye all the inroads of 
 civilization upon their rich hunting-grounds. He 
 was so captivated by these lovely surroundings that 
 he resolved to hazard even savage ire in their lawful 
 possession. He had much hope in establishing
 
 THE MAPLES. 19 
 
 friendly relations by the Christian conciliation, which 
 he believed not only possible, but imperative, in 
 dealing with a savage race. He purchased largely 
 of the government, and his place had wide fame 
 for the comfort of its appointments, the urbanity 
 of its master and the generosity of its mistress. A 
 long distance in any direction would weary the trav 
 eler who sought a white man s roof; so, first of neces 
 sity, later of preference, many were warmed by the 
 huge fire-place and brake bread at the well-ordered 
 table. The extra chair at one, and plate at the 
 other, bespoke an expected, though a stranger, guest, 
 to a friendly welcome. The two buildings that com 
 posed the house were connected by one roof, Avith a 
 large space between. The eastern part contained 
 two sleeping-rooms .and the family sitting-room. 
 The western apartment, large and convenient, was 
 devoted to cooking, eating and general housework. 
 It was a warm, comfortable and pleasant home, con 
 sidered quite fine by the frontiersmen. The large, 
 well-built out-buildings and shelters told their own 
 story of the thrifty farmer, and the merciful man 
 considerate of his beast. 
 
 Mrs. Maynard was of good Scottish birth, the 
 daughter of a gentleman with some wealth who 
 had the misfortune to inherit a suit in chancery and a 
 hope of winning it. Consequently, a great por 
 tion of his money passed early in life into the 
 possession of greedy Barnacles. At his death, he 
 had little to bequeath his daughter, save what she 
 valued most, his blessing. She had received at 
 his hands a treasure more enduring than gold, a
 
 20 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 thorough education, which he had personally super 
 vised. Her social advantages had been of the most 
 ennobling character, from which her ingenuous soul 
 had easily taken impressions. Truth s moulding is so 
 much more exquisite where there are no thwarting 
 influences to overcome. Her own and her husband s 
 early history, interesting as the narration might be, is 
 not essential to my story. I present them to ;you, 
 gentle reader a gentleman of sterling qualities, rare 
 culture and deep piety, striving to redeem from 
 the wilderness a home whose foundation should 
 have permanence ; a lady who would grace any 
 home, however elevated, and blessing particularly this 
 one upon the frontier, herself the mirror of her 
 husband s and children s happiness, as well the most 
 efficient agent in its creation. Husband and wife, 
 together toiling earnestly for the good of all within 
 their reach. 
 
 Here, even on the frontier, Mrs. Maynard 
 proved the value of education, for her children were 
 as well- taught as she had been. In the forest of 
 Minnesota, far from civilized habitation, the winter 
 evenings were employed by her children with books, 
 charts and scholastic instruments, as the evenings 
 of her early life had been, away on the banks 
 of the rippling Tweed. It was one of those wintry 
 evenings, following the summer of our first introduc 
 tion to Robert and Nellie. The skating on Lake Loui 
 had been spoiled by a recent heavy fall of snow. 
 The gallant officer of the "outlandish craft," and his 
 timid passenger were engrossed with books and reci 
 tations, while their mother seemed a girl again, as
 
 THE MAPLES. 21 
 
 she helped them through the mist that often obscures 
 the young scholar. Thoughtfully, she had drawn back 
 the curtains from the south windoAV, saying, " The 
 snow is so deep, progress would be painfully slow 
 to him whose way is clear, but God pity the bewil 
 dered wayfarer on such a night as this ! " Her hus 
 band looked up from his paper, his pipe and his 
 pippins, into his wife s face, smiled approval of her 
 thought, and as if to supplement the small charity 
 expressed, heaped the dry sticks of maple upon 
 the fire, already sputtering and roaring up the great- 
 throated chimney, till the room was one blaze of light 
 and warmth ; and chairs drew instinctively nearer 
 the fire. 
 
 Nellie said: "It s too cold to comprehend a les 
 son to-night ! "Will you excuse me, mother ? Father, 
 please pass the apples ? " But father was dozing 
 in his arm-chair, with feet on a decorous rest. 
 Robert came forward, helped his mother and Nellie, 
 finally himself, to the golden fruit, and was seating 
 himself to enjoy it, when they were all startled by a 
 stentorian " Hullo, the house, thar !" 
 
 Mr. Maynard, his wife, children, Cloe the domes 
 tic, and Hall the hired man, were speedily at open 
 doors, peering out into the gloom of the stormy night. 
 
 A nondescript vehicle on runners had anchored 
 near the steps, and was rapidly discharging its freight 
 of shivering children. In obedience to some silent 
 unseen agency, the living parcels rolled out, utterly 
 regardless of the precaution, "This side up;" but 
 fast as they rolled out, Mrs. Maynard, Cloe and
 
 22 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 Nellie, bore them into the warm sitting-room, and 
 disposed them comfortably. 
 
 Mrs. Maynard again stood upon the porch, waiting 
 for more parcels, while her husband stepped out into 
 the deeper gloom, where he heard muffled and peculiar 
 sounds, as if some overworked engine was striving 
 to recover its breathing ; sure enough, a snorting 
 human locomotive labored into view from near the 
 horse s head, and, Avith much slapping of chilled 
 hands, delivered himself satisfactorily in having 
 " got thar at last. " He was grizzled and grim and 
 frosty, as he made his way toward Mr. Maynard, and 
 extending his hand, in a voice pitched to the key 
 which came into use with railroad crossings and deaf 
 switch-tenders, shouted : 
 
 "How d ye du, squar ! My name s Wilson 
 William H. Wilson, if you want the whole figger. 
 I m movin my gang and plunder up country, and I 
 reckoned ye d give us a bunk and some provender 
 here, t night. Leastways, I telled my woman, 
 that s Betsey, that t would be playin powerful low 
 down on us, ef ye didn t, for it pears like we are 
 enamost done out, her and me, ain t we Betsey? 
 Say, Betsey ! What ails ye, woman ? Come, get 
 out o that thar concern, now ! The lady has got the 
 children in by the fire, and says we are all welcome. 
 Betsey ! " 
 
 "Oh, go long, William! It pears like you re 
 worse than Balaam s critter ! The young ones are all 
 out, but Theoph, and I am so stiff and cold I can t get 
 him out of the twilts and wrappin s. He is fast 
 asleep, ye see, an ef ye don t move lively and fetch
 
 THE MAPLES. 23 
 
 him out o that kiver, I won t answer but he will be 
 froze stiffer n a mackerel." 
 
 Mrs. Maynard had now got hold of the poor 
 woman s arm, and, while the husband disappeared 
 under the "kiver," in search of Theophilus, led her 
 into the house, where the children were already show 
 ing signs of warmth and returning life. Wilson, 
 soon after, came in with Mr. Maynard, bearing the 
 sleeping child, who was not frozen, or even cold, the 
 mother had so comfortably disposed him in the 
 sleigh. Robert had gone with the hired man to attend 
 the one horse which drew this load of humanity ; that 
 is, was supposed to have drawn them ; but Avhen 
 the fire had done its work, and Wilson had thoroughly 
 thawed out, some light was thrown on this. 
 
 "Stranger," said Wilson, addressing Mr. May 
 nard, "one of my bosses caved in teetotally, a spell 
 below here, by the lake ; fell down dead at the half 
 breed tract, and t other one pulled the load, with 
 me a-pushin behind, till we got forcninst the pitchin 
 off place of your bench, thar. I had onhitched the 
 dead hoss and drug him out into the snow by the 
 road-bed as I was say in , the other hoss drew the 
 load till jest below here when I see he was in a fair 
 way to give out too. Well, I jest took hold beside him, 
 and old gray and me done some of the peartest pullin 
 outside of a dentist s shop. I hain t got the most 
 powerful purchase on the ground, nor old gray so 
 much meat on his bones that butchers spot his stall; 
 but say, now, you can hitch us up together, and, 
 stranger, I lay we will pull even and move anything 
 that is cut loose at both ends. Why, my woman will
 
 24 MAPLE KANGE. 
 
 tell ye we made better time than the two bosses, 
 didn t we, Betsey \ " 
 
 Betsey had fallen- asleep in her chair in the midst 
 of her eight roguish, rosy, rustic children, ranging 
 in regular order, a half head difference between them. 
 They might have been likened to stairs, commencing 
 with little toothless Tad and topping off with the 
 buxom Ruth Ann. Supper was soon in readiness, and 
 they all filed into the kitchen, the children given high 
 seats, the parents made to feel that even larger 
 families could be accommodated. Wilson discoursed 
 less of his mishaps during the meal; but his wife 
 seemed more talkative, over her cup of tea, She 
 said : 
 
 " It seems almost a impersition to crowd in so late 
 at night ; but what with the poor slippin and the 
 dead beast, we got belated a heap. I did feel power 
 ful feared we would perish, when it grew dark, but 
 then we seed your light, and oh, ef you only could 
 know the courage that came into our hearts ! I 
 was on my knees, rubbin the children s feet to keep 
 the frost out, and, though my teeth chattered and my 
 hands shook like the fever n ager, yet I told em 
 funny stories to make em laugh, for I thought a good 
 ha-haw would liven em and set the blood to circula- 
 tin . When we fust cum out of the woods round the 
 lake shore, William said, Thar is the north star ; 
 and, sure enough, it looked like it, only a million 
 times brighter, and we knew ef we could only stand 
 it across the prairie, we would bring up, in the eend, 
 at a warm coop ; and we did, thanks to our Heavenly 
 Father."
 
 THE MAPLES. 25 
 
 This was the first meal, as paterfamilias affirmed, 
 that had been partaken square " in a week ; the 
 apparent relish confirmed his statement, if there had 
 seemed any doubt of its truthfulness. But honesty of 
 purpose was written all over his homely face, and rung 
 in the accentuation of every syllable that dropped 
 from his lips. Mrs. Maynard assisted in waiting upon 
 them, supplying the particular dish for which each 
 showed a preference. She also discovered the exist 
 ence of a family tooth for the unctuous sweet which 
 accompanies the hominy and bacon bill of fare, prized 
 by the class the Wilsons represented, called " low- 
 downers." It was noticeable that Ruth Ann was the 
 "big eater "of the family; that when the general 
 appetite seemed to falter, hers was still up to the mark. 
 Another piece of bread was preparing for sacrifice on 
 her plate; had received its modicum of butter, and she 
 was absorbed in the action of pouring syrup over it, 
 watching with pleased abstraction the curves and 
 linos that formed mouth-watering intersections. The 
 door opened, Robert entered the room, advancing 
 to the stove, with some boyish and pungent remarks 
 upon the weather. The girl s eyes were transferred 
 from her plate to his face, and fixed there by its 
 promise rather than the fulfilment of masculine 
 beauty. Her ideas had been formed from observation 
 of ruder specimens of humanity, and though she 
 could not trace to its source or name the peculiar 
 charm which refined influences lend, she recognized 
 its presence. 
 
 While she sat staring with wonder and admiration, 
 her employment all forgotten, the syrup still flowed, 
 2
 
 26 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 drowning the bread, filling the plate, then, slowly 
 swelling over the circling rim, it fell a golden river 
 on the table, thence to the floor. At this juncture, 
 her mother discovered her unfortunate predicament. 
 Rising quickly, with Tad in her arms, she leaned, 
 with detriment to the yielding cream pitcher, 
 clear over the table, administering a rousing box on 
 the poor girl s ear, shrieking : 
 
 "Wha ! thar, you! Are ye goin to keep on 
 pourin them molasses till ye can see the nigger grin- 
 nin at the bottom of the jug? Take that ! and 
 that!" boxing her, "and jest toddle out and scour 
 up a little, for, see ! ye have jest gone and stuck yer 
 two hands in the mess, and thar s a powerful chance 
 ye 11 get a good lickin to top off with. Mind ! " 
 
 Mortified and abashed, the girl had reached the 
 door before her mother s sharp words had ceased. 
 Great persuasion from Mrs. Maynard was necessary 
 before she would return to the sitting-room after 
 supper. Robert and Nellie were missing, but their 
 mother found them in the bed-room, with pillows 
 stuffed tightly to their mouths, their eyes full of tears 
 of suppressed laughter. She cautioned them against 
 the possibility of wounding the feelings of their 
 guests, by indulgence of this kind over their pecu 
 liarities. 
 
 "But, mother," said Nellie, with words hurried 
 by merriment, " I shall die, they are all so queer !" 
 
 "Yes, mother, I shall, too! One grave and one 
 monument for Nellie and Robert ; one inscription 
 Laughed themselves to death ! How pitiful ! " 
 
 Perfect mistress of herself, as she was, even the
 
 THE MAPLES. 27 
 
 self-possessed Mrs. Maynard laughed at the ludicrous 
 picture, and left her children to recover from-these par 
 oxysms in their own way and time. The little people 
 were all glad of a suggestion to get up stairs to bed. 
 The kind hands of doe, who had a good memory of 
 childhood, helped them to get under the warm wool 
 sheets, and tucked them in. Her own bed-room Mrs. 
 Maynard assigned to Wilson and his wife. Nellie 
 and Ruth Ann occupied the other, while, on a bed 
 used only when company made it necessary, occupying 
 one corner of the large sitting-room, she would her 
 self sleep, when the loquacious Wilson should con 
 clude to strike in for the night. This, even at near 
 midnight, seemed a remote probability, for he grew, 
 in the quiet after the children had been sent to bed, 
 more voluble and communicative than before. After 
 awhile even u Tad "was asleep, and the hostess led 
 the way to the room where the Wilsons, pere et mere, 
 were to repose ; Mrs. Wilson returned, and seating 
 herself near Mrs. Maynard, said : 
 
 "I calculate that you and yer old man will sleep 
 in this yere bed." 
 
 Yes, " was the reply. Mrs. Maynard won 
 dered at the remark, but did not have to wait long 
 for its explanation, as the visitor continued : 
 
 "Wall, now, you look tired-like, and delicate to 
 boot, though you do carry a good bit o meat. You 
 needn t mind us a picayune, but turn in whenever 
 ye git ready. William won t never know when to 
 pinch off his gab, as long as yer husband shows a 
 shadder for him to shoot at ; besides, we always have 
 a season of prayer, before we go to bed, no matter
 
 28 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 where we are. You see, we Ve belonged to the meetin 
 nigh on to ten year ; and William, as he grows in 
 grace, gets powert tiller and powerfuller in prayer. 
 He has got some very sot ways, and one is, holdin 
 on to the horns of the altar a good spell. You will 
 git sleepy a right smart before he is through. I know 
 you will feel pimpin all day, to-morrow, and may jest 
 as well undress and git into bed, for, bless yer heart, 
 William won t look." 
 
 But William did look at that very instant, turned 
 round, bestrode his chair, took another hunk of 
 cavendish, and stared at them while he manipulated 
 the sweet morsel, preparatory to ne\v utterance. He 
 had not heard his wife s words oh, no ! That was 
 not his way. His own voice was too charming ; 
 when it got a chance of a good run, as to-night, it 
 went "without let or hindrance." He only paused 
 to fit the tobacco well to his cheek a good cheek 
 and proceeded to square himself with his host and host 
 ess, as it just occurred to him, might be advisable and 
 timely, late as it was. 
 
 " I calculate you ns take me to be the father of 
 all the childer we brung here to-night. Now, that is a 
 little mistake, but a harmly one, as a good pile of em 
 are mine ; but my woman, thar, the fust time I ever 
 seed her, was leadin Ruth Ann, and carried Peter in 
 her arms. It was on a steamboat ; and the capting told 
 me she was a inconsolable widder." 
 
 "Yes," the woman interrupted; "I ll tell ye 
 how twas." 
 
 "Now, Betsey, that ain t fair ! I started this ex 
 planation myself ; commenced tellin how t was "
 
 THE MAPLES. 29 
 
 "I don t care ef you did ! I guess I know the 
 story a heap better n you do, an I m going to tell it, 
 ef anybody does ! " 
 
 " Well, go on, then ! " said Wilson, evidently 
 resigning himself to what he had reason to know was 
 inevitable. 
 
 "In the first place," she said, "you must know 
 me and my first man lived on the Mississippi bottoms, 
 in old Tennessee. We emost always, one or t other 
 of us, had the chills sometimes both, and the chil 
 dren too. Of course, we was always poor, and 
 lived, as they say, from hand to mouth. Hearin 
 a good bit about how much healthier it was in Illi 
 nois, we concluded to go thar somehow. Just as 
 soon as you make up yer mind you will do a thing, 
 the way is always clear. My husband found a chance 
 and dickered with the capting of a Orleans steam 
 boat, goin up, to take us and our plunder, for him 
 lendin a hand, takin truck off an on the boat, at the 
 different landings. Well, at St. Louis, they put off a 
 large cargo of sugar, and tuck on railroad iron, for a 
 point above thar. When we shoved off from the 
 levee, the good-natured mate, knowin the hands 
 were all tired, treated em to the drinks, and my 
 man, not ever havin been used to it, and being weak 
 besides from the chills, felt the effects of the whisky 
 more than the rest, and more than the mate expected 
 he would. I was sittin in among bales and boxes, for 
 ward, with the steerage passengers. Ruth Ann, about 
 three years old, was standing by my knee Peter, 
 the baby, asleep in my arms when, all to onct, I 
 seed my man start to come toward us seed him
 
 30 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 stagger and stumble, and then disappear. A few 
 minutes afterwards, they brought him to me, dead. 
 Yes, he had fallen, in his first drunken fit, clean 
 through the hatchet. His neck was broken, but he 
 looked as natural as ef he was asleep, and I s pose I 
 took on powerful. It was awful lonesome, sittin 
 there, day after day, on that noisy, puffin old steam 
 boat, with only the freight and strange people and 
 niggers about me, and 1 cried as ef my heart was all 
 goin to pieces. Him, that was dead and left behind, 
 had been a good, kind husband, though middlin close- 
 mouthed not so talkative as William, to be sure ; 
 but then we didn t have half so many jaws. One 
 of the cabin passengers, a purty creter of a girl 
 that had been to Orleans with her pap, come down 
 thar to me, in my grief, and give me a purse of 
 forty dollars, collected among the passengers. She 
 was terrible sorry for me, and put her white, dimpled 
 arms around my neck, which, I reckon, must a looked 
 a good bit browner, and begged me not to grieve so. 
 Stooping low to kiss the baby, while tears fell upon 
 his dress, she whispered of One who had promised to 
 be a father to the fatherless, and the widow s God. I 
 had been sort o unbelievin in sech things, but then 
 I had never heard the word from any one but these 
 loud-voiced circuit riders, who proclaimed a shriekin 
 gospil, and seemed bent on scarin folks to glory. 
 When she, with her low sweet voice, told me of His 
 tenderness and care, His mercy, His death for me 
 even me, so poor and no account my heart was 
 softened. I fell on my knees and prayed. I knelt a 
 sinner, but rose a rejoicin Christian."
 
 THE MAPLES. 31 
 
 Her humble story was told in a monotonous, sing 
 song tone that, toward the last, sometimes was almost 
 a wail, and then a whisper, while her face lost all its 
 rudeness and took on an expression of peculiar gentle 
 ness so much so that Mrs. Maynard, commenting 
 mentally then, but afterward to her husband, declared 
 that " Child-like faith transforms the plainest features, 
 and the Creator s image is clearly impressed upon the 
 brow of the believing creature." In the lull, she laid 
 the family Bible in her husband s hands. He read a 
 chapter, followed the reading with a brief prayer, 
 after which a longer, boisterous prayer, exhaustive 
 of words and lungs and listeners patience, was made 
 by Wilson. Mrs. Wilson, also, but in low, earnest 
 tunes, prayed, then retired at once, so that Wilson 
 had no opportunity, in his own words, to tell "how 
 twas." 
 
 It was a long breakfast table in the kitchen next 
 morning ; and, as Johnny Wilson said to his sister, 
 "Nobody don t have to wait for nobody else to get 
 done eating." Each chubby little stranger had a 
 place at the table, and an appetite as well, that com 
 pared satisfactorily with those of larger growth. 
 Here let me say, lest I forget it, that unfortunate 
 indeed is the individual who, after a few weeks resi 
 dence in this beautiful State, breathing its pure, in 
 vigorating air, fails to experience the pleasurable sen 
 sations of real Minnesota hunger. 
 
 Successive cups of coffee served to unloosen Wil- 
 ron s tongue, which seemed to find no end of material 
 upon which to comment. But for the wife, who 
 could shut off the member at short range, his
 
 32 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 tongue might have furnished anew the suggestion of 
 perpetual motion. 
 
 At last, however, he made some inquiry about 
 the country "above, "and received a very full and 
 evidently satisfactory description from Mr. Maynard, 
 and the promise to accompany him in search of a 
 location. A courtesy which a rich speculator need 
 never expect from such men as James Maynard, 
 whose whole soul was devoted to the settlement of 
 the country of his adoption, particularly this wooded, 
 watered and productive belt of promise. He made, 
 too, the thoughtful and generous provision that Wil 
 son s family should remain at The Maples, until he 
 could look around and decide if he would locate 
 there, or go on. Both Wilson and his wife were 
 moved to expressions of gratitude at this unex 
 pected offer. The former, clearing his throat, said : 
 
 "It s a big offer, neighbor. My family is not 
 used to such kindness and such quarters ; but we ns 
 will accept it, bein that I hain t got the rhino, jest at 
 the present winkin , to do anything else but accept. 
 But I will hope to get quits with ye somehow, in the 
 long run of our three score years and ten ; and it 
 pears like " his eyes moistened suspiciously, here 
 "I can t a-bcar to question too closely and put 
 from me too independently the first streak of light 
 that has come across my cloud for ever so long. I 
 have, one time and another, shoved round a power, 
 livin now at the pillow and now at the post, with 
 all sorts of luck, makin moves in all sorts, too, of 
 jumnibusses ; but I declare," he said, laughing again, 
 "last night was the fust time I ever had to turn loco-
 
 THE MAPLES. 33 
 
 motive." Turning suddenly around, as if a new, 
 large idea was born in his brain and struggled 
 for expression, he looked with intentness of gaze 
 and parted lips into his wife s face a moment, then, 
 " D ye mind, Betsey," he said, " the time, last winter, 
 when I tuck young school-master Thompson to Gelena, 
 and went with him that night to a lecture on Stron- 
 emy ? " 
 
 "Yes ; what of it? " said the wife. 
 
 "Why, I thought about that lecture, last night, 
 when I was tuggin along by the side of old gray, up 
 the pitch. Ye see the man told us about a critter, put 
 in the sky by shepherds, down there at Chaldea ; 
 though ef he had jest said Yankees, I would a -took 
 more stock in the yarn, as they might manage to 
 boost the thing up somehow. Anyhow, he said the 
 thing was half hoss and half human. I done forgot 
 the name precisely. Let me Sent Senter 
 
 "Century! I have seen the word a hundred 
 times in readin books. I know it s Century," said 
 Mrs. Wilson, warmly. 
 
 Robert looked up at his mother, receiving her 
 signal of approval, turned to Wilson, and inquiringly 
 suggested : "Was it not Centaur, sir? " 
 
 " Yes, yes, boy ; that s the very it ! " 
 
 "Oh, I thought it must be Century," said Mrs. 
 Wilson. 
 
 "That was a queer lecture, anyhow," continued 
 Wilson, "got up, I warrant, by some college chap 
 that knew so much he didn t know anything, and 
 thought he could stuff any nonsense down a West 
 erner. He undertook to prove by some kind of a 
 C
 
 34: MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 jimcrack, I forgot the name of it, that the earth goes 
 round the sun every so often, and turns a complete 
 summersault itself every day ; showed just how t was 
 done ; and a lot of other stuff about the planits and 
 their orbs and consolutions, and what not ; but I 
 can t remember the name of the machine he used." 
 
 "I wonder if in this upper region," said Mr. 
 Maynard, we shall ever listen to such lectures upon 
 the revolutions of the earth and other planets ever 
 have our perceptions quickened and benefited by 
 scientific illustrations ? " 
 
 "Illustrations ! that was the name of the feller s 
 machine that he handled, to show up the whole hum 
 bug. He told it often enough for any fool to remem 
 ber, even if it s a long word. No question about it, 
 though ; that was the name that he called that 
 machine of his n Illustrations ! " 
 
 Nellie and Robert were missing again ! Breakfast 
 w as over. Mr. Maynard was examining his gun, and 
 Mrs. Maynard was putting up a lunch of biscuit and 
 boiled ham ; but there was a perceptible quiver about 
 the corners of their mouths as they exchanged glances, 
 which would have comforted Rob and Nellie. 
 
 The two men were soon oft* on a long, tiresome 
 >amp through the deep snow of the woods and across 
 flie drifted prairies, circling round at last to the choice 
 timbered land, north of The Maples. A location a 
 few miles distant was decided upon, and trees blazed 
 to define its boundary. Mrs. Wilson and her children 
 Tere made entirely at home, feeling the sweet privilege 
 after having for so many days known only the 
 cramped covered sleigh. Nellie and Robert, upon
 
 fHE MAPLES . 35 
 
 hospitable thoughts intent," took care that time 
 should not hang heavily, nor the days seem long to 
 their young visitors, whom they liked in spite of 
 their peculiarities of manner and speech. Evening 
 came down almost unawares upon their enjoyable 
 games. There was a stampede of youngsters though, 
 when Wilson s face was discovered at the small open 
 ing of the door, and the hearty Ho, ho, ho ! " 
 which rolled in like the tide of the sea, lifting the 
 children it challenged, by its heartsome buoyancy. 
 By the time he had reached the center of the room, 
 he was literally en wreathed with his olive branches. 
 Johnny, his own, and Pete, his foster or step-son, 
 strove together for a seat on his shoulders. Luke 
 and Matthew sat, one on each knee, while two 
 little red-faced fellows tugged away in the attempt 
 to climb up by his legs. Then his wife, with a 
 beaming look that belied all the sharpness of her 
 speech, came forward and laid little Tad in his bosom, 
 her own head resting there, as it were to hold the 
 child, but really to express her gladness at his return. 
 
 1 1 had no idea, Wilson, you could carry such a 
 1 ^ad," said Mr. Maynard, "or I would have accepted 
 your offer to bring in the elk we shot to day. * 
 
 "Oh,." was the reply, "a man can carry a big 
 load of his own flesh and blood, kase he has so much 
 of heart help." 
 
 " But Wilson would carry your elk, I 11 be bound, 
 Mr. Maynard, if you would just brag him up now 
 and then. He will work harder any day for praise, 
 than he will for pay," said Mrs. Wilson, good- 
 naturedly.
 
 36 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 At supper the plan was laid, and the morrow wit 
 nessed the first step towards building a house on the 
 farm chosen in the deep woods. This farm lay on 
 either side of the road that passed The Maples. 
 Several succeeding days were employed in getting 
 together logs and material for the building. In two 
 weeks time, by the assistance of Mr. Maynard, Robert 
 and the hired man, Wilson had built a comfortable 
 cabin, and it waited only the occupancy of the family 
 to constitute a veritable "lodge in the vast wilder 
 ness." Wilson looked with pride and satisfaction 
 upon its rough-hewn walls. Hitherto, he had lived 
 in mean, often comfortless, rented tenements; and 
 now to call this warm, cosy cabin and one hundred 
 and sixty acres his own, made him feel kingly. The 
 tears stood in his eyes, but there was no weight >at his 
 heart. The floors were made of puncheons, the 
 chimneys of mud and sticks, the roof of shakes, and 
 the window panes were oiled paper ; but a palace was 
 never completed with more genuine satisfaction than 
 Swelled his heart, as, when after boring a gimlet hole 
 through the rude door and slipping a narrow strip of 
 buckskin through, he attached the wooden latch 
 on the inside, straightening himself proudly up, 
 thanked his neighbor that his house was done. That 
 night was the last of the sojourn of the new comers 
 at The Maples. They had all retired, and, with the 
 exception of Mrs. Maynard, were asleep. The fire 
 still burned brightly on the hearth, though it was late, 
 when the door opened softly and the tall form of an 
 Indian entered. 
 
 "Welcome, friend," said Mrs. Maynard.
 
 THE MAPLES. 37 
 
 Ugh ! " was the impressive response, as he 
 advanced, squatting on the hearth, lit his pipe, and 
 in a moment was smoking as if he had never done 
 anything else. 
 
 "Are you hungry, Mock-ane-sah ? " 
 
 "No ; me eat venison plenty." 
 
 " Well, get a pillow from the lounge, and lie 
 down by the fire," she added. 
 
 "Ugh! Me no want pillow. Me have no sore 
 head afraid of stones. It is tough from lying on the 
 ground in rain and tempest. Me no woman ! " 
 
 This dusky addition to her family, sprawled full 
 length in Mrs. Maynard s view, wrapped in his blanket 
 on the hearth, slept as soundly as she in her feather 
 bed. If the hired man, grown accustomed to such 
 visits, exhibited surprise when he came in at day 
 break to make the fire, what must have been that 
 of the Wilsons, big and little, when they assembled 
 in the breakfast room and encountered the stolid 
 look of the big Indian. Mr. Maynard met him then, 
 and extending his hand in welcome, said : 
 
 "What is the matter? Why do you come this 
 long distance to see us now, when it s cold and snow 
 is deep ? " 
 
 Mock-ane-sah don t feel cold. His heart is burn 
 ing. He has trouble deeper than the snow ! " 
 With poor English, he managed to tell his story and 
 object of his visit. 
 
 A party of his braves had, for some sli ,/t provo 
 cation, attacked a lumbering crew of white men, 
 killing one man and fatally wounding another. The 
 party guilty of murder, Tonewah by name, had been
 
 38 HAPLE RANGE. 
 
 arrested, and was now lying in jail at St. Paul, await 
 ing his trial. Mock-ane-sah, though heartily disap 
 proving the course of the Indians implicated, was still 
 intent upon the release of Tonewah, and had come to 
 beg Mr. Maynard to use his influence to prevent con 
 viction. 
 
 "My friend," Mr. Maynard said, "I can scarcely 
 tell you how much I regret this occurrence ; but if it 
 is as you say, it s plain the law justly demands the 
 punishment of the murderer." 
 
 "Ugh! the white man s law," was the significant 
 reply. 
 
 "Yes ; but a just law an eye for an eye, a life 
 for a life. We feed and shelter our criminals ; give 
 them a fair trial ; but if found guilty, they must 
 suffer the penalty of crime." 
 
 "You think Tonewah must hang." 
 
 "Most assuredly, if he is guilty of murder. You, 
 too, think that he should be punished. He is a bad 
 Indian." 
 
 "Yes; I have great trouble with Tonewah; but 
 my people will not have him hung ; they will make 
 war then." 
 
 "Well, come and eat breakfast with us, and we 
 will talk farther." 
 
 Full as the table had been, room was found for 
 him, and he had evidently eaten there many times be 
 fore ; he showed preference for Cloe s nice buckwheat 
 cakes and coffee, well sugared ; also a preference 
 of fingers to forks. After a long talk with Mr. 
 Maynard, he turned his face sadly again toward the 
 homes of his people, far northward.
 
 THE MAPLES. 39 
 
 Later, Mr. MaynarcTs sleigh was driven round 
 to the door by Robert. Nellie was one of the merry 
 youngsters that went out in it to the new cabin in the 
 wood. Wilson, with his wife, baby and "plunder," 
 followed in the old pung, with old gray "goin it 
 alone," Wilson chuckled. 
 
 They had spent a happy time together and 
 neither of the families would ever forget the mutual 
 pleasure. The new home, so humble, was destined 
 to become the nucleus about which a thrifty settle 
 ment would ere long cluster ; and for the present, we 
 leave it, knowing its owner, with industry and thor 
 ough farming, aided by his fish-rod and gun, will 
 supply it with all the comforts of life. 
 
 Some time passed. Settlers multiplied, and the 
 Indians fraternized, more than at first with the settle 
 ments venturing more and receiving more their 
 confidence. 
 
 After a year s incarceration, Tonewah. who had 
 not been tried, was not only discharged from cus 
 tody, but armed and equipped with a new "blanket 
 and the accessories of Indian garb," and sent 
 rejoicing home. As he was undoubtedly deserv 
 ing of punishment, this act of judicial clemency, 
 indicating the pacific policy of the government, 
 naturally gave boldness to the Indians. Their 
 encroachments upon the rights of whites became 
 frequent and grievous. They had been pam 
 pered by indulgence and generously kept, notwith 
 standing their indolence. In open defiance, they 
 insolently spat in the face of the hard-working settler, 
 the sweat of whose brow aided to swell the revenue that
 
 40 MAPLE KANGE. 
 
 clothed and fed them. No wonder that growing dis 
 content resulted from the petty impositions of those 
 thieving, non-producing neighbors who held large 
 tracts of the very best land in the State lands cov 
 eted by enterprising pioneers, who could have turned 
 them into national benefices. Those reservations were 
 a real detriment to civilization; for there was noth 
 ing to induce individual effort. There was no provi 
 sion made for an Indian who possessed the requisite 
 ability, to acquire individual estate, the right to trans 
 fer his title, or independently to engage in the tillage 
 of the soil, as white men did, inspired by the home 
 and labor spirit that conduces to good society. 
 There was a public demand, though smothered in 
 its incipiency because it would cripple the interest of 
 demagogues and political leaders, that this system 
 of wholesale pauperism should be discontinued; that 
 Indians should be placed on a par with other men ; 
 given the prerogative of living through toil, or dying 
 through indolence ; rising to affluence, as had been 
 proven in Minnesota even an Indian might, or wast 
 ing away by merited starvation; that they should 
 be made separate land - holders, vested Avith prop 
 erty that was transferable ; that the Indian titles, 
 which public sympathy was strongly against, should 
 be made perfect by destroying their common char 
 acter and casting them on the individual. This 
 would parcel reservations and make separate owners. 
 Each man of a tribe would thus become the sovereign 
 
 O 
 
 of his own estate, to have, to hold, or to sell. 
 
 Some, in defining the most feasible Indian policy, 
 recommended a revolution that would make reserva-
 
 THE MAPLES. 41 
 
 tions a memory only. Annuities, like other public 
 charities, applicable only to helpless age and infirmity. 
 Through processes known to humanity, make toil the 
 condition of comfort, and let the Indian understand 
 that, without aid farther than the gift of a farm, 
 his bread should be the fruit of his own labor. 
 Let him once understand positively, that no longer 
 would cattle and ponies be given to him, a certain dis 
 trict assigned to him. a blanket, rifle and ammunition, 
 food and money, annually awarded to him as prizes 
 for his indolence and insolence, and it was believed 
 that "The poor Indian," would follow the leading of* 
 even his untutored mind, and learn the meaning of the 
 terms, manhood, home and law. Not at once, per 
 haps. Persuasions might be necessary, and of different 
 kinds some wearing even the semblance of coercion. 
 There would be no doubt a time of suffering a time 
 when they would be neither Indians nor men ; but 
 the transition period from one state of existence to 
 another is necessary, though void of loveliness. 
 
 Latterly, as the settlements increased in numbers, 
 the Indians took umbrage, and depredations became 
 too frequent to be borne. Complaints were made to 
 the authorities and arbitrations held, without recourse 
 to open war. Mr. Maynard seemed to hold the confi 
 dence of both whites and Indians, and was the peace 
 ful go-between. It came to be understood, in high 
 places of power, that he was the natural mediator, 
 and transactions were frequently submitted to him. 
 His coolness and courage enabled him to surmount 
 difficulties that would have appalled other men, 
 and gained for him the respect even of the sav- 
 2*
 
 42 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 age he reprimanded. His every act bore the im 
 press of the lofty Christian charity which marks 
 the noble man, who attributes success not to his own 
 personal wisdom, but to the blessing of higher wis 
 dom, and gives to that wisdom all the glory. 
 
 A number of murders had been committed by the 
 Indians in different localities. Most unprovoked that 
 of two white women, on the upper Mississippi. The 
 first was shot while walking beside her husband, 
 who carried their child in his arms. The reason 
 given by the murderer for his atrocious deed, was, 
 "She did not carry the papoose herself, as a squaw 
 should, and must be made to do." The second 
 was a missionary lady, shot through the uncur 
 tained window of her room, while attending upon a 
 sick child. The murderers in both cases escaped 
 their merited punishment ; but public indignation 
 was so aroused by these crimes, that the most 
 trifling indiscretions on the part of Indians were 
 magnified to grave offenses. Some difficulties had 
 cropped out between the settlers in the vicinity of 
 Maple Range and Mock-ane-sah\s band. Mr. May- 
 nard, as usual acted as mediator, had with Robert 
 visited their reservation, and witli success. Home was 
 doubly enjoyable after the roughing and camping, 
 the fire of early autumn delightful, and the faces of his 
 wife and daughter fair to him. Is it any wonder his 
 spirits were high, and that the incidents of their jour 
 ney wore a soft coloring, and were related in a graphic 
 charming way, so that the inmates of his home, with 
 him did not suspect the treacherous red man. After 
 supper the evening sped rapidly.
 
 THE MAPLES. 6 
 
 "I was very glad, mother," said he, "that Robert 
 was with me. He made agreeable acquaintance with 
 the ladies, with the result, I think, of obtaining 
 sympathy ; I think his acquaintance led to the imme 
 diate and pacific adjustment of my commission." 
 
 "O mother," said Robert, hurriedly ; then, recol 
 lecting himself, " Pardon me, father, for interrupting 
 you." 
 
 "No matter! Proceed, my son," the father 
 replied kindly. 
 
 "In the woods I met a woman, unlike an Indian, 
 save in some portions of her dress. She was not 
 fair, still she was no darker than Mrs. Wilson is, but 
 more graceful and lovely than any woman I ever 
 saw. " 
 
 "Take care ! take care, my boy ! " said Mr. May- 
 nard, with a gesture toward Robert as if threatening 
 chastisement, while his whole face beamed only love 
 and merriment. "I say, take care ! Mother is the 
 handsomest woman in the world ! You must except 
 her indeed, you must." 
 
 " Certainly, father ! It will take longer journeys 
 I hope to obliterate the instincts of good training. 
 My mother taught me never to involve present com 
 pany in praise or censure. Her lessons are indelible," 
 he replied, looking proudly at her of whom he spoke, 
 and upon whose lashes lay the suspicion of a tear, as, 
 slightly bowing in acknowledgment of his tribute, 
 she said : 
 
 "We all believe in your loyalty, Robbie! but 
 see how impatient Nellie is getting for your wonder 
 ful story."
 
 44 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 "I was in the woods one day," he continued, 
 "with some young Indians, shooting at a target, and 
 rushed with them to examine the mark, knowing, 
 however, that the indenture was central, though the 
 marksman did not braid his hair or wear a blanket. 
 Just as we reached the tree, a woman stepped out of 
 the undergrowth, took hold of my arm, and with a 
 voice thrillingly sweet, spoke to me both in French 
 and good English, asking my name, residence and 
 age. I took off my hat, mother, as I would have 
 done to the queen, and answered her as reverently. 
 After which, she said : I have a son just a few years 
 yonger than you, home. He must be very hand 
 some, as I know him to be good and true ; but oh, I 
 can never see him never press him to my hungry 
 heart, as your mother may you ; can even never know 
 if always I must bear this exile. It is long since I 
 have heard your accent, or seen a white face, and it 
 really does me good to speak with you. I am only 
 the Indian woman, Miannetta ; but my children, 
 whom your voice seems to bring nearer to me the 
 best beloved of my sad heart are not Indians in 
 name or resemblance. She sank on the ground and 
 wept bitterly, while I stood there and pitied from my 
 inmost soul, yet feeling that no word of mine could 
 comfort her in her mysterious affliction." 
 
 "But she had told you your voice brought her 
 comfort ; that her children were nearer, in seeming. 
 I think you had great inducements to converse with 
 her ; yet I do not at all wonder, my child, when you 
 stood as dumb in the presence of sorrow you could 
 not fathom. I should doubtless have been had I such
 
 THE MAPLES. 4:5 
 
 an adventure to listen to such an avowal of woe," 
 said Mrs. Maynard. 
 
 "I hope she did not wear a real Indian blanket," 
 said Nellie; "or, if she did wear one, that it showed 
 the aristocratic number of points." Robert con 
 tinued : 
 
 I felt no farther interest in the target shooting, I 
 assure you, but sat long and talked with her of our 
 selves, of the settlement of Maple Range, and the 
 discouragements father encountered in his diplomatic 
 matters, to all which she listened intently, and 
 answered intelligently; but said nothing more of 
 herself and her pale-faced kindred. I saw her but 
 once again. It was the morning we left the one that 
 followed the final settlement of difficulties. She 
 bade me a friendly good-by, and promised to visit us. 
 What do you think of that, Nellie ? " 
 
 "Think? I can not stop to think, I am so impa 
 tient to see her ! Did you make her acquaintance, 
 father ? " 
 
 " No, daughter ; but am greatly interested in her 
 mysterious history. Who can she be ? I ask over 
 and over again." 
 
 "I am thinking, too," said Mrs. Maynard, "how 
 she may have suffered how she must ever suffer 
 poor child of woe." 
 
 "How have you got along, reciting alone, Nell," 
 said Robert, after a little silence. 
 
 "Nicely," was the reply. "I have finished the 
 grammar, philosophical notes and all, and parted for 
 ever with my old aversion, fusty, musty Mr. Kirk- 
 ham."
 
 46 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 "You never liked grammar, I remember, and I 
 am glad for your sake the work of acquisition is 
 done. " 
 
 "Grammar was tiresome, and, I used to think, 
 very useless, until Mrs. Wilson came, and I compared 
 her manner of speaking with mother s. I shall never 
 ferget how my face crimsoned once, when she said 
 something to me, which I thought would mortify her 
 when she discovered her blunder." 
 
 "She has never discovered it, I dare say; but 
 what was it ? " said Robert. 
 
 "I was saying to Ruth Ann, the night they came 
 here, How I wish I had a sister, Mrs. Wilson, 
 overhearing me, which I did not intend she should, 
 turned round to me and said : You hain t never had 
 none, eh ? Incorrect as the whole sentence was, in 
 a minute I had repeated the rule : Two negatives are 
 equivalent to an affirmative, adding, I know now 
 the application of that rule. A few minutes later, 
 when she asked, Be you very lonesome without no 
 sister ? my ears tingled as Ruth Ann s must have, 
 when she boxed them to cure her wool-gathering." 
 
 The remembrance caused a general laugh, and, 
 waiting a minute for composure, Mrs. Maynard said : 
 
 " You are behind, Robert, in consequence of this 
 trip with father." 
 
 "Yes, ma am ; but I will study harder to catch 
 up. Let me recall my latest achievements transla 
 tions, I believe. Oh, yes ; I have them a German 
 proverb, en ^utJ)tgen gefyort bie SSett, The world 
 belongs to the courageous ; and this rendering of 
 the Latin : Opportunity has hair in front ; behind,
 
 THE MAPLES. 47 
 
 she is bald. If you seize her by the forelock, you 
 may hold her ; but if suffered to escape, not Jupiter 
 himself can catch her again." 
 
 u ln the spirit of the first, I will profit by the 
 letter of your last translation," said Mr. Maynard, 
 with a merry twinkle in his eye, "and seize the 
 present opportunity to propose preparations for 
 bed." 
 
 Together they all sang : 
 
 " The day is past and gone ; 
 
 The evening shades appear ; 
 Oh, may we all remember well, 
 The night of death draws near. 
 
 " We lay our garments by, 
 Upon our beds to rest ; 
 So death will soon disrobe us all 
 Of what we here possess. 
 
 " Lord ! keep us safe this night 
 
 Secure from every fear ! 
 Let angels guard us while we sleep, 
 Till morning light appear ! 
 
 " And, when we early rise 
 
 And view the unwearied sun, 
 May we set out to win the prize, 
 And, after glory, run ! 
 
 " And, when our days are past, 
 And we from time remove, 
 Oh, may we in Thy bosom rest 
 The bosom of Thy love ! " 
 
 Good-nights were affectionately exchanged, and 
 ere long the sweet angel of sleep poised watchfully 
 over The Maples.
 
 48 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 CHAPTEE II. 
 
 FOREST DAYS. 
 
 "The early days the claya when we were pioneers." 
 
 SINCE the events recorded in the preceding chap 
 ter, Springs and Autumns have come and gone. 
 Minnesota s face is fairer and her children more 
 numerous and exacting of her favors. Having thrown 
 off Territorial trammels, she has taken a proud posi 
 tion in the procession of States. The financial crisis 
 of 1857, the year before she was admitted into the 
 Union, proved to be "the birth moon of her agricul 
 tural greatness." Speculation in Western lands was 
 suddenly checked one happy result of the stupend 
 ous collapse which proved the old saw, "It s an ill 
 wind that blows nobody good." 
 
 In many of the Western States, the speculator, 
 ever on the alert quick to scent marketable property, 
 even when it has no appreciable value managed to 
 distance the immigrant in his slow-moving ox-train, 
 and, before his arrival, had bought up the most desir 
 able lands at government price a fact to which large 
 tracts, in their native wildness, in the most beautiful 
 section of the Mississippi Valley, bear melancholy 
 testimony. 
 
 In Minnesota, fortuitous circumstances had placed 
 most of the public lands beyond reach, except under
 
 FOREST DAYS. 49 
 
 the provisions of the pre-emption law. Through the 
 bursting of the bubble in 1857, speculation met with 
 a sudden revulsion. Money disappeared, and property 
 depreciated with a rapidity equal to its former infla 
 tion. Immigration almost ceased, and upon immigra 
 tion the Territory depended for the rapid growth on 
 which was based the enhanced value of property. 
 The rates of interest, paid by sanguine speculators, 
 were fabulous. When property suddenly fell, spec 
 ulators, ruined, went their way. Here let me say, 
 the passage of the homestead act, years afterward, 
 saved forever from their blighting grasp our beautiful 
 and productive State. To the poor man s children 
 to-day, it is a heritage inalienable, except through 
 their voluntary act. 
 
 While portions of contiguous States lie idle, held 
 by non-residents at prices above the reach of immi 
 grants, the fertile lands of Minnesota one of the 
 healthiest States in the Union are reserved by legis 
 lation for the homes of those who, through toil, may 
 become veritable monarchs. 
 
 Many of the victims of the great commercial 
 reverse turned, sad and depressed, to the hitherto 
 despised occupation of forming, and sought by unac 
 customed labor to avert the doom that seemed to hang 
 over themselves and families. Like the fabled Antaeus, 
 many of them were invigorated and refreshed by 
 touching their mother earth and mingling freely with 
 that ancient peerage whose coat of arms an eminent 
 statesman has called a pair of shirt-sleeves. " This 
 sensible method of meeting disaster was not only a 
 domestic blessing, in bringing plenty home, but a 
 D 3
 
 50 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 public good, since it greatly augmented the area of 
 cultivated acres, which, in 1857, was estimated at 
 forty-eight thousand, and, in 1860, had reached the 
 grand total of four hundred and thirty-three thousand 
 two hundred and sixty-seven acres. Thus you see 
 how that which is baneful to one becomes another s 
 wholesome meat. Princely fortunes were swallowed 
 up in a disastrous wave, but the wave rolled on, 
 proving itself a blessing to this remote garden. 
 Many whom the remorseless sea had torn from their 
 anchorage and thrown, penniless, upon the virgin soil, 
 had the wisdom to realize the significance of labor, 
 with its present necessity and its prospective reward, 
 and, with a cheerful spirit, had put strong hands to 
 the plow, employing skill and patience where force 
 was not available, thus becoming thrifty and wealthy. 
 Others, however, became impatient of fortune, be 
 cause she was tardy. Of this latter class was Charles 
 Center. He had once been a successful and well-to- 
 do merchant in Chicago, until tempted by the treach 
 erous yet delicious promise that has lured to ruin 
 thousands who were not content with well-doing. The 
 fever of speculation in Western lands seized him, 
 notwithstanding his natural shrewdness and business 
 qualities ; yet, those heavy ventures are often made 
 by men even shrewder and more far-seeing than he. 
 That speculation is hazardous and its consequent fail 
 ures common, docs not detract from the marvelous 
 charm of stocks and shares and real estate, and did 
 not prevent Charles Center from yielding to the 
 peculiar hallucination. But misfortune came. The 
 li .lrring yet false hopes vanished, and he was plunged
 
 FOREST DAYS. 51 
 
 in ruin. Taking his young wife and money (the gift 
 of her father, a lawyer of Chicago) enough to pur 
 chase a team, a cow and a generous supply of farming 
 utensils, he pre-empted a farm adjoining Wilson s, 
 and sought to bury himself" the world forgetting," 
 and, save by his creditors, "by the world forgot." 
 His was not a happy soul, gathering to itself love by 
 loving. He was a sour-tempered, fault-finding man, 
 who, if a woman, would have been termed a shrew. 
 Clearing off heavy timber and putting in a crop, even 
 of a few acres, involves hard work ; but this done, a 
 mine, rich in recompense, awaits generous culture, 
 producing in proportion to the investment of seed 
 and muscle. The young merchant -farmer w r orked 
 hard, but always at a disadvantage. He would plant 
 this crop too early, that too late ; he plowed this soil 
 too shallow, that too deep ; and if admirably adapted 
 to the growth of vegetables, ten chances to one he 
 would sow it to grain, and vice versa. Failure came 
 partly through lack of recognizing the "sublime 
 fitness of things ; " partly through agricultural antag 
 onisms unpropitious skies, destructive animalculos 
 and early or later frosts. A sour temper seldom loses 
 its acidity during the prevalence of thick weather, 
 and every adverse event served to make him more 
 bitter and irritable. He knew he was inexperienced ; 
 but he would not see that failure came often because 
 he refused to advise with farmers, who, by a life-long 
 practice, had been educated to their vocation. Instead 
 of seeking information and by a change of tactics 
 achieving ultimate success, he was many times on the 
 point of yielding to despair, and declaring all further
 
 52 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 effort useless. He attributed all to his particular 
 demon, luck, half believing his patient, quiet wife 
 was in league with that much abused author of men s 
 misfortunes, inasmuch as now and then she was roused 
 from her reticence and, woman-like, would say exas- 
 peratingly, I knew it would be so ! " Late in the 
 Autumn of his second year, his grain harvest, all 
 told, afforded but one load of wheat, and with this 
 and his cow r (which he proposed selling) tied behind 
 his wagon, he started for market quite a long jour 
 ney. His team was the envy of many a richer man 
 noble bays. They stood at the door a short time 
 before starting, while he secured some bolt beneath 
 the wagon box. His wife came out w r ith her baby, 
 and held him up to caress them. As Center got onto 
 the wagon and gathered up the reins, she spoke with 
 an apparent effort at cheerfulness, that could not dis 
 guise her apprehension that her words would call out 
 some unkind retort : 
 
 " Charlie, dear! I put my watch into your lunch 
 eon basket. Will you be kind enough to exchange 
 it in town for some flannel and shoes for little Carlos? 
 He s so delicate, I think he needs thicker clothing, 
 and warm shoes and stockings and my watch is so 
 useless ! Will you take the trouble to make this 
 exchange ? 
 
 No ; I am no lacquey to run errands ! I hate 
 paltry bargains, and you know it ! It would save 
 appearances if you were willing to wait till you have 
 the money to buy flannel and shoes ; but you could n t 
 be satisfied to let me start for town without some dis 
 agreeable commission ! "
 
 FOREST DAYS. 53 
 
 "Well, I will take the watch out, Charlie, if you 
 don t want to sell it for me," she said ; and sitting 
 the child down, she climbed up over the wheel. She 
 was standing with one foot on the hub, reaching over 
 to get hold of the basket, when he, with brutal impa 
 tience, though well aware that he was imperiling her 
 life, started up the spirited horses, saying : 
 
 I have no time to wait. You seem to think that 
 the machinery of the universe must stop while you 
 recover your breath, lost in running 1 after some torn- 
 
 / o 
 
 foolery ! It s enough to make a man swear ! " 
 
 O Charlie ! don t be so cross, she said, as by a 
 dexterous spring she avoided the revolving wheel and 
 lifted her pleading eyes up to his, that, were flashing 
 with anger : u If you leave me in anger, I shall cry 
 myself to death." 
 
 Cry and be damned, then ! I wish I was going 
 away forever ! You do nothing but cry and complain ! 
 Get up, Selim ! " 
 
 He was gone, this man for whose love she had left 
 an aflectionate father s house gone without a word 
 of farewell to herself, or a smile to her boy. She 
 turned into the house, and wept long and bitterly as 
 she recalled the many evidences of his coldness and 
 the unkind words that had taken the place of the 
 honeyed expressions w r hich once made her blessed 
 mother s love seem tame and common-place. As she 
 sat, thus absorbed in her own miserable thoughts, she 
 heard not the light step of a bare foot upon the floor. 
 A brown, toil-hardened hand was laid kindly on her 
 shoulder, honest gray eyes looked down into hers,
 
 54 MAPLE KANGE. 
 
 swimming in tears, and the voice of Mrs. Wilson, 
 subdued by real feeling, said : 
 
 "Now, du tell what s been and happened, to put 
 ye out so ! I mind the time (the wust time ever put 
 over my head), when you, a sweet, young thing, 
 unselfish of your sweetness as the blossom that ye 
 looked like, hunted out a poor, no-account cretur, on 
 the bow of a steamboat, takin on jest that ar fashion, 
 and yer words, full of comfort and hope, brought 
 that poor cretur to the light of the truth and the joy 
 of bclievin . Though I never wished ye to have sorrer 
 like that of mine that day, yet I have always wished 
 I could prove my gratitude, and comfort ye. Come, 
 tell me all } er grief, for two can tote a sorrer better 
 than a lone body, an I take it fortnit I came over to- 
 day." 
 
 Yes, it was fortunate, for there was a special need 
 of her. Unconsciously, she had a mission, and she 
 performed it faithfully, to her own infinite advantage 
 as well. There are anointings for coronation less 
 illustrious than Hebron knew. Her humble words 
 were as balm to the sorrow of her friend. Mrs. 
 Center s tears were dried. Cheerfulness came back 
 to her came back, but not through revealing the 
 cause of her sorrow. On her marriage morning, her 
 mother, who was a very discreet woman and a noble 
 wife, had presented her with a little volume, in which 
 she had marked with pencil one passage : "Have no 
 confidant, O wife, save thy husband ? " Ah, if wives 
 would obey this recommendation, how much domestic 
 scandal would be avoided, and how many clouds 
 would fail to reach the zenith of gossip and notoriety.
 
 FOREST DAYS. 55 
 
 Mrs. Wilson spent the clay and it proved to be a 
 profitable one to both. Mrs. Center gleaned lessons 
 of economy, needed in the every-day housekeeping 
 of those who "are obliged to live short," as Mrs. 
 Wilson said, while the pure, untutored soul of the 
 latter gathered sweetness and richness from a more 
 refined intelligence. 
 
 "Come, Mrs. Wilson, please tell me what ails my 
 soap. I can not coax it to thicken as yours does." 
 
 They went down cellar, and removing a board 
 from the window, Mrs. Center indicated the location 
 of the barrel which her friend peered into, and then 
 said : 
 
 "Did ye taste of yer ley before ye biled it with 
 yer fat ? " 
 
 " Taste it ! of course, not ; why ? " 
 " Why, ye would a knowed that t was too weak to 
 make soap. Now, next time mind and tech yer 
 tongue to the ley, an if it bites right smart, use it ; 
 but if it don t, it ain t strong enough, that s cl ar. 
 Now, if you will git a box of this yere penetrated 
 ley, and put it into yer bar l, I 11 go a purty on it, 
 ye 11 have soap in tu days that 11 b ar up a cat. " 
 
 She discovered that the brine on the pork failed to 
 cover it, and directed Mrs. Center, in adding to it, to 
 pour off the original, scalding and adding both water 
 and salt, boiling all together, and when cool, pouring 
 it on again, and keeping the brine higher than the 
 pork and clear as a crystal, "or yer bacon will be 
 rusty in spite o yer teeth." 
 
 When told that the one window was kept tightly 
 closed in Winter, she gave expression to an emphatic
 
 56 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 " Du toll ! Now, I remember yor taters an cab 
 bage all rot led last Winter, an no wonder, if they got 
 no more air than they would with that shet." 
 
 "Why," said Mrs. Center, "I thought them safe 
 enough, if frost was excluded." 
 
 La, honey ! " was the rejoinder, you can t live 
 without breath ; no more can garding truck." 
 
 After leaving the cellar, they had a nice cup of 
 tea light biscuit and butter. While eating, Mrs. 
 Wilson watched the child opposite her very closely, 
 and said : 
 
 "Ain t yer baby ailin ? He looks dreadful white 
 livered ! " 
 
 "I can t say that he is really ill," was the reply ; 
 " but he is never thoroughly well, and seems petulant 
 as if in pain, at night, when most children sleep 
 soundly." 
 
 "Well, the poor thing is enamost eat up with 
 wums." 
 
 "But I am giving him vermifuge all the time ! 
 what more can I do ? " 
 
 " Sling the bottle into the middle of next week 
 so fur that no dog you have any respect, for can find it ! 
 Make yer butter tol able salt, an whenever he frets 
 at night, git up an coax him to eat a piece of bread 
 and butter, an , if ye can git it down him, a raw 
 onion. I Ve pulled quite a gang of young ns 
 through the whooping cough an wums, and never 
 used any other medicine than I jest telled ye of." 
 
 After tea, they chatted long and pleasantly. The 
 afternoon sun shimmered through the vines at the
 
 FOREST DAYS. 57 
 
 window, and the shadows lengthened in the yard 
 before the door. 
 
 " Cur us things is shadders, and kinder speakin 
 too," said Mrs. Wilson; "but they are the most 
 deceivin things in the world always seemin to be 
 standin still, and yet always movin ; invitin ye to 
 sit down an be sociable, and yet slidin a way from 
 ye. Did ye ever think about it ? Shadders is always 
 the longest in the mornin when it s cool an 1 ye don t 
 need em ; but when at noon the sun pours down upon 
 yer head, where is the shadder that looked as if it 
 never could grow less ? " 
 
 " In some respects not unlike worldly friendships, 
 always most generous when there is no need," said 
 Mrs. Center. " If sudden misfortune deprive you of 
 wealth and real assistance is needed, ah, then you 
 inquire for your friend as you just did for your morn 
 ing shadow at noon Where is he ! " 
 
 "But there is a shelter for them as are weary in 
 the heat of- the day the shadder of the Rock that 
 is higher than I, " Mrs. Wilson said. 
 
 "As there is an unfailing friendship," added Mrs. 
 Center. "He who glorified the manger, left upon 
 the earth this comforting assurance of His unchang 
 ing love: Lo, I am with you always, even. to the 
 end/" 
 
 Just as the sun was going down, Mrs. Wilson took 
 her departure, for, as she remarked, 
 
 "It s chore time, and the children never air 
 thoughtful, even when I m to hum ; but when I m 
 gone, la, they are as triflin as pasteboard jumpin
 
 58 . MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 jacks, not even takin a hint when the cows come 
 bawlin home." 
 
 A little way from the gate, she met a neighbor, 
 and saluted him with 
 
 "How d ye du, Mr. Cross? I hope yer woman 
 is purty smart ? " 
 
 " Well, I can t brag as to Polly Ann s smartness ; 
 but she s main well, an judgin from your gait, you 
 are, too, Betsey." 
 
 "Oh, yes," she replied, " peart as a nightingale. 
 William got a letter from old Mr. Sutton to-day. He 
 has been superannuated by the Illinoy conference, an 
 says if we will all on us agree to help him a little, he 
 will move up to Maple Range, take a claim and settle 
 down among us." 
 
 "Bless the Lord ! He is still on our side, isn t 
 He ? My woman was jist a sayin , this arternoon 
 Cross, says she, we shall all backslide if we don t 
 stir ourselves up to new engagedness. Now, Brother 
 Sutton is a good Christian man, and, as to preachin , 
 ye know, Betsey, he s zealous as a bear. " 
 
 " Won t it seem like old Illinoy though, when the 
 new lot come from there, an" Brother Sutton among 
 em ? William is goin" 1 right around among ye, to see 
 what ye will do for the poor old man, an\ Cross, ye 
 must n t be backward about this ! It s only lendin 
 to the Lord, an not money either; it s only yer 
 hands out of yer pocket a little while." 
 
 The two parted. Mr. Cross, going on, entered 
 the house and found Mrs. Center in a terrible fright, 
 holding her child and sobbing pitifully over it, Avhile 
 its wide, staring eyes were fixed in convulsions. He
 
 FOKEST DAYS. 59 
 
 felt himself utterly useless, and telling her he would 
 send his " woman over," he set out rapidly for home. 
 Just then a shadow flitted past the window. A dark- 
 browed woman entered the house, and Mrs. Center 
 exclain\ed : 
 
 "O Miannetta, I am so glad you have come! 
 Look at my poor dying child ! " 
 
 " Not dying, I hope ! We will soon have him 
 better. It s fortunate your tea-kettle is full and hot. 
 A warm bath will bring him out of the spasm." 
 
 Skillful hands ministered to the little sufferer all 
 night, and the morning saw him smiling again ; but 
 Miannetta remained with the alarmed mother all day, 
 and even longer, until the child was fully restored to 
 his usual health. 
 
 Now let us follow Mr. Center and his razVfortune. 
 He reached the river which lay between him and his 
 destination near nightfall, the third day after his 
 departure from home, and drove at once onto the 
 ferry boat. The ferryman, preparing to start off, 
 said : 
 
 " You had better stand pretty close to your horses 
 heads, if they are not accustomed to the river." 
 
 c They are too well trained to make that neces 
 sary," he replied so decidedly as to awaken a little 
 choler in the mercurial boatman, who retorted : 
 
 "Very well, sir ! You must take all the respon 
 sibility of accidents, if any occur. I make the sug 
 gestion only in the way of duty. Shall we tie 
 them ? " 
 
 "No ; my voice will suffice to keep them quiet ? " 
 
 Just as they had about gained the middle of the
 
 60 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 river, a steamer rounded a curve and puffed down 
 toward them, while a band on board struck up Yan 
 kee Doodle." A shrill whistle completed the fright 
 of the poor horses that in the country had lost all 
 memory of navigation and its unearthly signals. 
 They reared and plunged in a manner that showed 
 how useless was any human authority. Finally over 
 coming all effort to restrain them, they plunged fran 
 tically through the frail guard into the river, dragging 
 the loaded wagon and the cow after them, and the 
 deep, remorseless waves closed over them forever. 
 Charles Center stood like one petrified, regarding the 
 spot where they had disappeared ; and ye *vho have 
 never sorrowed because of a like disposition, will 
 scarcely credit the fact, that in that moment he 
 blamed his wife more than himself ; that the greater 
 loss of horses, wagon, grain and cow, was less bitterly 
 considered than the trifling one of the "watch in the 
 luncheon basket ; " that after plodding the long, home 
 ward way on foot, and recounting the circumstances 
 to her, he had said impatiently : 
 
 "I can t understand, Clara, what on earth ever 
 induced you to send that watch. It was worth fifty 
 dollars, and would have purchased for us another 
 cow, which now we are likely to be without long 
 enough. It does seem as if you and the fates were 
 against me ! Work hard as I may, there is always 
 some contemptible hitch in the machinery some 
 infernal lock to the wheel ! " 
 
 "Why, Charlie! one would suppose from the 
 way you talk, I expected and really wished to lose
 
 FOREST DAYS. 61 
 
 that watch ! How could I anticipate that terrible 
 misfortune on the boat? " 
 
 "How could you? You might have guessed 
 something or other would happen ! There always 
 does ! Any other woman would have been more 
 prudent than to risk the last valuable article she had ! 
 Any other woman would have thought more of her 
 husband s interests ; but you did n t care ! Every 
 thing we had must be tucked into that load and sold 
 that minute ! " 
 
 " Do n t be so unreasonable, Charles ! You know 
 how few opportunities we have for sending to town, 
 and the things I wished to get by selling the watch 
 are really so much needed ! Poor little Carlos ! " 
 
 " Poor little Carlos! Clara, it is one eternal 
 whine about your needs and his ! I m sick of it ! 
 Your bread is sour ! I wish you could see some .Mrs. 
 Bacon had for dinner to-day white as snow and 
 such sweet, nice butter, and coffee ah, genuine 
 amber colored no such stuff as this, I can tell you." 
 
 " Well, I suppose Mrs. Bacon has good flour 
 (this, you know, is made of grown wheat), several 
 cows to make butter from, and a nice, cool place to 
 set her milk a very essential thing in making butter, 
 I assure you ; and, Charlie, this coffee is made of rye 
 I am out of the Rio." 
 
 " I 11 warrant ye ! never knew it to fail ! get clear 
 out of an article before you ever say a word ! Why 
 in thunder did n t you tell me the coffee was gone, 
 when I went away, so that I could get some ? " 
 
 "Because you peremptorily refused to undertake
 
 62 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 the sale of my watch, and I knew you would have no 
 money, if you did not sell it. " 
 
 "Did n t I take wheat to sell ?" 
 
 "Yes; but the whole load would scarcely pay 
 your debts in town." 
 
 "Did n t I take the cow to sell ? " 
 
 "Yes with the avowed intention of buying an 
 other with what you got for her." 
 
 Seeing she had the advantage of him, he concluded 
 to return to his "best hold," the subject of the bread. 
 He again made a home thrust : 
 
 Clara, I notice you have poor bread oftener than 
 good ! " 
 
 "Say, rather, that you oftener notice the poor, 
 but are silent about the good." 
 
 " Well, one thing I can say ! I never saw a slice 
 of poor bread on Bacon s table ! " 
 
 " Most likely you would, if you were there oftener. 
 All cooks have their failures." 
 
 " I do n t believe Mrs. Bacon ever had a failure. 
 She is a splendid woman far too intelligent for Sam 
 Bacon." 
 
 " She did come a little short of success, it seems, 
 in selecting her husband." 
 
 Yes, indeed ; and I do wonder how it is these 
 particularly fine women are always mated with just 
 such contemptible fellows ! " 
 
 "By your rule then, Charlie, whoever compli 
 ments your wife must disparage you." 
 
 "No danger of compliments, if they stay to 
 dinner. " 
 
 "Perhaps not, unless they have the sagacity to
 
 FOREST DAYS. 63 
 
 attribute the poverty of the dinner to the resources 
 of the cook ; but come, it is high time we changed 
 the subject ! Let me tell you some pleasant news. 
 We are to have some new neighbors. A Methodist 
 preacher, his family and several other families are 
 expected, this Fall, to settle in Maple Range. They 
 are old acquaintances of both Cross and Wilson." 
 
 "More Hoosiers!" 
 
 "Humans, I hope. There is not a woman in all 
 my acquaintance, of finer sensibility than Mrs. Wil 
 son. No matter if her speech is rude ; a good heart, 
 with homely utterance, is preferable, I in sure, to 
 polished speech and a soul corrupt." 
 
 " I should think it would have been more to your 
 taste, then, to have married an idiot with a hare-lip/ 
 
 "The hare- lip might be an advantage. Do n t you 
 think one could be cultivated, Charlie ? " 
 
 She knew by his countenance her thrust had gone 
 home, for he was painfully sensitive. One moment 
 she dallied with the "old Adam" of revenge, for the 
 many personal wounds he had given her ; the next, 
 the sweetness of revenge had palled upon her. Rising, 
 she stepped round the table to him, with that readi 
 ness to right a wrong characteristic of noble natures. 
 Stealing her arm about his neck and putting her fore 
 head close to his, now purpling with anger, she said : 
 
 "Forgive me, my husband ! I was rude, to say 
 what I could not mean. I am so sorry, my darling ! " 
 
 Pushing her impatiently away and laughing a 
 peculiar laugh, more devilish than human, utterly 
 devoid of merriment, he replied : 
 
 " Even the epithet implied in your pleasantry is
 
 64 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 more agreeable than the sickish finale with which you 
 adorn the scene. It would do credit to a gushing 
 schoolgirl, in her love quarrels ! Faugh, get away ! " 
 
 She sat down, humbled and subdued less by his 
 words than her own by which she had fallen in her 
 own estimation. In the silent half hour that followed, 
 she was purchasing a scholarship in the lofty school 
 of self-denial. Upon retort she would set an inexor 
 able seal, and to herself she said : 
 
 "God helping me, I will bear all that is in store 
 for me will bear it and be still. " 
 
 About two months later, one still, cold Winter morn 
 ing, just as the sun showed his disk at the verge of the 
 sky, and his two Winter satellites (termed sun-dogs 
 by the woodsman) established themselves on cither 
 side an unmistakable indication of extreme cold- 
 old Mock-ane-sah paused on the outskirt of the big 
 clearing. He watched the wreaths of smoke emerar- 
 
 o o 
 
 ing gray from the chimneys, growing white and 
 voluminous in the sunlight, and then thinning out 
 to threads of blue, till, victims of an inordinate 
 desire to rise in the world, they lost all outline and 
 were dissolved in ether. Mentally calculating the 
 strength of the late reinforcement of whites to the 
 settlement ; with great gravity and deliberation, 
 counting off the curling columns upon his fingers, his 
 only arithmetic, he found that his ten tawny digits 
 "just filled the bill." The ten hardy, heartsome 
 families were a welcome addition to the Maple Range 
 settlement, giving new courage to the active forest 
 band, and the frosty air was resonant of busy life. The 
 sound of many industrious axes rang through the
 
 FOREST DAYS. 65 
 
 echoing woodland. Ungainly oxen, with slow gait, 
 plowed innumerable cross roads in the deep snow, and 
 drew the great logs away to Watkin s new mill, on 
 the Waubece, in Clipnockum Hollow, where, with 
 shining saw, it stood ready to adjust its gates and hum 
 a utilitarian lay, when Spring should unfetter the 
 winding river. There was a holiday inaugural at 
 Wilson s, and, more momentous still, a wedding on 
 Christmas day. Benjamin Palmer had brought a load 
 of household goods for his uncle, Carcc Smith, one of 
 the new settlers, intending to return to " Illinoy ; " 
 but he had changed his mind and taken a farm on the 
 western lake-shore, south of Mr. Maynard s. It was 
 a beautiful selection, and valuable as well half prai 
 rie and half timber and had fallen into hands that 
 would develop its inherent wealth. Ben was an 
 industrious, well-informed man, who believed in the 
 union of thought and toil. He had already built a 
 plain, but neat, substantial frame house white, with 
 green blinds which promised to look very pretty 
 when the grove, in which it would be half hidden, 
 was green again and the lake lighted with flash of 
 Summer sun. His barn was in process of erection a 
 roomy and convenient structure, adapted to the needs 
 of a good farmer. He tightened the reins over a pair 
 of chestnut six-year-olds ; was said to have a comfort 
 able fund at interest, and, what is rare at his age, the 
 good judgment to draw from it only for the purpose 
 of more discreet investment. Add to these solid 
 recommendations the fact that he was both good look 
 ing and agreeable, and you will be prepared to take 
 an interest in him, as well as the girls (who these 
 E 3*
 
 66 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 were, \ve shall not now inquire) that admired and 
 angled for him. However this may be, Ben had fallen 
 in love with our old acquaintance, Ruth Ann. Wait 
 a minute, reader ! She is so improved that, although 
 I credit you with the best memory in the world, I am 
 certain you would not know her. The past two years 
 she has lived at The Maples, and her hoydenish man 
 ners are much toned down. Her rather coarse features 
 have assumed a pleasing regularity. Her teeth (of 
 which she is so careful) and complexion are fault 
 less. She is rather fleshy, but dresses neatly and in 
 good taste. Altogether, she is really a nice-looking 
 girl, and being sweet-tempered and obliging is very 
 much loved. When Ben, who had taken her sleigh- 
 riding, told her one starry night, a few weeks ago, 
 how happy he would be to call her wife, next Christ 
 mas day, she could not find it in her gentle heart to 
 thwart his happiness. She could not say him " Nay." 1 
 So, now come the guests to witness his happiness, 
 and judging by the smile that now and then irradiates 
 her features hers as well. Nearly all have arrived, 
 except Robert and Nellie Maynard ; and there are ill- 
 natured ones who wish something would prevent their 
 coming ; who, if not jealous, yet feel a prejudice, 
 not infrequent with ignorant folk, against those more 
 popular and wealthy. A little knot of women is 
 seated near a window among them, Mrs. Center and 
 Mrs. Cross, a sharp-featured woman, with small, keen, 
 coal-black eyes and a rasping voice that recalls one of 
 my childhood s memories an old hunchback meat 
 man, playfully placing his ponderous steel beside my 
 ear, and drawing: his huije butcher-knife across it.
 
 FOREST DAYS. 6 
 
 Mrs. Ellis, the third one of this group, is a handsome, 
 rosy little body, all life, all animation, never finding 
 anything in this world but enjoyment. Of course, 
 she does nothing to add to this world s misery ; but, 
 on the contrary, is largely instrumental in adding to 
 the sum of human happiness. One look at her round, 
 eloquent face, her bright hazel eyes to once hear her 
 speak were always enough to unite the neighbors in 
 social harmony, for, though quite unconscious, the 
 rich flow of her simple good nature was irresistibly 
 contagious. There was a murmur of subdued con 
 versation running through the room. Mrs. Cross 
 nudged her right-hand neighbor, and, leaning over, 
 confidentially, said : 
 
 " I am thinkin , Miss Center, that twould be a heap 
 better for \ve uns, if them thar big bugs would stay 
 away ; like as any way if they come, we shall be 
 poked at as no account by them all, for ye know a 
 Guinea hen is no show in the same yard with a pea 
 cock. 
 
 "She has the compensation of a marvelous voice, 
 at least," said Mrs. Center, smiling. 
 
 " Quantity if not quality," said Mrs. Ellis, striving 
 to look innocent, but the fun cropping out all over her 
 pleasant face. 
 
 Mrs. Cross was not to be diverted from her pur 
 pose, and continued 
 
 " They do say as how that thar girl of Maynard s 
 couldn t as much as wash her pocket handkercher. 
 If her mother had good sense she d try to larn her a 
 little housework. 
 
 "Why," said Mrs. Ellis, " I should as soon think
 
 68 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 of making pavements of thistle-down, or of utilizing 
 the milky way, of cooking my breakfast by the sun s 
 rays, of accomplishing any impracticable thing in 
 fact, as of setting that delicious little thing to do 
 housework. Why you can almost fancy her with 
 wings, dropped from the skies, to win hearts to 
 purity by winning them to herself." 
 
 " O " said Mrs. Cross, while her eyes took on a 
 beryl hue, and the turned up nose was elevated still 
 higher, " If she was a poor man s child, I reckon she 
 would lose all that folderol deliciousness, drop her 
 wings, and be showed the use of her hands. I alias 
 hated pets anyhow, an it makes me out of patience 
 to see you uns, run stark, starin mad about the May- 
 nards. I never seed any of em but Robert, but 
 Cross has worked for em, and he says they are as 
 stuck up as Lucifer. Why at every meal they eat off 
 real cheeny ware, with these ere narrer silver spoons 
 with slits in em, and, as if they was the greatest of 
 strangers, they palaver and nod over their thank 
 you s an if you pleases, an as though they was 
 goin across the ocean, instead of into the next room, 
 they bid each other good-night, when they go to bed, 
 and good-mornin when they get up, as if they d 
 been gone a year. And Miss Maynard, only think, a 
 putting a cap on her head when she sweeps her own 
 room. And one day Cross said the great fat thing 
 put on gloves to go out to the gardmg and pick a 
 bowl of raspberries. Now I\l like to know if there s 
 any sense in sich kind of ornerry doin s. Hadn t 
 they better put on sackcloth and ashes, and think 
 :il unit their soul s salvation, instead of continually
 
 FOREST DAYS. 69 
 
 running after the folly s of the world. I wonder why 
 the Almighty is so long sufferin with some folks, an 
 if He raly will have another purification like Sodom 
 an Gommorroh. How are you growing in grace, 
 Miss Center? Do you feel the indwellin of the 
 Hoi}- Sperrit, or do ye git worldly minded and luke 
 warm 
 
 Mrs. Wilson came along just then, and supposing 
 the last remark was addressed to herself, she replied 
 unctuously and very sincerely, as she sat down. 
 
 "No, Mrs. Cross, I ain t a lukewarm Christian. 
 I never allow myself to neglect to replenish the faith 
 that keeps me warm. It is our blessed privilege to 
 live so near the throne, that we may feel every hour 
 of our lives its peace and glory. Come here, Tad. 
 
 "I am glad to hear you speak so, Betsy," said 
 Mrs. Cross, and as Tad was lifted upon his mother s 
 lap, a throne none younger had ever disputed with 
 him, she asked of the mother, though really address- 
 
 o / 
 
 ing the child with her eyes, "Does Taddy know I 
 want to be an angel. 
 
 "Well what hinders ye. Pap says ye boss the 
 loft," was the childish rejoinder, cut short by a sud 
 den pinch administered by his mother. But this ad 
 monition was lost on Mrs. Cross, who had not even 
 noticed Tad s remark, so intent was she on pressing 
 the original theme. 
 
 "I w r as enquirin as to the spirtual state of Miss 
 Center, Betsy, but I do think she is a kind of still 
 born Christian, don t you ? " 
 
 "No, indeed, I think she is one of the Father s
 
 70 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 elect, a beautiful witness to His love, a minister at 
 the holy altar," whispered Betsy. 
 
 "I should like to see the effect of the holy fire 
 then ; sanctification will show itself. God s love will 
 find expression sometimes, an it s a duty to speak if 
 a soul is raley converted, an if they don t speak, can 
 we believe the conversion is genuine," said Mrs. 
 Cross, in a low tone. 
 
 Now if she really were genuinely converted, no 
 one would have questioned if Mrs. Cross had the love 
 of God continually in her heart. But there was a 
 question as to the good of parading the subject of 
 religion, or as another has said, "wearing the soul s 
 jewel in the nose," and making it on all occasions the 
 subject of conversation. While tis for our continual 
 peace that religion be the spirit of our thoughts, it is 
 neither possible nor profitable to make it our per 
 petual theme. Mrs. Cross, however, had a zeal not 
 according to knowledge, and showed it in ill-timed 
 inquiries regarding the state of other people s souls. 
 
 Suddenly turning from Mrs. Wilson, she fired direct 
 ly into the enemy s camp. Ben Palmer was known to 
 be a little skeptical, and Ruth Ann had never had 
 any convictions. Sitting there, side by side " the 
 observed of all observers," it was very startling to 
 the blushing girl who sat waiting her nuptial crown, 
 when in a voice of strained solemnity, Mrs. Cross, 
 addressing her across the room, said, "I hope Ruth 
 Ann, that you have a conscience void of offence to 
 day, that you take this important step with an eye 
 single to the glory of God, pray in continually for 
 grace to help you to perform the duty of a wife.
 
 FOREST DAYS. 71 
 
 And you, Ben, I hope are thinkin of your new rela 
 tion, and promising God to erect an altar in your 
 house, for you will find it sweet to commune together, 
 not only as husband and wife, but as God s children. 
 Don t you think so ? " 
 
 The silence was truly painful, and the embarrass 
 ment of ail complete at this untimely question, when 
 Grandma Smith, out of sympathy for the young cou 
 ple, sprang to her feet, crying, 
 
 "Come girls and boys, don t sit here like owls. 
 We may as well have a game of something. Hold 
 fast all I give you, hold fast all I give you." 
 
 Round the room she went in the old-fashioned 
 game, and after completing the circuit, cried 
 
 44 Button ! button ! Who s got the button ? Let 
 the culprit rise." 
 
 The persistent old lady never gave up till, what 
 with accusing wrongfully, choosing judges and paying 
 forfeits, the house was in a perfect hurly-burly. The 
 roof was in danger of being raised by the explosions 
 of laughter, when some of the odd sentences were 
 enforced ; for instance, when Jehial Smith was sent 
 to Rome, and Mrs. Cross (who regarded the wild scene 
 with feigned horror) refused to show him hospitality 
 on his journey, and positively declined to be kissed, 
 declaring it "all a contrivance of the adversary of 
 souls, to draw our thoughts from heavenly things." 
 
 " You mean the wedding supper, I suppose, Mrs. 
 Cross ? It does smell splendid, no mistake ; and this 
 is an appetizer. I don t believe in it a bit more than 
 you do ; but in Rome we must be Romans, and if
 
 72 MAPLE KANGE. 
 
 pickles are eaten before meat, we must take ours a la 
 mode. " 
 
 With all of his mother s playfulness and his 
 father s strength, he drew the thin, emaciated form 
 into his arms, and in spite of her resistance, kissed 
 her cheeks, alternately, until they looked like hickory 
 nuts rubbed with red chalk, while the old men and 
 women laughed at her wrath and discomfiture as im 
 moderately as the young people. This sensation was 
 followed by another equally ludicrous. Mr. Cross 
 was compelled, much against his will, to execute an 
 Irish hohum with the prettiest girl in the room, which 
 by general acclamation was Belinda Porter, and the 
 look of martyrdom he assumed called forth general 
 applause. Then long Dave Persons drew the attention 
 of the merry-makers by his awkward attempts to 
 turn a double and twisted " laud o massie," with Mrs. 
 Ellis, whose arms were too short, as his were too 
 long. The chairs in which they stood suddenly parted 
 company, and brought down the laughing couple and 
 the house together. Just then Johnny Wilson rushed 
 in, with the announcement : 
 
 " Here come Maynard s bells ! " 
 
 All was decorum in an instant. People got to their 
 seats, and found their pocket handkerchiefs, in which 
 they must have deposited their merriment, for every 
 face assumed its most becoming company look. All 
 was still within doors ; but without, the air was fairly 
 jubilant with musical bells, as the elegant sleigh and 
 pair dashed up to the door. A handsome, gentlemanly 
 young man assisted a frail-looking girl from the 
 sleigh. Together they entered the house and were
 
 FOREST DAYS. 73 
 
 warmly welcomed. Johnny Wilson proudly drove 
 the horses round to the stable, ample and warm, log 
 though it was. 
 
 "Angels paint, eh?" whispered Mrs. Cross, 
 spitefully, to Mrs. Center. 
 
 " Wait a little," was the reply. "Nellie has been 
 riding in the cold." 
 
 " Must suffer awfully in all them there shawls and 
 wraps and feather blows (furbelows) ! " 
 
 And now the young couple advanced to the center 
 of the room, and were united in holy matrimony 
 by the white-haired minister. The words that made 
 them one were spoken, the benediction solemnly 
 pronounced, and silence fell a space upon the crowd ; 
 then there was a sudden flutter, a tumult of impetuous 
 feet, which accompanied the customary rushing of 
 rustics to kiss the bride, and the laughable presenta 
 tion of a cotton night-cap to the newly married man, 
 by the successful competitor. Then followed the 
 usual congratulations and the merriment occasioned 
 by the abundant ban mots, which, though lacking a . 
 little in delicacy and elegance, had still the merit of 
 heartiness and good will ; after this, the crowning 
 announcement, "supper;" and in William Wilson s 
 log cabin, away upon the frontier, they sat down to 
 a table whereat a king might have supped, with no 
 wish ungratified. The eating of those hard-working, 
 healthy, backwoods men and women would have been 
 a caution to dyspeptics, only that dyspeptics do not get 
 so far into the interior of dear Minnesota. Conver 
 sation hung fire while the savory viands were being 
 discussed. Long Dave, however, ventured to observe ; 
 4
 
 74: MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 "We all fall to as if it was a log-rollin and each 
 one on us claimed to own the logs, and was bound to 
 get all the work out of the others by settin a lively 
 example. " 
 
 "Eat all ye can, Dave," said Mrs. Wilson, who, 
 with vulgar pertinacity, insisted upon the compliment 
 to her pudding, implied in the eating. 
 
 " Christmas don t come but once a year, an 1 wed- 
 din s, to most folks, but once in a life time ; an they 
 ain t no sign of any comin to you, as I see ; so, now, 
 eat ! Betsy Wilson has a right smart o failin s, I 
 allow; but you all know she ain t stingy.". 
 
 "Stingy!" said her spouse, with an emphasis 
 intensified by the enormous tart he had just closed 
 his teeth upon; "Well, thar ! that s the best joke 
 I Ve hearn to-day. Pass it round : Stingy ! 
 
 A fresh invoice of dainties put an extinguisher 
 upon his brilliancy, and he was compelled to address 
 himself to the inner man, while uncle Carce Smith, 
 addressing him good-naturedly, said : 
 
 "There, William, you are whipped for once what 
 with the long draws from the metheglin keg in 
 the kitchen corner, an Betsy s pies-an -cakes." 
 
 "It is possible the "metheglin keg" had some 
 thing to do with the liquid condition of uncle Carce s 
 words. All things terrestrial must end, and this 
 supper was no exception. One by one, the seats 
 were vacated, guests saying facetiously : 
 
 " I m not hungry ; thank you, Mrs. Wilson." 
 
 When all had risen, grandma stepped with a busy, 
 bustling air back to the table, saying : 
 
 "Come, girls, turn to here, and red up this table,
 
 FOREST DAYS. 75 
 
 if you want the wish bones ! and here, you boys, lay 
 hold of them dish towels, and wipe the plates you ve 
 eaten your supper off. You must try to be useful ! 
 So much bone and sinner can t be wanted for ornament 
 here in the woods, now ! Never mind your meetin 
 clothes ! The girls will find some aprons for ye. 
 Girls glory in makin aprons. Ye need n t be afeared 
 of gilt in 1 siled ! A man that s afraid of a grease spot 
 will never be famous, except he is a Sepoy." 
 
 In the city, far from his home, a country boy may 
 blush, stammer and appear awkward enough ; but 
 bring him back to his own element, the backwoods ; 
 turn him loose among a playful, saucy lot of country 
 girls ; pin an apron, improvised for the occasion a 
 white flour sack, lettered as usual about his waist to 
 preserve his "Sunday suit ; put a calico sun-bonnet 
 on him, and give him a cup-towel, and, in spite of 
 your dignity, or the remembrance of your grandfath 
 er s funeral, you will laugh at his pranks and pro 
 nounce him clever, handsome and even graceful. 
 
 The elderly people smiled in memory of their own 
 hilarious youth, for that memory gave them the clue 
 to the scene enacting in the kitchen, whence came 
 sounds of unmistakable mirth. 
 
 "How old is grandma, uncle Carce?"said Mrs. 
 Cross, with a pious pucker. 
 
 " She was sixteen, and I believe a little past, when 
 I first saw her, and she is a little past sixteen yet," 
 was the quiet reply. 
 
 "Now that s a mean dodgin of a plain question, 
 uncle Carce, her hair is as white as snow." 
 
 "So is her heart, Mrs. Cross, pure and young
 
 76 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 and full of all sweet charity," said the old man with 
 such earnestness, that none could doubt the love that 
 prompted that simple eulogy of her, once the choice 
 of his youth, now the comfort of his old age. 
 
 At that moment a sharp wail brought the revelers 
 from the kitchen, and ere long the dancers had the 
 floor. 
 
 "Bright eyes looked love to eyes that looked again, 
 And all went merry as a marriage bell." 
 
 But the dancing, its time, and expenditure of 
 pedal energy, demands a cleverer pen than mine. In 
 fact it beggars description. Robert Maynard joined 
 heartily in the terpsichorean exercise, though at first 
 a trifle slow. Once he led Nellie through a cotillion, 
 and was observed to bespeak for the occasion, music 
 in moderate time. Directly afterwards the impa 
 tience of other lads and damsels found vent in the 
 old Irish jig, " Cover the Buckle." 
 
 A^ain Mrs. Cross, who was as malicious as 
 
 o 
 
 Mephistopheles, vented her spite ; as Nellie took her 
 seat after her one dance, she said, 
 
 " Well one thing is certain, that girl is too lazy to 
 enjoy herself. Ef my Lizbith was to drag through a 
 dance that ar way I wouldn t own her. Lookee, not 
 A bit of color." 
 
 "Are you convinced now that Nellie doesn t 
 paint ? " asked Mrs. Center. 
 
 "Why, I thought you was opposed to dancing, 
 Mrs. Cross," said Mrs. Ellis. 
 
 " So I be," was the reply, " and to stealin , jump- 
 in claims, and 
 
 "Envy, backbiting indeed the whole catalogue
 
 FOREST DAYS. 77 
 
 indicated in the service, no doubt," interrupted Mrs. 
 Ellis with mock seriousness. 
 
 Mrs. Cross raised her head like a serpent whose 
 evil plans have been thwarted, and fastening her 
 bead-like eyes upon Mrs. Ellis, she continued. 
 
 "I be opposed to dancing, for dancing cost one 
 man his head." 
 
 "Ah, made him giddy most likely. Some late 
 occurrence I presume. But you have the advantage 
 of late news, which shows the wisdom of taking a 
 paper published the night beforehand. Now I mean 
 to coax Mr. Ellis to subscribe for the Midnight Cry, 
 and then I can hope to keep up with the times." 
 
 Utterly regardless of Mrs. Ellis and her irony, 
 Mrs. CrobS, with persistence, which rightly directed 
 might have been praiseworthy, but had no purpose 
 save to injure Nellie, continued : 
 
 "As I was a sayin , I be opposed to dancin and all 
 sin, but if a person will dance, will commit sin, I like 
 to see em do it thoroughly." 
 
 "No doubt of it," said Mrs. Ellis, now almost 
 brimming over with merriment. " I notice your 
 example is always consistent with your expressed 
 belief. Whatever you do, you do thoroughly." 
 
 Mrs. Center, who felt a desire that Mrs. Ellis 
 should bestow the pearls of her wit more worthily, if 
 at all, said : 
 
 "I am strangely apprehensive sometimes, when I 
 think how delicate and frail Nellie Maynard is. Com 
 pare her little spiritual figure and waxen face with 
 the bride s, as they sit talking so animatedly. I am 
 thinking how an ardent blast that would annihilate
 
 78 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 Nellie, would only deepen the healthy glow on Ruth s 
 cheek. Yet in my heart there is a presentiment con 
 necting these two in one terrible calamity." 
 
 " O Mrs. Center, do not indulge in such mournful 
 fancies. Think how much of human strength sur 
 rounds and protects them, to say nothing of Him who 
 holds them and us in the hollow of His hand. You 
 remember how the old mythological deities were 
 guarded by their worshippers with like care will we 
 guard our little deity Nellie." 
 
 Mrs. Center smiled at her friend s enthusiasm, and 
 as Mrs. Wilson, from across the room, saw the smile, 
 she wished smiles were not so rare upon that face, 
 which she remembered so radiant in her girlhood s 
 loveliness, but which was now fast taking on the lines 
 of sorrow, which only heaven s music could charm 
 away. 
 
 The night had waned, and there had been "no 
 
 O 
 
 sleep till morn." Stars knowingly blinking, one by 
 one had disappeared. The wedding party took the 
 hint, and, in imitation of the stars, one by one disap 
 peared into great coats and mantles. 
 
 "Mr. Center," said Robert. "If you and your 
 wife will ride with me, I will take you home, while 
 Nellie is getting on her dry goods." 
 
 " Thank you, I accept with pleasure for my wife, 
 but I prefer to walk, the distance is nothing." 
 
 Mrs. Cross was at the window looking at the 
 handsome turn-out, side by side with her own equip 
 age (a yoke of white-faced muley oxen and a bobsled 
 with loose boards to answer for box). The compari 
 son proved too much for her Christian equanimity.
 
 FOREST DAYS. 79 
 
 She fired a parting shot, as Mrs. Center, assisted by 
 her husband took her seat in the sleigh. 
 
 " Some women is satisfied to ride with their own 
 honest husbands, on their own honest bob-sleds, 
 behind their own honest oxen, and some women 
 ain t." 
 
 " Some women happen to have honest husbands, 
 honest oxen, and honest bob-sleds, and some women 
 haven t, "said Mrs. Ellis in comic mimicry. 
 
 This excited no little fun among the guests wait 
 ing to take their leave and exchange neighborly good- 
 bys, as it was well-known that Cross was none too 
 scrupulous in his acquisition of property. His oxen 
 were both "bulky and breech y," while the very bob 
 sled had come into his possession under circumstances 
 decidedly suspicious. 
 
 Mrs. Cross, however, instead of taking the im 
 plication home to herself, generously applied it to 
 Mrs. Center, looking a whole sermon from the. text, 
 W I am holier than thou," and turning to Mrs. Ellis, 
 fervently ejaculated, "That s so ! " 
 
 As the rising sun tipped the. crowns of the forest 
 trees with gold, a curious procession moved down the 
 narrow lane leading from Wilson s house to the high 
 road. The sleigh bells jingled gladly in the crisp 
 morning air, as some steeds, impatient of curb, reared 
 and danced, picking their feet daintily out of the 
 powdery snow with a rapidity their progress in no 
 wise seemed to justify -a step altogether unsuited to 
 the gait of the oxen just ahead, for they were reined 
 in without regard to comeliness or speed, behind 
 sleepy, plodding, old "break up" teams. Every
 
 80 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 sleigh, that morning, whether drawn by oxen or 
 horses, was laden with children, parents and boister 
 ous youth, girls and boys, bent on frolic, who, heed 
 less of danger, expressed only satisfaction at the 
 impossibility for once of the good teams passing the 
 poor ones. 
 
 Now, I am not justifying, but only relating the 
 facts. You must settle the question of cruelty and 
 mercy for yourselves but there was an artillery 
 practice of bright eyes going on that morning. 
 Handsome girls, in those slow -moving sleds, shot 
 saucy glances over their shoulders to helpless drivers 
 young men for the old ones dared not pull the 
 reins over those fleet, fractious horses. Oh, they 
 were merciless these girls and cared not if every 
 glance found fatal mark. What business had a young 
 man out without his armor on ? Theirs to speed the 
 shafts ! Let those parry that could. As a result of 
 one of these last looks, there was another wedding 
 only a few weeks later. One of those very Jehus 
 thus confessed to a bantering crowd : 
 
 "Well, if you must know, you must know I 
 suppose ; but the first time I ever thought of marry 
 ing Belinda Porter," 
 
 "Belinda Smith!" cried a voice. "You can t 
 dodge that now, Jehial Smith ! " 
 
 "Dodge it? I don t want to; /say Belinda 
 Smith. I never thought of her, save as a good- 
 looking girl, till that morning after Ben Palmer was 
 married. I was right behind her father s sleigh, try 
 ing my best to hold in father s five year olds. I 
 could n t do it with mittens on, if I had a clear title
 
 FOREST DAYS. 81 
 
 to the road. You know that, boys . I had all I could 
 do, to keep them from dashing right over the sleigh 
 load in front of me. I got mad as the mischief at 
 the girls, who kept throwing up their handkerchiefs 
 and laughing, to scare my horses. I had just about 
 made up my mind that I would let the critters go, 
 and kill every last one of the darned girls, .and called 
 to em to say their prayers quick. I should have gone 
 over em, sure ; but Belinda, she looked back at me, 
 with a Do, if you dare ! in her eyes 
 
 "Well, that beats me! I never thought you d 
 take a dare, Jehial ! " 
 
 "I did, though ; at least, I changed my plan. I 
 concluded to marry her and kill her by inches, as 
 other men do. "
 
 82 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 SHADOWS. 
 
 MOTHER! what do you think? Miamietta 
 has just come all the way on foot from Ben 
 Palmer s, and she says Ruth has the sweetest little boy 
 in the world," cried Nellie Maynard, to her mother. 
 
 " Nellie, you hear with your imagination ! I said 
 she had a nice baby boy," said Miannetta. She had 
 followed Nellie into the breakfast room, where Mrs. 
 Maynard and Robert still lingered over their English 
 breakfast tea. Nellie had been down to the gate to 
 meet her, and learned from her the news which she, 
 in turn, announced, with a pardonable exaggeration 
 and all the enthusiasm such events have awakened 
 since the first man-child was laid in the arms of Eve. 
 
 "What makes you think the new baby the 
 sweetest in the world, 1 Nellie?" said Robert. 
 
 "Because it s Ruth s baby, and therefore mine. I 
 shall name it Freddie, teach it all a little boy should 
 know, and, if any thing happens to dear Ruth, while 
 I have life, no harm shall ever come to her J child. 
 What a grand Christinas gift ! " 
 
 "While you are taking on, Miannetta sits there 
 with her wraps on. Do n t you think a little present 
 work is sometimes worth more than so much prospect 
 ive usefulness ? " said Mrs. Maynard.
 
 SHADOWS. 83 
 
 "Forgive my thoughtlessness, Miannetta! Take 
 off your wraps, and come close to the fire while 
 I remove that horrid head-gear. I should be 
 tired to death totin that on the top of my head, 
 to say nothing of the walk of two or three 
 miles and, child ! your moccasins are full of snow ! 
 Let me take em off. Now, if it is not a shame ? your 
 hair has not been touched since I put it up, day before 
 yesterday. I will take it down and brush out the 
 braids, while you are drinking that cup of tea mother 
 has poured for you. Please, let me," she insisted, as 
 Miannetta offered objection. " Never mind Rob ; he 
 is reading on the other side of the room." 
 
 A moment afterward, all forgetful of Miannetta s 
 objection on his account and her own words of re-as 
 surance, she cried : 
 
 U O Robert! do look at Miannetta s hair! Is it 
 not perfectly magnificent ? " 
 
 The young man looked over from his newspaper, 
 carelessly at first, and then with some surprise and 
 more attention, admired the luxuriance of the raven 
 hair that rippled down and swept the floor, though its 
 owner sat on an ordinarily high chair. Miannetta 
 might have been forty ; but, if so, she had so concili 
 ated time that she looked still voung and beautiful. 
 
 / o 
 
 Some care, unusual to Indian women, had preserved 
 her complexion from their bronze, though darker than 
 the average brunette of the Anglo-Saxon race. She 
 was reticent, an universal favorite in the settlement, 
 and considered indispensable in cases of illness or 
 accident, much to the discomfiture of poor, spiteful 
 Mrs. Cross her one enemy, who had medical preten-
 
 84: MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 sions and was wont to ascribe to the "pet squaw " the 
 languishing condition of her own finances, as her own 
 employment not infrequently resulted in the employ 
 ment of her husband also. 
 
 Her success in his interest was certainly great, 
 though not very inspiring to her patrons. In short, 
 she practiced medicine, and, to eke out the revenue 
 of his farm, Mr. Cross dug graves. 
 
 But to our story. 
 
 Nellie brushed, plaited and pinned up the long 
 shining braid, while Robert, forgetful of his paper, 
 watched the proceeding thoughtfully, nor seemed to 
 hear his mother, though she had thrice repeated his 
 name. Nellie at last roused him from his apparent 
 reverie, as she said : 
 
 "Robert is getting wonderfully given to day 
 dreaming, mother ; I believe he has, as they say, fal 
 len in love with some fairy nymph in that saintly city, 
 where he tarried awhile on his way to college. T is 
 said the immortals love at first sight. He has a 
 picture that causes me some suspicion, for he won t 
 let me see it, which you know is neither flattering 
 to me nor to the picture." 
 
 Mrs. Maynard smiled at Nellie s nonsense, and 
 said : 
 
 "Is it your purpose, my son, to show us the 
 original of that cherished picture some day. " 
 
 "Yes, mother; and to you the picture now. 
 Nellie shall wait as a punishment for her inquisitive- 
 ness." 
 
 " I pray you be merciful, Mr. Autocrat, and place 
 the period of my punishment within the limits of
 
 SHADOWS. 85 
 
 feminine endurance," said Nellie, with hands uplifted 
 in mimic entreaty. Miannetta, who had fallen asleep 
 under magnetic hands, awakened at the voice, ele 
 vated above its usual gentle tone, and bewildered at 
 the appealing attitude and pitiful expression, said 
 quickly, 
 
 " Why Nellie, what s the matter ? " 
 
 "Nothing at all the matter with me, but Robbie 
 has just been and gone and fallen in love." 
 
 " One would think from your look of anguish, he 
 had been and gone and broken his neck," said Mian 
 netta, with, for her, unusual playfulness. 
 
 "It s just as bad, I suppose, for we shall lose 
 him, and who knows but a broken heart lies at the 
 bottom. I have read somewhere, whoever plunges 
 deepest into love, will soonest find the boulders and 
 surface hidden cliifs upon which lives are wrecked. 
 I know my brother s true heart so well, that I know 
 if he loves at all he will love with all his soul." 
 
 "It is sad to think then," said Miannetta, with 
 some warmth, " how he might suffer should the 
 object of his love prove unworthy ; but even the 
 anguish of a broken heart seems to me preferable to 
 having a heart, so light and vain, it can neither love 
 nor break. Such hearts are many, and sometimes 
 inspire a devotion they never can experience or 
 reciprocate." 
 
 She had spoken so intelligently and with such 
 evident feeling, that they sat astonished for some 
 moments after she had hurriedly risen and glided 
 from the room. 
 
 "Poor Miannetta," said Nellie, "knows what it
 
 86 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 is to find the hidden rocks where hearts are broken." 
 And with tears in her soft blue eyes she followed 
 the Indian woman. 
 
 Robert crossing the room, laid the picture of a 
 young girl in his mother s hand, and putting his arm 
 affectionately around her neck, said in a voice not 
 devoid of emotion : 
 
 "Mother, this is Miss La Moore. The original of 
 this picture I hope to bring to you before this time 
 next year a daughter that you must love, for she 
 will be my wife." 
 
 " Your wife, my son! Is this indeed true? I 
 did not credit Nellie for cleverness to discover such a 
 secret, before I had even suspected it. I thought it 
 was all her mischief." 
 
 " But mother, what do you think of my An 
 nette ? " 
 
 "That her lovely face explains my boy s precipi 
 tancy," was the reply. 
 
 After examining the features critically, she said: 
 
 " She is not simply lovely; she has one of those 
 rare faces, upon which there is no shadow of guile or 
 deception. Ah, Robbie, with this woman s love you 
 will be blessed ; for I believe if she loves once she 
 will love forever. Whatever may arise to mar your 
 happiness, or to separate you, do not doubt the faith 
 that is the beauty of these eyes. Though now look 
 ing at her for the first time, I yet seem to have known 
 her long. Acquaintance with her is not a thing of 
 growth. T is a beautiful picture, Robbie, and the 
 original must be a sweet girl and a refined lady."
 
 SHADOWS. 87 
 
 "Indeed, mother, those are tame expressions; she 
 is an angel." 
 
 "Well, dear, I am but the lover s mother, dealing 
 in practical terms ; the lover himself must supply the 
 poetical. I am looking at Miss La Moore without 
 her wings." 
 
 "Capital, mother," said Robert laughing, and 
 with just a tinge of color mantling his handsome 
 brow. 
 
 "Now sit down and tell me all about this romantic 
 affair, my son, which promises to increase our little 
 household band, and to give Nellie what she has 
 always wished for a sister," said Mrs. Maynard. 
 
 Robert drawing a stool to her feet, and laying his 
 arm across her knee, told her the history of his love, 
 which I will give you in his own words. 
 
 "You remember, mother, last Spring, when I 
 went away to finish my last half year at the academy, 
 
 father desired me to stop in the city of St. P , 
 
 and deliver a message to Mr. La Moore, some busi 
 ness matter requiring a verbal explanation, which 
 
 "I remember it well, Robbie. Some transaction 
 in real estate, but I had not till this moment asso 
 ciated the names of the young lady and your father s 
 business acquaintance of St. P ." 
 
 "She is, however, his daughter. They have a 
 fine residence on the heights, overlooking the city, to 
 which I was invited by Mr. La Moore, when I called 
 at his office. I had formerly met Eugene, the eldest 
 son, a pleasant acquaintance, which was renewed and 
 deepened at once into friendship, when I became at 
 their earnest wish a few days visitor at their home.
 
 88 MAPLE KANGE. 
 
 Mr. La Moore, a most affable man, desired me to 
 wait, as he and Eugene were going to Europe, and 
 they would accompany me as far as New York. 
 
 " Of course, I waited, for I knew Annette would be 
 of the party going East, as she was to be left in Mon 
 treal, Canada, to finish her studies there. You smile, 
 mother ! That smile tells me that I need not extend 
 my story. Suffice it to say, I loved her from the 
 moment of our meeting, and I obtained her father s 
 full and cordial consent to address her. Eugene is to 
 remain in France some time. Mr. La Moore will 
 return the coming Spring. At Autumn, if you and 
 father approve, I hope to bring Annette home to the 
 dear old Maples. I think indeed, I know she is not 
 entirely happy in her father s house, though much 
 beloved by him as well as by Eugene and the rest of 
 the children. She said nothing of this to me ; but I 
 readily divined it. Her own mother is long since 
 dead. Her step-mother appears to be a proud, unfeel 
 ing woman, and frigid as an iceberg. 1 
 
 "Bring her to us, Robbie; we have sunshine 
 enough, and to spare. Blessed with the love we will 
 all give her, she shall forget there is any coldness or 
 want of feeling in the world ; and God grant you 
 both happy and useful lives. " 
 
 While she was speaking, Mr. Maynard entered, 
 and noticing the tremulous tone in which she spoke 
 these last words, he inquired very tenderly the cause. 
 With a smile, she said : 
 
 "Robbie has been telling me a love story of which 
 he is the hero, and the daughter of your acquaintance, 
 Mr. Pierre La Moore, the bright, particular star. "
 
 SHADOWS. 89 
 
 " Ah ! and when is this star to dawn upon us ? " 
 
 "He proposes to bring it to us in cheerless No. 
 vember I suppose, to quicken our appreciation of its 
 brightness." 
 
 " Well, Robert," said his father, cordially, "I was 
 just about your age when I had a similar experience. 
 There arose in my firmament a star which has bright 
 ened my path ever since. I wish your happiness, my 
 son, may equal mine, for a greater it were impossible 
 to conceive on earth. I am glad that, in the spring 
 time of your life, you have won a good woman s love. 
 It will steady you all through life. " 
 
 Mr. Maynard s feelings overcame him for a few 
 minutes, when he continued : 
 
 "In view of such an event, I have recently drawn 
 up some plans that we will talk over this afternoon. 
 I need only say now, your proposed marriage has my 
 approval, Rob, and I shall be ready to give you the 
 proper outfit, and put you in the way to prove your 
 own accumulative abilities." 
 
 "Let me here say a few words," interposed Mrs. 
 Maynard. "Robbie, I want to caution you against 
 making gain paramount in your plans. Remember 
 the golden mean of Agur s prayer : Give me neither 
 poverty nor riches. Feed me with food convenient 
 for me. Too often, alas, we fail to appreciate the 
 beauty of this humble petition ; yet we have ourselves 
 seen souls narrowed by the recognition of no logic 
 save that of money. Men, arrayed in the purple, 
 have dazzled the eyes that looked only on the mag 
 nificence of their personal appointments. Thousands 
 have knelt in fawning servility at their feet until 
 4*
 
 90 MAPLZ RANGE. 
 
 something has revealed the fact that their souls were 
 closed to every generous impulse and noble thought ; 
 that, in reality, they were pitiably poor. One of Sir 
 Walter Scott s characters declares that The penny 
 siller slew mair souls than the naked sword slew 
 bodies. " 
 
 I believe it does, " said Robert, when money 
 is loved for itself alone, rather than for its uses. 
 Scott, however, recommends money, 
 
 Not for to hide it in a hedge, 
 Nor for a train attendant, 
 But for the glorious privilege 
 Of being independent. " 
 
 " May I venture to come in, or will I interrupt 
 your discussions? 1 asked Nellie, peeping in at the door. 
 
 " Why, Nell," said Robert, rising and leading her 
 to the seat he had just occupied, "I was very near 
 forgetting you." 
 
 "Well," said she, with assumed resignation, "I 
 suppose I must get used to it. Wise people say it is 
 a bad sign when a young man gets absent-minded, 
 to say nothing of forgetting his sister ! " 
 
 "The wheel revolves, daughter!" said Mr. 
 Maynard, gayly. "I remember very well when you 
 appeared on the scene and broke Robbie s nose, and 
 now, as if to avenge him, a Circean divinity has 
 arisen and broken yours." 
 
 "Well, I ve no further use for mine anyway! 
 The frost killed all my fragrant plants last night. 
 My chrysanthemum and heliotrope look like unsightly 
 rags dangling about their ornamental supports. Not
 
 SHADOWS. 91 
 
 a tint of loveliness not a breath of sweetness an 
 swered my good-morning to my flowers." 
 
 "What a pity, my pet," said Mr. Maynard, sym 
 pathetically. " It froze very hard last night. The 
 mercury fell to thirty-four below zero the lowest it 
 has been since we have been in Minnesota." 
 
 "Well, but yesterday was not cold! Flies and 
 actually a mosquito were on the same window with 
 my plants, at noon. As it continued mild, I thought 
 last night there was no necessity of removing the 
 
 o . O 
 
 pots; and who would have imagined the change? 
 But alas, alas ! as Cloe says, there is no placing 
 dependence in men or Minnesota weather." 
 
 Mrs. Maynard here signified a wish to go over and 
 visit the young mother, at Ben Palmer s, and the 
 sleigh was soon at the door, and a basket of delicacies 
 stowed away under tba seat. Robert assisted his 
 mother in, with as much gallantry as if she had been 
 eighteen instead of forty-eight ; but a beloved mother 
 never grows old to us. In twenty minutes she had 
 been left at Palmer s, and Robert was returning home. 
 When there, he persuaded Nellie to take a ride and 
 call on Mrs. Center. Controlled by cool, masterly 
 hands, the horses flew rapidly over the snow "to the 
 music of the bells, bells, bells." Mrs. Center was 
 all alone with her little boy. Her husband had gone 
 in pursuit of work, which he might have found at 
 Mr. Maynard s ; but his pride prevented him from 
 accepting any so near home. They were very needy 
 now. Fortune had not fallen to him from the clouds. 
 No marvelous discovery of mineral wealth had been 
 made on his quarter section ; and, though he would
 
 92 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 not acknowledge that he expected and waited for 
 these things to turn up, yet there was evidently a 
 cause for his waiting till starvation actually stared 
 his family in the face. There must have been a bright 
 dream of some fabulous release from his difficulties, 
 or he could never have borne the gradual restriction 
 which had reduced their meals, first to bread and 
 potatoes, and now even bread was gone. Nellie 
 noticed how more than usually despondent Mrs. 
 Center seemed, but could not have guessed the whole 
 truth of her want, till at last the poor woman ven 
 tured to be frank with them. 
 
 I can not give you a cup of tea after your ride in 
 the cold," she said, "nor will I offer you my only 
 food potatoes. " 
 
 "That was not surely your only breakfast this 
 morning," said Nellie. 
 
 "Yes," she replied sadly, "Carlos and I have 
 eaten nothing else for the last fortnight, Mr. Center 
 has been gone a week, I hope he will find the work 
 he seeks." 
 
 Robert, always clever to devise a way out of any 
 unpleasantness, so that even his motive was scarcely 
 mistrusted, said quickly, 
 
 " We had no thought of staying, Mrs. Center, to 
 day. We came for you to go home with us and 
 share our Christmas dinner. Mother and father will 
 be delighted to have you, while Nellie and I want to 
 have some fun with Carlos." 
 
 So saying, he caught the little fellow and throw 
 ing him over his shoulder, trotted up and down the 
 room, singing, "won t you buy a bag of beans, shake,
 
 SHADOWS. 
 
 shake, shake. " The child Avas soon shouting with 
 laughter, and even his mother smiled at the queer 
 spectacle of this young man, who was the beau of that 
 part of the country, playing nursery horse. 
 
 "Come get ready, Mrs. Center, while I stir up 
 your boy," he said. 
 
 "I shall have to boil a kettle of potatoes first, to 
 feed my chickens," getting up to put the kettle on. 
 
 " No, I 11 fix them," Robert answered, as putting 
 Carlos into Nellie s lap, he went out and took from 
 the sleigh a bag of oats, which he emptied into the 
 hen house, his generosity being greeted by a great 
 flutter of wings. 
 
 Mrs. Center was soon ready, and with happy 
 little Carlos, really enjoyed the ride behind the fleet 
 horses. 
 
 As they drove up to the door, Mr. Maynard came 
 out bareheaded, the wind gently raising his silvery 
 locks. He reached out both hands to take Carlos, 
 saying heartily. "A very merry Christmas to you. 
 Mrs. Center, you are indeed most welcome. I have 
 been deserted for two mortal hours by Mrs. Maynard 
 and the children ; have read my newspaper and eaten 
 my apples, and am heartily glad to see you. Come 
 in, come in." 
 
 He seated himself by the glowing fire with the 
 child on his knees, and bravely sought to undo the 
 mysterious strings and buckles that fastened on his 
 infantile wraps, till completely baffled, he good- 
 naturedly handed him over to Nellie. 
 
 "There." he said, as looking through the window 
 he saw Robert driving towards Ben Palmer s, "what
 
 94 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 a piece of thoughtlessness ; I ought to have made 
 Robert come in and warm himself, while I drove 
 over for mother." 
 
 However it was not long before the spanking bays, 
 fresh as when first they left the stable, dashed up 
 through the long grove, and stood with arched necks 
 and tremulous ears before the door. Mrs. Maynard 
 exchanged warm greetings with her friend, and soon 
 the appetizing aroma of well-cooked food penetrated 
 from the dining room, and in a moment, divested of 
 mantle and furs, she was ready, as Robert said, "to 
 put a substantial enclosure around Cloe s roast turkey 
 and plum pudding." 
 
 How kind they all were ; how sweet the home 
 atmosphere. Mrs. Center s heart swelled as she took 
 in all the affection of this home, contrasting it with 
 her own chilled and blighted by indifference. How 
 she wished, at one moment, that her husband could 
 share with her the pleasures of this day, yet the next, 
 thought with a sigh, how sure he would have been 
 to mar the harmony of the conversation, by crabbed 
 opposition, maintained to the verge of rudeness. 
 
 He was one of those characters Nature sometimes 
 seems to create out of the scraps of humanity, and in 
 this case, unfortunately, the scraps were all poor. 
 
 Mrs. Center was grave, she was never otherwise 
 now, but she was social and at home; had seen 
 enough of better days to know what was required of 
 her, as well as to appreciate the compliment of a seat 
 at her host s right hand. 
 
 Though she could not forget the empty flour 
 barrel at home, nor the limp purse in her pocket,
 
 SHADOWS. 1*0 
 
 yet she conversed happily and profitably, as became 
 one who was a lady independently of all externals, 
 proving that soul wealth is, after all, the only true 
 independence. 
 
 Miannetta was not at dinner. She was weary and 
 preferred sleep in her room. 
 
 Carlos was given a high chair beside Xellie, who 
 helped him to separate the fruit from the pudding and 
 mince pies, and broke wish bones with him, while 
 Robert, who sat opposite him, pared the skin off his 
 big red apple into one long spiral piece, with which he 
 made a fanciful decoration for the castor. Then, 
 with using his napkin ring as an eyeglass to discover 
 the cause of the brightness of the little boy s eyes, 
 tasting the little fellow s wine under the pretence of 
 keeping it from Nellie, Carlos was kept highly 
 amused. 
 
 So the day passed pleasantly away, a day set 
 down in Mrs. Center s record as one of the pleasant- 
 est of her life. Poor woman, she had so few pleasant 
 days in these later years, this one stood out very 
 clear in her calender. 
 
 Two da-ys afterward she spent the day at Ben 
 Palmer s with Mrs. Maynard, and when they returned 
 to The Maples toward night, she said, "I must 
 surely go home to-morrow. " 
 
 In the morning Robert drove round to the door 
 with a larger sleigh and she got in with a grateful 
 heart, for she knew she was not going back to the old 
 regimen of potatoes and salt. Under the robes were 
 stored a bag of flour, meat, jars of lard, butter, and 
 groceries, not forgetting meal for the chicks. Last,
 
 96 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 but in size not least, was a box of mellow apples, 
 with " Carlos "painted on the cover in big red letters. 
 All of these things Mr. Maynard had stipulated, 
 should be paid for when his century plant blossomed. 
 
 "With interest," Mrs Center had said. 
 
 " Yes, if you insist," was the reply. 
 
 The plant had blossomed only five years before. 
 
 After leaving her at her own house, Robert drove 
 over with the intention of offering Mrs. Wilson a 
 ride back with him, on the way to visit her daughter. 
 She had been at Ruth s only every other day for the 
 last week, and this was her day off. He only 
 intended it as a bit of fun, as he enjoyed greatly 
 these little friendly tilts with Mrs. Wilson, Avho not 
 unfrequently, could pay him back in his own coin. 
 But when she came to the door the expression of her 
 face, not only forbade the nonsense, but drove it from 
 his thoughts. With alarmed earnestness, he cried : 
 
 " What can be the matter with you ? Speak, Mrs. 
 Wilson." 
 
 She could not tell him intelligently, but hurriedly 
 directed him to the residence of Mr. Cross, where all 
 the men of the settlement were assembling, and 
 where, in a few moments, he heard an explanation of 
 fears, not confined to Mrs. Wilson alone. Fears 
 based upon these facts : Two Indians, Mock-ane-sah s 
 braves, had lately committed a murder in the pineries, 
 killing in cold blood a lumberman of high connections 
 and good standing. The Sheriff of Blakeley, a town 
 on the Waubece River, several miles below, was con 
 veying them in irons to that place for confinement in 
 jail. He had stopped the previous evening at Pierre
 
 SHADOWS. 97 
 
 Scott s tavern in Clipnockum Hollow, had ordered 
 supper for himself and prisoners, when suddenly a 
 tall heavily-built man entered and accosted him : 
 
 "My name, sir, is Jerome Hyche, the life-long 
 friend of the man these miscreants murdered. If they 
 are taken below for trial, some legal technicality will 
 furnish a loop-hole for their acquittal. I am deter 
 mined to secure their punishment you understand?" 
 
 The Sheriff, who was determination personified, 
 calmly replied : 
 
 "If you intend to use strength, let me tell you 
 these men shall not be taken from me without a 
 struggle, 1 significantly tapping his revolvers. 
 
 Opening the door and revealing a crowd of sturdy 
 looking men, about thirty strong, Hyche said quietly, 
 " It is folly to offer resistance." 
 
 " I am sorry your words belie your looks," said 
 the Sheriff. "I should have taken you to be a law 
 abiding man." 
 
 " So I am," was the reply, " but human laws are 
 not for the benefit of these devils !" 
 
 "They are my prisoners," said the Sheriff. "I 
 shall defend them to the last." 
 
 His coolness re-assured the prisoners, who sat 
 down to supper and ate heartily, even lighting their 
 pipes afterward. 
 
 The sleigh was brought to the door, and as the 
 Sheriff appeared with his prisoners, the crowd closed 
 round them. As the Indians were getting into the 
 sleigh, two men stepped forward as if to seize them. 
 The officer quickly drew a revolver, saying: 
 
 Touch them at your peril, " 
 G 5
 
 98 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 Convinced that he so acted only to screen himself 
 from all censure, they each caught hold of an Indian, 
 and in less time than it takes to tell it, both men lay 
 weltering in their life blood. Their companions 
 immediately seized the Sheriff, and secured him. The 
 redskins were seized in a twinkling, hustled into 
 another sleigh, driven rapidly up the road under a 
 large oak tree. Two ropes were thrown over a 
 limb, and in a few seconds, as the sleigh drove 
 away, two lifeless forms were left dangling between 
 the white cold earth and an unpitying sky. At mid 
 night a tall figure stood near them, and regarded them 
 long and silently. It was old Mock-ane-sah, looking 
 upon the faces of the dead, one of which was indeed 
 his own his only son. Long he gazed upon that dis 
 torted face, then climbing the bluff, by which stood 
 the fatal tree, he gained its summit, commanding a 
 near view of the homes in the valley, and the settle 
 ment of Maple Range. He was not unlike the forest 
 trees upon the bluff, as he stood there for a while, 
 immovable, his towering form clearly defined in the 
 moonlight that shone brightly on the snow. Nor 
 was he conscious that he was observed. The wakeful 
 spirit of Gus Harkness had impelled him forth to 
 watch the Hollow, and he followed at a safe distance, 
 noting Mock-ane-sah s every action. Saw him look 
 upward to the moon and counting on his fingers, as 
 once before he had calculated the force of the settle 
 ment. A low murmur issued from his lips. Was it 
 a prophecy of the time when vengeance would be 
 fulfilled ? None would ever know. But the thought 
 of his sweeping down with his merciless band upon
 
 SHADOWS. 99 
 
 them, caused the spectator s heart to quail. Of 
 course so large a force as had attended Jerome Hyche 
 had not been recruited without some drafts upon 
 Maple Range, and though that had been almost acci 
 dental, it was felt to involve the whole settlement in 
 peril. It mattered little how they came to be there, 
 or whether they were there. White men had killed 
 the Indians and white men would have to answer for 
 it, and not alone white men, but women and children 
 too. An Indian s vengeance is not discriminating. 
 The new-born child and its mother are slain with as 
 much satisfaction as the man for whose deed, fancied 
 or otherwise, they suffer. The Indians had been 
 hung at the Hollow and the settlers in the Hollow 
 should make atonement, and Maple Range must 
 suffer with them. 
 
 In this conviction, the male portion of the settle 
 ment had met to devise some plan of defense. From 
 Smith s they had moved to Wilson s ; from Wilson s, 
 with added numbers, to Porter s, and thence, still 
 gaining in number, to " old man Cross ." At each 
 place there had been angry declamation, some sensi 
 ble discussion, and much purposeless talk. They all 
 dwelt more upon the demerits of their treacherous 
 foe, than upon sensible measures for deliverance. 
 Though discussion was vehement and backwoods ora 
 tory original, yet they had so far been unable to settle 
 anything definitely. It was while in this state of 
 disorder that Robert arrived. He soon learned the 
 facts we have just narrated, and realized their gravity 
 to the fullest extent. 
 
 "They need some one to talk em down ! Go in
 
 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 old your coat, Robert," said Gus 
 
 Robert entered the room unperceived. The men 
 \were all standing all talking at once ; but he could 
 " gather enough to discover that they were discussing 
 the expediency of sending his father as an envoy 
 extraordinary to the Indians. There was, however, 
 a strong opposition to this, for, as yet undiscovered, 
 both those friendly and averse to the proposition 
 expressed their views freely, unembarrassed by the 
 knowledge of his presence. He was astonished to 
 find how the leaven of envy and jealousy had worked 
 in a few short weeks yes, you might say hours; 
 but he was rejoiced to find that his father s real friends 
 were the better the more intelligent of the settlers. 
 The first voice distinguishable was that of Charles 
 Center, who, having returned that morning, and find 
 ing his wife away, had followed the tide of excite 
 ment and was evidently working for some personal 
 end. He opposed strenuously Mr. Maynard s inter 
 vention. 
 
 "Uncle Smith," he said, " proposes to send May- 
 nard to the Indians. Now, look here ! if his mediation 
 had been the correct thing heretofore, the necessity of 
 mediation would not now exist. What assurance have 
 you that he has kept faith with you, or that he will 
 keep faith with you, if you send him again ? I believe 
 he has been treacherous to you ; that the very intelli 
 gence you esteem in him, he has used against you, 
 with the Indians." 
 
 Cries of "No, no ! " and " Maynard is true blue ! " 
 met this assertion.
 
 SHADOWS. 101 
 
 "When old Mock-ane-sah comes down from the 
 woods, whom does he visit ? " asked Center. 
 
 This was a damaging question, and was answered 
 by several with cries of "That s so, boys!" "He 
 stops at Maynard s every time ! " 
 
 This suggestion, though of little weight with the 
 more sensible, who knew old Mock-ane-sah was not to 
 blame for the deeds of his warriors, took readily with a 
 certain class. Comparative silence prevailed for a 
 moment, and a peculiar sound issued from one corner 
 of the room. With his usual sniffling, Cross rose to 
 his feet, laboring from head to foot with a big thought 
 striving for utterance. His hands worked nervously 
 and his eyes rolled spasmodically. With a wrinkling 
 of his forehead that brought down the stiff black shock 
 of hair till it almost met the shaggy eyebrows, Mr. 
 Cross delivered himself as follows : 
 
 "Center is dead set ag in Maynard ; my woman 
 is too. She hain t got the Parnin , may be, and 
 could n t talk as well as he can, but she aims at the 
 same idee. Center speaks her sentiments, and them s 
 my sentiments coractly." 
 
 On the delivery of this speech, a merry little 
 fellow was seen fussily making his way through the 
 crowd to the door. 
 
 What s up 2 Whar you goin , Birdsell ? " 
 
 " Home, to get my woman s idee. I want to get 
 it in close to that of Mrs. Cross, for, next to me, she 
 has always said she liked Maynard ; but I m goin to 
 find out if she has changed her mind, like some of the 
 rest here ! Back, in a minute. " 
 
 This sally elicited some laughter, which, however,
 
 102 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 gave way to close attention when long Dave Persons 
 took the floor. 
 
 "Neighbors and friends," he said, "I think you 
 are all more scared than hurt, to-day ! If you will 
 insist upon mediation, Maynard s your winning card ; 
 but, for heaven s sake, emphasize the die, in your 
 instruction ; all other logic is just so much powder 
 wasted and time thrown away. Why do n t you go 
 and cut down them red cusses and send their cold car 
 casses home to their smoky wigwams? Tell their 
 howlin kindred to come down here and you will 
 settle their hash by servin them the same way ! The 
 tree is strong, and there s enough of ye to hang every 
 infernal Sioux that ever clutched a scalp lock ; and as 
 for rope, there is no want 
 
 " Do n t waste the rope, Dave ! Remember Char 
 ity begins at home, " cried Jehial Smith. 
 
 " Yes ! " said Gus Harkness, " and supposing you 
 undertake the execution of the nice little plan you 
 propose, will you take those two bodies home, eh ? " 
 
 Uncle Carce Smith here cleared his throat, and 
 they knew something was to be said worth listen 
 ing to. 
 
 "Boys ! boys ! the Bible says There is a time to 
 be grave, and a time to be mirthful. Whoever doubts 
 the time has now come to be serious, must be an infidel 
 indeed. To waste it with idle nonsense or impractic 
 able suggestions, is to deprive us perhaps of a chance 
 to secure our imperiled homes and even our lives. 
 While you are here joking, Mock-ane-sah may be 
 massing his dusky warriors in some cover dangerously 
 near, awaiting only the advent of night to swoop
 
 SHADOWS. 103 
 
 down upon ns and light up the forest with our burn 
 ing homes, and mercilessly slay or torture all we hold 
 most dear ! Let us cease discussion, and agree upon 
 immediate measures to avert this horror. Send some 
 one, known to us and to the Indians as a true friend 
 of both, and having influence enough with them, to 
 urge conciliation ; otherwise, I tell you, we are 
 doomed as surely as the sun shines on the corpses of 
 these human beings, hurried out of this world without 
 regard to mercy, law, or justice ! Once more I urge 
 upon your serious consideration the need of the hour, 
 and I propose, as a man of undoubted integrity and 
 influence, Mr. Maynard." 
 
 Before anyone could second the proposition, Mr. 
 Center threw in a counter motion to send Pierre Scott, 
 the half-breed. 
 
 " His personal relations bind him to the Indians 
 while his pecuniary interests bind him to us. Let 
 another be sent to the commandant at the nearest 
 military post. We pay heavy taxes for the support 
 of idle garrisons within short marching distance, and 
 yet we stand here quaking with fear. We have the 
 right to demand protection from the troops we up 
 hold. Should pacific measures fail, we shall have the 
 satisfaction of getting back the value of our taxes 
 in the defense of our homes." 
 
 As he stopped speaking, Robert stepped forward 
 and said : 
 
 "Fellow-citizens: Let me say at once that my 
 father s physical health will not admit of his taking 
 the long journey some of you propose for him in 
 connection with this unhappy affair. The situation
 
 104 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 to-day seems to be one full of danger. The im- 
 
 / o 
 
 pending peril can only- be averted by immediate and 
 concerted action. The exigencies of the hour forbid 
 our lingering over the dark features of yesterday s 
 horror. Its sickening details have ere this been re 
 cited with passionate vehemence by hundreds of tepee 
 fires, while, doubtless, the pipe of war was circulat 
 ing. Pardon me a hurried repetition of some of the 
 grave complaints by which to-day the red man will 
 justify the use of his final argument the tomahawk. 
 It will serve to remind you of what must now be going 
 on among the Indians, while we are engaged in fruit 
 less discussion. This latest deed of violence will 
 serve to awaken older grievances. White men steal 
 ing the affections of Indian women, and under forms 
 of marriage by them considered neither sacred or 
 binding, broken at will, after possessing themselves 
 cf the estate which is often an Indian woman s goodly 
 dower. Many a repudiated squaw, who has thus been 
 stripped of her heritage, deprived of her children, 
 and sent home to her kindred, will add the story of 
 her bitter wrongs to the great burthen of the white 
 man s sins. These heart-broken mothers, wailing for 
 the children God gave them and of which man has 
 robbed them, have become desperate in their desire 
 for vengeance, ready, to aid and forward any work of 
 cruelty against those to whom they attribute their 
 wrongs. Again think of the fraud and extortion 
 practiced by the legalized Indian traders. We all 
 know this. Has it not been a standing joke for 
 years ? The paltry trinkets bartered for Indian gold 
 have marked among dealers supplies the worthless-
 
 SHADOWS. 105 
 
 ness of Indian goods. Have \ve not ourselves watched 
 the wily miller, and perhaps smiled a smile by no 
 means creditable to our principles of honor and in 
 tegrity when, after other custom work was done, he 
 has swept the refuse from the floor and placed it in 
 the hopper to manufacture the villainous Indian flour, 
 for which the consumer would have to pay the price 
 charged for the best. These are hurried glances at 
 the evils which, among many other wrongs, fancied 
 or real, grown by constant nursing and recital to co 
 lossal proportions, have given the red man grave cause 
 to hate us. These, exaggerated and dwelt upon, 
 without considering the oifenses on their own side, 
 make them feel their cause a just one, which is said to 
 be equal to being thrice armed. In meeting this 
 emergency, success depends on our acting wisely, 
 promptly and unanimously. I cordially second Mr. 
 Center s motions to send Pierre Scott to the reserva 
 tion, and also the call for military protection " 
 
 Robert s name was immediately proposed, and 
 he was duly chosen to represent their claim at the 
 fort. 
 
 There was no opposition to Pierre Scott and he 
 received his commission with dignity and readiness, 
 feeling sure he could serve his neighbors satisfac 
 torily. I must, however, qualify that statement of 
 no opposition, for Paddy O Shannon, before the de 
 cision had been taken, sprang into the middle of the 
 room, depositing an enormous quid of tobacco on 
 the floor, and with the richest brogue imaginable, 
 cried : 
 
 "An is it Pierre Scott, the craythur, ye d be
 
 106 MAPLE EANGE. 
 
 sindin till the woods. A dirthy half-breed himself, 
 an the two-facedest cuss that iver run on two legs. 
 Sure now, if the crowd goes in for the loikes o that, 
 ye 11 see me lavin Clipnockmn with niver a look be 
 hind, for the Lord himself could n t save us ! 
 Sind a bastely Injun to thrate with bastelier ones ! 
 Why, it is like sindin an Oirishman with a bottle of 
 whisky to quill a whisky row. Pierre Scott, indade ! 
 Why, gintlemin, ye better now jest turn the same 
 boot and kick yerselves clean to Bedlam." 
 
 "Hold on, Paddy," said Gus Harkncss; "what s 
 your plan ? What would you do supposing we send 
 you to the Injuns ? " 
 
 " I d take the pay loike a man." 
 
 " But what would you do with the Injuns ? " 
 
 " Make em show thir paipers, bedad." 
 
 But they are natives ; have no papers to show, 
 Paddy." 
 
 "No paipers ! O begorra, thin, I ll niver thrate 
 or bodder wid em at all, at all." 
 
 And he thrust his hands into the waistband of his 
 blue overalls, stumping ferociously out of the room, 
 while Gus called after him : 
 
 " Where ye goin , Paddy?" 
 
 "Out o this counthry, be jabers, where the 
 biggest half o the people have no paipers." 
 
 This little episode had not interrupted the real 
 business of the convention. Instructions had been 
 prepared and were now given to the delegates, who 
 departed at once upon their respective missions, each 
 earnestly desirous of averting the gloomy cloud.
 
 SHADOWS. 107 
 
 Robert was unaccompanied, but Miannetta went with 
 Scott. 
 
 Peace was for the moment secured, and, though 
 built upon a volcano, was considered satisfactory by 
 the too confiding settlers, who buried their fears away, 
 cleared and put in larger fields of crops, tore down 
 their old buildings and raised better ones, inviting 
 with the arm of labor the prosperity and capital 
 which is its reward. In the light of later events we 
 know that beneath the outward peace smouldered a 
 fire, unsuspected by those who, above it, went on 
 their way, busy with the common things of life. 
 
 The Indians were now seldom seen, but appeared 
 friendly and some acts of real kindness were ex 
 changed with the whites. It was believed they were 
 not brooding over the outrage in the Hollow, but had 
 come to set off that awful punishment on the part of 
 the whites, against the awful crime on the part of the 
 Indians. Jerome Hyche was not a resident of that 
 section, and though he was never seen, had never 
 been dealt with for his part in the lynching, yet to his 
 death he must carry the gangrene of remorse in his 
 soul. It was no palliation of his crime that the vic 
 tims were guilty, and of a cruel and dangerous race. 
 Obedience to the commandment, "Thou shalt not 
 kill, "is especially required of the race enlightened by 
 the word of God.
 
 108 MAPLE KANGE. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 THE LOVER S STRATEGY. 
 
 " He looked at her <is a lover can ; 
 She looked at him, as one who wakes, 
 The past was a sleep, and her life began." 
 
 MRS. BROWNING. 
 
 t6 /"^jOME in, girls ! You can not stay out in the 
 v_y moonlight and dew, without some danger to 
 your health, or your complexion, or your dresses, and 
 pray what can be of more importance ? " It was 
 Robert Maynard who spoke, addressing his sister and 
 her friend Lisbeth Cross. They were sitting or 
 reclining on the branch of a tree that jutted out from 
 its Irunk ; Nellie at her friend s feet, leaning languid 
 ly over, w r ith elbows on her knees looking intently 
 into her face. 
 
 The day had begun with a joyous gallop at sunrise, 
 lazy and cool mid-day floating in the shadowy coves 
 of Lake Loui, and was now ending in quiet happy 
 moonlight talk out in the old trees. 
 
 Nellie is still slight but a lovely creature, fully 
 matured as to years, but she would always seem 
 much younger owing to her extreme delicacy of 
 frame and feature. Her companion was a graceful 
 beautiful woman of perhaps twenty-three or four, 
 with pale olive complexion, dark eyes, and a mouth 
 in which lurked a smile of mischief, though some-
 
 THE LOVEK S STRATEGY. 109 
 
 times almost haughty in its expression. It was the 
 school teacher of Maple Range, making one of her 
 occasional visits at the Maples. Little has been 
 said, if indeed anything, of Elizabeth Cross, or, as 
 her mother and consequently everybody else called 
 her, Lizbeth. Till within the last year she was only 
 occasionally at the home of her father, as she earned 
 her own living teaching district schools, and many 
 thought, found living more agreeable, as well as 
 more generous, anywhere than at home. Her schools 
 were generally too far away to admit of her coming 
 home excepting at the Spring and Fall vacations, yet 
 those periods were eagerly looked forward to by all 
 the young people, who, with few exceptions, liked 
 her. Her vivacious manner added greatly to the 
 zest and enjoyment of life in this rather out of the 
 way spot. The girls were mostly buxom, good 
 natured and hearty, and feeling it in no way detri 
 mental to them when brought in social contact with a 
 young woman decidedly handsome and cultivated, 
 provided she were sociable and full of fun. So Liz 
 beth had the friendship of the girls to begin with, 
 and, 1 need hardly say, that of all the boys, little and 
 big. She was never quite so gracious and good to 
 the " men folks." as she proved by her behaviour 
 towards the girls that it was in her power to be, and 
 was forever tantalizing them Avith a regard half given, 
 half withheld. Her good manners, piquancy and 
 wit inspired general admiration, yet that wit was 
 often directed to the great discomfort of her admirers. 
 No matter, she was. all the same the desire, as well 
 as the dread of the sensitive masculine hearts at
 
 110 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 Maple Range. They loved to be near her, like 
 moths about the candle ; regarded even the wounds, 
 which were the cost of her society, as preferable to 
 her inattention, or their banishment from any gather 
 ing of young people graced by her presence. When 
 she was in the settlement there was always something 
 going on, and they were ready with all homage to 
 wait upon and fulfil her behests, and when she was 
 away, uncle Smith said, "they all seemed to hanker 
 after her." She taught the Winter school in Clip- 
 nockum Hollow the Winter before, and was now 
 teaching at Maple Range. It was wonderful how 
 she came to be on such intimate terms at the Maples, 
 since her mother, and therefore her father, were so 
 " dead set agin the Maynards." But there is nothing 
 so stubborn as facts. She read, sang, and entered 
 with her whole soul into whatever of gaiety or gravity 
 Robert and Nellie were engaged in. Many a picnic 
 party given under the trees, owed its life and blythe- 
 ness to the gay spirits, let loose in unconventional 
 fun and nonsense, of Nellie and Lizbeth. The 
 morning had now come for her return to duty, and 
 Robert was waiting at the gate with the horses to 
 take her, as she and Nellie walked slowly down 
 towards him. 
 
 "Are n t you glad your school is most out," said 
 Nellie. 
 
 "Why should I be, the Summer will be gone 
 then, and Autumn days fly fast. I have only to 
 commence another term for the Winter then at Clip- 
 nockum." 
 
 " Are you really going to brave another term at
 
 THE LOVER S STRATEGY. Ill 
 
 Clipnockum, after all you suffered there with fear 
 last Winter at the time of the lynching." 
 
 " O yes, there is no danger now, everything is 
 peaceful, and really, though the school is smaller, 
 they pay better wages at the Hollow than anywhere 
 else." 
 
 " Don t hurry girls, I had just as soon sit here in 
 the buggy all day as not. Take your time, tell all 
 the long stories, and pick all the late roses you want 
 to. You can rely upon my patience," said Robert. 
 " How long ? " asked Lizbeth. 
 " Till I could hit upon some expedient to cut short 
 those last words girls are sure to exchange when the 
 horses are impatient." 
 
 " Hereafter we will intrench ourselves behind a 
 vocabulary of monosyllables, won t we Nell." 
 
 " Why yes, if Rob will be equally brief." 
 
 They were off so soon when Lizbeth was seated, 
 that her good by floated back on a gust of wind. 
 
 By the time her Winter school was half through, 
 it began to be evident that some of her admirers 
 considered it best to let sour grapes alone, and 
 settle down to enjoy her simple friendship. There 
 was, however, one noticeable exception to this 
 philosophical course, and a noble one too, for Gus 
 Harkness was a Avhole - hearted fellow, as every - 
 body admitted. Gus loved Lizbeth, and had told 
 her so a hundred times or more ; had told her in his 
 own impetuous way, that he not only loved her, but 
 he worshiped the very ground she walked on, every 
 inch of the earth beneath her, and the air above, clear 
 through from purgatory to paradise ; and she, she took
 
 112 MAPLE KANGE. 
 
 the longer walks, as she merrily told him, to give him 
 more territory to worship. No doubt she loved Gus, 
 but she would never give him the comfort of saying 
 so ; that was not her way. All that he could gather 
 from her actions he was welcome to ; but she had 
 never,- unless her silence implied it, said u yes" when 
 he had asked her to marry him. On the strength of 
 this tacit consent, he had built a snug little house in 
 the valley, not far from the school-house, the first 
 Winter she taught there ; the Summer following, had 
 set out shrubbery generously and tastefully improved 
 the grounds about his house ; had realized a large 
 crop from his farm, for Gus was a good farmer. 
 When he pressed his suit and asked her to name an 
 "early day" in the Fall, she, for all answer, placed 
 her school contract in his hands ; then he was mad 
 and broke a commandment ; said amongst other 
 things, not nice to repeat, that he would see her 
 further, and he did. There was never more persist 
 ence and devotion than he manifested, calling at her 
 father s door for her every morning with his big, 
 strong team of iron-grays, and bringing her home after 
 school at night ; often exhausting all his ingenuity to 
 wring a promise from her before she could get a 
 chance to take another school, and getting almost 
 frantic in his attempts to keep his temper over her 
 cruel reserve. One morning she was riding to school 
 beside him, on an enormous saw-log ho was hauling 
 to the Waubece mill. It was very cold, but she was 
 closely wrapped ; besides, he had carefully drawn 
 about her the soft large buffalo robe he had taken 
 from its original owner, slain by himself the previous
 
 THE LOVER S STRATEGY. 113 
 
 Fall, and they rode rapidly, talking gayly in spite of 
 the cold. They were near the bottom of the long 
 hill that flanked one side of the valley a lovely sol 
 itary place and Gus, in his attempts to make her 
 more comfortable, had been rewarded with a peremp 
 tory "Hands off, sir," which rather tended to strength 
 en his determination, than otherwise. May be every 
 body would not, but Gus did swear to himself he 
 would know one of two things now. 
 
 " I m going to be married next month," said he, 
 with a laugh. 
 
 "I congratulate you," was the reply, without a 
 smile. 
 
 " Congratulate yourself too, then, and kiss me for 
 my unselfish consideration of your happiness, in set 
 ting the time so early. Kiss me, I say." 
 
 "I won t do it." 
 
 There followed a desperate struggle, without any 
 satisfactory result to Gus, however, whose gallantry 
 caused him to stop first, saying : 
 
 "Well, the fourth of March is to be our wedding 
 day then, or never, by ho key ! " 
 
 "Why, that s inauguration day/ said Lizbeth, 
 looking rosy and sweet. 
 
 "Of course, it is. I am to take the chair and 
 govern ye till you dare n t say your soul s your own." 
 
 "Well, you can t do it, sir ! My tongue belongs 
 to me forever." 
 
 "May be you think I can t, but you ll see ; and 
 I m goin to kiss you and break your spirit to begin 
 with, now ! 
 
 He held the lines in one hand and Lizbeth tightly 
 H 5*
 
 114 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 in his left arm, when the struggle recommenced. She 
 reminded him that he had always claimed he never 
 could do two things at once, adding : 
 
 "You had better attend to your driving." 
 "The horses know the way, 1 he replied, and 
 redoubled his efforts to pave the way to nuptial dis 
 cipline. In the struggle the horses were reined out 
 of the track onto a large but low stump, at the way 
 side. Left to themselves, they made the attempt to 
 elude it by going each side ; but that would bring the 
 off horse into a deep drift of snow, which, when 
 abreast of the stump, he concluded to avoid by jump 
 ing over it. This brought the runner directly onto it. 
 Gus was thus suddenly recalled to another line of 
 duty and responsibility. With a loud command that 
 stopped the horses, he sprang clear off the careening 
 load, at the same time attempting to rescue Lizbeth, 
 but too late. She had been thrown by the impulse 
 of the load, downward into a narrow gully formed by 
 heavy rains, but now filled with light snow the log 
 in some miraculous way passing clear over her, went 
 with a crunching swash into the snow beyond. Though 
 it had not harmed her, yet, so narrow was the escape, 
 that it held fast the corners of the robe and even her 
 own mantle and skirts worn, as was then the fashion, 
 long and full and thus, fairly imprisoned, she lay, 
 unable to move a limb, her face covered with snow. 
 She lay there paralyzed and speechless for an instant, 
 which seemed an age ; then Gus was clearing the snow 
 from her face and calling her name with tender, ago 
 nized accents. He really feared she was dead death 
 had been so near, so imminent ; yet, when with living
 
 THE LOVER S STRATEGY. 115 
 
 voice and eyes she assured him she was not hurt, but 
 only very uncomfortable, he shouted aloud with joy and 
 laughed away the tears that apprehension had brought 
 to his eyes. He stood there beside her, making no 
 effort to release her this devoted man who for two 
 years had gone at her beck and call, ready to perish 
 for her, if she had so willed it laughing like one 
 demented over her plight. A thought had struck him, 
 which, with her there for once at his mercy, he pro 
 ceeded to act upon. 
 
 "Say you love me, Lizbeth, just once before you 
 die!" 
 
 "Die, Gus? I tell you I am not hurt am not 
 going to die, unless you let me suffocate ! Oh, do 
 hurry and get me out ! " 
 
 " You love me, do you? will marry me the fourth 
 of March ? " 
 
 "Why, Gus, do help me out ! How much value 
 would you place upon the ratification of a promise 
 made under duress ? " 
 
 Of eleven hundred feet of clear lumber ? " he 
 interrupted. 
 
 " I 11 tear my clothes all to pieces and get out of 
 this myself, before I will make any promise to one 
 who could demand it at such a time ! and then, I fear, 
 I might not present a very edifying appearance ! " 
 
 "And you might take cold! You are comfort 
 ably wrapped now ; have a nice view at your back ! 
 I will leave you. Some good Samaritan a bear, 
 likely will come along and relieve you of your 
 clothing, and astonish you with the embrace you 
 have long denied me ! Good by, Lizbeth ! "
 
 116 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 He strove to get away, but she cried : 
 "In heaven s name, Gus, don t leave me here 
 alone ! I am sure I can t stand it much longer ! My 
 blood is congealing ! My limbs are cramping pain 
 fully ! " 
 
 The tears were gushing from her eyes, and Gus 
 was ready to fall down and kiss them away ; but he 
 held out steadily, determined to conquer. 
 
 " Lizbeth, in five minutes I can effect your eman 
 cipation ; but I have danced attendance upon you 
 with no assurance of reward just as long as I am 
 going to. Now, I can help you out, but with the 
 understanding that you will tell me if you love me, 
 and me alone, and that you will marry me the day I 
 have named, and occupy with me the little home that 
 has waited so long for its chosen mistress. Shall I 
 help you ? " he asked, looking down earnestly into 
 her eyes. 
 
 "I don t deserve it, Gus! First, put your face 
 down here, let me kiss you, then help me out. As 
 your wife, I will make amends for all I have caused 
 you to suffer." 
 
 He did not wait for the kiss, but with strong hands 
 and a stronger will soon effected her release. Taking 
 the loved burden up in his arms, their lips met for the 
 first time, and their hearts melted together in mutual 
 words of love. 
 
 She was late that morning to school, but she was 
 not wretched. A bird sang in her heart all day, and 
 all the days of the remaining term. At last, one 
 night, she called the roll, and tearful children an 
 swered, knowing it was the last time. The little ones
 
 THE LOVER S STRATEGY. 117 
 
 had learned to love her too. The door swung to, the 
 key turned in the lock, and now emancipated from 
 school contracts, she stepped into the new, stylish 
 sleigh, and was driven home to the music of silvery 
 bells. The house was furnished, the dresses made, 
 and a wedding at Cross gladdened young and old. It 
 Avas the fourth of March, and Lincoln, that very same 
 day took his seat at Washington. 
 
 There was happiness and peace in the home of 
 Lizbeth and Gus, for neither of them desired to be 
 first, and they therefore secured the perfect harmony 
 resulting from mutual concessions. Soon after their 
 marriage, Mr. Sutton opened a series of revival 
 meetings in the meeting-house of the settlement, 
 which proved a season of great and gracious outpour 
 ings. Many were turned from paths of wickedness 
 into the ways of truth. Lizbeth, who had been very 
 thoughtful upon the subject ever since her near 
 and appalling view of death, was among the first to 
 manifest a desire for a change of heart, the first to go 
 forward for prayers, and hers was among the first of 
 the many professions of conversion to God. Her 
 experience was pronounced very bright and clear, 
 and she was welcomed by the little band of believers 
 with great rejoicing. After her conversion, it was 
 but natural that she should desire that of Gus as well. 
 Gus, poor fellow desired it too. In his new-found joy 
 of communion with her, he could not bear a separa 
 tion, even of interest or thought, from his wife, and 
 admitted to himself that he feared he would be jeal 
 ous of the very God she worshipped, if he were to be 
 shut out. He knew, of course, she would unite with
 
 118 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 the church, and having all his life known only vener 
 ation for the church, he had no earthly objections ; but 
 he told her, when she pleaded with him to "renounce 
 the devil and all his works," that he would gladly do 
 so gladly become a Christian, only that he had no 
 religious emotions, no particular hatred of what was 
 termed the follies of the world, beyond what he had 
 always entertained. All he wanted of the world was 
 just what was honestly his. Of that, he was willing 
 to give a portion for the support of the church, the 
 spread of the gospel ; only he did not want Lizbeth 
 included in that bequest, unless he could give himself 
 too. Comparing his emotions with the extravagant 
 expressions of some under conviction of sin, he had 
 grave doubts as to whether he really was convicted, 
 though he knew " something was the matter of him." 
 Mrs. Wilson, at Lizbeth s request, talked and prayed 
 with him ; Mr. Sutton, also ; and while the former 
 was in doubt as to his real state, the latter declared to 
 Mrs. Cross, that " he was not far from the kingdom." 
 Mrs. Cross felt that he must be labored with. There 
 was a woe upon those "unequally yoked together 
 with unbelievers," and Lizbeth s perseverance would 
 depend greatly upon him. She wrestled with him 
 energetically ; told him his backwardness and want 
 of emotion was a device of the adversary of souls to 
 keep him from accepting the offers of mercy now 
 extended to him. She with half a dozen others, as 
 zealous, got around him and almost dragged him to 
 the anxious seat ; and there, under the excitement of 
 the hour, when a peculiar exaltation had possession of 
 him, he really believed it was as they represented.
 
 THE LOVER S STRATEGY. 119 
 
 In the midst of praise and prayer and exhortation, 
 lifted, as it were, out of himself, lie confessed aloud 
 his sins and prayed for mercy. It was the last night 
 of the meetings. He went home to begin a new life 
 of service and devotion to his Maker ; but he could 
 not bring his soul into that subjection to God that he 
 believed was the result of true conversion ; could not 
 possess the joy which was expressed in every line of 
 Lizbeth s face, and rang in every tone of her voice. 
 He questioned his soul deeply, and that examination 
 convinced him he was deceived. In the broad, garish 
 clay, he grew ashamed of the part he had been per 
 suaded to act ; ashamed that he had prayed. The 
 mortification attending this peculiar experience, or 
 rather want of experience, was great ; not that Gus 
 would have been ashamed to acknowledge his God by 
 a public profession of his acceptance with him, 
 had he felt that to be genuine. He respected 
 Christians, in whom he had confidence, as much as 
 he despised hypocrites. He expressed his mortifica 
 tion to Lizbeth, who had the good sense to comfort 
 him in quite a different way from what her mother 
 would have done ; told him it was only a mistaken 
 emotion, and proved nothing against him or the relig 
 ion she hoped he would some day enjoy. Her sensible 
 way of looking at the matter had the effect to recon 
 cile him. On town meeting day, he ventured out 
 timorously, expecting somebody would rally him 
 upon this one sore point. 
 
 He fell in with Center on the way and learned that 
 he was cherishing ambitions that Gus believed were 
 fruitless. He knew the man was and had been h <mr-
 
 120 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 ing for some time to build himself up by the. over? 
 throw of another ; knew that he had been trying to 
 undermine Maynard, and, moreover, Gus knew well 
 that Charles Center was powerless to do so. Though 
 he had worked early and late with that object in view, 
 he had really overdone the matter, and instead of 
 weakening, had strengthened his adversary s position. 
 Mr. Maynard would be ever gratefully remembered 
 as one whose unselfish efforts had always been for the 
 good of Maple Range. Center, it will be remem 
 bered, had secured the final appointment of Pierre 
 Scott at the time of the panic over a year ago, and 
 though astonished then to find he was so influential, it 
 had decided him to venture into political life since he 
 had signally failed in everything else. He had 
 caused the suggestion of hits name in connection with 
 the office of magistrate, and confidently believed he 
 would get the nomination, and nomination in that 
 town was equivalent to election. 
 
 He had modestly remained away until after the 
 caucus, and entered the school-house with Gus just 
 as the polls were opening. Gus was too good-natured 
 to inquire who were the nominees in Center s hearing, 
 but Dave Persons told them off, snapping his pocket- 
 handkerchief at each name, and watching Center s 
 face as lie lingered over that of Ben Calmer, Justice 
 of the Peace," adding : 
 
 "It s a pity, Gus, that you was in such a deuce 
 of a hurry to get married, for Ben is bound to marry 
 the first couple for nothing, just to get the hang of 
 the business, and they do say you paid old man 
 Sutton ten dollars for that job of yours, eh ? "
 
 THE LOVER S STRATEGY. 121 
 
 Jehial Smith had been through the mill, and knew 
 that Gus would wince at this public allusion to his 
 recently assumed matrimonial responsibilities, and so 
 came to the rescue with a bit of history that would 
 turn the tables on Dave. 
 
 "I say, Gus," said he, "it s an awful pity Ben 
 was n t Justice once at least, during the eight years 
 that Dave was sparkin the widder down in Illinois. 
 They do say he would have married her sure, if he 
 could ha raised the money to pay the Justice, so 
 scared was he that she would sue him for breach of 
 promise." 
 
 Dave vanished. Poor Dave ! No one was liked 
 better, no friend more true than he ; yet he had a 
 knack of running against snags. When he returned 
 it was late in the afternoon ; he deposited his vote 
 and just then caught sight of uncle Carce Smith on his 
 knees away in one corner of the room, changing a 
 ballot for some one. Here was another chance. 
 Dave directed attention to that corner and the room 
 grew so still the jabs of the old blunt pencil could be 
 heard distinctly, then in a solemn voice said : 
 
 "Let us unite in prayer for uncle Smith s candi 
 date." 
 
 Uncle Smith got on to his feet during the applause 
 that followed, then, with long, thin finger pointing to 
 Dave, he prepared to send that shaft of ridic.ule back, 
 and he did. 
 
 "You are the man, Dave, and no one needs pray 
 ers more. But if ever I scratch another ticket and 
 substitute your name, I will get down in dust and 
 ashes and pray to be forgiven." 
 6
 
 122 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 At the close of the polls, nearly all those that had 
 been there in the morning were there still. That was 
 the way to maintain the proper dignity of the town. 
 If men were to vote and run away, there would be no 
 crowd, no gossip worthy the name of town meeting. 
 They might live to vote another day, but to all ap 
 pearance no one believed they would. No use of 
 going home either till after the counting of votes ; 
 without a crowd, where would the cheering of suc 
 cessful candidates come from ? 
 
 The votes- were counted at last, but the only an 
 nouncement of interest to us was this one, and it was 
 received in silence "Charles Center, constable" 
 
 The next day, obedient to invitation, there was a 
 big gathering in the " sap bush " of uncle Carce 
 Smith. It was a magnificent Spring morning ; the 
 snow had disappeared and left the brown patches of 
 leaves which the last Autumn spread, but which the 
 winds had gathered and piled to their own liking, and 
 from which the warm sun brought delicious exhala 
 tions, steaming pure and fragrant, mingled with 
 whiffs of balsamic odors from the evergreens that 
 skirted the Waubece just over the high divide. Sun 
 light lay in patches also under the trees that looked 
 stark and uncomfortable, denuded of their leafy gar 
 ments. Of just such it was the poet discoursed for 
 childhood s benefit : 
 
 The colder it blows, they fling off their clothes, 
 And in Winter quite naked appear. 
 
 > 
 ^The sounds of the camp were discernible a long 
 
 way off in the Spring atmosphere, through the bare
 
 THE LOVER S STRATEGY. 123 
 
 trees. Men were shouting to one another and to the 
 oxen that were slowly bringing in the great tanks of 
 sap. Some were chopping wood ; some were hewing 
 out troughs, while some were manufacturing the same 
 of birch bark. Others were busy building and attend 
 ing to fires under the kettles, little and big, and the 
 cauldrons of boiling syrup. Another was busy about 
 the huge evaporators. 
 
 The fires over which the multiform utensils hung, 
 suspended by curious devices, were in front of a three- 
 sided shelter or cabin, where, upon clean straw and a 
 goodly supply of bedding, the more feeble of the 
 visitors and the babies were deposited. In the cabin 
 the watchmen of the camp were wont to sleep, turn 
 about," as they boiled the sap night and day during 
 the season. 
 
 Women were busy here now, unpacking dishes and 
 arranging them on the long table improvised of rough 
 boards and covered with white table linen. There 
 was a great deal of work on hand, and willing, if 
 sometimes " fussy," hands to do it, and bits of choice 
 gossip were exchanged during its execution. Check 
 aprons were in demand, and hither, thither and every 
 where their wearers appeared, like jack-o -lanterns in 
 the twilight mist. 
 
 The talk that rose and fell upon the distant ear 
 was not unlike the perpetual music of the sociable 
 little peepers on the borders of a pool. A perpetual 
 flow of words and a burden of " What s the news? 
 tell the news, all the news," piped in treble voices 
 which sank to a low diminuendo at the recital of some 
 choice tid-bit of gossip. The women were all so
 
 124: MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 intent upon their employment, wordwise and other 
 wise, that Ben Palmer had driven right in among 
 them, the sound of the wheels deadened by the leafy 
 carpet, unnoticed till he came to a standstill and 
 called to Mrs. Wilson : 
 
 "Have you women folks no eyes for the Squire 
 and his family." 
 
 There was a sudden lull and then a swell of voices 
 as they rushed to the wagon, to shake hands and 
 welcome the new arrival, and Ben, with satisfied 
 looks, said : 
 
 " That looks a little more like now, when your im 
 portant citizens honor your sugar bees you want to 
 fly around and make a big fuss over em." 
 
 Why the la sus ! Ruth you will catch your 
 death out here, and Freddie too. Ben orto hed more 
 sense than to bring ye out, even if ye did tease to 
 come, as I 11 warren t you did," said Mrs. Wilson. 
 " There s Ruth been pimpin all Winter, and a drink 
 ing yarb tea all Spring, with Miannctta there, week 
 in and week out, trying to cure her up, and now to 
 come right out into these damp woods, seems like 
 tempting Providence, it does." 
 
 "Mother, I feel so much better to get out and 
 away from home a little; I will be real careful, see 
 how I m bundled up." 
 
 "Well we must make the best of a poor idee," 
 said Mrs. Wilson, putting the fortieth great biscuit on 
 the table, while as many as could get hold of her, 
 hauled Ruth off to the little cabin near the great fires, 
 where Freddie was taken in hand by Nellie Maynard,
 
 THE LOVER S STRATEGY. 125 
 
 and, led by her hand, knew and asked for no other 
 attention all that long delightful day. 
 
 Ben having disposed his team safely, came back to 
 the merry party, and leaning with folded arms 
 against a tree, commenced a good humored complaint 
 against the ills of life generally. 
 
 " Why," said he, "I ve been up ever since four 
 o clock this morning, hard at work to get up an appe 
 tite for all the good things here. After doing up all 
 my own work at the barn, I went into the house, and 
 just pulled off my coat and rolled up my sleeves, and 
 washed, and churned, and baked, and brewed, and 
 made a cheese." 
 
 " That was nothing," said Jehial Smith. " A man 
 can work, but I tell ye it s hard to starve. Now I got 
 up with a tolerable appetite this morning. I had n t 
 had a single mouthful since yesterday, and to-morrow, 
 you know, would be the third day. Well, when I 
 asked Belinda for my breakfast, she told me we was 
 jest out. Think of that Ben, and now, though I 
 took a good deal of comfort for once in hurrying, 
 I ve got here right in sight of all these nick-nacks, 
 just in time to wait nobody knows how long for my 
 dinner. There is no hard work like starving. " 
 
 "Here s my hat," said Ben, stooping to take up 
 Freddie, whom Nellie had led to his father, and 
 carrying him to see the curious baby in the cabin, 
 "without no hair on its head." It was Belinda s 
 baby and evidently better fed than Jehial. 
 
 "The very image of Belinda," said one, while 
 another declared it looked exactly like Jehial. 
 Another saw in it a perfect likeness of grandma
 
 126 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 Smith, while she suggested a resemblance to Paddy 
 O Shannon, who just then was lumbering into view. 
 
 "How blue his eyes are," said Nellie, and Mrs. 
 Ellis said : 
 
 " Yes, his eyes are blue, but in this fresh atmos 
 phere his nose I notice is getting a little reddish." 
 
 " Be sure I like horse-radish wonderful well," said 
 old Mrs. Porter, who was not quite as deaf as a post, 
 for she caught now and then a whole word, and 
 always used it as a text on which to expatiate, to the 
 great amusement of all listeners. 
 
 "I think the baby would be right pretty," said 
 grandma Smith, "if he was not so extravagantly 
 bald." 
 
 "O, so you heard about that did ye. I knew 
 Jehial would tell on t, it was so funny," said Mrs. 
 Porter, who had struck another word, and they were 
 all in for a good one now. I told father that it 
 would be in everybody s mouth, and the neighbors 
 would all be sayin to one another, O, have you 
 hearn about that scrape ? I dropped my patchin , 
 thimble and all, and run out directly the cow bawled, 
 and there she was a goin it, lickerty brindle, 
 through the garding, with her head stuck clean 
 through a old baskit that I had been strainin soap 
 through, and the bottom had fell out down inter the 
 bar l ; but bles ye t want no loss." The last sentence 
 was added in a soothing consolatory manner, and she 
 joined in the good humor, laughing with the rest till 
 the tears came into her dim old eyes. 
 
 "Marnma," said Carlos Center, who was regard 
 ing the baby as curiously as if it was a mummy just
 
 THE LOVER S STRATEGY. 127 
 
 from the catacombs, "It hain t got no eyes nor no 
 mouf in its face round here," and he went behind the 
 baby and put his hand on the back of its head, and 
 looked up into his mother s face with puzzled look, 
 adding, "nor no teeth, but it wants to bite all the 
 time." 
 
 "It has a very wise look," was uncle Carce s 
 observation, " as though it had been engaged in pro 
 found thought ever since the dawn of the Christian 
 era." 
 
 " Era ! Why that s the very railroad my Saman- 
 tha s man got killed on," chimed in Mrs. Porter. 
 " Marcy to us, but wasn t that a smash up, though. 
 Took the kink all out of Samantha, for ye see they 
 never could find hide nor hair of the chists, and she 
 had n t the fust blessed rag nor ribbin to put onto her 
 children, nothin but a little old bake kittle that I gin 
 her with her sett n out. " 
 
 "No, no, mother, that was the New York and 
 Erie," said her husband, "not the Christian." 
 
 "Well, I can t say that he was raly a Christian, 
 though he had a good many wak nin s and backslid 
 ag in. But he was under a powerful consarn of mind, 
 I remember, that Winter that the Millerites was 
 round. But that was a good while ago, and he might 
 a gone back to the beggarly elements, for all I 
 know." Here the old dame heaved a sigh that 
 seemed to come from clear down below her apron 
 strings. 
 
 "Good day, O Shannon," said uncle Carce, ad 
 vancing to take the hand of the Irishman, who 
 claimed he had "papers," and was, therefore, a man
 
 128 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 and a brother. At any rate he was a welcome per 
 sonage at all gatherings. "Why where s the wife 
 and babies, you promised to bring with you to-day ?" 
 
 "Oh, they 11 be afther comin next time, Misther 
 Smith." 
 
 "Next time ! Why, man, do you think we make 
 sugar all Summer ? " said grandma Smith. 
 
 "Well, but, Mrs. Smith," was the deliberate ex 
 planation, "the wather in the Waubece is so high 
 that I was fareful it wus n t safe to bring me wagin 
 across the dam, an me woman, you know, is too low 
 on the ground to wade." 
 
 " What s that, O Shannon ? Is the water running 
 over the dam already ? " 
 
 " Sure, an it is ; in some places half the height 
 o me boot now." 
 
 " Well, friends, we will have to look out for our 
 logs over there. When the water gets that high, it s 
 time to wake up, and nearly every man of us has logs 
 in jeopardy." 
 
 " Jeopardy ! Why, I thought you hauled yer. 
 logs down to Watkins mill," said Mrs. Porter, look 
 ing mystified. 
 
 " Yes marm, that s just what we did." 
 
 "Well, what d ye mean by say in yer logs are in 
 jeopardy ? " 
 
 "Oh, ye see, mother, that is the old Indian name," 
 said Mr. Porter. 
 
 "Well, I never hearn it called that before. Jeop 
 ardy ! what a name ! Them Injuns beat everything in 
 naming places, I du declare to man." 
 
 And the old lady addressed herself again to her
 
 THE LOVER S STRATEGY. 129 
 
 knitting, counting each stitch with a jerk of her head 
 that flapped her wide cap border back and forth with 
 great effect. 
 
 "It 11 be hard for us to lose them logs, but noth 
 ing to AVatkins loss, if he should have a break in his 
 dam, just as he might begin to saw." 
 
 "Wall, now, I don t know, Mr. Smith, as Saman- 
 ther reely thinks he is damned. She do n t say so, 
 but she is kinder flighty and wanderin in her mind, 
 and has been ever since the smash-up. It puts a body 
 out a good deal, ye know, when they lose all their 
 chists and things," broke in the old lady. 
 
 Uncle Carce got up with a terrible frown on his 
 face, and set to work punching the fire energetically. 
 Grandma knew the frown was only the effect of sup 
 pressing the smile that he feared would hurt the deaf 
 old lady s feelings, and he never was known to willfully 
 hurt any one s feelings in all his long, simple and pure 
 life. Those who knew him well respected him all the 
 more that, as they knew, he possessed a wonderfully 
 quick appreciation of the ludicrous, and frowned away 
 many a time the laughter which was almost irresisti 
 ble, but whose indulgence might have wounded some 
 simple heart. 
 
 He examined the kettle of syrup "sugaring off" 
 for the occasion and pronounced it done. The boys 
 had been at work some time preparing little dainty 
 wooden ladles or spoons, and now each one was 
 helped to a generous saucer of warm maple sugar. 
 
 "Boys, can t you find some ice somewhere?" 
 uncle Carce said, and lo, in a few moments his dutiful 
 son, with Gus, was seen bringing in a great basket 
 I
 
 130 MAPLE KANGE. 
 
 full of solid crystals they had found, sheltered by a 
 ledge of rock just at the source of Dimple Run 
 Creek. Delicious wax was manufactured that had a 
 marked effect in suspending conversation, the ejacu- 
 latory attempts at which by the wax-eaters induced 
 great amusement. Then a shout rent the air when 
 Wilson, thinking to improve upon the manufactured 
 article, scraped a huge mouthful of the adhering sugar 
 from the side of the kettle, and put it in his mouth. 
 
 "It waxeth hot," said Ben Palmer, laughing with 
 an irreverence that was scarcely relished by his suffer 
 ing father-in-law. Just then dinner was announced, 
 and they gathered about the table, hats, hoods, scarfs 
 and sunbonnets on, these being humorously declared 
 to be "full dress." What tea and coffee, with real 
 cream ! what bread and biscuit, with such delicious 
 butter, eaten with a crisp water-cress for a relish. 
 Home-cured and smoked ham with a handsome gar 
 nishing of parsley and boiled eggs held the place of 
 honor, surrounded by a numberless array of good and 
 toothsome food of every description. Last of all 
 came dried-pumpkin pie, a pie that originated with 
 the Pilgrim mothers, and has been handed down, with 
 due credit to them, as delicious, economical and al 
 ways to be had. Upon the frontier, after the first 
 crop, this pie is as common on the settler s table as 
 the universal bread and butter and coffee. 
 
 "All mankind, in spite of color and caste and es 
 tate, occupy a common level three times a day, 
 through and amid all the commotions of life, when 
 the universal stomach, the foundation of trade and 
 brotherhood, is satisfying its importunities. How
 
 THE LOVER S STRATEGY. 131 
 
 few reflect, as they eat the nicely prepared food, that 
 they thus replenish an irrepressible principle of life 
 and growth," said Mr. Button, after grace at the close 
 of the meal, while still all lingered at the table in that 
 pleasing after-dinner communion, where there are 
 good talkers and good listeners. 
 
 "An irrepressible principle, truly," said Her 
 bert Gray, a young man from Ohio, now visiting his 
 sister, Mrs. Ellis. "A principle that, in spite of all 
 obstacles, still pushes on. The foot of a Chinese 
 woman may be encased in an iron shoe, but the grow 
 ing force of nature is simply thwarted, and produces 
 an uncouth ankle above the dwarfed and useless foot, 
 like that unsightly gnarl upon the tree." 
 
 The peculiar taste of the Flathead Indians is an 
 other instance which shows the omnipotence of this 
 force. By the application of powerful pressure, a 
 malformation of the head changes features not other 
 wise repulsive until the human face resembles that of 
 goblins," said Mr. Sutton. 
 
 "And to come nearer home," interposed Mrs. 
 Ellis, " if not convinced that symmetry demands the 
 freedom of this force, we have its evidence right 
 among ourselves ; health is outraged, proportion set 
 aside by the use of restraints, which produce an 
 unnatural slenderness of waist, and an equally unnatu 
 ral breadth of shoulder. We women folks have two 
 masters, fashion and appetite." 
 
 " We have submitted very willingly and agreeably 
 to one of em to-day, I m sure," said Mrs. Wilson. 
 "But if there isn t Tad Wilson in the very tipmost 
 top of the trees."
 
 132 MAPLE EANGE. 
 
 "What are you doing there, Tad? " shouted Wil 
 son. 
 
 "I want to get the other side of the table," said 
 Tad. 
 
 "Well, why in the name of wonder didn t you 
 crawl under then," said Mrs. Wilson, exhibiting some 
 excitement. 
 
 " Or go round ? " asked several. 
 
 Cause Lizbeth Harkness told me never to go 
 round anything I could get over," explained Tad. 
 
 "Why, Tad ! " cried Lizbeth, "I 11 forgive the 
 misapplication ; but come down now, that s a dear 
 boy ! and I will try and make my meaning more 
 clear to you. Oh, dear ! I am so afraid the child 
 will fall ! " 
 
 " He fall ? Never ! " was Wilson s cheerful assur 
 ance. " Why, thar s none o my gang that can climb 
 with that boy ! He lives in tree-tops." 
 
 This expedient of the boy s drew out some good 
 remarks which at last brought them around to the 
 theme of the hour, and an earnest discussion ensued 
 on passing events (that reached them but tardily com 
 pared with their importance and their own impatience 
 for news). Perfect unanimity of sentiment apparently 
 prevailed, till uncle Carce made some reproachful 
 allusion to the "Southern chivalry." Mr. Center 
 undertook its defense in sharp words that astonished 
 that loyal, Union-loving company. 
 
 You have great contempt of the chivalry now, 
 Mr. Smith ; but wait a few months and your contempt 
 will change to respect and fear. When the North 
 crosses swords with them, and that is a certain event,
 
 THE LOVER S STRATEGY. 133 
 
 disparagement of their power and courage will end. 
 They are too spirited to submit to Lincoln s or any 
 other mud-sill s administration. It is the revolt of 
 noble natures against the rule of the ignoble, the 
 parvenu. " 
 
 "Men are not blind! They can see that this 
 objection to Lincoln s administration is only the pre 
 tense ! Through it old fires break out. This matter 
 has been brewing for years and ever so many years. 
 Capital has striven to get its heel upon the neck of 
 labor ; to alter the constitution so that it should con 
 form to this end ; to rend in pieces the United States. 
 Why, secession was the midnight dream and the 
 noonday cry of Southern statesmen, when I was a 
 boy. The dark plans incipient then are maturing 
 now ; and it would be the same if the angel Gabriel 
 himself had been chosen President," said uncle Carce. 
 
 Where is your freedom ? " inquired Center. 
 "What is the liberty worth which denies the right to 
 withdraw from a compact that cripples your interest? 
 It is an Old-world despotism, which issues passports 
 and places restraints upon subjects guilty of no crime." 
 
 "What! Is it no crime to plan treason ; to arm 
 and fortify, using public material to do so ? It is a 
 design to overthrow free institutions ; to perpetuate 
 slavery and introduce a reign of aristocracy, with 
 strong monarchical tendencies ! " continued uncle 
 Carce. 
 
 Those institutions were based upon the assump 
 tion of the equality of human rights. The govern 
 ment the South will establish when victorious, will 
 have another an opposite foundation of real benefit
 
 134 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 to all, for the negro will be brought into healthy sub 
 jection, and, denied a Northern asylum, he will once 
 more have a value," said Center, pompously. 
 
 " You say those institutions were based upon the 
 assumption of the equality of races ; now, I say they 
 are based upon the equal rights of all men ; that we 
 have that government still, and it will be sustained 
 without the withdrawal of a single State," said uncle 
 Carce, fervently. 
 
 " If you were an Hibernian, you could not in one 
 breath have uttered a more glaring contradiction," 
 laughed Center. " You boast of the assured liberty 
 of action, and then declare that South Carolina, 
 though she came into it voluntarily, can not as volun 
 tarily leave the Union ! Like the Roman Catholic s 
 religion, than which there is no blacker despotism 
 under the sun, which invites with all the blandish 
 ments of unscrupulous hypocrisy the unsuspecting 
 nun, and then denies her enlightened desire to with 
 draw, you would say to South Carolina, You can 
 come but you can not go ! " 
 
 " I do not say that, which is untrue of equal rights 
 and equal rewards. Your claims and mine to respect 
 and protection are equal, as our efforts to earn them 
 are equal. None can deny these assurances of our 
 government. As to South Carolina, she came into 
 the Union with her slaves, and might have retained 
 them perhaps ; but she was not satisfed with this ; 
 now demands, as a condition of her loyalty, a consti 
 tutional protection of slavery in the Territories ; even 
 proposes to chastise the North into acquiescence with 
 her demand ! Oh, sir, terms will be dictated and
 
 THE LOVER S STRATEGY. 135 
 
 she forced to remain in the Union, and very likely 
 deprived of her slaves," said uncle Carce, warming. 
 
 " That s all bosh, now, uncle Smith ! The South 
 never will submit to Northern coercion," cried Center, 
 losing his temper. 
 
 " It s more cussedness than anything else that ails 
 the South," said Gus, losing patience and indignant 
 that a secessionist should suddenly be discovered 
 among them. "You say the South will not submit 
 to coercion ; I say they will ; they shall j and seces 
 sion principle Avill have to keep pretty close too. The 
 North will not submit to an alteration of the consti 
 tution ; neither will she submit to secession the 
 breaking up and destruction of the Union, as that is 
 in opposition to the constitution." 
 
 "Why, ye don t say, Gus!" chimed in Mrs. 
 Porter. "Ye don t say that your constitution is 
 breaking now, at your time o life ? but then, there 
 was our Emeline, you know ; she was as young and 
 chipper as you be ; but she jest went and broke her 
 constitution all to flinders, working up there in them 
 piney woods ; worked ! of course she did, and never 
 any pay either, for ye see the boss, he ran off, and 
 then the company failed ; and Emeline, she never got 
 what would buy an ounce of nutmegs. Nutmegs is 
 dreadful good now in this new-fangled dope that they 
 call mange yes, tHat s it the same that ailed our 
 dog. They make it out o corn starch, Belinda says ; 
 and another thing, nutmegs is good for babies when 
 they are troubled with colic. You must steep it in tea, 
 and put in a little sugar and cream, though if you
 
 136 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 hain t got sugar, molasses 11 do, and if ye hain t any 
 milk" 
 
 "O thunder, mother ! hold on ! or, if you know 
 of anything in the world good for wind, take some ; 
 take a lot of it ; and then see if you can t catch the 
 boss," roared Mr. Porter, rubbing his bald head and 
 laughing immoderately, as did everybody else. 
 
 The old lady laughed too ; she always did laugh, 
 if she saw others laughing, and cried if they cried. 
 She did not dream they were laughing at her remarks ; 
 had even now forgotten what she had been saying. 
 She was so deaf and so innocent, living much in the 
 past ; as regarded the present, except that she could 
 see, and sight is a blessing, with ten thousand around 
 her, she would be, "poor soul, all alone." 
 
 While the dinner was in progress, Nellie, whose 
 appetite had been ruined by too much sugar, had 
 volunteered to take care of and amuse the children. 
 So with Freddie and Carlos Center on each side of 
 her, she was comfortably disposed upon the blankets 
 and hay in the cabin, with Belinda s baby in her lap. 
 An invoice of small fry about her. 
 
 "Tell us a story, Nellie, about some other baby. 
 I m tired of this one," said Carlos, and Nellie re 
 sponded : 
 
 " "Well, once upon a time there was a king " 
 
 " O, Nellie, you needn t try to fool us, that was 
 Mr. Sutton s dog, his name is King, tell us a real 
 story now." 
 
 "This story is not about a dog." 
 
 " Honest injun ! Ain t it a dog ?" 
 
 " No, it was a wise man; and one day two women
 
 THE LOVER S STRATEGY. 137 
 
 came to him, and between them carried a baby, each 
 one saying it was her baby." 
 
 " And could n t the baby tell by crying which was 
 its own mother. Why did n t it reach out its hands, 
 this way?" 
 
 "It was too little. One woman said, It is my 
 child, O king, and the other woman said, Nay 
 
 "I know how she did that. Our horses neigh," 
 said Freddie, giving her an imitation. 
 
 "She did not talk that way, but said, No, no 
 the baby is mine. The king was perplexed, so he 
 said to his servant, Bring me a sword. 
 
 "What is a sword, Nellie." 
 
 "A long sharp knife." 
 
 " Was he going to feed the baby ? " 
 
 "No, he wanted to see which was the real mother, 
 and, taking the knife in one hand and the baby in the 
 other, he said, Now I will cut the baby in two." 
 
 " Oh! Oh! What a awful man he was." 
 
 "Well, one woman screamed, and said, Oh! 
 do n t harm the baby, let the other woman have it, 
 rather than to have it killed. But the other woman 
 never cried or said a single word against his cutting 
 it in two. So the king gave it to the woman that cried, 
 because he then knew that she was the real mother, 
 and loved the baby ; and she went home very glad." 
 
 "Wasn t he good, Freddie. What did you say 
 he was ? " 
 
 " A king, a great monarch." 
 
 And Carlos cried : 
 
 " Would n t he make a splendid constable. 1 
 
 The dinner was over, the party was breaking up. 
 
 G*
 
 138 MAPLE RANGE/ 
 
 Mrs. Porter had refused Ben Palmer s invitation 
 to a seat in his wagon, on account of her fear of his 
 " skittish horses," preferring the more slow but sure 
 locomotion of oxen. She had with some difficulty, 
 been boosted, and shoved, and pulled into the hind 
 end of the wagon, when Mr. Cross had called out, 
 "all aboard." Her width secured to her the entire 
 seat, which was nothing but a board, held in its place 
 across the wagon box by the stakes in front and her 
 immense weight, which forbade the possibility of its 
 moving either forward or back. Her loading was 
 always a ceremonious affair, calling for general assist 
 ance and eliciting humorous remarks, which latter she 
 was too deaf, and her husband too busy, to hear; but 
 there was universal satisfaction when once it was ac 
 complished, and she finally settled into position. Sit 
 ting there alone awaiting the other passengers, who 
 were striving bravely to get in the last word, she 
 looked not unlike " Patience on the monument," ex 
 cepting that she seldom smiled at grief. Like nearly 
 all deaf people she labored under the delusion that 
 other people, too, were "hard o liearin 1 ," and her 
 voice was always pitched above the ordinary tone. 
 Her husband stood by the wagon. Bending over 
 towards him, she made a simple request, but in a tone 
 of voice, such as an irate sea captain would employ in 
 a gale, shouting: 
 
 "Hizabee Porter, git my knittin bag from that 
 stump, and reach it here." 
 
 That scream was too much for Spark and Bally, 
 to whose honesty and steadiness there were some 
 bounds. They started like frightened deer out into
 
 THE LOVER S STRATEGY. 139 
 
 the pathless wood. The fleshy old lady keeled over 
 at the first jump they made, falling backward like a 
 pillow, and where her comfortable form had been a 
 moment before, nothing was now visible but her two 
 slippered feet and ankles, encased in striped crimson 
 and white hose. There was very little taper to her 
 ankles, yet they reminded one of barbers poles, as 
 they helplessly whipped the edge of the seat or 
 swayed right and left as the wagon bounced on over 
 logs, and dashed against stumps in the wake of the 
 demoralized oxen. 
 
 Men followed, shouting the customary command 
 of "whoa ! whoa ! " as unavailingly as if they mere 
 ly added to the excitement of the chase. 
 
 Fortunately the animals soon undertook to pass a 
 tree on either side, and were brought to a sudden 
 standstill by the yoke. All out of breath with fright 
 and rapid running, Mr. Porter, first to reach the 
 vehicle, climbed in and removed the seat, so as to let 
 the two helpless feet down on a level with the rest 
 of the old lady s body. He raised her up with the 
 assistance of the others, who now arrived, and affec 
 tionately inquired as to her hurts, expecting a 
 harrowing recital, but instead was met with the ques 
 tion : 
 
 " Did you git my knittin work ? " 
 
 " No, mother. I did n t suppose you would want 
 it right away. I thought you had got started after 
 the "Boss. " 
 
 A loud hurrah had gone up when it was found she 
 was unhurt, and the welkin rang again with laughter 
 and merriment. She was brought back to the road
 
 140 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 where the rest of the company waited to congratulate 
 her and exchange comments upon her peculiar and 
 oft-recurring misfortunes. There was no accounting 
 for the seeming contradiction, but the settlers univer 
 sally liked the old lady, pitied her, and yet " ever.- 
 lastingly made fun of her." 
 
 This was the memorable month of April, 1861, 
 memorable for the commencement of the war under 
 taken to conquer the great conspiracy of this century, 
 perhaps the greatest known to the world ; and in the 
 history of revolution, famous not only for the grand 
 eur of its conception, but for the audacity and bold- 
 ness of the measures adopted for its execution. The 
 conspirators had maneuvered to fill all the important 
 posts in the government, at their leisure had stripped 
 of their available defenses all its forts and arsenals, 
 and when the crisis came, there was a temporary pa 
 ralysis because of the discovery. 
 
 Secretary Floyd had treacherously transmitted 
 much of the arms and munitions of war to the South 
 ern strongholds, and then, placing them in the hands 
 of the insurgents, resigned his position,, uniting his 
 fortunes with the South, which now took up the cry 
 of the aggrieved, "Let us alone, Northern mudsills. 
 It is cowardly to invade the rights of a chivalrous and 
 unoifending people." 
 
 "The Star of the West," a Northern war steamer, 
 had failed to communicate with the garrison that lay 
 beleaguered on the wave, and the thrill was felt even 
 in Maple Kange when the stars and stripes at its mast 
 head were assailed. The retaliating flash from Su in 
 ter enkindled their devotion, warming the blood of
 
 THE LOVER S STRATEGY. 141 
 
 the settlers, who had felt the warning of later events 
 in that first thrill. They rose at the flash to the 
 height of inspiration, which they did not know was 
 so universal, that resolve to daring deed, in sympa 
 thy with which "the common pulse kept time." 
 Throughout the land was felt the jar when Sumtcr 
 fell, and there awakened a patriotism as noble as that 
 of 76. Lincoln s proclamation reached the remotest 
 vale that had slumbered beneath the protecting arm 
 and the peaceful banner of the United States. Sev 
 enty-five thousand men responded. The student s 
 midnight lamp was extinguished as he buckled on the 
 sword ; the counting-room was exchanged for the 
 camp ; the plow stood idle in the furrow ; both plow 
 man and horse had donned the trappings of Mars, and 
 sought the field where was budding, so soon to burst 
 into crimson, the blossom of strife. Down from the 
 sacred desk, even, came men whose religion compre 
 hended resistance to the arm that dared to threaten 
 the dismemberment of States. 
 
 Herbert Gray, like others of his profession, heard 
 the clarion call, u To arms ! " It meant him as truly 
 as though he had been called by name. His mother 
 country had need of his young arm. She had nour 
 ished him, and like a grateful child he would defend 
 her. Not only would he dedicate his person, his for 
 tune and his sword to her, but all his influence and 
 talents were thrown into the cause. His sister and 
 her husband accompanied him home to Ohio, where, 
 after enlisting in a regiment then forming, and receiv 
 ing the commission of captain, Herbert had turned 
 his persuasive talents in the same channel, and his
 
 142 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 brother-in-law, with his sister s consent and encourage 
 ment, was the recipient of a lieutenant s badge. 
 George Langmere, an acquaintance from Blakely, 
 who chanced to be in Sandusky on business, was per 
 suaded also to volunteer, and was gratified with the 
 position of first sergeant in the same company. After 
 a few weeks of drill, they were all three permitted to 
 return to Minnesota to make final preparations to 
 leave with their regiment, then awaiting orders. Mrs. 
 Ellis returned home with them. 
 
 There had, in their absence, been industrious re 
 cruiting, in which Robert Maynard had taken an 
 active part, until stricken down by a fever which left 
 him near the threshold of Eternity. The lingering 
 sickness that followed prevented his joining the army 
 that Summer. In accordance with his ardent desire, 
 David Sears took his place in the ranks, with many 
 more of our friends at Maple Range and Clipnockum. 
 Just before the return from Ohio of the three who 
 had, without intending it, "deserted their country" 
 and joined an Ohio regiment, there had occurred one 
 of those unpleasant circumstances that serve to 
 shadow a whole neighborhood in gloom. A new flag 
 had been procured for the school-house in the Hollow, 
 the only public building excepting the church, and 
 where all the war meetings were held. The staff was 
 already awaiting it. One evening, just as the sun 
 was setting, and its shadows were gathering over the 
 valley, they assembled to raise the flag. A lonely 
 whippoorwill was piping his sad lay. Mr. Center, as 
 usual at all war gatherings, put in an appearance that 
 night, and as usual had disagreeable things to say.
 
 THE LOVER S STRATEGY. 143 
 
 He had openly avowed his sympathy with the foe his 
 neighbors were going out to meet ; had served that 
 foe by placing every possible obstruction in the way 
 of enlistment ; yet, because he was a neighbor, and 
 more especially because his wife was respected and 
 beloved by them, he had met only silent reproof. 
 Often unrebuked, he had declared the Southern rebel 
 lion a righteous one ; had mocked their enthusiasm, 
 whenever they had given to it patriotic expression. 
 Now, when the beloved banner slowly unfurled amid 
 the cheers, when manly eyes were wet with manly 
 tears, and sobs were stifled in manly breasts, Charles 
 Center stood unmoved, and with folded arms and 
 scornful lip watched their emotion. When they 
 cheered he groaned ; three times through the twilight 
 the cheering rang ; three times the miserable groan 
 that followed exasperated them, till at length all eyes 
 turned upon him, as Gus Harkness asked, 
 
 "Are you sick, Mr. Center?" 
 
 "Yes. It s enough to make any man sick, to 
 see folks make such fools of themselves over a con 
 temptible dish-rag, that in two months will have no 
 meaning under the sun, save as it is associated with 
 ignominy and defeat. The very men denounced as 
 rebels in some of your spread eagle harangues, will 
 bring it from the clouds and trample it in the dust 
 and for my part, I say most earnestly, God speed the 
 hour." 
 
 "There, that will do, Center," said Gus, "you 
 have made the last speech on that platform that will 
 go down with this crowd. We have borne that kind 
 of talk a good while, not because we liked you^ mind
 
 144 MAPLE EANGE. 
 
 yon, but because we respected your wife, and hoped 
 that for her sake, if not for inborn principle, you 
 would desist. There are times when forbearance 
 ceases to be a virtue. While you confined your in 
 sults to us, we did not molest you. But, sir, you 
 can not insult that flag," lifting his eyes and pointing 
 upward, "without rendering an account to us, who 
 have sworn solemnly to defend it from insult." 
 
 " Tfiatfs so," said a heavy voice in the crowd, "we 
 all think well o yer woman, an becos ye know it, ye 
 think ye can say what ye like safe enough ; an ye ve 
 jest be n yowpin treason an sech all the Spring, 
 right under our very noses. Naow ye say ye re 
 s-i-c-k an ye have only to tell us yer symptoms, 
 while a few on us feel yer pulse we re reckoned 
 very skillful in the cold water treatment." 
 
 Yaas, an we 11 larn ye a new ditty, kase we 
 think tain t healthy for ye to harp on one eternal 
 string, an the new music ye can dance tew." 
 
 "Now you must promise to shet pate, Center," 
 called another voice, "or ye 11 have a blarsted fuss, 
 that belike will end in introducin ye to the buz 
 zards. " 
 
 "Yis, indade, Ave ll sind ye a throttin on a long 
 road that s got no turns, nor guide board, be jabers," 
 cried another. 
 
 "And knock all the steam out o yer locomotive, 
 to boot," yelled still another. 
 
 You d better commence pretty soon ; you are 
 spinning out a pretty long programme ; the audience 
 will be tired before the curtain rises," said Center.
 
 THE LOVER S STRATEGY. 145 
 
 " We are going to give you time, to frame that 
 promise, not to spout treason any more." 
 
 " You needn t wait. 1 shall never make promises 
 to men, scoundrels rather, only fit, it seems, to mur 
 der the queen s English." 
 
 " You must be careful of your nicknames, Center; 
 we are not scoundrels, but we intend to have your pro 
 mise, in less than twenty minutes, never to open your 
 head in favor of secession again," said Dave Persons. 
 
 "Sorry to disappoint men when they set their hearts 
 on anything. Desperate times these, when miserable 
 vagabonds, who never saw the inside of a spelling- 
 book, talk of extorting promises from free, intelligent 
 citizens. It s a God-forsaken cause that employs 
 such agents and resorts to such measures. But now, 
 see here, I shall express my sentiments, and no thanks 
 to anybody in this crowd. The rebellion, I say, is 
 just. The South is disgusted with a union that brings 
 them into contact with just such men, aye knaves, as 
 you are. 
 
 "Not a word more, sir," said Dave Persons, step 
 ping up, but uncle Carce drew him back. 
 
 " Do n t forget that you are a man, Dave ; these 
 proceedings are disgraceful," said he, "and not in 
 accordance with law, peace or good neighborhood." 
 
 " Do n t talk of law, Mr. Smith," said Center, "to 
 men who assisted in hanging two helpless beings on 
 yonder tree " (Dave was not present when the Indians 
 were hung), "nor of peace to men who have just 
 enlisted in the wickedest war the world shall ever 
 know." 
 
 "We intend to finish your treason first, an ef ye 
 K 7
 
 146 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 don t shet yer mouth, what s left of you, won t make 
 much of a grease spot, Center," said a voice ; while 
 uncle Carce drew Mr. Center back a little from the 
 crowd, and tried to persuade him to retire with him 
 at once. 
 
 " For your own sake and that of your wife, and 
 for ours, who are ready to assist you, and yet may 
 not have the power soon, come. Do you not con 
 sider the danger you incur, in thus exasperating men 
 whose blood is already up ? A remote insult to that 
 flag is about to take them from home and all they 
 hold dear to exposure, danger, and very likely to 
 death. Let me entreat of you to withdraw now, 
 without further allusion to your sentiments." 
 
 "No use coaxing me, uncle Carce, my rights here 
 are just as good as any other man s, and I shall say 
 
 what I d n please, if every red-mouthed cur in the 
 
 settlement snarls." 
 
 Raising his voice, he continued : 
 
 "I say once again, what I have said many times, 
 that it is an unholy harvest of blood that you are 
 going to gather, the fruit of years of Northern 
 tyranny and Northern oppression. A quiet, noble, 
 high-minded people desire to be left unmolested in 
 the possession of their God-given rights, and when 
 their prayer is denied, they wish to retire, to withdraw 
 themselves, their property, and their State; and ye, such 
 as ye, protest, and prepare to swoop down upon, and 
 lay waste their sunny land. You have recruited your 
 impious horde from the very dens of pollution. 
 Under that very rag," pointing scornfully to the ban 
 ner, "will march the vile spawn of Satan ! "
 
 THE LOVER S STRATEGY. 147 
 
 "There now," said uncle Carce, in a trembling 
 undertone, " I am afraid he has hit the buck in the 
 eye, and you can t mad the animal more." 
 
 Rough, strong hands were laid upon Center, Avhile 
 the excitement grew intense. Old men were tugging 
 at the coat-skirts of young men, begging them to 
 desist from violence, while voices mewed like cats, 
 barked like dogs, crowed like a cock, and made noises 
 like the flapping of wings. Curses and threats 
 mingled with piteous pleadings. 
 
 A tremendous bully, who maintained a safe dis 
 tance, was vociferating, "Pitch in to him, boys, give 
 him !" 
 
 During a lull, Center was heard to say : "I reck 
 oned without my host, in expecting civility from my 
 own neighbors, and my wife s friends." 
 
 " O you can t come any of your civility dodges 
 we don t swaller insults in this neighborhood any 
 longer ; caliker won t save ye now. " 
 
 "No, old cock ! Ye can t cackle that chune any 
 longer on this roost." 
 
 No thin b-b-b-bnt a clean j-j-j-jacket will save 
 C-c-c-center ! " 
 
 Gus Harkness caught him by one arm, while Dave 
 Persons took the other, saying : 
 
 "We want that promise now, Center! or by the 
 great Jehovah, Ave will chuck ye into the Waubece 
 quicker n ye can spit ! " 
 
 Away they started down the steep bank, dragging 
 their victim despite his desperate struggles, despite 
 the cries of "Hold, boys, for heaven s sake," "Stop, 
 boys, stop," and the like useless counsel ; for a crowd,
 
 148 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 on the double-quick down an incline, is in truth beyond 
 recall, and irresistible. In less time than I am relat 
 ing, they had reached the water and plunged Center 
 in, while some voice on the bank, in solemn, camp- 
 meeting tones, lined a hymn : 
 
 sing ! " 
 
 " Plunged in a gulf of dark despair, 
 
 In slow measure the crowd obeyed, after which 
 the pale, shivering man was drawn up and given time 
 to breathe. His promise being demanded and refused, 
 he was again plunged in, while the same voice lined 
 the same measure : 
 
 sing ! " 
 
 " A wretched traitor lies ; 
 
 The slow, solemn meter rolled out over the water, 
 and again Center was drawn out ; again, after breath 
 ing pace, interrogated, and upon giving a firm "No," 
 he was again sent struggling into the water. 
 
 sing ! " 
 
 " His clothes seem very damp to wear, 
 
 As they drew Center out again, another line was 
 added with exaggerated bass : 
 
 " He 11 change them if he a wise. " 
 
 "Now, Mr. Center," said Dave Persons, "we 
 have drawn you out the third time and the last, for 
 as sure as there is a hereafter we will neither draw 
 you out nor permit you to be drawn out again. You 
 shall promise now, never to open your mouth in the 
 interest of traitors again, or die ! " 
 
 "I promise you ! " said he, who knew what man
 
 THE LOVER S STRATEGY. 149 
 
 he dealt with, and that he stood on the last plank 
 offered him. 
 
 He was instantly released, and, climbing the 
 bank, disappeared in the darkness ere the sounds of 
 exultation had died away on bluff and in forest recess, 
 whence they had been echoed and re-echoed as they 
 rolled up from the crowd on the banks of the winding 
 Waubece. 
 
 Mr. Center reached home to find his wife absent, 
 she having accepted Nellie Maynard s invitation to 
 spend the night at The Maples, leaving a note of ex 
 planation, containing a promise of return to-morrow, 
 upon the table. But oh ! ere to-morrow he was far 
 from her in person, and farther still in criminal 
 designs, having left behind a detailed account of his 
 humiliating treatment, glossing over his own conduct 
 so as to make the abuse, seem undeserved. 
 
 "I leave you and my child," he wrote, "because 
 I am a man too independent to submit to ignoble 
 terms. I will send you money as soon as I can raise 
 it, that you may go to Chicago to your father, if it is 
 your wish to leave these people who have laid an 
 indebtedness upon me which I will not fail to pay." 
 
 The wife returning next day found this beside her 
 own note, caught it up, read it swiftly and fell to the 
 floor insensible. Nellie who accompanied her, ignorant 
 of the terrible transactions in the Hollow, sprang to 
 her and tried, with the aid of cold water, to restore 
 her to consciousness, but in vain. 
 
 Sometimes, when otherwise the heart would 
 break, it is preserved from the full pressure of its 
 misery by those kind opiates of nature, insensibility
 
 150 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 and disease. Days of prostration and delirium merci 
 fully ward off the crushing weight of despair. 
 
 Miannetta, on hearing of the events of the night 
 and guessing the unhappiness of Mrs. Center when 
 she should know all, had hastened to her aid ; and 
 most opportune was her arrival. 
 
 Mrs. Center was still upon the floor, a pillow 
 beneath her head, and Nellie, whose strength was not 
 sufficient to place her upon the bed, was making every 
 effort to restore her. 
 
 With Miannetta s help, she was raised and placed 
 upon a couch where for many weeks she remained, 
 stricken by a fearful fever. Kind-hearted neighbors 
 gathered round her with a sympathy that was more 
 than sympathy a sorrow mingled with reproach to 
 their own flesh and blood, whose unrestrained passion 
 was thought to have caused the suffering of this 
 fragile woman. All that love and kindness could 
 prompt was done for her. 
 
 Once, just as the day was dawning upon the earth 
 now clad in its mantle of green, she opened her eyes 
 in them no glare or wildness ; in her speech no 
 sharpness or incoherence. Looking into the face of 
 Mrs. Maynard who was holding her wasted hand, in 
 a voice so faint, and yet so sweet as to bring tears 
 to the eyes of the faithful watcher, she said : 
 
 "I will wait patiently, praying God in his own 
 time to bring light out of this darkness, order out of 
 this confusion."
 
 MARTIAL STRAINS. 151 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 MARTIAL STRAINS. 
 
 the wing of an eagle is not so gentle as the 
 -"- pinion of a dove, was in a measure realized by the 
 volunteers as soon as they were sworn into service, and 
 were henceforth subject to another will than their own. 
 They began to think how delightful was the old free 
 life ; how hard to break the chains of habit. It was 
 sweet to think of being one s own master after all, if 
 it was in the backwoods ; to plan out one s own work ; 
 rise early or sleep late as the mood came on. To 
 plow, plant, or hunt ; or, better still, when indolence 
 favored the occupation, to loaf at Watkins store, 
 where all was spick and span new, shiny and fragrant ; 
 where some of the pretty girls were almost sure to 
 drop in, mayhap the very one loved best in all the 
 world, mischievously inquiring for odd wares, such as 
 "extract of pocket-handkerchief," " aggregate but 
 tons " and the like. Then the walks home with the saucy 
 little minxes, through the bird-blessed woods, while 
 down deep in each breast a rhythmic measure was beat 
 ing in unison. O those loves unspoken, those loves 
 avowed, those loves already ratified by heaven ! how 
 sweetly now they drew their tendrils round the heart ; 
 how hard to wrench from their fastenings, and hie 
 away to what ? The question checked the breath,
 
 152 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 and manly dignity was often summoned to arrest the 
 coming tear. 
 
 Perhaps, of all the sad hearts, none was heavier 
 than that which beat under the vest of Gus Harkness, 
 for a true lover is not cured of love by the possession 
 of its object. The difficulties of his wooing had in 
 creased the importance of his winning. Though he 
 had been bluffed, cajoled and tyrannized over to the 
 end of the chapter, yet the chapter had ended in his 
 being loved, and the very traits which some would 
 have deemed unpardonable faults were charms dwelt 
 upon and recalled again and again with delight. 
 Every peculiarity of Lizbeth s, no matter how hard 
 to endure at first, now increased her value, and he 
 declared he should always admire a downright wicked 
 coquet more than any other woman. Often a mother 
 who dotes upon her deformed child, does it the more 
 because of that which to others is repulsive. 
 Just so Gus loved Lizbeth for traits which had 
 caused him much pain, and which others deemed rep 
 rehensible. Now he must leave her and the love she 
 so freely gave him. He must leave Lizbeth at her 
 father s, and the little home in the valley, where were 
 rose and vine and song, must be closed and silent, 
 how long or if forever, God {done knew. Mrs. Cross 
 gave him much good^advice and many cautions against 
 exposing himself to night air lest he should contract 
 "malarian fever;" against sleeping on hard straw 
 beds in open housen with the chinks all knocked 
 out ; " against " eatin unhullsom and irregler meals," 
 which advice often recurred to him as he lay on his 
 blanket beneath the stars or less merciful clouds, on
 
 MARTIAL STRAINS. 153 
 
 an unfenced field, having fallen there, too weary to 
 prepare the meal of hardtack and coffee. 
 
 The dreaded morning came all too soon, and the 
 line of march, augmented at each house, moved 
 through the woods to the inspiring strains of martial 
 music, till it reached the last house, that of Jehial 
 Smith, where the scene became agonizing to witness; 
 Mothers wrung their hands and wept, while fathers 
 farewells were choked by emotion ; wives clung fran 
 tically to necks of agitated husbands ; maidens coyly 
 hid their tear-stained faces, while little ones begged 
 their fathers not to leave them. 
 
 " Fall in ! " Hands loosed their clasping as the 
 order was obeyed, while mothers, wives and maidens 
 knelt beside the way. 
 
 "Forward, march!" With one mighty voice 
 rose the thrice-repeated hurrah, and with it from the 
 kneeling, sorrowing ones, mingled the wailing " God 
 bless yous" and "good byes." 
 
 Capt. Herbert Gray and Mr. Ellis went with this 
 company when it joined the regiment, thence contin 
 uing their journey to join their own, which received 
 marching orders at the same time. 
 
 " I thought I had nothing to be thankful for," said 
 Mr. Ellis to Herbert; "but indeed I am thankful 
 that my Kitty is not here with these. I am sure I 
 could not bear it if she knelt there crying so pitifully 
 as many of these women do, who can not realize 
 the hardship they impose upon those who must march 
 away, poor fellows. God pity and help them ay, 
 as Tiny Tim would say, God help us every one ! 
 
 As there is a gladness too intense for laughter, so
 
 154: MAPLE EANGE. 
 
 there is a sadness too deep for tears. The latter Mr. 
 Ellis had felt. While life should last, his memory a 
 certain picture would retain himself led away by 
 Herbert s friendly arm ; a sweet woman, tearless, but 
 white as though touched by the hand of death, although 
 illness had never robbed her of her bloom, standing 
 in the door of his home ; a little child smiles his tare- 
 well with graceful gesture, shouting " bye-bye " from 
 the step at her feet, while by the open gate, prostrate 
 in grief, lies a beautiful boy, crying, 
 
 "Kiss your Herbie again, papa." 
 
 Will he kiss him again ? Does the sky at which 
 the father appealingly gazes in his agony hang out 
 among its fleecy clouds a signal of promise ? 
 
 The company marched to the rendezvous of the 
 regiment, and with arduous drill wore away the long 
 Spring days, till their complement was full and 
 marching orders came. Embarking upon a Missis 
 sippi packet, behold them gliding swiftly down the 
 river, away from the homes they have builded and 
 can not defend, from all whom they love and cherish. 
 Troops were now rapidly massing upon the Potomac 
 from North, East and West, all inspired with untried 
 valor, and, to a great extent, with contempt of the 
 foe they came out to look at and conquer ! 
 
 There was yet little bloodshed, no warrant for the 
 carnage that followed and the scenes so fearful that 
 
 o 
 
 even Europe, from her thousand battle-fields, looked 
 amazed across the waves upon the conflict of brothers. 
 There was so much to be hoped from the old method 
 of suasion, that the better-disposed on both sides still 
 had recourse to argument, each giving the other time
 
 MARTIAL STRAINS. 155 
 
 to reflect before using the weapons they grasped. So 
 the great belligerents stood, each with a half-defined 
 hope that reason or concession might arrest the car 
 nival of blood, yet both preparing for that dire ex 
 tremity. 
 
 Our Minnesota regiment is still on its way to Vir 
 ginia. Leaving the river, it is drawn by the fiery 
 iron steed, linked to the huge train, now the charger 
 and chariot of war, following through the hills and 
 valleys the winding and curving of the glinting iron 
 track. Still on they dash, across the prairies of Illi 
 nois, through that farming country which challenges 
 and the world, through the peach-orchards of Michigan, 
 on through the beautiful gardens, past the fruit trees 
 and rich fields of Ohio. From city, town and hamlet ; 
 from wood - station, field and farm-house, arise the 
 cheers of an excited populace, as though seeking a 
 vent for their enthusiasm. Even the solitary tramp 
 by the wayside greets them with the same noisy 
 demonstration. Women and children fling flowers, 
 trinkets and handkerchiefs to the astonished volun 
 teers, and ladies, gently born and tenderly reared, 
 wait for the train that they may look upon and en 
 courage the "Nation s hope, the boys in blue. " Every 
 where the air is ringing with sturdy yeomen s shouts ; 
 elegantly-worded " God-speeds, from gentlemen with 
 uncovered heads and moist eyes ; sweet words from 
 women who throw spring garlands on the iron track, 
 hang them upon the locomotive, or cast them dexter 
 ously into car windows, to be eagerly appropriated. 
 
 At one little village, as the train moved slowly up 
 to the platform, it was greeted by a band of seminary
 
 156 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 girls, laden with flowers, choice and fresh as their own 
 beauty. Each car window framed a living picture of 
 at least two faces ; and where humanity was more 
 densely packed, in some instances a half dozen crowded 
 down to the small out-look. One only of these win 
 dows now concerns us. There are two heads ; the 
 first, Herbert Gray s his high, intellectual forehead 
 crowned with wavy, raven hair ; brows finely arched, 
 and the large eyes matching the hair in color ; a sol 
 dierly, black moustache, shadowing but not conceal 
 ing the lips now slightly parted in a smile at some 
 gay remark of his companion, George Langmere. 
 His head has a covering, coarse, wiry, and so in 
 tensely red that each hair seems to glow with its 
 own blaze. Small eyes shine out from beneath 
 jutting sandy brows, and great freckles spread over 
 the spare, bony cheeks and pug nose, even to the 
 chin, innocent of beard. Merriment, irresistible, but 
 coarse, is stamped on every feature of the face. He 
 noticed the figure of a beautiful girl, remarking not 
 too delicately upon its outlines, when she turned and 
 advanced toward them, grace in her every movement, 
 dignity on her brow. 
 
 Look there, Herbert ! Our window takes, you 
 perceive. It draws, by Jove ! " 
 
 "Medusa s charm, possibly," was the low, un 
 heeded rejoinder. 
 
 The young lady stood now just beneath the win 
 dow, her eloquent blue eyes resting upon the face 
 of Herbert, her musical voice floating up to his ears 
 as she spoke words designed to inspire courage, and 
 expressed the hope "that these dark days and heavy
 
 MARTIAL STRAINS. 157 
 
 skies would burst at noon into radiant light ; that soon 
 might return these brave men, now moving on to 
 danger to death, perhaps, for your country and 
 mine," she added, and held up to him, earnestly beg 
 ging his acceptance, a delicate bouquet. 
 
 "If ever in suffering or want through the cruelty 
 of war, as you would those of a sister, command the 
 services of her whose name and address accompany 
 these flowers." 
 
 She saw not the face of George Langmere, nor 
 that it was his hand took the flowers so intent was 
 she addressing Herbert Gray, whose absorption 
 equaled her own. The last glance, as the train moved 
 on, was each for the other a wordless prayer. Her 
 " God protect you " seemed to him an angel whisper, 
 and he buried his face in his hands to hush the cry of 
 his soul against a fate that bore him from that sweet 
 other self. There fluttered from the window a card, 
 which she supposed dropped from his hand. Eagerly 
 seizing it, while the rich carmine mantled on either 
 cheek, she read : 
 
 SERGEANT GEORGE LANGMERE, 
 
 Regiment, Ohio Volunteers. 
 
 That personage was busy in discovering and con 
 cealing the slip of paper deftly hidden in the bouquet, 
 whereon was delicately traced : 
 
 ALICE MEADE, 
 
 Xenia, Ohio.
 
 158 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 Some time elapsed before Herbert raised his head. 
 When he did, he turned toward Langmere, and reach 
 ing out his hand for the bouquet, said : 
 
 "Mine." 
 
 " Oh, no ! " was the rejoinder ; " there is no per 
 sonal application of these things. They are but the 
 vehicle of a great patriotic idea, and this happened 
 to come through lovely hands to us, boy. Tis ours." 
 See ! The other boys have divided bouquets flowers 
 as sweet but by the gods, they can not boast that 
 they were given by girls as beautiful, or that when 
 culled they were kissed by such delicious lips as 
 
 "George Langmere ! " 
 
 The tone was almost savage, the eyes aflame, the 
 face deadly pale, as Herbert took the bouquet in his 
 own hand, saying : 
 
 "This can never be a theme of conversation 
 between us." 
 
 And if possible, his face grew paler when his 
 search for the name among the flowers was found to 
 be in vain. He knew that farther and farther he was 
 speeding from her, his newly found, heaven-designed 
 bride, and he had no clue even to her name. He 
 again covered his face and dwelt rapturously upon the 
 strange event that had changed forever the color of 
 his day dreams. Should he ever look again into those 
 eyes that had so suddenly claimed the tribute of his 
 love? Should he ever know that name close be 
 side his own on the great record above ? Although 
 he had never pronounced it, he felt that its owner, 
 should he fall in battle, would be surely widowed. 
 The angel face, with an appropriate syllable of his
 
 MARTIAL STRAINS. 159 
 
 own fond coining, was then and there enshrined in his 
 warm, true heart. The inward verdict of his fun-lov 
 ing, somewhat unprincipled companion-in-arms, was : 
 
 "Smitten and done for by an unknown beauty! 
 I hold the key to the mystery," was his further reflec 
 tion, " and she has my card (that was a good one and 
 does me credit), though she thinks it s Herbert s. 
 It is a rather taking name though, and it shall win for 
 me what my face never would, an avowal from the 
 loveliest woman I ever saw, except the wife of Gus 
 Harkness. She leads in beauty, to my notion. This 
 woman is next though, and will do ; must do shall 
 do ! " 
 
 The regiment sped on its way, passed the crouched 
 lions in Baltimore, and lost its individuality at Arling 
 ton Heights, as in the camp routine the soldiers lost 
 their spirits. Langmere, especially, wearied of the 
 "All quiet on the Potomac," and determining to try 
 the key to adventure, which he believed he held, wrote 
 to Miss Meade. He was an accomplished penman. 
 With a view to some position which proved a disap 
 pointment, he had once made correspondence a special 
 study. His first letter was a wary, guarded note 
 the cultivated gentleman presuming upon her for 
 bearance and the permission to write, acknowledging 
 her gift of flowers and its inspiration to deeds of 
 lofty import, begging her to write, if she deemed the 
 stranger soldier worthy of attention, adding : 
 
 " My audacity in asking this favor perhaps deserves 
 and will receive its merited punishment silence ; but 
 if otherwise fate shall favor me, I shall begin to think
 
 160 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 that even war with all its grimness has something for 
 which we may be glad. " 
 
 Alice Meade, the accomplished daughter of a 
 worthy and patriotic banker, in the quiet of her 
 father s house, blessed with a brother s cherishing 
 love, had little experience to discipline a romantic, 
 yet pure-minded disposition. Men were all judged 
 by her father s and brother s standard, and they were 
 both exceptionally high-minded. Unsuspicious of 
 man s duplicity, except in the general knowledge of 
 the world s sinning. 
 
 When Alice read the delicately-worded and ele 
 gantly written letter, signed with the name she asso 
 ciated with the handsome open face of Herbert Gray, 
 the interest that face had inspired grew to a warmer 
 feeling. Her reply was immediate, sincere, reserved, 
 containing well expressed thoughts pertinent to the 
 hour, and the vocation of him she addressed. One 
 after another, letters came to her from the same 
 source, very gems of composition, to each of which 
 she responded, so simply, so womanly, that had he 
 not been sold to depravity, George Langmere would 
 have felt their unintentional rebuke. 
 
 But instead of remorse, he grew eager to look 
 deeper into her pure soul. Wrote again as a suitor, 
 who woos hoping to win, yet deserving nothing, and 
 is prepared to die willingly in the battle-field, if his 
 suit is not prosperous. He declared it was his only 
 desire to possess her promise to be his wife, when 
 from the war he should come, as that promise would 
 ensure his coming, and begged to exchange pictures 
 with her, sending with the letter Herbert s photo-
 
 MARTIAL STRAINS. 161 
 
 graph. We, who know her susceptible heart, un 
 tutored in the world s follies, can guess the reply 
 indeed know it. It came the promise to be his wife, 
 accompanied by her picture a beautiful response, 
 and worthier a better destination. The river of a 
 woman s noble thoughts flowing sweetly to its ocean. 
 O what sacrilege was that, when that picture and that 
 sweet letter, designed for other and nobler eyes, were 
 placed exultingly near the hollow heart of him who 
 had dared to invoke them ; while day after day he 
 shared the friendship of the unsuspecting man for 
 whom they were intended. He had a vague plan in 
 his head. The enemy should move on and make 
 possible, by the concurrence of fortunate circum 
 stances, some means by which he would secure some 
 of her wealth, even if, in so doing, he should lose 
 Miss Meade. She, after all, was to him far the less 
 desirable acquisition of the two. 
 
 Spring had gone with little gain to the great 
 cause, although the time had been industriously em 
 ployed in drilling and equipping the army. Excite 
 ment had been intense all over the North, as well as in 
 camp. The "On to Richmond 1 cry promised at 
 last to be a reality, and the whole country held its 
 breath. In balmy summer time, just past the noon of 
 night, orders were received to pack knapsacks and 
 prepare breakfast. The whole army was astir with 
 unwonted excitement. 
 
 Herbert and Langmere were seated at breakfast 
 in the tent, before which Lieut. Ellis was pacing 
 slowly. His thoughts we can easily divine. 
 
 Herbert scarcely knew what prevented his feeling 
 L 7*
 
 162 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 cordial regard for Langmere. He was repulsed by 
 the man s coarseness sometimes, and if he accidentally 
 touched his hand, he recoiled with a shudder, as if he 
 had felt the slimy fin of a monster. 
 
 Suddenly Langmere addressed him : 
 
 " Will you do me a favor, Gray ? " 
 
 "Certainly; mention it." 
 
 "If 1 fall to-day, will you take from my left 
 breast pocket a package, and transmit it to the address 
 (a lady s), you will find within it. I do not wish it to 
 fall into a stranger s hands." 
 
 " You are too gloomy, Langmere. I am as likely 
 to fall as you." 
 
 O no, you are not engaged to be married, while 
 I am. It is always your disengaged chaps that seem 
 to be bullet proof, simply because there seems 
 nothing in particular for them to live for, I suppose. 
 This may explain, perhaps, my desire to come off 
 without any eyelet holes in my cuticle. 
 
 So, lightly speaking, he handed Alice Meau^s 
 picture to Herbert, drummed idly on the table, sang 
 catches of a ribald air, yet watched keenly the face 
 of his companion. 
 
 Herbert took the picture from its envelope, his 
 face slowly blanching, in a hollow voice he said : 
 
 Pardon me. Did I understand you to intimate 
 Have you ever met this lady, since 
 
 "This letter will explain. You may read it." 
 
 He handed him Alice s latest letter, in answer to 
 one alluding to the probability of an engagement, and 
 expressing apprehension and foreboding. It was her 
 great anxiety, tenderly expressed, and closing with
 
 MARTIAL STRAINS. 163 
 
 endearing terms. There could be no doubt of its 
 genuineness. Herbert handed it back with no word. 
 From that moment he resolved to think of her no 
 more in the old tender way. It is easy to resolve. 
 T was all a mystery, but no act of his would un- 
 fathom it. How could he guess of the villainy that 
 accomplished it ? How could he detect the trail, who 
 had no suspicion of the serpent ? 
 
 They were soon summoned to head-quarters, and 
 ere long the columns of infantry were marching away, 
 having crossed the Potomac, towards Manassas. How 
 sanguine and expectant ! The morning elation of that 
 host, that looked invincible upon its winding way 
 under the starlit sky, and the evening despair that 
 settled upon the scattered rank and file as it fled, 
 panic-stricken, from Bull Run, are strongly contrast 
 ing pictures, upon the American heart. They are 
 engraven by an artist whose sketches are as lasting as 
 time. Hark ! Hearts beat with one mighty throb, 
 
 " It is it is the cannon s opening roar ! " 
 
 and they are marshaled on the battle-field. A moment 
 that seems an age, they tremble and shrink and desire 
 to rush away. Although later in the campaign abject 
 skulkers were developed in great numbers a propor 
 tion to every regiment yet faces that came to be 
 associated with daring deeds turned pale at that first 
 deafening scream of shot and shell, with hasty look 
 for succor and safety. From front to rear, aloft, on 
 every side was terrific thunder. It was not the 
 slaughter, perhaps, that caused men fresh from the 
 still forests and quiet places of the Union to quail, but
 
 164: MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 the stupendous clamor of the fierce cannonade. The 
 sickening view of ghastly wounds came later. It re 
 quired education, a great deal of education in bloody 
 scenes, to bring men to perfect coolness. Yet the 
 terror gradually gave way, and upon the Bull Run 
 battle-field, no doubt, there were as cool heads as 
 were carried through the Wilderness when the war 
 was old. Sterling characters grow firmer by trial. 
 
 What hopes they had, how they pressed on toward! 
 the rebel guns over hidden obstructions. The sun 
 had passed meridian, McDowell had achieved a 
 stupendous gain ! The news was wired, the land re 
 joiced inasmuch as the great Army of the Potomac 
 was slowly beating back rebellious squadrons, who 
 fought feebly as they retired. The war was virtually 
 over ! Non-combatants at home took an afternoon 
 nap. Still the cloud of hostility hung over the hot 
 July battle-field, where the dead and dying lay. 
 
 " Guide right ! charge the batteries ! " 
 
 " Jehial Smith, of the First Minnesota, was just 
 carried to the rear, Captain. " 
 
 " Are you sure t was he ? " 
 
 " Yes ; I spoke to Dave Persons, one of the bear 
 ers." 
 
 " Poor fellow ! charge ! " 
 
 Again the war shout, again the impetuous rush of 
 men in earnest obedience to command. They meet a 
 counter current, are borne back by its overwhelming 
 force. 
 
 " There is Dave Persons again ! " 
 Yes, it was Dave on a slight mound of earth, 
 drawn up to his greatest height, stretching and cran-
 
 MARTIAL STRAINS. 165 
 
 ing his long neck to its utmost to distinguish some 
 thing. The smoke baffles him, yet he peers eagerly 
 in every direction. 
 
 "What do you see, Dave, the battle ? " 
 
 "No, worse than that; a hellish smoke, and 
 through it men flingin knapsacks, guns and every 
 thing. Jehoshaphat, see em run ! " 
 
 They could not see the retreat, but felt its impulse, 
 and the drear rebound of hope, a moment before so 
 buoyant. They can not understand, but before them 
 lies impassable" ground ; behind, in flight, possible 
 safety. Over the slope, dread and terrible, unseen 
 because of the blinding haze, they come, they come, 
 Johnson s forces. The impatient question, "Where, 
 in God s name, is Patterson ? " can not now effect the 
 desired result The day is lost ! Drifting back are 
 disordered infantry, mixed pell-mell with grimy ar 
 tillery and riderless horses, a long confused line of 
 hurrying objects, dimly defined through clouds of 
 smoke and dust. 
 
 "Halt!" 
 
 A wild stare gives evidence that the order is 
 heard, but wilder haste shows it to have been vain. 
 
 It was unmistakable retreat, confused and univer 
 sal. All night the straggling remnants of broken, 
 demoralized regiments poured into Georgetown. 
 Next morning, Langmcre and Ellis met in the streets. 
 
 " Have you seen Gray ? " asked the latter. 
 
 "No ; not since the retreat. Possibly he is still 
 advancing, determined to see Richmond," was the 
 unfeeling retort. 
 
 And Herbert was advancing, a prisoner, toward
 
 166 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 Richmond. Many of the boys of his company were 
 cut off from the main body by rebel cavalry and lost 
 in the woods and open country in their attempts to 
 get back to headquarters. It was rainy and they 
 could not get their bearings. The sun, as if in league 
 with the foe, refused to enlighten them, and they 
 dared not inquire the way or even ask for food. 
 After three days of fasting, some straggled, nearly 
 famished, into camp, while some, alas, are even yet 
 among the "missing." 
 
 The whole army, lately so exultant and impatient 
 of restraint, were disgusted with war. They had 
 seen the rebels ! The North was pulseless with dis 
 may. Defeat had not for a moment been taken into 
 consideration as among the possibilities of the ad 
 vance. 
 
 " On ! on ! " had graced the columns of newspapers 
 in huge head-lines ; and the cry was taken up impa 
 tiently by the people. The careful generals who pro 
 tested that plans were not yet matured, different 
 branches of the army still too far apart, too immature 
 in their development for concerted action, that ad 
 vance would result disastrously, had been decried as 
 traitors and disgraced before the applauding public. 
 Why disastrously ? Could not our army show greater 
 numerical force, was it not better equipped and more 
 generous in its commissariat than our crippled adver 
 sary? Our common soldiery had been recruited 
 among the learned professions, gentlemen of philo 
 sophical habits. Favorites of fortune and many 
 known to fame marched in the ranks ; they would 
 not recoil, but serve to cement weaker material, for
 
 MARTIAL STRAINS. 167 
 
 the great thought nerved them all. Indeed, it was 
 not want of merit, it was not want of numbers and 
 weight ; it was not for want of treasure, nor yet 
 want of devotion to the cause, that we lost Bull Run and 
 languished through the fruitless Summer that fol 
 lowed, when victory seemed to incline to the rebel 
 army. Our failure lay in the want of system, without 
 which even stupendous force is impotent, "borne to 
 earth by its own weight. " It was not until that want 
 was remedied, and General Grant empowered to im 
 pose thorough system and subordination, that the 
 great machinery of war began to move toward suc 
 cess. The rebel army was smaller, but to a man they 
 had reverence for their commanding general, and that 
 general was a thorough military genius, scrupulously 
 exacting of discipline, insisting upon obedience to the 
 letter as well as the spirit of his orders. He did not 
 confide in himself, but in the perfect subjection of the 
 immense machinery entrusted to his manipulation. 
 A late writer says of Napoleon s expedition to Rus 
 sia : "The component parts of his vast force were 
 not perfect in themselves. His marshals were not to 
 be trusted beyond the supervision of his own eye. 
 His numerous orders were neglected, and the disorder 
 of the advance on Moscow brought forth the bitter 
 fruit of retreat." 
 
 In contrasting accounts of the march to and from 
 Moscow with the narratives of the more recent ad 
 vance of the Germans from the Rhine to Paris, it will 
 be apparent that while one army depended on a man, 
 the other rested upon a system, the system organized 
 by a man of genius.
 
 168 MAPLE KANGE. 
 
 Lieut. Ellis spent the day and part of the night in 
 earnest search among the soldiers and in the hospitals 
 for Herbert. Then, hoping he had been detailed 
 upon some service and was safe, he dashed off a letter 
 to his wife, then betook himself to his blanket and the 
 pavement for the rest which his wearied nature re 
 quired ; yet mortification and solicitude for Herbert 
 kept him long awake. He knew his entire company 
 would have fought on against fearful odds even, had 
 there been generalship to command them. There 
 was no want of devotion and bravery manifested in 
 the army, and the mortifying result of their first en 
 gagement he attributed to delinquency in high places ; 
 still he knew that the disgrace would for long attach 
 itself to the common soldier. No doubt it was the 
 result of official blundering, but the blunderer would 
 be screened, while the soldiers would feel the disgrace 
 forever. But he was mistaken as to the endurance of 
 the stigma. By later events that disgrace was wiped 
 out effectually. For the present they plunged deeper 
 into tactics, and prepared themselves, by the most 
 rigorous drill and observance of discipline, to partici 
 pate in the battles to come, battles that should have 
 a two-fold office, subjugation of the armed insurgents 
 and reparation of their lost ground at Bull Kun, for 
 they would Avash out all memory of it. Beauregard 
 had not yet occupied Washington. The country again 
 breathed freely, and when more troops were called for 
 how thrillingly pealed the chorus, 
 
 We are coming, father Abraham, 
 Three hundred thousand more.
 
 MARTIAL STRAINS. 169 
 
 Personal efforts to maintain the Union were as 
 popular as ever and her cause no more despaired of 
 than though Bull Run had never been heard of. This 
 devotion and loyalty had been thought to be cooled 
 by defeat. Like the proverbial new broom, it had 
 suffered from the friction of use and adversity. We 
 had been nourished in the arms and at the bosom of 
 peace ; our infantile cradle had been rocked by her. 
 Our education had been conducted under the shadow 
 of her wing. Could then the enthusiasm for this fe 
 rocious war be more than temporary ? for did it not 
 require stern logic and adamantine resolution to sym 
 pathize with it to the bloody, cruel end? A story is 
 told in the following camp scene, told in soldiers 1 own 
 words, a story of their hopes and sentiments, and 
 fears, and illustrative of the feeling of the hour. 
 
 "What s the news, Gus? " said " Long Dave," 
 as he was now always called, as he stretched and 
 sprawled on the hard floor of the tent, regarding with 
 wistful eyes the letter Gus was reading. Dave never 
 knew the pleasure of correspondence. In all the 
 world he had of kith or kindred none. He watched 
 and respectfully waited for Gus to go through his 
 letter two or three times and then repeated his ques 
 tion. 
 
 "They are all well . at home, Dave, excepting 
 Robert Maynard and Mrs. Center ; the latter it is 
 thought can not live many days. 
 
 " They have been enlisting there again, taken ten 
 men more from the settlement and the Hollow, arid 
 the draft took ," naming them. 
 
 "Wai I snum, if they keep on at that gait it will 
 8
 
 170 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 take the last man, even to Paddie O Shannon," inter 
 rupted Dave. 
 
 " It did; Lizbeth says the fun of it was, he claimed 
 he was not naturalized. 1 
 
 " Had no papers ! Gosh, I d gi n a hundred dollars 
 to a been there. " 
 
 " They proved he had the papers and made him 
 show em, be jabers, and then drafted him into 
 the army, but there was a hulabalo of a time with 
 him." 
 
 "Well they had another, I ll warrant, afore they 
 got his hair cut and his uniform fitted to him. Gra 
 cious, how he must a kicked when for the first time in 
 his life he got a fit, and felt cloth. O Moses ! " 
 
 " Lizbeth says it s lonesome enough there and 
 they, the women folks, begin to feel as if a good deal 
 of responsibility will fall upon them if the war con 
 tinues two or three years. " 
 
 " What s that ! Who says the war is going to con 
 tinue two or three years ? Show me the feller and 
 we will have it out in five minutes. Good gracious, 
 I calculate we can finish it all up snug this Fall." 
 
 " Not unless you can read a better account of us 
 than that of Bull Run, Dave." 
 
 " O, that was a failure, I allow. What a fizzle, 
 though. I say there never was a scareder set o fel 
 lows than we uns, except the other fellers, the Rebs. " 
 
 " No wonder there was fright on both sides, there 
 was lots of us that had never heard a gun fired in 
 earnest in our lives had smelt powder to be sure, but 
 only at shooting matches and hunting." 
 
 "That s so! Two green armies met at Bull Run
 
 MARTIAL STRAINS. 171 
 
 face to face for the first time and which ever had its 
 line turned was sure to git like the devil. There was 
 no other way to escape annihilation. " 
 " Of course not, and 
 
 He who fights and runs away, 
 Will live to fight another day. " 
 
 " If we had been the successful party we thought 
 we were at noon that day, if Patterson the old fraud 
 had held his ground and done his duty we would a 
 got no end of praise though. Printin ink would 
 have been all exhausted markin us up like this: 
 
 HEROES. 1 
 
 Dave had written the last word in immense char 
 acters on the side of the white tent with a coal, then 
 flinging himself down again continued: " Our fightin 
 would a been considered the most wonderful action 
 under the sun, for I notice it s the result that gives 
 color to any undertakin ." 
 
 Of course. Dave, nothing succeeds like success, " 
 said Gus. 
 
 "Well it ain t fair, a fellow wins a race because 
 his opponent who is ahead and the best runner, stubs 
 his toe near the end of the race, the victory almost 
 won, and this poor snail of a chap who ought to count 
 it honor to be allowed to walk the same course in his 
 tracks, is hailed as the victor and gets all the honors." 
 
 " Save your breath to cool your porridge, Dave; 
 let s talk about something interesting, Patterson for 
 instance, what have they done with him ?"
 
 172 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 "Pronounced him a cursed fool; an old woman 
 not responsible for the imbecile inactivity that 
 
 "He ought to be hung. He has caused more 
 heads to hang than any man in the army. I felt so 
 dog on shamed, I did n t look up for a week after that 
 ere retreat." 
 
 "You didn t go fer enough. One feller, they 
 say, retreated clear to the State of Maine. " 
 
 " Good soldier. Heard the order to retire and 
 nobody halted him, I s pose." 
 
 "Langmere is in the same list, and Gray s going 
 on, I s pose, like old John Brown s body. " 
 
 "Langmere ; why he was here yesterday, I saw 
 him." 
 
 " Well, I 11 bet nobody has seen him to-day, for I 
 heard the Colonel tell him to go to hell, and he is 
 powerful good to obey orders." 
 
 " We shall meet him again then, the most of us." 
 
 "The Colonel knew it would be for the good oi 
 the country for him to go." 
 
 Langmere has got a black heart ; anyone could 
 read that," 
 
 " He has been figuring for furlough a long back ; 
 they say he is going to marry a girl up in Ohio. He 
 told of it when he was drunk." 
 
 "Well, I would advise that girl to get insured ; 
 that s an awful red head of hissen." 
 
 " I ve a red head mesel ," chimed in a rich voice 
 from under a blanket in one corner, "but it never 
 kindled a fire yit." 
 
 " Why, Mike ! " said Gus, " I thought that last
 
 MARTIAL STRAINS. 173 
 
 whisky fixed your music to-night. You have been 
 snorin like the seven sleepers." 
 
 "Seven sleepers, is it. I 11 bet you a cow, Gus, 
 there is more nor seven hundred under this same 
 blanket wid me, and ivery one of em wide awake. 
 They kape up such a divil of a thrampin , gittin up 
 an settin down on me, so unaisy loike. They are a 
 dale worse than me ould woman at home, or me stip- 
 in-mother, that used to lick me, till me legs would 
 tingle a wake." 
 
 "What was the complaint about your ould 
 woman, though ? " 
 
 "Och! She would peck away at me head all 
 day, and thin she would peck at me back all night 
 wid her sharp elbeys, an snappin at me in me 
 dthrame, hollerin Lay along, Mike ! an me loike 
 a lamb, hangin jist on the bed rail, holdin on wid 
 me teeth an toe nails, and the whole len th of me 
 body all night a swayin clear of it." 
 
 "I s powerful sorry for yer back, Mike, but I 
 spec s I could show yer blacker scars, an more of 
 em, though I was never rightly married, an never 
 had a mother or a step-in-mother to lick me." 
 
 "Och ! ye are one o yer aunt s childhren, are ye, 
 Pomp. Well now, if the scars on yer back are 
 blacker than yer face, do ye be afther tellin us how 
 ye coom by em. I can t a bear mysthery at all." 
 
 " Spit it out, Pomp, tell us who branded you. 
 Do n t be afraid, you are in Uncle Sam s pasture now, 
 you know," said Dave. 
 
 " Wai," said the negro, " I used to belong to ole 
 massa Wilbur, down in Norf Carlina. I done the
 
 174: MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 ficTlin an preachin on the plantation, an ef I did n t 
 go right for ed in the way of duty, why my missus 
 would scole an tear an stop my lowance of meal and 
 bacon. But laws, I did n t mind it at all. It was a 
 kind o means o grace," 
 
 " Made ye shoin, Pomp." 
 
 "The cullud people never tole of my short cum 
 mins, kase the Lord bein on my side, I allus had 
 more meal an bacon than I needed, anyhow, an if 
 they got short, they could get it of me instead of 
 stealin , which was a great help to em moonlight 
 nights. Besides, I was in c mand of the chicken 
 militia, you know ; boss of the fowl brigade, and 
 managed the capture of a comfortable number of 
 hens every night. All went on swimmin and accord 
 ing to gospel, till massa brought home a mulatto boy. 
 Yes, sah, his name was Tom, and I knew the minute 
 I sot eyes onto him, I could never make a Christian 
 on him. An so I hated him. He was allus a sneak- 
 in and courtin the gals, and finally got to shinin 
 around Dinah, the housemaid, that was promised to 
 me. One night there was a little fuss at the hen 
 roost, and missus, who was purtickular about her 
 pullets sleepin sound, run out and kotched Tom jest 
 comin round the cornah of the v randah. She licked 
 him smart for it, an he up an tole her it was me 
 made the fuss at the roost. She did n t believe it at 
 fust, sah, but watched out, and suah as you live she 
 kotched me. O but she was mad tho . You nevah 
 seed such a devil as she was then, and she tole the 
 overscan to stake me down to the ground flat on my 
 face, and then she stood by an laughed, O, ye ought to
 
 MARTIAL STRAINS. 175 
 
 hearn her, while he drew a big halt-starved barn cat 
 by its tail down my naked back, so many times I 
 forgot to count, and besides, I was busy talkin ." 
 " What was ye afther sayin , Pomp ? " 
 "My prayers, honey. I was one of the Lord s 
 tickler chilluns, and went by the lightnin of his 
 spirit." 
 
 "And the cat, he went by lightnin I spose," said 
 Dave. 
 
 "He clawed toleble." 
 
 " Ye shud a been a Oirishmon, sure thin, Pomp." 
 " O I was raw enough, Mike ; the days I lay and 
 fleeted how I d git even with that overseah, sah. At 
 last a plan. O yaw, yaw ! Gorry that was a plan," 
 and Pomp rolled in convulsions on the ground at the 
 bare recollection. 
 
 " Let s hear it. I hope ye polished im." 
 
 "Yes, sah ! Ye see he had been all along hanker- 
 
 c^ 
 
 in arter Dinah. Gorry mighty, but she hated him ! 
 and was mad ca se he hed humiliated me. I tole her 
 to fool im along till I got ready for him, un I d 
 finish up the amoosment. So one moonlight night 
 she was pertendin to a little likenin of him, and 
 lowed his soft sodder a good bit while they lem- 
 onaded down to the cotton-gin, where she knew I was 
 hid, waitin for em. She came a teterin in an whis- 
 perin to him that "niggahs might hear em un he 
 better take off his boots. " When he sot down to take 
 em off, I raised up still as death an slipped a noose 
 over his neck, an jerked it tight to a beam afore he 
 could help himself. Then I tied his hands behind him, 
 pulled his feet straight down to a ring in the floah so
 
 176 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 that the leastest stir would choke him. Then, sah, I 
 took a big cat that I had n t fed for a week, and put 
 it in a bag and drew the eend of the bag up an tied it 
 so that thar was jest room enough for the cat and the 
 overseah s feet. Oh, I tied it tight, sah, squeezin the 
 cat till it growl d like satan, an then I stirr d that cat, 
 sah, an I punched that cat, sah, till it was a match 
 for a tiger and took hold o them feet for keeps, sah ; 
 then I said good evenin , sah ! Leavin a boy to punch 
 and keep up the cat s grit. I took my Dinah by the 
 waist and left em. But, lo d sakes, sah, I could heah 
 that ole cat a swearin after we got clean up to the 
 niggah quarters, the rations was so tough ! " 
 
 "An yer yar-rn is loike the rations, Pomp, an 
 makes me incloin to swear with the cat, only the pair 
 of us would be loikly to overdo the matt her of swear- 
 in , so that the officers would be out o" 1 bisness althe- 
 gedder," said Mike, good-humoredly. 
 
 " Swear away then, Mike," said the soldier, who 
 had just dropped in and heard only Mike s comments, 
 " swear away. If the officers would give a little of 
 that kind of work out to supernumeraries and attend 
 closer to the real business of war, it would n t last till 
 snow flies. 
 
 "You have got a level head, comrade," said Long 
 Dave. "If every officer, from Scott clear down to 
 Langmere, the poorest of the lot, were obliged to 
 keep their mouths shut and work without pay, and it 
 was agreed to leave politics and the Presidential ques 
 tion to Providence till the job was done, there is 
 nothing surer than that we would whip the Rebs. "
 
 MARTIAL STRAINS. 177 
 
 " Yes, an get home to Christmas," cried a voice 
 outside. 
 
 "But Pomp what would become of "Pomp?" 
 asked another. 
 
 "Pomp could celebrate Christmas wherever he 
 pleased, for when this war is over he will be a free 
 man ; free to marry Dinah ; free to prosecute the 
 overseah if there is anything left of him, or administer 
 the cat to him again. " 
 
 Just then a raw recruit who had been detailed 
 upon picket duty that night, rushed into the tent, 
 smiling and rubbing his hands, saying : 
 
 "I goll, now, this looks-a little more like ! " 
 He looked dirty and self-neglected. His new uni 
 form was too big for him. His hair, for want of 
 combing, had matted on top of his head and hung 
 in little stumpy twists clear down into his eyes and 
 refused to acknowledge the hat that had slid off down 
 over his left ear. His brogans sounded rattley, as if 
 they were tied by strings about his ankles and dragged 
 along behind him when he walked. He took his hat 
 in his hand, and shaking the rain drops from it said : 
 "It rains like the mischief. I m wet as sop." 
 An officer had slipped in behind him, and touching 
 him on the shoulder, with a look more humorous than 
 severe, said : 
 
 " You must go back at once to your post of duty." 
 "What! to-night, cap n? It s too durned fur! 
 I jist got here." 
 
 " Can t help it ! You must go back." 
 
 "Why, cap n," he said, crawling up to the officer
 
 178 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 and smiling as if it was a good joke, "it s dark as 
 thunder." 
 
 "No more words, sir. Come right along ! " spoken 
 more sternly. 
 
 Oh, gosh darn, cap n, tain t safe out there ; a 
 feller might git shot ! "
 
 A FAREWELL VISIT. 179 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 A FAREWELL VISIT. 
 
 " What avails this wond rous waste of wealth ? " 
 
 THE stately residence of Mr. Pierre La Moore 
 stood upon the side of a bluff, overlooking the 
 city and the river. The owner was still abroad, 
 "detained," his wife said, "by intricate suits at law, 
 entailed by the settlement of an estate that he claimed 
 for his elder children property that should right 
 fully have gone to his first wife at the decease of her 
 father, many years ago." 
 
 As she was the sole and undisputed heir, it would 
 seem that the recovery of this property for her heirs 
 should have been simple enough ; but Mr. La Moore 
 found French lawyers very exacting in regard to 
 details concerning individual demise, and those details 
 very numerous, and months passed away until another 
 year came round and he was apparently as far from 
 the accomplishment of his object as when he first 
 introduced himself to the punctilious legal gentlemen 
 who had custody of the valuable documents he wished 
 to obtain. 
 
 It is a hard thing to say of a man who has enjoyed 
 the protection of a government, that he will shirk the 
 responsibility of defending it in its hour of direst 
 need. But truth compels me to regretfully admit my
 
 180 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 conviction, that the war and the repeated calls for 
 men and money had something to do with Mr. La 
 Moore s long absence in France. Eugene expressed 
 great desire to return and enter the Federal army, 
 and his father feared his authority could not prevent 
 his enlisting, besides he himself was not past the age 
 of military duty. Conscription was just then the 
 demon that disturbed the slumbers of many men with 
 a like faith and political creed, and Pierre La Moore 
 believed that he was safer, and his son as well, upon 
 a neutral shore. There, for the present, he determined 
 to remain, while his family were still in St. P . 
 
 Mrs. La Moore was an American lady handsome, 
 haughty and high - tempered, according to Dame 
 Rumor exacting punctilious deference from all the 
 children ; and to the judicious training of their own 
 mother she was indebted for the sweetness with which 
 it was rendered by the elder ones, who rarely asserted 
 their own preferences. 
 
 Some peculiar, but mysterious influence prevented 
 the degeneration of their noble, though proud spirits, 
 and that influence was not Mrs. La Moore s, nor yet 
 her husband s. Their obedience was, indeed, wonder 
 ful, when it was considered that instead of loving 
 their step-mother, in their hearts they almost loathed 
 her. 
 
 Annette had been long engaged to marry Robert 
 Maynard. Yet her mother s caprice had so far inter 
 fered. Once in the Autumn, when his health was 
 feeble, she declared it unwise, and caused a postpone 
 ment until Spring ; and when Spring came and the 
 day was appointed, she again laid the blight of hope
 
 A FAREWELL VISIT. 181 
 
 deferred upon their love, under the plea that, in the 
 absence of her husband, she had no authority to per 
 mit the marriage of his daughter, who was under 
 age. She said also that she believed Robert s purpose 
 was to enter the army, as soon as his health would 
 permit. To this he could offer no sincere denial, and 
 the former he was too proud spirited to .combat, 
 though it grieved him sorely, as well as the dear girl, 
 whom he wished to rescue from her tyranny. 
 
 The war had reached its second Summer of blood 
 and carnage many histories have recorded with 
 what sacrifices. Regiment succeeded regiment in the 
 winding way that led from Minnesota to the theater 
 of strife, and now still another awaited marching 
 orders. In this one Robert Maynard is enrolled. 
 They have been some weeks at Fort Snelling, and he 
 has permission to visit home once more before the 
 final move. 
 
 The sun is approaching the Summer solstice, and 
 the twilight hour is grateful to weary nature. 
 
 Robert and Annette gratefully improve this hour 
 by a long promenade in the shrubbery. The evening 
 star beams bright and solitary just above the purple- 
 line of clouds that lately screened the sun. A gentle 
 wind refreshes the lovers as they walk, keeping step 
 together. They arc a noble pair, with something 
 suggestive of resemblance, yet not at all alike. Both 
 are above the average height but the lady is a rich 
 brunette, while Robert is fair-haired, and with a fine 
 white forehead, blue eyes, and good English com 
 plexion. 
 
 The grass was moist with dew, and observing this
 
 182 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 they entered an arbor covered with climbing roses, 
 and sat down. Robert s arm encircled the slender 
 waist, his face was close to hers, his breath upon her 
 cheek ; his voice musically earnest as he said : 
 
 " Annette, I could not stay, now I am well enough 
 to bear arms. My country, mine at least by adop 
 tion, needs me. It is not an easy task to leave such a 
 mother and sister as mine," here the bright blue eyes 
 grew dim, his voice sank almost to a whisper, "to 
 tear myself from such a love as yours, my darling." 
 
 "Hush, Robert," she replied; "you do not tear 
 yourself from my love, for to whatever fate you go, 
 my love goes with you. It is more emphatically 
 yours than before your enlistment. It deepens, 
 grows graver and holier, because of the danger which 
 threatens you, and I confess it grows prouder too. I 
 have high hopes of your military career, and believe 
 that, although this is not your native country, your 
 brave loyal arm will purchase a kin-ship as noble as 
 nativity." 
 
 "God bless you, my Annette, for lifting the 
 weight from my spirits. I feared your remonstances 
 which, though they could not deter me from my 
 duty, would greatly sadden its performance. Instead 
 of reproaches and remonstrances I have your encour 
 agement, and I am impatient to meet and conquer all 
 difficulties that lie between me and the undisputed 
 possession of such love. Promise me only this, that 
 when all other obstacles are removed your mother 
 shall be powerless to place a barrier between us 
 again." 
 
 " I promise you. Robert, her will shall be naught.
 
 A FAREWELL VISIT. 183 
 
 Ah, surely my obedience need not extend to the 
 wrecking of my own happiness and yours." 
 
 Enfolding her resistless form with his strong 
 arms he drew her to his breast and laid long, linger 
 ing, passionate kisses upon her brow, cheek, and lips; 
 then rising together they moved towards the house. 
 The parlor was not lighted, but the moon shone full 
 into the room, and made every article visible as they 
 seated themselves upon a sofa in a spacious bay win 
 dow. Upon a table near, stood an exquisite vase 
 filled with rare flowers, Annette took it in her hand 
 and held the flowers close to her lover s face, saying: 
 
 "Their beauty is not all of form or color ; here, 
 press this rose a moment in your hand and behold 
 how fragrant. Even as this flower when crushed 
 emits a sweeter odor, so, crushed by life s cruel 
 reverses, the soul is chastened and purified, 
 
 " Do you not think," he replied, "that many are 
 embittered by sorrow. That all the soul s antagon 
 ism is roused to resist inflictions that seem unde 
 served, and though the infinite design may be to 
 chasten and to purify, the result is coldness to man, 
 infidelity to God." 
 
 "There may be," she answered, "examples of 
 that kind. I have not met them. I know but 
 one of life s martyrs, one who has bathed for 
 many years in suffering, who has been ruthlessly 
 stripped of all comfort and blessedness, but I know 
 the sweetness of that soul rises heavenward with new 
 fragrance each morning." 
 
 She had risen from her seat while speaking and 
 stood before him. The waving wealth of long raven
 
 184 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 ringlets thrown back from her forehead, her dark 
 eyes humid with emotion ; her cheeks, now flushed, 
 now pallid, and her heart beating perceptibly. 
 
 Robert, wondering he had never realized before her 
 transcendent loveliness so far excelling the beauty of 
 other women, drew her gently down beside him, say 
 ing : 
 
 " Annette, I have seen in all my life but one such 
 face as yours, and that one lacked more than half 
 your present beauty, the charm of soul ennobling 
 physical perfection." 
 
 Thinking to soothe her excitement, which was 
 almost painful to him, he took the vase she still 
 held in her hand, and smiling, said: 
 
 "Why, my sister Nellie has just such a vase as 
 this. I woncfer if yours was as costly. I must tell 
 you the story. ^ ^ 
 
 "Many years ago in England, our family 
 was preparing to come to America, and a few days 
 before we embarked, father sold a valuable colt we 
 had raised, and which I had always called my own. 
 He gave me its price, a ten pound note, which I very 
 carelessly put in my pocket. In the morning, wear 
 ing another suit of clothes, I went with him to Liver 
 pool, a few miles distant. While we were absent an 
 itinerant vendor of glassware, a persuasive Bohe 
 mian, induced Nellie to invest in his merchandise to 
 the extent of all her available cast-off clothing. This 
 proved insufficient to meet the price he set on the 
 vase. 
 
 "To obtain it she was obliged to make a draft upon 
 my wardrobe and when I came home, talking with
 
 A FAREWELL VISIT. 185 
 
 some boyish boastfulness of my trip and trifling ac 
 quisitions, she triumphantly brought forward her new 
 purchase, claiming our praises for her sagacity in 
 palming off for so lovely a vase, many worthless old 
 garments among which had been the identical one 
 that held my ten pound note." Annette laughed 
 
 gaily- 
 
 " Well now as a partial reward for the suffering 
 poor Nellie must have endured through your raillery, 
 I shall send her my vase. I have no recollection of 
 how we came by it, but who knows, some day, per 
 haps this one and Nellie s may have been twins." 
 
 It was growing late but the lovers still lingered 
 and the wish to stay grew stronger the faster time 
 sped. He rose to go at last, saying: 
 
 " I will come again next week and our parting 
 then will be for a longer time." 
 
 Annette went with him, hanging on his arm and 
 saying many last words half playfully, half sorrow 
 fully down the first flight of steps that led to another 
 terrace and past a fountain, whose cooling spray re 
 flected the moonbeams. They paused, and watched 
 the goldfish playing with sparkling fin in the marble 
 basin beneath. Then they walked to the next stairway 
 where he took her hand and tenderly pressing it to 
 his lips, whispered : 
 
 " Our separation will not be long, darling; good 
 night," and with a lover s kiss the parting ended. 
 
 He went down the stairs gaily waving his hand to 
 
 her, and when he was lost to view, with a sinking 
 
 heart she returned to the house. Mounting leisurely 
 
 the piazza steps she met at the top her step-mother 
 
 8*
 
 186 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 and with a pleasant " good night, ma am " would have 
 passed on to her own room but Mrs. La Moore per 
 emptorily bade her remain, and haughtily addressing 
 her, said : 
 
 " Let your folly end to-night, Annette. I forbid, 
 positively forbid, your meeting this young person 
 again during your father s absence. Since your own 
 self-respect seems to have abandoned you, I shall not 
 allow it to be said that 1 forget what is due to pro 
 priety. I will not allow you to sit till this hour in a 
 room, without other than the moon s light, with a 
 young man, who is nothing, and can be nothing to 
 you." 
 
 "Indeed, mother, you know he is every thing to 
 me ; his image has the truest place in my heart, his 
 ring is on my hand, and his kiss lies yet warm upon 
 nry lips. If life is spared us I will be his wife as 
 surely as the stars shine." 
 
 " Spare me your heroics and this nonsense about 
 being his wife, for you will be no such thing. I tell 
 you I will see that you do not disgrace us by these 
 improper interviews at least until your father returns, 
 when his authority will, I trust, put an end altogether 
 to your foolish dreams of an union with -this young 
 farmer. " 
 
 At the sneer with which the last word was spoken 
 the passion which lay dormant, kept down by Annette s 
 firm will, flamed up into the wild eyes that looked into 
 Mrs. La Moore s, and in a voice trembling with sup 
 pressed anger, she replied : 
 
 " Be careful, madam, how you exasperate me. 
 Who are you that you talk of propriety to me. Who
 
 A FAREWELL VISIT. 187 
 
 but yourself prevented the lighting up of the parlor 
 this evening. The question you have raised as to my 
 union with Robert Maynard is not within your prov 
 ince, and I will not discuss it with you. 
 
 "I warn you that your continued interference will 
 be absolutely disregarded. Down deep in my heart 
 there is the memory of wrongs, that you never can 
 obliterate, and which you shall not forget, so long as 
 my features retain their likeness ; you must not dare 
 to encroach upon the sacred ground of my love. " 
 
 Grand and queenly, she swept past the woman who 
 had insulted her, through the open door, and, mount 
 ing the stairs, was soon alone in her own room, where, 
 kneeling before her own mother s picture, she wept 
 and talked to it, as though indeed the canvas were a 
 thing of life. 
 
 " O mamma," she cried, " what a hard duty you 
 imposed upon me, when you bade me treat with con 
 sideration the canker worm that has sapped the happi 
 ness of our home. O give me back my promise, 
 sweet mamma, give it back or bend on me to-night the 
 quiet beams of your forgiving eyes. Why am I so 
 selfish, whose sufferings are as naught compared with 
 your long anguish. O mamma, darling, forgive me, I 
 will not again forget the promise that grew out of 
 your great woe." 
 
 Below through the two midnight hours, the last of 
 the evening, the first of the morning, an infuriated 
 woman paced the moonlit porch of her regal home 
 and angels had no part in dictating her thoughts. 
 
 At breakfast table next morning all traces of her 
 passions or of last night s collision were gone. An-
 
 188 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 nette s bow and polite "good morning " were as po^ 
 litely returned by the proud woman who sat behind 
 the shining coffee urn. 
 
 Plate and cut glass enhance the relish of a good 
 breakfast, and a good breakfast it was, for the cuisine 
 of Mr. La Moore s establishment was professionally 
 perfect. Yet with plate an^l cut glass and good cook 
 ing Mrs. La Moore was denied the relish which is in, 
 dispensable to gastric enjoyment, for though she occu 
 pied the seat of honor at the table, yet a silent, unseen 
 presence claimed co-partnership. 
 
 Wherever she moved she was inwardly conscious 
 of and recoiled from it. Involuntarily it shared her 
 chair, her pillow, and her path, as from her footsteps 
 she seemed to hear the double echoes ring. 
 
 If for a moment she joined in the family merri 
 ment, laughter, gentle, sad and low, seemed to accom 
 pany her own. 
 
 If to her babe she sang a lullaby, another voice in 
 the same key responded with a mocking symphony 
 and when she wept she felt upon her hands the warm 
 rain of another s tears. 
 
 This dual existence had form only in her fancy ; 
 none others guessed its presence, but it followed her, 
 ever taking one half of all her comforts. 
 
 The aristocratic wife of the rich man walked, 
 talked, ate, laughed, sang and wept, yet all the while, 
 with furtive glance around shuddering and shrink 
 ing away.
 
 IN THE NET. 189 
 
 CHAPTER VH. 
 
 IN THE NET. 
 
 Thou art not dead, the narrow grave 
 
 Is not for me thy resting place ; 
 There s something in me that can save 
 
 Thee from Mortality s embrace. 
 
 As when the dying sun sinks low 
 
 A line of crimson tints the west, 
 Thy beauty from my path may go, 
 
 But leaves the charm that made me blest. 
 
 ALEXANDER. 
 
 ON the 14th March, 1862, Gen. McClellan had is 
 sued an address to the army of the Potomac, an 
 nouncing the reasons why, since the battle of Bull 
 Run, they had remained inactive save for the daily 
 drilling behind entrenchments. The infamous stars 
 and bars of the Confederacy were flaunting in full 
 sight, Washington was literally in a state of siege, 
 and every Federal craft that ascended the river, chal 
 lenged the frowning batteries of an irate foe. 
 
 Marching orders were once more issued, the sick 
 sent back, camps broken up, and all prepared to 
 encounter the dragon of Rebellion. The bitter remem 
 brance of Bull Run rankled in many a heart, and the 
 army was anxious to retaliate upon the enemy and 
 win back the laurels so ingloriously trampled down
 
 190 MAPLE KANGE. 
 
 on that disastrous day of July, 1861. Various proph 
 ecies were current regarding their destination. 
 
 From the dock they crowded on board the trans 
 ports till a whole fleet lay anchored upon the heaving 
 flood a hundred thousand throbbing human hearts, 
 all eager for a hostile encounter with those who had pro 
 voked a wrath that hourly grew and intensified; hearts 
 that had been thrilled by the successive victories of Ro- 
 anoke, Pea Ridge, Newborn, Winchester and Donelson 
 victories in which they had not shared, but the ring 
 of which had reached their inactive camp and fired 
 their soldier hearts. At a given signal the whole grand 
 fleet swept down the noble stream the stars and 
 stripes streaming at every mast-head, and national 
 music waking the slumberous air that brooded over 
 the scene. They ride the elements, each ship "a 
 thing of life," cutting with queenly prow the spark 
 ling wave and dashing from each side the foaming 
 spray. As they glide past its anchorage a hundred 
 thousand voices respond to the salutation of the float 
 ing battery the triumph of sea warfare, the pride 
 of the Northern wave, though an unpretentious raft 
 the Monitor. 
 
 The troops disembarked at Fortress Monroe in a 
 drenching rain, marching through mud and discom 
 fort to Hampton, where they encamped, made forlorn 
 fires and prepared as best they might their coffee, 
 cooked their bacon, and gratefully partook of the nice 
 fresh bread brought from the Fort. Here, Pomp, who 
 had been installed cook and " valet " to the person of 
 Lieut :>- int Langmere (whose self-importance grew in 
 propo: lion as his worthlessness became apparent to his
 
 IN THE NET. 191 
 
 comrades), met many old friends of the " colored per 
 suasion " among the crowds of contrabands who occu 
 pied a long row of board buildings. They were employed 
 the men, about the Government vessels and trans 
 ports at anchor ; the women, in cooking, washing and, 
 as Mike facetiously remarked, "repairin the breaches 
 made by the b ys in the bothersome flank movements 
 that has come to be as common as sunrise, bedad." 
 
 They were exceedingly pious, those contrabands, 
 just tasting of freedom ! What, though their zeal was 
 of the kind written of as "not according to knowl 
 edge?" The prayer meetings of the "bredren," a 
 source of amusement to some, were edifying to others 
 who recognized the image of our Lord, though the 
 mirror may be common, the frame ebony. There 
 were many of fairer complexion than is sometimes 
 believed to exist on the bitter side of the line that dis 
 tinguishes the bond and free. One of these proved 
 to be the heroine of Pomp s story. The day after 
 this meeting she acceded to his renewed entreaties, 
 and he was for once "rightfully married." 
 
 The officer of the picket guard was nightly 
 besieged by these people who were passed through 
 the line to protection and food. Their joy to know 
 themselves liberated from bondage was touching to 
 witness. They regarded the advent of the army as a 
 sign of the promise of deliverence that had cheered 
 the gloom of their servitude for many years. In their 
 benighted ignorance they had not learned of him who 
 later promised to be their leader to Beulah, the Moses 
 of Tennessee. 
 
 "On to Richmond" again resounded through the
 
 192 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 camp, and the army, with two days rations, was in 
 motion toward Yorktown, through such mud as the 
 Minnesota boys had never dreamed of. The distance 
 was only twenty-live miles, but it required diligence 
 to march half that distance in a day. Yet the mud 
 was alternately plunged into, crawled out of, amid 
 curses and laughter by soldiers in different moods, 
 till at last they bivouacked in front of Yorktown, on 
 ground over which the water was actually running. 
 There they remained for three days before the supply 
 trains could by any possibility struggle through the 
 mud to the relief of soldiers who had never as such 
 known want of food. Many times it had been said, 
 " Our army waste daily what would feed two in 
 Europe." 
 
 Many Minnesota boys drooped and grew des 
 pondent before Yorktown. Lieut. Langmere became 
 really ill and was removed to the hospital, where 
 Pomp and his yellow wife proved efficient nurses, and 
 the former, that he was not above a bribe. An apt 
 disciple of an artful man, he proved also that a clean 
 white heart and a coal black face were not always 
 possessed by the same individual. 
 
 "Tired of campaigning on the peninsula" said 
 master, said man, and when the army advanced in 
 pursuit of the rebels after the evacuation of York- 
 town they were left behind with the sick. Let us 
 here leave that armed host sweeping on to victory and 
 fame, to watch the working of a scheme that would 
 have done justice to the father of fraud himself. 
 
 Langmere s ambition had always been to live with 
 out exertion. Too indolent to work and too cowardly
 
 IN THE NET. 193 
 
 for a good soldier, he bethought himself of a plan 
 whereby he might insure independence without eifort. 
 He had satisfied himself of the unquestioned wealth 
 of Alice Meade wealth which might be his if he 
 could secure the fulfilment of her promise to be his 
 wife. But the obstacle in the way of this consumma 
 tion, so ardently desired for mercenary ends, was the 
 difficulty of securing it without revealing the decep 
 tion which had made him an accepted suitor. How 
 could this marriage be brought about without her 
 discovering the fact that the face she loved and the 
 name of Langmere were not identical ? He could 
 not visit her ; that step would be a fatal one. Finally 
 he wrote thus : 
 
 BEFORE YORKTOWN, March , 1862. 
 MY ADORED ALICE: 
 
 While I address you, my heart stands still with very anguish, 
 and only justice to you could make it possible for my pen to per. 
 form so sad a duty. I have been fearfully wounded; the harrow 
 ing particulars I will not give. The face you remember is hope 
 lessly disfigured ; it is only a chance that I preserve my eye-sight. 
 I will not claim the fulfilment of the engagement which has 
 blessed the last few months, and the memory of which will make 
 my future life a weary blank. I am going now to a private hos 
 pital that of Dr. Bartholt, in Washington for treatment, yet 
 with only a faint hope of physical restoration, still less of recov 
 ery from the horror my mirror reveals. I will not deprive myself 
 of that which shall be my only solace, your picture, unless you 
 insist upon its return to you. I am now but a physical wreck, 
 and as an honorable man I release you, my best beloved, from an 
 engagement wnich now would doubtless be as repulsive to you as 
 it would be contemptible in me to insist upon it. Your name will 
 be the last my mortal breath shall utter, but I beg you, darling, to 
 iorget forever that of GEORGE LANGMERE, 
 
 ByB. 
 N 9
 
 194: MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 His correspondence with her had revealed to him 
 Alice s true character, and, as he expected, his letter 
 only fired her heart with greater love. With an ar 
 dor and enthusiasm she had never permitted herself 
 to reveal in any former letter, she wrote : 
 
 MY LOVE: 
 
 I will not accept your release from an engagement which was 
 not lightly considered. That love would indeed be worthless, if 
 it could wane when a blight is laid upon its object. True, your 
 face first inspired in my heart a sentiment that has grown into af 
 fection, into love that will cling to you so long as rebel guns leave 
 enough of your body to hold your generous soul. 
 
 I am, as ever, your own ALICE. 
 
 Would she sit now with folded hands and wait, 
 who had so long prayed to be shown her work in this 
 great struggle. Were repose and idleness for her 
 while lives as precious as her own were being daily 
 sacrificed for the welfare of her country ? No ; she 
 would go to him and bring her soldier lover back to 
 health and happiness. She had health and strength, 
 and the command of generous coffers, for her father 
 had grown to be controlled almost entirely by her. 
 Her brother was now in the army. She laid the 
 whole matter before the old gentleman, who had con 
 ceived an enthusiasm for those who wore the Federal 
 blue almost equal to her own. He entered into the 
 spirit of her plan at once, taking every measure to 
 hasten its execution. The old housekeeper, Mrs. 
 Garret, was taken into the council, and the result 
 was immediate preparation and speedy departure of 
 the three for Washington, to seek Langmere. 
 
 Arrived in that city, they ascertained the retreat
 
 IN THE NET. 195 
 
 of Dr. Bartholt, and were soon on their way thither. 
 It was eight o clock in the evening when they were 
 set down at the door, worn out with rapid travel ; but 
 Alice had no thought but for her suffering lover, and 
 to her eager questions Dr. Bartholt replied : 
 
 "Lieut. Langmere is hopelessly injured, and in 
 deed it is not possible for any lady, except she be 
 mother, sister or wife, to see him." 
 
 Love will not recognize defeat. Alice proudly, 
 and yet with maidenly blush, replied : 
 
 "I am his intended wife, sir, and as such I claim 
 the right to go to him." 
 
 The doctor bowed respectfully and led the Avay to 
 the room, followed by Alice, Mr. Meade and Mrs. 
 Garret, but turning, he stopped them at the door and 
 said : 
 
 Is this other lady a relative of the lieutenant ? " 
 
 "No." 
 
 " Then I must positively forbid her entering," he 
 said. " Pomp, conduct the lady to the sitting-room." 
 
 A look of intelligence passed between the doctor 
 and Pomp, and Mrs. Garret descended with the lat 
 ter, while Mr. Meade followed his daughter into a 
 dimly-lighted room. Alice dropped like a snowflake 
 beside the bed whereon this deep-dyed villain lay. 
 She was denied a look upon his face, but she took his 
 hand in both hers and instinctively felt the same 
 loathing that always affected Herbert at the touch of 
 that hand. How she took herself to task for it, as 
 cribing her repugnance to her love and regret for the 
 face, so brilliantly handsome as it existed in her mem 
 ory, and now disfigured beyond recognition.
 
 196 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 "Is this my heroism?" she said to herself. "Is 
 this the self-sacrifice I came here to make? Nay; I 
 have come up to the mountain to slay my Isaac, and 
 now I will neither shudder nor go back." Kneeling 
 there she poured into his ear her loving sympathy, 
 and, as he had dared to hope she would, proposed 
 an immediate marriage, that her care of him might 
 be entirely devoted and unembarrassed. The cir 
 cumstances must excuse the haste ; but whatever 
 the world might say, she was resolved to marry 
 him at once, and thus immediately set at rest all con 
 siderations of delicacy and propriety. To her inex 
 perience he seemed to require the most devoted 
 nursing, and Mrs. Garret, who would have known 
 better, had been prudently excluded from the sick 
 room. Dr. Bartholt s complicity had been secured by 
 the promise of a large reward, if the plan succeeded. 
 He had taken the precaution to send for a clergyman, 
 who was then in the parlor, it being understood that 
 if the plan failed, he would be taken to visit the 
 patient, as though that were the real object of his 
 being summoned. 
 
 Pomp, who stood without, was sent to request the 
 clergymen s attendance. When he came in he was 
 informed in a hurried whisper of the request of the 
 lady, still weeping and pleading with her lover, who 
 seemed so loath to grant her wish, for reasons, appar 
 ently most noble. Afterwards she remembered that 
 his consent at last was sudden, saying : 
 
 "As you will, my darling. 1 
 
 The clergyman took her to a window in the dim 
 lit room and questioned her closely, she thought
 
 IN THE NET. 197 
 
 almost impertinently, regarding her knowledge of 
 the person she wished him to unite her with. 
 
 "Pardon me, madam," he said, "but you are 
 about to convey to another the supreme right to 
 yourself as well as your estate, and should be very 
 sure that his principles are worthy and pure ; for 
 most surely your happiness will be forever wrecked, 
 should you discover when his wife, that they are not 
 such as you desire to find in you-r husband. The 
 world, dear madam, is full of deceit, and your per 
 sonal acquaintance, I understand, is very limited." 
 
 "I have long corresponded with him," she said, 
 " and have had many evidences of his worth and 
 truthfulness. His release of me after a long engage 
 ment, owing to his terrible misfortune, would be 
 sufficient to indicate a noble heart. Oh, sir, if you 
 could have seen his face before this happened, you 
 would not so question me now. A more perfect mir 
 ror of manly truth could not exist He does not 
 want me to marry him, but I will. It is my proposal, 
 for only the strictest care will save his life, and I 
 must be able to nurse him as only a wife can. Surely 
 there is no shame, nothing unmaidenly, in this devo 
 tion to one who loves me, and has been nearly slain 
 in the defense of my country. My faith in him is 
 implicit; please do not keep me longer from my pur 
 pose to become his wife, for Lieut. Langmere is very 
 low indeed." 
 
 They returned to the bedside, where she again 
 took his hand, and the ceremony proceeded, she mak 
 ing the usual responses, which, she supposed, he 
 was too feeble to utter, without a faltering voice.
 
 198 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 Never were marriage vows spoken more freely and 
 joyfully than by this woman so strangely mated. 
 Was it to wreck and ruin or even death ? Her coun 
 tenance beamed with a glorious light. Even as mar 
 tyrs may look, so looked Alice Meade, standing by 
 that bed. A lovely bride for any man to worship. 
 Her eyes were full of tender love. The feeble lamp 
 light was reflected in her beautifully glossy hair, as she 
 bowed her head to receive the clerical benediction. 
 It was pitiful to see such youth and grace and sweet 
 ness united to the woe and misery represented by 
 that man, now, to all appearances, a shapeless horror. 
 The clergyman felt it. 
 
 Langmere s face was entirely covered, as well as 
 the close shaven head, with the patches of black 
 court plaster ; the shapeless nose being cunningly 
 disguised, and the whole shape of head and face ren 
 dered quite irrecognizable by bandages, judiciously 
 disposed. He did not speak much, and only in 
 whispers, lest she should detect his voice. Her 
 father stood beside them, thus giving his solemn 
 sanction, during the ceremony ; and when the final 
 words were pronounced, "What God has joined to 
 gether let no man put asunder," he earnestly re- 
 ponded, "Amen." 
 
 Mr. Meade was very weary, and after being 
 shown to a room, where supper was served for him 
 self, Alice and Mrs. Garret, there he remained to rest, 
 his daughter returning to the sick room, and Mrs. Gar 
 ret retiring for the night. All night the bride sat there, 
 beside him who had deceived her more basely than 
 had Eden s serpent, the first of her sex.
 
 IN THE NET. 199 
 
 All night, as devotees of old guarded the shrine 
 of their idols, heeding neither weariness nor pain. 
 
 Then followed days of watching, reading, minis 
 tering to him she could not even touch without an inde 
 scribable repugnance, a something within her which 
 she could not name, but which she had not been able 
 to overcome. So it was that his polluting lips never 
 even touched her own. How thankfully afterwards 
 did she recall this fact, which had preserved her as pure 
 as if still un wedded. Her devotion rendered the task 
 of deception doubly difficult, the doctor and Pomp 
 using the greatest care and precaution, to prevent the 
 outcropping of red hair, or the displacement of the 
 false bridge on the nose, which was adjusted every 
 time the young wife could be induced to give the 
 operators a clear coast. Pomp s wife was helpful, too, 
 in the conspiracy, not that she was ever trusted with 
 all the details of the case, for Langmere had said: 
 
 "Give a woman a secret to keep, and she will 
 make such an extraordinary effort to do so, that she 
 will be all the more sure to reveal it. She don t take 
 the matter free and easy as a man does, but looks so 
 mysterious and knowing, that she soon reveals her 
 knowledge by the very efforts she makes to show her 
 ignornance. " 
 
 Dinah, however, did know more than had been con 
 fided her, for she possessed the rare gift of weaving 
 long discourses out of short texts. When she saw 
 Langmere s disguise she feigned to accept the simple 
 reason given her by Pomp, but silently drew her own 
 conclusions, which sundry peeps at the keyhole had 
 confirmed.
 
 200 MAPLE EANGE. 
 
 She was touched with pity for the lovely bride, 
 sitting there in that darkened room, watching for 
 very love the man, who, for some unexplained pur 
 pose, was practising a wicked deception ; and she 
 resolved to enlighten his victim. 
 
 Her purpose to acquaint Alice with the disguise 
 worn by Langmere. was sooner executed than she 
 at first supposed possible. She accidentally encount 
 ered Mrs. Garret, who, hearing that she was one of 
 the servants of Lieut. Langmere, at once plied her 
 with many questions in reference to the man in whom 
 she now, naturally, felt additional interest, height 
 ened by the fact of being still excluded from his 
 room, and told she could not see him. 
 
 It happened early in the morning of the day set 
 for the return to Ohio of Mr. Meade and Mrs. Gar 
 ret, it having been arranged that Alice should follow 
 with her invalid husband as soon as he could be 
 moved, the doctor and Pomp to accompany them. 
 Mrs. Garret had come up into the hall that led to the 
 sick room, for the first time since the night of her 
 repulse. She felt lonely in view of leaving Alice, 
 who had been her charge many, many years ever 
 since her mother slept the sleep that knows no wak 
 ing, A kind, faithful heart beat in the bosom of the 
 old English housekeeper, and clung to the young 
 girl tenderly, and with tears in her eyes she told 
 Dinah how sorry she was to go home and leave her. 
 
 " Even with her own usband ; who after hall might 
 ave a temper, and be arsh to Miss Hallice." 
 
 "Not till he gets a good hold of her money, I 
 reckon," said Dinah.
 
 IN THE NET. 201 
 
 "Why, as n t e plenty o money isself." 
 
 " O, I don t know, but I most guess he is playin 
 some game, along of wearin the m patches on a well 
 face. Can t tell ye what, but I m powerful fraid of 
 men that put on sickness, and do n t even stand up to 
 git married." 
 
 " Do n t you think e is sick." 
 
 "No, I don t now, he was before we left Yorktown, 
 but he can eat as hearty a meal as me, gets up when 
 Miss Alice is gone and jumps and exercises to kill." 
 
 "Well, I want to see this dangerously sick man. 
 Is the doctor in ? " 
 
 "No, he has gone down town." 
 
 " Good ! You open that door and let me in, Dinah, 
 or I shall burst it." 
 
 Dinah opened the door and the old lady passed 
 into the room. Alice and her father were discussing 
 some details concerning their departure. She walked 
 around to the head of the bed by the window, whose 
 heavy brocatelle hangings she dexterously looped up 
 to one side, letting the sunlight fall full upon the bed, 
 saying : 
 
 "Sick folks and flowers oughter to ave plenty o 
 sunshine, and deary me ow they do bundle you up. 
 Wat s the use of wearing all them patches on yer 
 face? O, I can tell by yer pulse w at s best for ye. 
 Fresh air for ippocrits, I say," and as she spoke these 
 words and before any one could interpose, she tore off 
 the carefully arranged disguise, leaving bare the red 
 head, the freckled face, and the miserable pug nose! 
 
 Cold as ice, immobile as a statue, Alice stood gaz-_ 
 ing at that face, without a scar and a stranger s.
 
 202 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 Natures such as hers do not give way to violent emo 
 tions. For some time she looked at him, then with 
 unfaltering voice she said : 
 
 "Who are you?" 
 
 "The husband you would marry despite his wishes 
 to the contrary, madam." 
 
 " Where is the man you have personated ? " 
 
 "Dead." 
 
 "At your hand?" 
 
 "Do men usually plead guilty to the charge of 
 murder ? " 
 
 " Whatever your object may have been in devising 
 the scheme by which you have deceived me, I warn 
 you never to venture to approach me." 
 
 "You are my wife and as such I will proclaim you 
 before the world." 
 
 " You dare not ! A wife only through your forgery 
 of another s name and through your base deceit, I will 
 meet proclamation with proclamation," said Alice. 
 
 " Who most loves notoriety will suffer least," said 
 Langmere, coolly. 
 
 That was true ! She felt its truth, as did her father. 
 Yes, Langmere, villain as he was, what would he care 
 for notoriety ? 
 
 "Will money be any object to you?" said Mr. 
 Meade. 
 
 " If handsomely counted out I might consider the 
 blight upon my affections less," said Langmere, with a 
 mocking laugh. "I have some expenses to meet, grow 
 ing out of my recent confinement, as well as a doctor s 
 bill." 
 
 His tone throughout was a jesting one, even as he
 
 IN THE NET. 203 
 
 heaped insults upon the venerable head that had gath 
 ered nearly all its portion of honor and of years. Mr. 
 Meade now saw plainly the kind of adventurer he had 
 to deal with, and said : 
 
 I will give you one thousand dollars a year, the 
 first installment to-day, and the same on each anniver 
 sary of this day, to secure your silence and separation 
 from my daughter. A word from you or an attempt 
 to visit her will stop your annuity and I will risk every 
 dollar I have in the world to place you in your most 
 suitable home, a dungeon." 
 
 "I accept your terms, sir, for the present, reserv 
 ing to myself the knowledge of the moment when I 
 may risk the alternative. Alice 
 
 " Not one word to her ! " said the old man, sternly. 
 "She is now as far removed from you as the stars." 
 He took his daughter s hand, and followed by Mrs. 
 Garret, left the room and almost immediately the 
 house. In a few hours time Mr. Meade had returned, 
 paid the doctor s exorbitant demands, made arrange 
 ments at the bank, interviewed the clergyman who 
 had so reluctantly performed his part in the miserable 
 drama, and then the trio turned their faces home 
 ward. 
 
 It was in the leafy, luxuriant month of June, when 
 nature is at her gladdest that they returned to their 
 rose-bowered home, situated on the green bank that 
 slopes gently down to the river, sparkling in the light 
 and heavenly blue. Beautiful river, thou shalt never 
 tell the secret confided thee, the tears and prayers, and 
 the long vigil of renunciation upon thy mossy bank. 
 How many times at eve a lovely woman sought thy
 
 204 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 shores, there to weep and moan, and to lovingly dwell 
 upon the memory of him whose image was ever in her 
 heart, but who seemed lost to her forever. 
 
 After her tears and grief had in part subsided 
 there would steal into her soul a strange comfort, a 
 soothing thought of God and His tender mercies and 
 she whispered, "Though He slay me yet will I trust 
 in Him." 
 
 As shines the moon o er distant hills, 
 And- breezes fan with gentle wing, 
 hisper oft her spirit thrills, 
 Still fraught with earthly comforting.
 
 THE MASSACRE. 205 
 
 CHAPTEE VIII. 
 
 THE MASSACRE. 
 
 "Also when they shall be afraid of that which Is high, and fear shall be In the 
 way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and 
 desire shall fall, because man goeth to his long home and the mourners go about 
 the streets." ECCLESIASTES. 
 
 MORE than a year has passed away more than a 
 year of sorrow, pain and death, and here we 
 meet again on the woody banks of the Waubece. 
 Change, the twin brother of Time, has reveled here in 
 the interim. Though every scene is still familiar, the 
 faces of our old friends are not as much so. Look 
 through this cottage window ! See this one bent over 
 her work ! Yes lines new-graven mark the brow of 
 dear, chatty little Mrs. Ellis. Her face has lost some 
 of its fulness, yet she is still very pretty. Let us drop 
 in and hear her good-natured accounts of people and 
 things, for we know that she will give us all the news 
 and that free from the slightest taint of ill-natured 
 gossip. Pause a moment. Listen to her low, sweet 
 song. as she rocks the cradle where her fine rosy boy 
 is sleeping. She speaks sadly of Herbert who has 
 never been heard of since the battle of Bull Run, 
 though from Lieutenant Langmere, now home on a 
 furlough, she hopes to hear tidings of that brother so 
 loved and regretted. 
 
 Of her husband, she speaks proudly, lovingly, for
 
 206 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 he has been the deserving recipient of honor and pro 
 motion. His soldierly bearing and gallant conduct 
 have secured him the command of the company, yet 
 mingled with her joy is the sad thought that he now 
 wears the epaulets which once graced Herbert s shoul 
 der. His last letter was brighter for the promise it 
 contained: "Perhaps this month, perhaps next, my 
 Kitty, I will fold you to my heart, and take my boys 
 again upon my knee." 
 
 The house is literally hidden in rose bushes and 
 vines, and with its snowy curtains, bright carpets and 
 tasteful furniture, one can imagine how grateful t will 
 be to him who so long has known no dwelling save 
 the tented field. 
 
 Mrs. Ellis drops a tear upon her sewing as she tells 
 of the patient sufferings and peaceful falling asleep of 
 saintly Mrs." Center. How her affectionate spirit lin 
 gered long in the hope of tidings from her wandering 
 husband, or his possible return from his mysterious 
 mission ; how at last her drooping head was supported 
 tenderly upon her father s breast. He had heard in Chi 
 cago of her illness, and came on, hoping to take her back 
 with him. He carried back only the clay that had 
 held the imperishable soul which, chastened and puri 
 fied by sorrow, had now gone up for ever to its eternal 
 home beyond the skies. The last months of her life 
 had been spent at Mr. Maynard s, where she was made 
 as welcome as though in her father s house ; where 
 loving sympathy had been lavished upon her and she 
 was made to feel that the ties of relationship were not 
 needed to ensure the care which her waning life 
 demanded. So it was with many another who, having
 
 THE MASSACRE. 207 
 
 left home and kindred in the East, found on the 
 Western frontier friends as true and loving, though 
 oft bearing strange names and hailing from distant 
 lands. Little Carlos had gone with his grandfather 
 and the silent remains of his mother to Chicago, leav 
 ing Nellie, who had been so good a friend, with a sad 
 heart. Nothing had ever been heard of Charles Cen 
 ter. Some believed he had committed suicide ; others 
 that he had -entered the Confederate army. Some 
 where, perhaps, a stern, cold man was wandering, in 
 whose inmost soul there was a longing to behold her 
 once more, who had ever manifested such pitying love 
 for him in his wayward moods. Sometimes, perhaps, 
 those eyes grew dim with moisture, when remorse for 
 his unkindness to her forced him to remember, or 
 when a chance bird-note recalled the tones of the child 
 ish voice that called him papa. " Ah ! had not some 
 kind angel borne to him his wife s expiring sigh, 
 which was a prayer for her erring husband. The 
 men, old and young, are nearly all away. Some 
 have enlisted very recently, among them Wilson 
 and his two sons. "The draft "is the nightmare 
 of the whole country, in spite of the three hundred 
 dollar clause, from Maine to the Pacific. Mr. 
 and Mrs. Cross have accepted it as a personal griev 
 ance, in that they have not the amount about them 
 in loose change, and their Tommy has been compelled 
 to enlist in order to escape conscription. Lizbeth is 
 not happy in the absence of her young husband. 
 Last Autumn she accepted attentions from Lang- 
 mere, who was a short time at home, which gave 
 not a little scandal. Marriage and grass-widowhood
 
 208 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 had not entirely destroyed the germ of coquetry in 
 her nature, but it was a satisfaction to know that Gus 
 trusting and worshipful Gus would never hear of 
 it. In all the settlement there was not one who 
 would enlighten him, for, excepting her own mother, 
 malice had no disciple, and for once she had no desire 
 to air her knowledge. 
 
 Jehial Smith s wife had not remained a widow 
 long. Two weeks after the news of his death was 
 received, with her stillborn babe upon her bosom, she 
 was buried near the pleasant new log house, whose 
 doors and windows are now boarded up. The path 
 is overgrown with long grass. In the midst of the 
 desolation that hangs about the place, we can recall 
 the morning when the soldiers halted here to speak 
 their final farewell, and we hear Belinda s cheerful 
 voice saying : 
 
 "Keep up good spirits, Hie, our parting will not 
 be long. 1 
 
 Mr. Maynard s old log residence has given place 
 to a handsome, substantial frame house. Through 
 the aspiring maples that shade the croquet grounds 
 and guard the house like giant sentinels, the afternoon 
 wind sobs with a low wail, while the setting sun stains 
 the clouds a deep red. Are these prophetic ? these 
 crimson clouds, this wailing wind. The farmhouse 
 has settled down into a peaceful after-tea quiet. The 
 blinds of the westeriuvindows in the long dining room 
 are closed, and the room is refreshingly cool after the 
 hot glare. Mr. Maynard and his wife sit beside the 
 vine-covered window that reaches nearly to the floor. 
 They are now looked upon as elderly people, yet the
 
 THE MASSACRE. 209 
 
 lady s brown hair half dares to curl out of its staid 
 confinement of long comb and matronly cap, and the 
 fair, full face is rosy and beautiful yet, in spite of 
 ungallant years. In her plump white hand she holds 
 an open letter, at which she glances, though at the 
 same time listening to her husband who is still " a fine 
 old English gentleman." Now he takes the letter 
 from her hand, and glancing through it himself, says : 
 
 "This is Saturday. Robbie will be here to-night. 
 Do n t you think, mother, I had better go with him on 
 Monday when he returns to his regiment ? We have 
 such efficient help now. I want to keep sight of the 
 dear boy as long as possible, and if money will make 
 the stormy military road easier for his following, 
 money shall be used. Of his courage there is no 
 doubt ; it has been measured by too many tests in 
 our frontier life. His trials will now be of physical 
 endurance and military discipline. I am very anxious 
 to procure him a commission." 
 
 "You seem to forget, father," said Mrs. Ma}*nard, 
 "that he is now essentially American. Let him 
 work his way up, in the democratic manner, if he 
 wishes. All his life we have sought to impress upon 
 him the duty of self-dependence, and we must not let 
 our overweening tenderness and solicitude now induce 
 us to belie our teaching. Go with him, certainly, if 
 you can ; provide whatever will add to his comfort, 
 but let him win his commission himself. I am so 
 glad he comes to-night. My heart has been heavy all 
 day, realizing more and more, as I do, that though 
 our life here is so peaceful, at this very moment a 
 
 O 9*
 
 210 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 cruel war is waging, homes are desolated and hearts 
 are breaking." 
 
 While she spoke, Nellie had come softly into the 
 room, and seating herself on a low stool at Mrs. May- 
 nard s feet and laying her arm upon her knee, now 
 looked fondly up into her face. A light caressing 
 hand was laid upon her snowy shoulder and the 
 mother continued, 
 
 "By the way, father, I wish to go over to Mr. 
 Palmer s to-night. Can you take me now ? " 
 
 " I 11 drive you over there at once." 
 
 "I won t be driven," replied his wife, smiling. 
 " Moral suasion is vastly more agreeable to me." 
 
 "Very well; you shall have moral suasion, and 
 the horse shall be driven," he says, leaving the room 
 to order out the carriage. 
 
 The mother bends over the sweet girl seated at 
 her knee, and placing both hands lovingly about her 
 neck, says : 
 
 "Nellie, Cloe has made everything ready in broth 
 er s room. If Mrs. Palmer s baby is no better I may 
 remain all night, and you must welcome him when 
 he comes, and then go to rest early. To-morrow is 
 Robbie s last Sabbath at home. It will be to him and 
 us both a memorable day. We must prepare our 
 selves to live much in those few hours, the last we 
 will spend together for so long perhaps forever." 
 
 "O mother, that is such a sad thought ! To-day 
 I noticed the purple wild flowers that Robbie and I 
 have cultivated where they grew on the prairie, are 
 all in bloom. When you leave I will get some to put
 
 THE MASSACRE. 211 
 
 in his room in the little vase he teases me so about. 
 I will place them near his bedside on the stand by the 
 lamp, so he will not fail to see them. But there is 
 father at the gate with old Deacon and the buggy." 
 
 Mother and daughter walk down through the 
 grove to where Mr. Maynard stands, whip in hand. 
 
 "Going, too, Pet?" he says, so tenderly that you 
 discern "tears in his voice," as was said of Rubina. 
 
 "No, father, I came down to kiss you good-night." 
 
 The kisses of both father and mother are fervently 
 bestowed upon that pale, sweet face, and Nellie is go 
 ing back to the house, but turning suddenly she cries: 
 "Wait a minute," and tripping down swiftly to the 
 gate she climbs upon the carriage step like a child, 
 woman though she now is, saying : 
 
 "I must kiss you both again, one kiss was not 
 enough, the nights are so long." 
 
 Mr. Maynard lays his hand upon the rich golden 
 curls, while a tear unbidden rolls down his cheek as he 
 gives his child the coveted kiss. A feeling of appre 
 hension fills her mother s heart ; Nellie s face is held 
 in both her hands, and fond kisses are pressed upon 
 her lips and brow as she falters through her tears : 
 
 "Good-night, my child. God keep you." 
 
 As they drive away she says : 
 
 "Father, I think Robbie s enlisting has made us 
 all a little nervous." 
 
 "Yes," he replies. "But I am always nervous 
 about my little Nell ; she seems so frail, so in need of 
 constant protection, still a child in spite of her 
 years ! "
 
 212 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 Nellie, now evidently satisfied, goes slowly toward 
 the house, watching the carriage till it is lost to view 
 by a dip in the road at the foot of the grove. Then 
 she says to herself, regretfully : 
 
 "There, why did I look so long? My old English 
 nurse used to say that bad luck was sure to overtake 
 people if you watch them out of sight. But old Dea 
 con is steady. Father is strong, mother watchful and, 
 well, and all of them so good. I am sure nothing can 
 happen them." 
 
 She stops now beside the graveled walk to tie 
 back a recreant bunch of roses that caught in her 
 dress, stooping to inhale the delicious fragrance with 
 long-drawn inspirations, then she steps upon the porch 
 where lies old Hector, superannuated and lame. Him 
 she fondles and pets while he wags his great black 
 shaggy tail so earnestly as to move his whole body at 
 every wag. One earnest thoughtful look she turns 
 upon the sun, just setting in gorgeous clouds, shading 
 her eyes with her hand. Then passing into the hall 
 and on to her own room, she lifts a vase from the 
 table regarding it a moment with a smile. With it in 
 her hand she passes through the house again arid out 
 through the kitchen door, taking a path that leads to 
 the open prairie, her favorite walk. 
 
 By the side of the dairy house bubbles up a beau 
 tiful spring, whose waters are conducted by a pipe 
 into the building where they spread a cool running 
 carpet over the smooth stone floor. There is a rich 
 gurgling sound where they collect again in a little cas 
 cade at the south end and fall in a rivulet that threads
 
 THE MASSACRE. 213 
 
 its melodious way through the clover and short lawn 
 grass down toward Dimple Run. Placing the vase in 
 the bushes, and dipping her hand in the waters, she 
 scatters pearls of moisture over the grass, singing 
 meanwhile in her low sweet voice, an old fashioned 
 hymn. Hark ! "I love to steal a while away 
 
 A heavy blow breaks off the melody and fells her 
 to the earth. A tall painted savage stands over her, 
 brandishing his hatchet, a hideous ghoul-like form. 
 
 Now from the ambush starts a hidden foe, while 
 there rings out upon the air a succession of unearthly 
 yells. It seems as if mother earth had suddenly, 
 without premonitory moan, brought forth a demoniac 
 legion, and pandemonium greets their birth with 
 shrieks. From grass and bush and sheltering tree, a 
 wild swarm teems forth. A mad impetuous horde of 
 savages, each wielding a deadly weapon. The sun has 
 dropped from view, leaving in the heavens a trail of 
 blood-stained clouds and amid the scene of peaceful 
 happiness tipped by its last rays, real blood now flows. 
 Every human being that breathed so recently beneath 
 the friendly maples is numbered now with the silent 
 dead. Two farm hands as they sat at the kitchen 
 door, another bringing in either hand a pail of foam 
 ing milk. Faithful Cloe lies in the pantry scalped. 
 The dairy maid, Mary, fell while placing a glass of 
 milk in a pan of ice for Nellie. And just where a 
 little white hand lay ten minutes ago the brutal 
 hatchet has cleft the brain of poor old Hector. 
 
 Not a moment has been wasted in the fiendish 
 butchery, every stroke has counted, every thrust has
 
 214: MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 told. In their haste to follow the carriage the Indians 
 have seen depart, they neglect the mutilation of their 
 victims, the wanton destruction of property which 
 usually marks the closing scene of their murderous 
 visits on the frontier. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Maynard chatted pleasantly as 
 they rode along, till within a few yards of the dwell 
 ing of the neighbor they came to serve, their noble 
 career of usefulness was ruthlessly ended. Like a 
 furious tempest the whole mad troop swept down 
 upon them, as steady old Deacon jogged along. 
 Mock-ane-sah, the long-time friend, whose ear had 
 been poisoned by untruthful reports, stepped up be 
 side the buggy and placing his piece by Mr. May- 
 nard s ear. as he walked along, said : 
 
 " Mock-aue-sah has seen that the white man whom 
 he trusted, has two tongues. His young men hanged 
 
 C3 \J o O 
 
 the only son, the staff of one who hurries to the 
 grave, and said : Our ravens shall feed upon the car 
 cass of the Indian dog. But the lying white man 
 shall die, and his squaw shall ride with him, so." 
 
 Discharging his gun, he stepped back, giving the 
 command not to harm Mrs. Maynard, but another 
 bullet had sped simultaneously with his own, and thus 
 hand in hand they crossed the eternal threshold, still 
 united even in death. The lifeless forms mutually 
 supporting each other were thus borne over the road 
 which old Deacon knew well. Ben sat with his wife 
 beside the cradle of their sick child watching the heavy 
 slumber, from which they knew it would awaken 
 with t^"> promise of returning health or immediate
 
 THE MASSACRE. 215 
 
 death. The strong man took the soft hand of the 
 weeping woman in his own, stroking it as he said : 
 
 " Poor wife, this is very hard for you, to see your 
 child suffer so ; you are worn out with long care and 
 watching. Go, dear, and try to get some rest while 
 Freddie sleeps. Miannetta and I will watch his 
 breathing, and if the slightest change occurs, we will 
 call you." 
 
 "I know, Ben, you say this with the kindest 
 feeling, but it would be cruel to urge me to leave him 
 for a moment. I do not doubt Miannetta s skill, and 
 if Freddie lives, her hand will have saved him. But 
 oh, Ben, I can not think of rest ; I can not leave the 
 cradle of my precious little one now. " 
 
 The sobs that burst from her bosom were drowned 
 by a savage yell. The fiends had crept to the very 
 door, and the dark throng instantly filled the room. 
 One moment and a tomahawk was buried in Ben 
 Palmer s brain ; the next, his struggling, shrieking 
 wife is borne out to a fate than which death would be 
 more merciful. 
 
 The savages at once saw the condition of the child. 
 With the refinement of cruelty only to be found 
 in an American Indian, they carried it out in its cra 
 dle and set it down beyond the enclosure by the road 
 side there in loneliness to wail, and pine, and die. 
 
 The torch was applied, and the tasteful home of 
 Ruth and Ben Palmer was consumed with its kind- 
 hearted master. 
 
 An awful stillness then fell upon the twilight hour, 
 of which the silence after a storm is but a feeble meta-
 
 216 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 phor. Over the glowing flames, and wreathing 
 smoke, and utter desolation, there hung now the 
 pall of night. 
 
 The Indians had come through the woods from 
 the west. The first blood had been spilled at the 
 Maples, and very likely Palmer s residence would 
 have been spared, but for Mr. and Mrs. Maynard s 
 proximity to it when overtaken and killed. 
 
 Their destination proper was the settlement five 
 miles above Mr. Maynard s, and setting their faces 
 toward it, they rushed on to a new feast of slaughter 
 and rapine. 
 
 The thick wood and the darkness of night favored 
 them. Upon many a sleeping family they crept 
 silent as the death angel, yet more dread ; the first 
 intimation of their presence being the shrill whoop 
 and crashing doors. 
 
 Ah ! few shall rise, where many lay down in 
 peace at eve. Our whilom friends have fallen under 
 merciless hands ; the cruel thirsty hatchet is drunken 
 with their blood. 
 
 But the recitation of the revolting scenes of out 
 rage and murder is too harrowing. The soul sickens, 
 the pen recoils from it. Till late in the night, the 
 Indians wrought in savage frenzy, spreading despair 
 on every hand. Toward dawn their rage culminated, 
 and they laid waste the dwellings, tortured the men, 
 women and children in Clipnockum Hollow ; some 
 they bound and burned under the same tree that had 
 served as an instrument of more merciful death to 
 their own race. Then they hurried back with
 
 THE MASSACRE. 217" 
 
 several prisoners to the fastness of distant forests ; 
 leaving 1 behind them ruined altars, smouldering: 
 
 C7 ) O 
 
 homes, and mutilated corpses. The eye of God alone 
 was bent upon that ghastly trail of savage ferocity. 
 He had spoken all unheeded: 
 
 "Vengeance is mine, and I will repay." 
 
 As the tides of the sea arise in the month of September, 
 Flooding some silver stream till it spreads to a lake in the meadow; 
 So Death flooded Life, overflowing its natural margin. 
 
 -LONGFELLOW 
 
 10
 
 218 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 TO WIN OR LOSE. 
 
 WHEN Mr. Meade and his daughter had left 
 the room, after Mrs. Garret s discovery and 
 peremptory disclosure of Lieut. Langmere s hypoc 
 risy, that distinguished officer almost immediately 
 found the use of his limbs. Encasing the nether in 
 top boots, and thrusting his arms into regulation 
 broadcloth he turned full rigged to his sable attendant, 
 and with perfect coolness, said: 
 
 Well, Pomp. Concert s over, the song is sung. 
 What do you think of the performance ? " 
 
 Party good, massa ; specially that chorus, Ten 
 hundred a year. 
 
 " He shall double it next twelve month. A gen 
 tleman can t live elegantly upon that sum. Now, I am 
 told that I am disgraced in the army, stripped of my 
 epaulets, of course the pay will be proportionate 
 ly lessened if I go into the ranks a private soldier, 
 which I do n t intend to do. Richard is himself 
 again, and proposes to tread the boards of some more 
 congenial stage. However, I will walk down to the 
 bank, and draw the first instalment of the old fossil s 
 allowance. Pomp, my boy, you get your traps all 
 ready to go when I come back." 
 
 "No ye don t now, massa," grinned Pomp.
 
 TO WIN OR LOSE. 219 
 
 "T ain t no ways safe to low a gemmcn what s 
 been so oncommon low to go out alone. I 11 go long, 
 honey, and witness the cashing of the old man s 
 paper, kase I have a little claim ag in the pile, and 
 think I may as well make sure of it while it s kinder 
 loose and movin . You re powerful weak, and might 
 sorter forget what share you promised me, if I 
 would -help you through this business of matri- 
 money. " 
 
 " But you didn t help me through. You did not 
 prevent that infernal old woman coming in here and 
 spoiling the whole kettle of fish; you failed to keep 
 her hands off me, and that ruined all my plans. 
 When you fail in one particular, you fail in all, and 
 thus wipe out the remunerative consideration. Do n t 
 you see ? " 
 
 "Now, massa, dat won t go down wid dis chile. 
 I se got a black hide, but dere is some cunnin inside 
 ob it. You must pay me pretty smart, or I will jes 
 inform on ye, and ye 11 get locked up for obtainin 
 money under false pretences. Massa Bartholt told 
 me to watch out for ye, kase he reckoned ye d gib 
 us the slip, may be." 
 
 "Inform, you black ape ! but that s all the good 
 it will do you ! What is nigger testimony worth, do 
 you think ? Take that, sir ! T is all you will ever get 
 from me, unless you oblige me to repeat the dose." 
 
 He caught the unguarded negro by the throat, 
 and with a lion s grip held him till his eyes stood out 
 like two great frightful balls, and his face grew more 
 intensely black and shiny, while his limbs hung loose 
 at the joints and refused their support. Then with a
 
 220 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 frightful oath he flung the repulsive mass upon the 
 floor, and left it gasping faintly while he passed out 
 the door, which he locked. Flinging the key through 
 an open window into an area, he passed through the 
 long hall, down the stairs to the street door. He was 
 soon at liberty on the pavement, and on his way to 
 the bank. In less than twenty minutes he was in pos 
 session of the one thousand dollars Mr. Meade- having 
 just left the bank as Langmere entered. 
 
 He knew that he was disgraced forever in the 
 regiment, as well as deprived of his rank, for rea 
 sons not essential to relate, but which every reader 
 will readily surmise. 
 
 Hundreds of unworthy officers, about these days, 
 went with shamed faces into the ranks, realizing how 
 much more disagreeable is the experience though 
 attended with less exertion of going down than up. 
 
 Langmere left Washington in the shortest possible 
 time, forgetting in his haste to call for his servants 
 or settle the bill of his medical adviser and confede 
 rate. Dr. Bartholt had sown, as he hoped to reap, 
 largely confiding in his own sagacity and Pomp s 
 watchfulness to make certain that Langmere should 
 not escape when the harvest was gathered. 
 
 Langmere was a passenger in another coach on 
 the same train which bore her he proposed, some 
 time (not very remote, perhaps that would depend 
 upon the length of the war and his freedom to assume 
 citizenship again) to claim as his wife, or force her 
 father to increase the significant figure of his yearly 
 allowance. 
 
 "After all," he said to himself, as he coolly
 
 TO WIN OR LOSE. 221 
 
 smoothed out the pile of crisp new bills on his knee, 
 "it s not so bad having a rich wife, when a fellow 
 do n t want to work, especially. What if she is a 
 wife under protest. That protest is good capital." 
 
 Yes, her very aversion to him was cash in hand. 
 A feint of his to publish their relation would surely 
 result in the augmentation of his finances, for her 
 father would count out his last dollar to screen his 
 daughter. He knew her simplicity was coupled with 
 no ordinary pride, and coarsely calculating the extent 
 to which he could turn both her simplicity and pride 
 to his own mercenary uses, he chuckled to himself as 
 he folded the bills lovingly away. In the midst of 
 these amiable reflections he saw the victim of his late 
 artifice step from the train ; saw her many acquaint 
 ances press about her and her father, for they were 
 much loved in their own circle of friends. The 
 wretch laughed outright as he saw her lovely face 
 crimson at the inquiry of some friend, whom she 
 could not enlighten, as to the health of "her soldier." 
 
 Much as I love the truth, I can not feel it would have 
 been better for her to have braved all criticism and 
 told the story of his treachery and her mortification. 
 
 Alice Langmere s was a very human heart indeed, 
 with some of the passions and perhaps more of the 
 weaknesses that make us kin. She thought bitterly 
 how Langmere himself had taunted her with unmaid- 
 enly persistence when he hypocritically objected to 
 immediate marriage, and would the world be more 
 merciful ? If any of my readers blame her for fold 
 ing her secret away, I beg him or her to take the case 
 home.
 
 222 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 Langmere s mother lived at Blakely where he had 
 conducted, under the rose, a contraband traffic with 
 the Sioux or Dakota Indians, and having considerable 
 of the stock in trade on hand when he enlisted, he had 
 buried it, thinking it possible he might sometime 
 resume business on a more extensive scale. His 
 mother only knew of the whereabouts of the liquid 
 treasure and she kept faithful ward, for what was 
 treasure to him was precious to her, poor old doting 
 body. She was an illiterate English woman, bearing 
 still her maiden name, for she never wore the ring 
 that sanctifies motherhood, and was reaping one of 
 the penalties of her early sin, in the tyrannical treat 
 ment of her heartless offspring. She had wrought 
 hard in his youth to clothe and " heducate " him. The 
 latter, indeed, was her hobby. 
 
 "Oh, is father was a clever mon, wi plenty o 
 money and plenty o words for is smooth tongue. 
 Larnin set im up in t warld, and what if t 
 chucked me in t mire, my boy and is boy s all ave it 
 if I work my nails off the nails that mony times 
 as ached to scratch is eyes out wi . " 
 
 And she had worked many a long year through 
 heat and cold, "scrubbing at ouse or grubbing at 
 field, "with hunger that would have weakened others, 
 but which gave a desperate strength to the forsaken 
 woman. All her earnings, save enough to purchase 
 "a pretty suit and dainty bit and sup" for her 
 George, were hoarded with a view of giving him an 
 education like his father s. The excellent opportu 
 nities her energy secured for him, his quick intelligence 
 had improved, and his scholarship at an early age was
 
 TO WIN OR LOSE. 223 
 
 very creditable. The one cherished bud of the 
 desolate heart had his father s grace of speech, with, 
 a proportionate villainy of soul and no gratitude 
 for her who had literally hungered for his advance 
 ment. When he was thirteen, his father furnished 
 means through an agent to take mother and son to 
 America. The shrewd woman took steerage passage 
 across the ocean, and thus saved enough to set up a 
 fruit-stand in New York. The same self-denial was 
 shown when her trade netted a hundred each half 
 year as when, for a paltry "tuppence" a day, she 
 wrought as a scullery maid in Yorkshire. She would 
 have remained in the little seven by nine stall under 
 the awning, grand enough to suit her simple ideas, 
 but a wish to rove took possession of her son and sov 
 ereign. She sold out her stand, and they departed 
 with the cry "Westward, ho." At the different cities 
 they stopped, that her industrious hand might replen 
 ish the purse. The boy always went to school, for 
 which, strangely enough, he manifested a marked pre 
 dilection. The year they tarried in Chicago finished 
 his education, and then they went to Minnesota where 
 he assumed the head of affairs. With fifty dollars of 
 her saving, he embarked in trade in a small way, in 
 vesting carefully (for he had the maternal shrewdness) 
 and realizing marvelously, with always a leaning 
 toward something not exactly correct. If two roads 
 led to a goal one light and straight, the other 
 dark and crooked he was sure to choose the 
 latter. 
 
 The trade in bad whisky with the Indians, all the 
 more tempting because unlawful, yielded more than
 
 224 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 double the ordinary profits of business. Just before 
 the war broke out, however, the Indians withdrew 
 suddenly from the hamlets where they had been wont 
 to loiter and imbibe. His trade collapsed and he had 
 enlisted, disposing of his stock in the manner already 
 indicated. His old mother had been his "dark" 
 while she_was well enough to work, but her strength 
 had given way at last, and she lingered on, a burden 
 who had given her own life-blood to her ungrateful 
 son. She strove with painful effort to add to the 
 meager purse he provided, making rude willow ware 
 that she sold among the neighbors. To others she 
 was indebted for news from the "army," which was 
 but another name for her boy, inasmuch as she gave 
 him credit for every military movement, no matter 
 where or in what division of the army it was made. 
 One day a lady, pitying her loneliness, gave her some 
 illustrated newspapers. At that time soldiers figured 
 extensively in all the pictorial journals, and her dim 
 eyes readily detected the form and features of George 
 in many of them. Looking at one picture and then 
 at another, "she exclaimed : 
 
 "Well now, I swan t man, I never thought e 
 could get rount lively enow to do all t seems t coom 
 t im. Bless ye, ow henthusiastic e seem ere, blow- 
 in away on t hinstrument ! Wonder if e s playin 
 God save t queen. 
 
 "Oh," said the lady, "that is a soldier drinking 
 from his canteen." 
 
 "Nor sum mat good to drink, neither ; by t name 
 I guess soom nasty stuff. Why, if e can t get good 
 whisky, why do n t t lout dhrink wather ? "
 
 TO WIN OE LOSE. 225 
 
 "Do you get letters from him often?" was the 
 kindly inquiry. 
 
 "No; e writ only but onct. Lizbeth Arkness, 
 t little war widder, t teached school ere last Summer 
 gone, read it for me and writ t answer." 
 
 "How is your lameness? Did Mrs. Cross help 
 you with her new discovery ? " 
 
 "No ; t old thing got mad as fire wi me, cause 
 I sed Miannetta cured old Barnes missus of t same 
 pains and swellings. Sed I coom fra the barbarous 
 counthry where t had kings and queens and ships, 
 and might s well roob t intment on basswood trees 
 s on me. I s frightened of pisen and threw t bottle 
 and all outen doors. S now I think on t, will you 
 write a letter to my George for me ? Ye can keep 
 shet pate for what I tell ye, that I knows well enoo. 
 Will ye write now, eh ? " 
 
 "Certainly, while you dictate for me." 
 
 The letter was soon written, and read as follows : 
 
 DEAR GEORGE : 
 
 A white man in the woods sent old Jim John down here to 
 see if you would take greenbacks for the liquor on hand. The 
 Indians are all paid off in paper this time and have no gold. I 
 told him I thought you would sell for paper money. Write if 
 you will and tell me how to get the stuff to the upper agency, 
 where the purchaser wishes it to be delivered. He is a man, it 
 seems, that do n t want to be recognized by the whites, and of 
 course the Indians can not be trusted to carry it. Who can I 
 trust it with? I hope you will let me have enough of the money 
 to get a little tea, a petticoat and a pair of strong shoes. 
 
 Your affectionate mother, 
 
 SALLY HOPKINS.
 
 226 MAPLE EANGE. 
 
 This letter, received at the same time he was ap 
 prised of his disgrace in the army, a day or two before 
 the final denouement at Dr. Bartholt s, had decided 
 him to return to Minnesota, and himself take his 
 liquors up to the Indian country. Where could he 
 hide from the Federal eye more entirely than in the 
 tangled and interminable forest of the North-west. 
 He well knew the w T orthlessness of paper currency 
 to an Indian, and soon concluded that there was no 
 where in the world a more promising opening for a 
 young deserter. With a mental " I 11 see you again," 
 as Alice, unconscious of his gaze or proximity, 
 stood on the platform, he had gone on with as little 
 delay as possible He was in danger of apprehension, 
 and, no doubt, but for the shoulder-straps he still 
 boldly wore, would have been arrested, for Uncle 
 Sam was lynx-eyed in the discovery of deserters. He 
 had reached home a day or two previous to the 
 occurrences which are related in the last chapter, and 
 had hurriedly unearthed his treasures and sent them 
 by secret means into the country whither his safety 
 called him. 
 
 The day before the massacre, he drove in a buggy 
 over to Mr. Cross . Lizbeth met and welcomed him 
 at the low doorway, inviting him to partake of the 
 evening meal, which invitation he very politely ac 
 cepted, and afterward asked her to ride with him. 
 She went, poor shorted-sighted girl, short-sighted 
 through vanity and loneliness. She felt an exultation 
 in winding men about her finger. George Langmere 
 had not only admired but had once, in her girlhood, 
 made her an offer of marriage which she had declined
 
 TO WIN OR LOSE. 227 
 
 with something akin to contempt. Now he was an 
 officer and his attentions therefore very flattering in 
 spite of his ugliness, to her who had been so long a 
 wife and war widow. She returned a sharp reply to 
 her mother s caution against "riding fur." They 
 had followed the new road many miles and the sun 
 set lighted up the pale ferns, tree tops and patches 
 of sky visible now and then through the green roof 
 under which they rode. Suddenly the bushes flank 
 ing their way were transformed into hideous forms 
 w r ith their savage ornaments of paint, feathers and 
 beads. Ere her surprise had deepened into terror, she 
 and her companion were the prisoners of a band of 
 Sioux. 
 
 In the moment of supremest fear, she marveled at 
 the feebleness of Langmere s resistance, and the ease 
 with which the capture was made. Ere a half hour 
 had elapsed, she tremblingly comprehended the truth. 
 She saw plainly it was a ruse of Langmere s to get 
 her in his power. That the one savage who walked 
 ahead of the horse, and the two who loped along be 
 hind the buggy, as rear guard, were really his confeder 
 ates. Her quick wit now realized that the admiration 
 of this man meant her ruin. Her heart sank within 
 her, as she reflected how absolutely she was at his 
 mercy. What that mercy amounted to could be easily 
 computed, from the mere fact that he was hand in glove 
 with the painted wretches who had pretended to cap 
 ture them. Few words had been spoken, there had 
 been little brandishing of their favorite weapon, but 
 enough Langmere thought to deceive her. Three had 
 accompanied them, while the rest, a small war party
 
 228 MAPLE RANGE 
 
 on the way to the rendezvous near Mr. MaynarcTs, 
 had gone on, and Lizbeth had felt a momentary appre 
 hension for the settlement toward which they were 
 hurrying. Langmere played his cards artfully, really 
 hoping to impress the heart of his kidnapped victim, 
 so that there would be no necessity of downright com 
 pulsion to effect the intimate relations which he had 
 fully resolved should brighten his sojourn in the upper 
 country. Artfully as he had planned and dealt he saw 
 that still greater art would be necessary to conquer the 
 regard of the quick-witted woman who had been sur 
 prised into his power. He knew that even now her 
 spirit was arming itself against him in the discovery, 
 too late to avail her, that she had committed an un 
 pardonable error in going to ride with him. She 
 really loved her husband. Yet she had ever felt a 
 coquettish thrill of satisfaction at the admiration of 
 other men, though once on her guard, and suspicious 
 of the honesty of that admiration, and Lizbeth Hark- 
 ness was as indignant as any other true woman and 
 faithful wife. 
 
 Night fell early on their solitary way. They en 
 camped near a brook that went singing on its way 
 through the gloom. Lizbeth sat upon its bank, bath 
 ing her face and hands and tasting its cool water. No 
 fruitless ambition for notice caused a deviation from 
 its own course or disturbed its loyalty to its belong 
 ings as little by little it absorbed its natural tributaries 
 and with new strength went on. A deep rebuke of 
 her foolish acceptance of Langmere s attentions was 
 voiced by the stream. Had she but taken counsel 
 with her loftier nature she would now be safely at
 
 TO WIN OR LOSE. 229 
 
 home a contented wife, and to-morrow would arise to 
 sing at her humble task instead of buckling on the 
 armor that might not avail to resist the attentions 
 that she now dreaded. 
 
 It was quite dark when Lizbeth went reluctantly 
 up the bank to the place where the sheltering tent 
 was stretched. Provisions for a comfortable supper 
 and night s encampment, that she knew must have 
 come from under the buggy seat, argued forethought 
 remarkable for an evening s drive. She remarked, 
 "You seem well prepared for this adventure." 
 
 " Yes, I am too old, and have been caught out too 
 many times, to ever start from home without the 
 needful things to make night comfortable, if it hap 
 pens to overtake me. We will some day laugh over 
 this journey," he replied. 
 
 On the contrary, I shall every day of my life 
 grow graver in consequence of it. Though too late 
 for regret, I shall never cease to reproach myself for 
 coming with you to-night. It was not right; it was a 
 wrong against my absent husband, my faithful Gus," 
 she cried, burying her face in her hands. 
 
 "Now, Lizbeth, don t go to reproaching your 
 self for the most harmless and most natural thing in 
 the world for a pretty woman to do. You only 
 started out for a short ride with your own and hus 
 band s friend. We were taken prisoners, and now 
 must make the best of it. We ll soon have some 
 supper, and a good talk over old times," rejoined 
 Langmere turning, to assist the Indians in prepar 
 ations for the promised meal. He boiled the kettle, 
 frizzled the pork in the blaze, cut the bread, and
 
 230 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 made coffee, over the same fire that afforded a smoke 
 to quiet the mosquitoes. 
 
 Lizbeth had an appetite that seldom suffered 
 through the wear and tear of the sensibilities, and 
 grave as her position was, she thought it best to eat ; 
 so partook of the clear strong coffee, sweet bread and 
 butter, pork, and dried venison. She slept soundly 
 on a rude couch of leaves, covered with a blanket, 
 while Langmere and the intoxicated Indians slept on 
 the ground near the fire. Once in the night she 
 awakened suddenly with intense terror, her eyes met 
 the small wicked ones of Langmere close to her face. 
 Starting wildly up, she thrust him back, and hissed in 
 his ear * 
 
 " George Langmere, if you attempt to com e near 
 me, if Gus does not kill you, I will." 
 
 "You will have to then, for Gus hasn t time. 
 The yellow girl, and her brat that resembles him, 
 require all his spare efforts. When the mother is 
 washing soiled regimentals, he brings water and 
 tends baby. He has no ambition to shine as the 
 avenger of a woman he has nearly forgotten, Liz 
 beth," he said. 
 
 He drew closer, and holding her hands a moment, 
 kissed one of the curls that had strayed from under 
 the handkerchief bound about her head. She 
 wrenched her hands away from his clasp, and draw 
 ing down the curl, bit it off, and flung it in his face. 
 
 "Take it villain, liar ! " she cried. 
 
 Again taking a stronger hold of her hands, and 
 speaking persuasively: 
 
 "No, no, don t, Lizbeth. You shall see how I
 
 TO WIN OR LOSE. 231 
 
 admire and love you ; and how much more faithful I 
 will be, than he who prefers a woofly scalp to such 
 luxuriant hair." 
 
 For the first time in her life, Lizbeth felt the iron 
 of jealousy tear through her soul, as she saw for a 
 moment, in fancy, her husband she had felt that he 
 was indisputably hers gather to his bosom the head 
 of another women. She saw him, meanly as she 
 fancied, interesting himself in the ignoble employ 
 ment of a negress the negress whose child was his. 
 She remembered having smiled at his pain, when, 
 before their marriage, she had caused him the pangs 
 of jealousy, as severe as those she now felt, perhaps ; 
 and she had then, unheeding the suffering he endured, 
 augmented them by her trifling and insincerity. She 
 now was the tormented. The words of Langmere 
 had gone with fatal directness to her soul, and her 
 faith in her husband was shattered. Even the most 
 sensible people will lose all power to exercise ordin 
 ary reason, when their jealousy is aroused. Lang- 
 mere withdrew, and she wept passionately over her 
 forlorn and hopeless lot, even feeling a tolerance 
 of Langmere s friendship, in her entire separation 
 from her husband, and, indeed, all the world. 
 
 Morning came, breakfast was eaten, and at sun 
 rise they again set out. The path was obstructed and 
 rough, and a breakdown of the light vehicle delayed 
 them some time. 
 
 As they again took their seats and started, Lang- 
 mere remarked: 
 
 "If I had come voluntarily here, I should have
 
 232 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 taken the precaution of procuring pack-mules instead 
 of this buggy." 
 
 Lizbeth as quickly added, while her black eyes 
 flashed 
 
 "And, perhaps, left behind the big black bottle, 
 from which you and our escorts imbibe alternately. 
 No wonder it gets mixed who planned this expedi 
 tion." 
 
 He looked wonderingly into her face. Could it 
 be possible she had read through him so readily, and 
 he boldly asked : 
 
 Did you from the first, credit me with planning 
 this adventure." 
 
 " No, not until you attempted to destroy the beau 
 tiful illusion of my belief in Gus. What could in- 
 djace you to tell me of that woman of that child ? 
 Ah, I know you. George Langmere." 
 
 "And are we friends or enemies? " he asked,~ as 
 coolly as though inquiring the time of day. 
 
 "I will not tell you now. Wait till we are out 
 of the woods." 
 
 " O, you are a logician, and like myself inclined to 
 take the matter philosophically. I believe such peo 
 ple get along the easiest, no bruising of impatient 
 hands, no bleeding of impulsive feet, a simple drift 
 ing with the current, a patient waiting for the tide." 
 
 "No, you mistake me. I am none of your meek 
 ones waiting the flight of the bird of fate. I have a 
 fair amount of determination, or pluck as they call it. 
 I may purr while the sun shines, but like other cats, I 
 have my nails, and woe to those who provoke me to 
 use them."
 
 TO WIN OR LOSE. 233 
 
 I will not take your warning. I have no fear of 
 cats. Their rage is not lasting, nor their bite fatal. I 
 have done a little planning, tis true, but the righteous 
 ness of the object wipes out the transgression." 
 
 "I do not recollect that any special reward is of 
 fered to those who do evil that good may come." 
 
 "You quote scripture aptly but I never took you 
 for a saint, he said, looking so boldly into her face, 
 that she blushed with indignation and replied, 
 
 "No, I am not a saint; if I were I should not be 
 here to-day with you, a miserable captive with no ran 
 som in prospect. Alas ! George Langmere, you are 
 less culpable than you seem to be, perhaps." 
 
 "O, then you think it sad I am not worse, eh?" 
 
 "No, I mean alas for me, but for the vanity that 
 made your attentions agreeable, I would not have 
 accepted your invitation, the attentions which at last 
 have brought me here, an alien from home, with so 
 ciety s ban upon me. Ere this our elopement has been 
 reported, and worse than all, the nature of your esteem 
 embitters every look you give, every tone you address 
 to me, now when I regret my thoughtlessness, my love 
 of the admiration no married woman has a right to 
 accept, now when sadly needed, you can not afford me 
 the protection of respect." 
 
 "Hold hard, as the roughs say, wait before you 
 make any further confession, that dodge won t work 
 this time. It will take more than that to convince me, 
 that even religion can revolutionize your whole nature. 
 When you and I started three days ago, we each un 
 derstood the other. Human nature is human nature, 
 in spite of custom and usage. You are a very pretty 
 10*
 
 234 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 woman, impressionable as ether, and though cunning 
 as a serpent, and changeable as April weather, you 
 are not going to slip through any sanctimonious gap. 
 Listen : Gus is lost to you forever ; you could not 
 take him back to your heart, even though repentant, 
 after this colored girl affair. The world we have left 
 has already sat in judgment upon you, and pronounced 
 an irrevocable verdict. I have money; you know its 
 worth to a handsome woman. Wives are unknown 
 in the forest and you shall have whatever name best 
 suits you, mistress or queen. My plan, let me tell 
 you, saved your life, for the Sioux were upon the path 
 of vengeance and would have killed you, if my hand 
 had not interposed. Do not decide now ; I will wait 
 and prove my love. But mine you shall be, by flow- 
 cry chains if you will, or by force if you prefer. I 
 warn you there is no escape, every Indian is my 
 sworn ally." 
 
 They were now looking in each other s eyes, and 
 she saw how certainly he meant to enforce his power. 
 In that gross face she read no hope. With a sicken 
 ing dread of him she buried her face in her hands and 
 cried aloud. Gradually sob by sob her grief grew 
 less violent. She settled to the soft raining of still 
 tears, in which he read acquiescence to his shameful 
 proposal. Placing his arm behind her upon the back 
 of the seat, he said to himself, with a smile of satis 
 faction, 
 
 " She cries who boasted of her fangs. This is her 
 determination and pluck. When a woman weeps all 
 wooing is prosperous, for tears come as naturally of 
 love, as blood comes of war. "
 
 TO WIN OR LOSE. 235 
 
 This conversation occurred the third afternoon of 
 their journey. Many times they had come upon pas 
 sable thoroughfares, and as often plunged again into 
 blind by-roads or followed Indian trails. Ever avoid 
 ing the public highway, the Indians and Langmere 
 seeming both to prefer obscure ways, the more tire 
 some and monotonous the better. It was evident they 
 shrank from possible encounters with white men, 
 while of Indians they were fearless. Lizbeth wept 
 long and refreshingly. With dry eyes she looked up 
 at an exclamation of surprise and admiration from 
 Langmere, and following the direction of his gaze she 
 beheld a novel scene. They had been gradually as 
 cending a high wooded ridge, and came now almost 
 abruptly out of the dense forest upon the brow of a 
 precipitous promontory, whore a pebble might fall 
 straight into the waters of a river that glinted in the 
 sun s declining rays. Upon this river many a birch 
 canoe was moored, and others glided up and down and 
 athwart the glittering stream, obedient to the dextrous 
 paddle stroke of dusky women, erect in their sharp- 
 pointed bows. The river here described a graceful 
 curve, as though a great flashing sickle of steel had 
 been laid upon the fair bosom of the earth, the lofty 
 promontory forming the eastern bank and lying in the 
 center of the arch. Following the outer curve or the 
 western bank, with indifferent regularity, straggled 
 the white tepees and birchen wigwams of an Indian 
 town. Tall linwood trees grew among and beyond 
 the wigwams, and lent a wondrous charm to the scene, 
 their broad, delicate-hued leaves, breeze-shaken, drink 
 ing in the sunlight till they seemed veritable censers
 
 236 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 of gold, "held quivering to the gods." Women, in 
 all ages and stages of grace and uncouthness (for 
 among squaws are found exponents of both types), 
 were scattered about upon the green grass in front of 
 the wigwams or under the trees, engaged in work, 
 either manufacturing moccasins of deer skin, or the 
 various bead ornaments so highly prized by their 
 people. Children sported and laughed near their el 
 ders with happy abandon. 
 
 The warriors were all away, and the old grayhaired 
 men were wisely seated under cover where they could 
 smoke, fearless of foiling dew. The striplings, 
 yet too young to "beat the war-post" (a ceremony 
 that ushers the young Indian into a warrior s rank), 
 were mustered on the village green, engaged in their 
 familiar ^md favorite game of ball-playing, with rack 
 ets similar to the battledore in use with white people. 
 The women, especially the younger ones, manifested 
 great amusement and interest in the game, and min 
 gled with boys hoarse shouts were peals of women s 
 laughter. In the background, scrubby-looking cows 
 and frowsy Indian ponies were quietly grazing. The 
 soft tinkling of their many bells filled the clear air 
 with pastoral music. The smoke of tepee fires went 
 lazily up, in rings of blue and gray, or in great white 
 feathery masses floated high over the river banks 
 that held a mirror to the evening sky, and lay upon 
 the unripoled air like wingless spirits. 
 
 " Harsh sights and sounds with melting day 
 Had from the lovely scene been driven. 
 
 Nature seemed kneeling down to pray, 
 In praise and gratitude to heaven."
 
 A FORTUNATE MEETING. 237" 
 
 A FORTUNATE MEETING. 
 
 " We are well met; our mutual needs are great." 
 
 TIM WAS the afternoon of a warm Summer day ; the 
 J- air was oppressive, the thermometer standing 
 well up in the nineties, as the stage-coach bowled along 
 a dusty road. The passengers wiped their streaming 
 foreheads as they commented upon the weather, the 
 crops, the war, the late naval triumph at Hampton 
 Roads, etc. One of them, a gentleman brimful of 
 that humor which is the birthright of Erin s sons, as 
 he aired his pocket-handkerchief out of the window, 
 exclaimed : 
 
 "Hot ! hot as well, as a place that rhymes with 
 glory." 
 
 "Purgatory?" suggested another, with a smile 
 by which we recognize Robert Maynard. 
 
 "Good at guessin , ain t ye?" chimed in a tall, 
 cadaverous fellow in soiled Federal uniform. "A 
 soldier goin hum on furlow to emit up," as he had 
 several times informed his fellow-passengers. He was 
 just about to tell them a story relating to some of his 
 hospital experience which the word purgatory seemed 
 to have suggested, when the stage drew up at an inn,
 
 238 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 the last station on the road below the Maples, where 
 Robert s two companions got out. 
 
 Robert felt no loneliness at the prospect of having 
 the inside of the stage-coach to himself, yet he ex 
 pressed regret that his agreeable traveling acquaint 
 ance, the Irish gentleman, went no farther. As they 
 entered the inn, the landlord was haranging a deject 
 ed-looking, powerfully built man, who sat with arms 
 upon the table and his face bent down so as to hide 
 his features. Robert stood in the doorway, unper- 
 ceived, while mine host continued in a loud, harsh 
 voice : 
 
 "That s a pretty, whining story! After eating 
 my bread for four days, and making all the trouble 
 you have here, to tell me you have no money. Why 
 did n t you tell me so when you came ? " 
 
 "My wife and child were too ill to travel further, 
 and this was the only house which afforded the shel 
 ter they required. My child s danger drove out every 
 other thought, sir." 
 
 Here the speaker paused a moment, overcome 
 with emotion, then continued : 
 
 " Since God, in his providence, has taken him 
 away from us, we will go on now and obtain employ 
 ment, which will enable us soon to pay you for the 
 trouble we have made and the bread we have eaten. 
 My money failed because we have been so many times 
 detained by illness, but I will soon earn more than 
 enough to pay all I owe you." 
 
 "Pay me ! " shouted the landlord. " Pay me ! I 
 shall r. vsr hear from you again, or a word about my 
 pay, af ar you leave here. I ve been bit by just such
 
 A FORTUNATE MEETING. 239 
 
 as you before, and the only way is to hold on to your 
 baggage. An I 11 do it; yes sir, every dud ! Now 
 take your wife, you whining pauper, and get out of 
 here. There s work enough for them as want it, al- 
 I us, but I can t feed them as do n t. Them s my 
 square sentiments, by Moses ! " 
 
 Veering round suddenly, he ran bolt against 
 Kobert, who was regarding the seated figure with 
 evident compassion. 
 
 But what a sudden metamorphosis. The bully in 
 a moment was a toady. The freedom of the house 
 was tendered " Mr. Maynard." Wine, cigars, sup 
 per were offered, and gravely declined. 
 
 The young man simply saying: "No, thank you," 
 advanced to the table, laid his hand kindly upon the 
 bowed shoulder, saying: 
 
 "You are a stranger, and in trouble; as I hope for 
 assistance in my day of need, I beg you to command 
 me in yours." 
 
 Dashing a tear from his large blue eye, the man 
 arose, and bowing with a grateful politeness not 
 acquired, and an accent that betrayed his nativity, 
 replied : 
 
 " My name is McDougal, sir. Two months ago, 
 I left Scotland hoping to find a home in this beautiful 
 State. My purse was full, my wife was radiant with 
 health and hope ; my rosy, blue-eyed boy cheered us 
 with his childish talk and merry laugh. The way is 
 long. We were subjected to numerous delays and 
 my purse gave out here. My wife is sick and des 
 pondent, for yest reen we laid our boy in the grave, 
 the song on his young lips hushed, and his bright
 
 240 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 eyes closed for ever. My bill here is not large, but I 
 can not pay it, and, sir, I will accept gratefully your 
 unexpected courtesy as freely as it is generously 
 offered. I have heard of a gentleman, a wealthy far 
 mer, a few miles from here; I will go to him and seek 
 work in harvest. By your assistance I may be able 
 to reach The Maples to-night." 
 
 "That is my home, and I promise you a warm 
 welcome," said Robert. 
 
 The packing boxes and trunks were soon trans 
 ferred from the hotel porch to the boot and roof 
 of the stage coach. The Scotchman lifted in a pale 
 comely woman, and, taking a seat beside her, gravely 
 watched the pompous bustling landlord seized with a 
 sudden desire to be useful to his late unwelcome 
 guests. Robert paid the bill, sprang into the coach, 
 and took a front seat, facing McDougal. 
 
 You have become acquainted with our young 
 State at a time when she is seen to a great disadvan 
 tage, " he said. Our enterprises are all at present 
 military. Everything has had to give way to the 
 necessary equipment and sustenance of a great army. 
 Legitimate business is stagnant. The whole nation is 
 absorbed in establishing beyond question, a principle, 
 which has unfortunately been brought to a bloody 
 test. Commerce, agriculture, and scholarship are 
 subservient to the needs of the hour." 
 
 "I find," said the Scotchman, " my pre-conceived 
 idea incorrect. This is a war with broader basis than 
 I supposed. Before coming to America, I had the 
 impression it was sectional a border warfare between 
 the free and slave owning States ; but I confess, how-
 
 A FORTUNATE MEETING. 241 
 
 ever, that in American politics, I very soon get 
 bewildered. " 
 
 "And no wonder," said Robert. "The great 
 question, What is it all about ? is imperfectly 
 understood by many of our own soldiers. Even 
 those who are fairly observant and intelligent, and 
 have for a long time watched the boiling of the 
 political chaldron, might answer the question differ 
 ently. Its merits are very much obscured by rhetoric 
 and bluster on both sides. But the simple fact is 
 this : Two systems, aristocratic privilege and demo 
 cratic equality, have at last come to an issue. The 
 idea of the South is the perpetuation of their peculiar 
 institution, an idea which has been too indifferently 
 considered by the North. Though the question of 
 slavery has been agitated many years, it has never 
 assumed direct national importance, only once, I 
 think, having been made an issue in a Presidential 
 campaign, and then by a third and insignificant party. 
 Abolitionism was unpopular even in the North, but 
 secession has changed the public sentiment, and the 
 war cry now is, Emancipation. The South overreached 
 itself, counting upon the Northern pro-slavery sym 
 pathizers. That sentiment was found to be insignifi 
 cant when the Union was threatened, and died when 
 the first hostile missive whistled through the rigging 
 of the Star of the West, flying the United States 
 flag. An educated, religious and determined people, 
 rose to defend those colors, and the unanimity of all 
 parties is an augury of ultimate victory." 
 
 Mrs. McDougal listened, evidently with an intelli 
 gent appreciation of the subject. She said: 
 Q 11
 
 24:2 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 "And your clergy arc all, as I heard one say, 
 baptized with a new, a military tire. We attended 
 church in Chicago ; the clergyman was certainly elo 
 quent, and said to be a very excellent divine. One 
 part of his discourse impressed me particularly at the 
 time ; at the close of an impassioned period, he said, 
 We will take our glorious Hag and nail it just below 
 the Cross, that is high enough. There let it wave as 
 it waved of old ; around it we will gather, first 
 Christ s, then our country s. Those are pure Church 
 and State principles, though I believe in this country 
 such a union is not recognized." 
 
 " My wife is a high church woman, Mr. May 
 nard," said Mr. McDougal. 
 
 "And," said Robert, "will not be less welcome at 
 the Maples. My mother is a Scotch lady, and, like 
 my father, a member of the Church of England." 
 
 A jolt and lurch of the coach interrupted the con 
 versation, and startled them all, as, for a moment, 
 they were in imminent danger of upsetting. As 
 their equilibrium was restored, and the passengers 
 breathed freely once more, Robert undid a paper par 
 cel, of which he seemed to be very careful, and said : 
 
 U I hope I have not broken a present I am taking 
 to my sister. O no, it is all right yet." 
 
 He was surprised by an exclamation, sudden and 
 vehement, from Mrs. McDougal. Oil looking up, he 
 saw her all aglow with interest ; half rising, she 
 caught his arm, and with great earnestness, said: 
 
 "O, Mr. Maynard, do not let the sunlight fall 
 upon that vase, I beg of you ; and pray tell me, 
 where did you get it, and where is its counterpart ?"
 
 A FORTUNATE MEETING. 243 
 
 "This one, madam, is the gift of a young lady to 
 my sister Nellie, who already possesses its counter 
 part." 
 
 " May I inquire, if upon the bottom is engraved 
 the word York. 
 
 " Yes, madam." 
 
 "And your sister s bears upon it, in similar letter 
 ing, the word Lancaster. 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 " How very strange ! Those vases must once have 
 belonged to my mother ! " 
 
 " Heirlooms * M inquired Robert. 
 
 "No; she once befriended a gypsy woman who, 
 on her death-bed, gave her those vases, saying they 
 would exert an influence on her fortune, or that of 
 any possessor, prosperity and happiness being assured 
 so long as they were kept from the sun s rays. They 
 were manufactured by sun-worshipers, and possess the 
 power of attracting its angry rays. They were dedi 
 cated to the roses of York and Lancaster, and a warn 
 ing accompanied the gift against their misuse : York 
 must be true to York, and Lancaster to Lancaster. 
 Mother, not a little superstitious, as many of my 
 countrywomen are, took the precaution of having 
 them engraved, and valued them despite their weird 
 power for their antique design and transparent beauty." 
 
 "How came she to lose them ? " 
 
 " Most mysteriously ; and my father s financial 
 ruin, my poor mother s sudden death, following almost 
 immediately upon their loss, I can but regard them 
 with something akin to fear at least, 1 would want
 
 244: MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 to make sure the sun would never light upon them if 
 I possessed them." 
 
 The sun in the mean time had set, and as the twi 
 light cast her misty veil o er the earth, the conversa 
 tion had drifted to other themes, and the vases seemed 
 for the moment to he forgotten. Night fell, and for 
 sometime they rode in darkness through a piece of 
 heavy timber. Later, the moon rose, red and round, 
 as they emerged from the wood, and the horses quick 
 ened their pace on the smooth road that followed a 
 long, high ridge, a few miles from The Maples. 
 Suddenly the neighing of a horse ahead and the sound 
 of wheels aroused them ; then came a loud, startled 
 "Whoa" from the driver. The rocking of the coach 
 and a heavy thud upon the ground told them he had 
 dismounted. Robert thrust his head out of the win 
 dow, and with an exclamation of surprise opened the 
 door and sprang out quickly. He affectionately patted 
 the horse s flank as he passed him to reach the car 
 riage, saying : " Why, Deacon, old fellow ! mother, 
 father O God ! "
 
 THE RETURN HOME. 245 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 THE RETURN HOME. 
 
 "No voice in the chamber ; no sound in the hall." 
 
 I) OBERT got into the carriage, and the lifeless 
 t\ 
 -*- v heads were strained to his breast, while he 
 
 knelt before them, crying, "Mother! father ! Oh, it 
 can not can not be ! What hand so cruel as to deal 
 thus with you ? and Nellie poor little Nellie ! " 
 
 He seemed to be losing all self-command, now 
 whispering his mother s name, then calling "Nellie." 
 After a few hurried words with the driver, Mr. Mc- 
 Dougal approached him, and disengaging his arms 
 from the embrace of his dead parents, he drew him 
 gently but firmly away, and leading him to the coach, 
 bade him "Get in, and hasten on! We must be 
 active, to save your sister from the fiends who have 
 done this cruel deed ; and you must lose no time ! It 
 is impossible for me to drive that vehicle as fast as 
 you ought to travel now ! My friend, for that sister s 
 sake, be firm and faithful to yourself ! It looks dark, 
 but God has not forsaken you ! " 
 
 The driver resumed his seat, but his horses were 
 weary, and their progress was not much greater than 
 McDougal s. Ben Palmer s house was still smoulder 
 ing when they reached it a blaze flaring up now and 
 then where some heavy timber was longer being con-
 
 246 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 sumed. All eyes were turned with a sickening inquiry 
 toward the burning pyre, when the horses shied sud 
 denly from the road, prancing and plunging in their 
 efforts to disobey the curb. After much coaxing the 
 driver quieted them and again sprang from his box 
 and stood speechless with horror when he discovered 
 the cause of their excitement a cradle, a sleeping 
 child, and, beside her baby, the dead body of Ruth 
 Palmer. She had drawn down the tall bushes with her 
 dying hands and braided them into a sheltering can 
 opy ; had taken off her dress and wrapped it about 
 the sleeping innocent, to protect it from the falling 
 dew. With one arm thrown over her darling, she had 
 met the pale messenger ! How ? Ah, none shall 
 ever know ! They lifted her body into the stage. 
 Mrs. McDougal took up the sleeping babe, and her 
 experience soon divined its illness. She pressed it to 
 her nourishing bosom and said : 
 
 "Sweet little one, thy mother and my child are 
 not ! God has made our coming together a mutual 
 blessing. Thou shalt be my own, and I shall be to 
 thee a mother." 
 
 They made rapid and fruitless search for Palmer, 
 and then resumed the journey the saddest funeral 
 train, perhaps, the cold moon ever shone upon. In a 
 short time, unchallenged, they passed under the sen 
 tinel trees, and thus returned to their home the 
 master and mistress of The Maples. T was a ghastly 
 company, ranged in silence down the long, dim-lighted 
 dining-room, the dead they had found upon the way 
 and those they found here ! 
 
 Then Robert sought wildly sought Nellie ; but
 
 THE RETURN HOME. 247 
 
 he sought in vain. He penetrated the lone recesses of 
 the wood, whose dim aisles mockingly echoed her 
 name as he called her, using all the old endearing 
 terms, framed in loving childhood and in their loving 
 lives never forgotten. His shadow fell on grassy, 
 well-remembered mounds, where many a time he had 
 read to her while she made leafy crowns for him, and 
 they had played at King and Queen ; then out upon 
 the broad prairie, threading his way through its deep 
 and tangled growth. All possible, all impossible 
 places were searched, in the hope that some trace of 
 the fragile, beautiful girl might be found a tress of 
 her golden hair ; an impression, ever so faint, of her 
 dainty foot ; but his heart grew every moment more 
 sad, until it slowly settled into deepest anguish. 
 
 Morning came, and the search was prosecuted with 
 vigor, though with little hope. At sunrise, as Robert 
 led a horse, saddled, from the stable, his eyes (that in 
 all directions watchfully roamed constantly, hoping to 
 catch some trace of his sister) fell upon a horseman can 
 tering hurriedly up the road toward the house; alight 
 ing at the gate, they soon clasped hands. It was 
 Captain Ellis, on his way home. Silently Robert led 
 him to the dining-room, where he had so often been a 
 guest, and there he looked upon the still features of 
 his whilom host and hostess, with keenest sorrow in 
 his manly heart, then into the face of the bowed and 
 stricken son. 
 
 "The Indians!" he ejaculated after a moment s 
 silence. 
 
 " Yes ; no other hand could be found to work such 
 butchery. "
 
 248 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 Captain Ellis voice grew husky and his face grew 
 white as that of the sleepers beside him, as he faintly 
 articulated : 
 
 " They must have gone farther than this ; perhaps 
 ere this have desolated my home. I saw their wicked 
 work at Ben Palmer s and hurried on " 
 
 "Great heaven ! " said Robert, "forgive my self 
 ish sorrow. I had forgotten the very existence of the 
 defenseless families at the settlement. Let us hasten, 
 Ellis. Come, and eat some breakfast, and I 11 put 
 your tired horse in the stable and bring out a fresh 
 one. 1 
 
 " Breakfast, Maynard ! and my wife, my babies 
 exposed to the hatchet of these miscreants ! Not a 
 mouthful." 
 
 And mounting, the two men dashed away, the 
 fresh horses, seeming to realize the need, put 
 ting forth unaccustomed speed. Silently they rode, 
 rising in their stirrups, teeth firmly set, as through 
 the trees they saw the straggling columns of smoke, 
 of burning homes, and the evidences of inhuman 
 slaughter. Wilson s house was only a whitened ash- 
 heap. The gore of violated dead was scattered 
 around. Sick and faint, they were turning away, 
 when a boyish "halloo " arrested them. Down from 
 the screening boughs of a giant oak slid Thad, the 
 youngest of poor Wilson s eight children. His story 
 was simply and soon told ; of the midnight attack 
 and the murder of all save himself; how he had 
 climbed the tree unnoticed and watched them finish 
 up their deadly work, wrapping it all in a red wind 
 ing-sheet of flame, and then silently stealing away
 
 THE RETURN HOME. 249 
 
 toward other residences. Telling the lone orphan boy 
 to go to the Maples and remain till his return, Rob 
 ert and his companion pushed on. They passed many 
 a corpse stark by the roadside, whose features were 
 familiar ; passed silent ash-strewn places where had 
 been human habitations, until they came in full view 
 of the spot where lately was a rose-bowered cottage, 
 but now could be seen only thin wreaths of smoke and 
 blackened ruin. 
 
 Capt. Ellis spoke not, but his face was white and 
 distorted by the anguish of his soul. He went 
 through the yard, opening a gate that led toward the 
 barn and shelters for stock, and without seeming to 
 know what he did, closed it again. The click of the 
 latch, with its familiar home sound, so long unheard, 
 together with the reflection how useless the precaution 
 of closed gates now, completely unmanned him. He 
 fell with a groan upon the ground, repeating the 
 names of his wife and children. At that moment a 
 snow white lamb with a gay ribbon about its neck 
 came bleating from the bushes behind the barn, fol 
 lowed by a child who cried : 
 
 "Nanny, Nanny, come back. The Injuns 11 cut 
 your throat ! " 
 
 Rich brown hair strayed in neglected rings over 
 his forehead. His only garment was a night-dress. 
 He paused to gaze in bewilderment upon the prostrate 
 man, who, springing to his feet, caught him in his 
 arms, saying: 
 
 "Don t you know papa, Herbert? Where is 
 mamma and little Phil ? " 
 
 "Oh, it ain t mamma, it s grandma. There she
 
 250 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 comes now," said the boy, as grandma Smith, with 
 Phil in her arms, came toward them, her dear old 
 white hair wet with morning dewdrops and her soiled 
 night-dress bearing evidences of contact with brush and 
 brier. 
 
 "For God s sake, Mrs. Smith, tell me if Kitty 
 lives," said Capt. Ellis advancing, taking the child 
 from her and pressing it to his heart. 
 
 "I can not tell you, for I do not know. She bade 
 me say to you that she would live and return to you 
 and her children, but when she knew not. She is a 
 prisoner with the fiends who compelled her to destroy 
 her home. For some reason I felt uneasy about her 
 last night, and at sunset came over to see if all was 
 well. She begged me to stay all night with her. I 
 was in bed and asleep when she waked me and in a 
 whisper told me the Indians were about the premises. 
 By her directions I got up, and taking the baby, fol 
 lowed her as she carried Herbert into the cellar. 
 Telling me to remain there till she opened the outside 
 door, then to take the children to the bushes behind 
 the barn and hide with them, but in no case to attempt 
 to assist her. She could speak a little Indian and 
 perhaps might turn that to account. I staid in the 
 cellar perhaps twenty minutes when the house door 
 was broken in with a loud crash, and amidst the sav 
 age yelling I could hear her voice talking to them. It 
 grew quieter as she went about getting supper for 
 them. After she had got them seated she ran round 
 and opened the door of the cellar. With a swift 
 pressure of the hand and a kiss upon the lips of her 
 children, she returned to the room, where the noisy,
 
 THE RETURN HOME. 25l 
 
 riotous brutes were eating. I hastened to the retreat 
 she had indicated, thinking of home and the many 
 who were exposed to those wretches, for I "believed 
 them to be only a part of a larger band. The dear 
 children were both wide awake, but obedient to the 
 charge not to speak. Some time we lay there and 
 then I was startled by a cautious tread and a hand 
 upon my shoulder. Mrs. Ellis whispered in my ear, 
 1 The strychnine with which I flavored their food has 
 proven fatal to three of the Indians ; a fourth is 
 dying, only one is left and he too must soon succumb. 
 To save you and my children I must go, perhaps, 
 with the others who even now come yelling down the 
 road, but do not have any anxiety for me. Tell my 
 husband I will return? A moment she lingered, with 
 loving messages for you, and then returned to the 
 house, that was then in flames. Soon the place was 
 silent and I knew that she had gone. I am con 
 vinced she will return, for she is a thorough genius 
 and will obtain a controlling influence with the In 
 dians." 
 
 It was plain that grandma little guessed the grav 
 ity and extent of the outrages that had been perpe 
 trated the night before, for her voice sounded 
 almost cheerful as she spoke ; but the two men who 
 listened to her strange narrative thought of the frail 
 woman who had periled her safety to save others, 
 and of the possible fate that awaited her. The an 
 guish of the husband s heart can never be portrayed, 
 as he recalled the passions to which she was exposed. 
 At that moment little Herbert cried out : 
 
 " Why, there is uncle Carce Smith ! "
 
 252 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 "Why, sure enough," said grandma. 
 
 The old man, depending a good deal upon his cane, 
 came with puzzled, inquiring eyes toward them. He 
 had staid alone the night before, having retired early 
 and slept very sound, had heard no unusual noise. 
 After milking the cows and eating his solitary break 
 fast, he had come " cross lots, 1 to see after grandma. 
 Robert now informed them of the terrible work from 
 the results of which they had so singularly escaped. 
 A counsel was held, and a search commenced. Grand 
 ma and the children were sent to The Maples, where 
 it was thought, best for safety to get together all that 
 were left. In the course of the deliberations, several 
 neighbors, some of them living quite distant, who 
 had escaped the night s slaughter one way and another, 
 had joined them. There were ten or twelve of them 
 altogether who set about the burial of the dead, and 
 the sad task occupied the greater part of the day. 
 The last mournful lowering to rest of the victims of 
 these outrages was at The Maples. No hollow sound 
 of falling clod upon a coffin lid had pained the ear. 
 Softly were filled with earth the graves of those who 
 slept, wrapped in a simple winding sheet. There was 
 no time to prepare coffins ; the exigencies of the hour 
 demanded speed. 
 
 As the red, Sabbath sun went slowly down the 
 blue incline of heaven, Mr. and Mrs. Maynard were 
 laid gently, side by side, in one broad grave. Mr. 
 McDougal read the beautiful burial service from the 
 lady s own prayer-book. Twenty-four hours before, 
 they had been looking cheerfully out upon this same 
 spot, now their tomb !
 
 THE RETURN HOME.- 253 
 
 By this time quite a large company had assembled. 
 Settlers had dropped in through the day, in twos and 
 threes, and often singly survivors of the massacre, 
 some of them fearfully mutilated. After the cere 
 mony they all repaired to the house where a good, 
 comfortable supper was prepared by Mrs. McDougal 
 with grandma s assistance. They had found every 
 thing in perfect order, from the very garret to the 
 cellar, showing the taste and method of the dear pre 
 siding genius who would superintend the generous 
 and beautiful home no more. After supper Robert 
 went into his mother s room. On a small table beside 
 her favorite seat, across the window from her hus 
 band s, lay an unfinished garment, a basket containing 
 her thimble, scissors and cotton. Mechanically, he 
 took up a scrap of paper and read a verse cut from 
 Mrs. Browning s great poem. Bitterly he repeated : 
 
 " Ah, yes ; even so will my days go on ! " 
 
 Upon the window-sill, just where he had lain it, 
 was Mr. Maynard s bible ; upon its open page, his 
 glasses, and a delicate hyacinth, now withered, mark 
 ing in purple this part of the twenty-third psalm : 
 
 " The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh 
 me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me beside the still 
 waters. He restoreth my soul. He leadeth me in the paths of right 
 eousness, for his name s sake. Yea, though I walk through the 
 valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art 
 with me. Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me." 
 
 While Robert reads this holy book the aching 
 breast is eased by tears that heretofore have refused to
 
 254 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 flow. It seemed as if sorrow had dried the eyes ; but 
 now he sits down in the vacant arm-chair, weeping 
 gently and sweetly over his father s bible. He had 
 neither the time or heart to enter Nellie s room since 
 the search there last night ; but at twilight he felt the 
 yearning to be where she so lately had been. He 
 rose and went in. The fragrance of sweetbriar hung 
 heavy upon the air. The branches of a large bush 
 had been coaxed through the window and confined by 
 bits of ribbon to the sash and casement, repaying lib 
 erally this care and protection by their delicious per 
 fume. He sat down by Nellie s workstand, covered 
 with bright colored wools, tatting shuttle and spool, 
 a fairy thimble and bodkin. He took up a half-finished 
 book-mark she had been making for him. Wrought 
 in perforated card was this sentiment: "We live 
 in deeds, not years." On the sofa by the pillow 
 that still bore the impress of her head, lay an 
 open volume of "Faust." The door of the hand 
 some wardrobe was open ; by her chair lay tiny 
 slippers that she had exchanged for boots when pre 
 paring for her walk. A coquettish apron, with curi 
 ously contrived pockets, full of shells and a piece of 
 petrified moss she had picked up in some of her ram 
 bles, hung on a hook near the bed. The bed was 
 daintily made, with its unrivaled white linen and 
 counterpane, puffy pillows, with wide, neatly-crimped 
 ruffles, buttoned with housewifely exactness. All 
 things were just as she had placed them. This room, 
 the shrine of a pure, beautiful girl, seemed to call her 
 back almost to life. Robert started up with a momen^ 
 tary illusion of her presence. He almost saw the
 
 THE RETURN HOME. 255 
 
 sylph-like figure flitting about in the old sweet man 
 ner, stopping in some half-completed task, to whisper 
 "Dear brother," or throw a kiss to him and smile her 
 love. He sat there while the night deepened, and 
 then feeling the absolute need of repose, he went to 
 his own room which his mother and Cloe had put in 
 order for him. A large new trunk, full of the many 
 comforts it was supposed his new life would make 
 welcome, stood in the room upon the lid a card, bear 
 ing in his father s old-fashioned hand his name, com 
 pany and regiment. He opened it. Upon the nicely - 
 folded clothing were a prayer book and bible. On 
 the fly leaf of each, in his mother s beautiful writing, 
 were his own and her name. He kissed the latter, 
 while sobbing, he repeated it, and kneeling, poured 
 out his grieved spirit in prayer to Him who has prom 
 ised to be " a present help in every time of need. 1 He 
 realized that promise and rose from the attitude of 
 devotion with a calmer soul and more implicit trust. 
 The inmates of the house were quiet, and hearing no 
 more the familiar household sounds of shutting doors 
 and grating chairs that brought the lost ones mock 
 ingly to his memory, he laid himself upon the bed, 
 and courted rest. 
 
 Heavy slumber fell upon him ; his exhausted frame 
 was refreshed. Toward morning he awoke, got up 
 and dressed, took from his pocket Annette s pic 
 ture, and pressed it to his lips. Placing it under 
 the vase he had brought home to Nellie, which now 
 stood upon his table, he passed out, quietly shutting 
 his door. He strove by walking to allay the grief 
 that had wakened with him ; but of what avail the
 
 256 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 effort? Was it not written everywhere he turned? 
 In the bare hope of somewhere coming upon her, he 
 wandered about, and twice crossed the path of Cap 
 tain Ellis who was also abroad in the starlight. 
 Neither spoke, for each felt the taciturnity a great 
 sorrow imposes, and went his way. 
 
 Robert returned to the house at daybreak, and 
 going to his own room was surprised to find the door 
 ajar. He thought again to look upon the features of 
 his betrothed ; but what was his astonishment, to find 
 her picture gone, and in its place a note, written 
 hastily, yet legibly. It read : 
 
 Robert, I know not her fate. I believe she is alive ; but living 
 or dead, I will find her, and bring you tidings of Nellie. Your 
 search would be fruitless. Have you faith to confide in your 
 mother s friend? Her grateful MIANNETTA.
 
 THE SEPARATION. 257 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 THE SEPARATION. 
 
 " Aye, we must part, but do not ask me why 
 Enough, my suffering must equal thine. 
 
 ri iHE old adage, "A friend in need is a friend in 
 deed," was mutually verified, both by Robert and 
 Mr. McDougal. While to him was given the charge 
 of things without, Mrs. McDougal cheerfully accepted 
 the care of things within, and administered them both 
 gracefully and practically, with the assistance of a 
 young German and his sister, sole survivors of a fam 
 ily that had recently removed to Maple Range, and 
 found shelter and employment at The Maples. 
 
 Robert found great comfort in Miannetta s letter, 
 having the greatest confidence in her zeal and skill. 
 She could and would, he felt sure, penetrate the most 
 obscure hiding places of the savages, and would 
 obtain knowledge inaccessible to any one else. 
 
 With Captain Ellis, he joined the soldiers under 
 Sibley sent in pursuit of the Indians, and both were 
 present when the captives, women and children, were 
 given up at Camp Release. Both turned away with 
 still sadder hearts when the faces had been scanned, 
 for neither "Kittie" nor "Nellie" was among them. 
 They returned with the melancholy knowledge that all 
 pursuit on their part was futile. Captain Ellis made 
 R 11*
 
 258 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 arrangements with grandma Smith to take care of his 
 little boys, and returned to the army. Robert also 
 turned from his desolate home to the more active yet 
 equally sorrowful fortunes of war. One pang more, 
 he thought, as he drove over the prairie after bidding 
 his new-found friends adieu, and my heart shall know 
 the fullness of grief. I must bid Annette farewell. 
 
 He reached the city and repaired, after dinner at 
 the hotel, to her father s house, recalling as he mounted 
 the stairs and passed the fountain his own lightness of 
 heartland her happiness when last there. Only a few 
 days and what a change ! An age of suffering was 
 condensed in that short space. 
 
 He was shown into the parlor, and having sent his 
 card waited the appearance of the girl whom he re 
 garded with a love, intensified by the loss of all his 
 kindred. Mrs. La Moore came in, stately and frigid, 
 and, after a ceremonious greeting, said : 
 
 " My duty imposes on me the performance of a most 
 unwelcome task, Mr. Mnynard ! but you will see the 
 impropriety of continuing attentions after I have in 
 formed you that they are not acceptable. I beg you 
 not to repeat your visits here during the absence of 
 Mr. La Moore." 
 
 u Pardon me ; I do not understand you, madam," 
 he said. 
 
 "That need not prevent your compliance with my 
 request," she said, and swept from the room just as 
 Annette entered by an opposite door. 
 
 The face of the young girl, though beautiful as 
 ever, was very pale, and her eyes filled with tears as 
 she crossed the room swiftly to meet him.
 
 THE SEPARATION. 259 
 
 "You know all my loss, all my sorrow, darling," 
 he said as he drew her to his heart and felt her arms 
 twine about his neck. 
 
 Her sobs of sympathy were mingled with his own 
 which he could not suppress, as with faltering voice 
 he told the sad story. 
 
 "But the loss of mother and father, terrible as it 
 is, is nothing compared with my anxiety for Nellie s 
 uncertain fate. It seems to almost overwhelm me, 
 and I can scarcely command myself to endure the 
 fearful suspense," he concluded, still holding her in 
 his arms. 
 
 " I know your suffering, Robert ! I pity you with 
 my whole soul ; and yet I am doomed to inflict 
 another pang upon your noble, suffering heart." 
 
 " What do you mean, Annette ? " he said. " Your 
 very presence comforts me to whom all comfort 
 seemed impossible." 
 
 "But, Robert, my beloved," cried the weeping 
 girl, "this must be our last interview, our last em 
 brace. I will not, dare not, tell you why ! I love you 
 truly, devotedly, and ever shall ; but O God ! help 
 me ! I tell you truly / can not be your wife." 
 
 He drew back, half loosened his clasp, looked full 
 into her lovely eyes as though seeking to read in their 
 liquid depths the reasons for this strange, this terri 
 ble decision, then convulsively clasping her once more 
 to his bosom he pressed his lips to hers in a long 
 kiss. Then disengaging her arms about his neck, 
 he led her to the sofa, and, without another word or 
 look, went out from her presence into the lone, dreary 
 world.
 
 260 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 Mrs. La Moore had been an unperceived witness 
 of the painful interview and its surprising finale. 
 The moment Robert left the room, she entered, to 
 find Annette in a strange state, between stupor and 
 convulsion. She, for once intent upon alleviating 
 the distress of her uncomplaining child, had Annette 
 taken to her own room by the frightened and loving 
 servants, and there for many days she lay in a low 
 condition of pain and fever. No word passed be 
 tween them in all these days ; yet it was plain to 
 the attendants that the mother s presence was no com 
 fort to the suffering girl ; that, while Mrs. La Moore 
 was ever at her side, securing the most skillful medical 
 attendance, nursing and comforts ; still it evidently 
 was not a labor of love. Fear lest Annette should 
 die and fling another shadow across her daily path, 
 was the inspiration of Mrs. La Moore s efforts to save 
 the girl s life. But death, though longed for, came 
 not. Slowly Annette crept back to the cruel realism 
 of health. Though to herself acknowledging her 
 cowardice in breaking off so mysteriously her engage 
 ment with Robert, she derived some comfort from the 
 fact of his not knowing why she did it. She felt that 
 if she had told him the cause that suddenly inter 
 cepted their union, possibly his regard for her might 
 have been quenched. She had not courage to brave 
 such a contingency. While he remained ignorant of 
 the cause of their parting, he might continue to love 
 her still. Selfishly hugging this thought, she had 
 spoken the words that separated them. 
 
 Her suffering was great, yet life is sweet to all, 
 and she clung to it with youthful tenacity, rousing
 
 THE SEPARATION. 201 
 
 herself, after weeks of quiet misery, to find some 
 wholesome task. She sought and found it, ministering 
 to the comfort of the widowed and orphaned ones, 
 whose support had been shattered by war s mighty en 
 gine; sought and found, oh, so much wretchedness and 
 need, that never for one hour could her helping hands 
 hang idle. Annette La Moore willingly took upon 
 herself the task of alleviating, as far as in her power 
 lay, the wants of the poor, the sick and the needy. 
 Many a fevered brow was cooled and refreshed by ap 
 plications from her gentle hands, parched lips moist 
 ened with iced drinks those hands prepared. Children 
 regarded her with something akin to reverence as one 
 who had nursed " mother" back to life, and mothers 
 thanked her for the children her tender care had res 
 cued from death. She was an efficient member of the 
 "Ladies Aid Society," that monument of humane 
 effort that sheds lustre upon the memory of American 
 women. 
 
 With another lady she had one day visited several 
 families in the outskirts of the city, making inquiries 
 for a house where was said to be great suffering, a 
 case both of illness and poverty. Their carriage, well 
 known in the city, was a novelty in this out of the 
 way street, well known to poor pedestrians, but sel 
 dom visited by a vehicle of any kind, much less by a 
 handsome private carriage. An English family, con 
 sisting of a war widow and her children, themselves 
 in very reduced circumstances, had opened their 
 door to receive a poor old refugee from the frontier, 
 who had fled in terror from the Indians. She had 
 made the long journey on foot and without money.
 
 262 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 She also was an English woman, and this fact had 
 secured to her this hospitality. It was evident she 
 was at death s door when Annette and her compan 
 ion found her. On entering the house, a tall, slat 
 ternly, watery-eyed woman, with twin babies in her 
 arms, conducted them to the low, miserable pallet 
 whereon a wasted creature lay, gasping for breath. 
 Her withered face was distorted with pain ; great 
 drops of death dew stood upon her wrinkled brow, 
 while her sunken eyes shone with a preternatural lus 
 tre. Her words came slowly and between long 
 pausjes, as she replied to their sympathetic inquiries. 
 iey gave her cordial, chafed her hands and applied 
 rti tidal warmth to her extremities, while she mum 
 bled piteously : 
 
 "Too late, I s frightened, I canna mend mair, I 
 canna mend mair. I moost die, and me e}^es be shut 
 be strangers. But I ave a soon Gorge is is naame 
 Gorge Langmere -mabbe ye ken d Mm soomtime ? 
 He roon t army he tuck t whisky till f Injuns 
 t Injuns I roon fra he bides safe enow wi em but 
 I for thrampin moost die ! Oh, ees feyther was a 
 clever big boog, an wadna fret if is young un 
 starved an ^e s a big boog, too an turned t cold 
 shoulther on is mother, when she cood no mair stoob 
 roun an arn siller for un 
 
 Completely exhausted, she lay very still a few 
 
 minutes, then, opening her eyes again, she resumed, 
 
 "Larnin doon t larnin chook t me in t mire 
 
 larnin pickt me old bones an larnin kickt me oot 
 
 to die ! " 
 
 Raising herself with an almost superhuman effort,
 
 THE SEPARATION. 263 
 
 and sitting bolt upright, her glassy eyes uplifted in a 
 frightful stare and fixed in their sockets, she fiercely 
 struck her bony fists together, and in unearthly ac 
 cents shrieked : 
 
 " Coorses upon larnin coorses coorses ! " and 
 fell back upon the pillow dead. 
 
 They composed her stiff old limbs that would 
 never ache more, folded the ill-shapen hands over the 
 breast that had held such a true mother heart. Cov 
 ering the wasted form with a decent sheet borrowed 
 from a neighbor, they turned with sad faces from the 
 silent dust, all that remained of poor Sally Hopkins. 
 
 After engaging women to prepare the grave-clothes 
 they would provide, and to watch the corpse until the 
 interment, which they would arrange, they turned to 
 make inquiries into the needs of the household.
 
 264: MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 A MOTHER S STRATEGY. 
 
 Though all can not live on the piazza, every one may feel the sun. 
 
 Tuscan Proverb. 
 
 same night that Lizbeth Harkness was spend- 
 -*- ing the first dark hours of her forced elopement" 
 with Langmere near the little rivulet, a captive of 
 love, held by other than love s restraining fetters, 
 Mrs. Ellis was threading the same wood, and later in 
 the night, indeed, it was almost morning, encamped 
 upon the same stream, a mile nearer its source. She 
 had been taken from her burning home, after setting 
 fire to it herself, to hide the bodies of the Indians who 
 had died from the effects of her generously adminis 
 tered compound. I can not say she went voluntarily, 
 nor yet was her going altogether compulsory, but 
 she had felt that a moment s hesitation either to apply 
 the brand or go with the Indians, might result in a 
 search of the premises and the discovery of grandma 
 and the children. She knew that the house would be 
 burned, and she feared the barn and stacks as well, 
 if there was any delay. So, when she heard the yells 
 of the reinforcement of Indians, she had lighted the 
 building, having piled hay and other combustibles 
 within the doorway, and just as, with ferocious
 
 A MOTHER S STRATEGY. 265 
 
 gestures, they began to circle and yell around the 
 fire and peer into the gloom for more victims, she 
 made a feint to get away, rushing through the gate 
 and down the road, while the whole pack followed 
 like a long file of yelping hounds. They overtook 
 and bound her and led her on, but her ruse was ef 
 fectual in averting their attention from the premises. 
 Though she scarcely hoped to escape their murderous 
 hatchets, she felt sure that her children were safe. 
 
 Half a mile from home they were joined by a 
 party of squaws, who had in custody a number of 
 white women and children. Some of those Mrs. Ellis 
 attempted to address, but was immediately and vio 
 lently silenced. A retrograde movement was at once 
 made, and continued till near daylight, when they en 
 camped in the woods, as I before stated, upon the 
 same stream on which Langmere s encampment lay. 
 
 At dawn they were joined by a large number of 
 Indians, Yanktons, who informed them that a council 
 was called of the chiefs of all the tribes that were 
 allied in this movement against the whites. Also that 
 a small band of Sioux lay at their left, while a larger- 
 force of more northern Indians was encamped half a 
 mile to their right. Mrs. Ellis understood that Avhile 
 the main portion would breakfast, the "fathers" 
 would meet in deliberation, which must be hurried in 
 consequence of their proximity to the white settle 
 ments. A speedy move of squaws and captives was 
 imperative, and these captives were to be distributed 
 among the different tribes who had captured them. 
 
 By some magnetic influence, some people attract 
 all who come within the circle of their influence, and 
 12
 
 266 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 Mrs. Ellis was one of these. She made friends with 
 everything, brute or human. The squaws, " ugly and 
 venomous," as they were, seemed particularly attracted 
 by her good nature and apparent fearlessness, and pro 
 cured for her many privileges which the other prison 
 ers were denied. They acceded to her request to take 
 her to witness the meeting of the sachems. So creep 
 ing through the bushes with them, she reached the ap 
 pointed spot. The dignitaries were seated around a 
 fire, whose light paled before the growing light of 
 day. On a rich beaver skin near the fire lay a gor 
 geous calumet or pipe of peace. A proud, handsome 
 young chief sat at the head of a circle of lesser mag 
 nates on the ground. They had all evidently re 
 touched their paint, the only morning toilet of an 
 Indian. This grandest looking of the band made a 
 signal. One of the ring arose, advanced, and filling 
 the pipe lighted it by the fire, and handing it to the first 
 chief, retired again to his seat on the ground. With 
 a haughty look that must have been very impressive, 
 for the whole band delivered a concerted " ugh," the 
 sachem rose, and taking a whiff, emitted the smoke in 
 a heavy cloud. Then taking the pipe from his mouth 
 he pointed with the ornamented stem first to the sun 
 just struggling through the leaves of the dense forest 
 growth, then held it to the earth , then circling it 
 gracefully round his head he handed it to the right 
 hand sachem. He then introduced measures which 
 they discussed while the pipe circulated, each chieftain 
 in turn taking it from his left hand neighbor and 
 passing it on. The council was conducted in low, 
 monotonous guttural tones. Mrs, Ellis, of course,
 
 A MOTHER S STRATEGY. 267 
 
 understood nothing, but she remarked that there was 
 nothing emphatic save the oft-repeated " ughs." 
 
 When their future field was decided upon, the 
 spoils of war, namely, the prisoners, divided sat 
 isfactorily ; a bright belt of wampum was produced 
 and handed from one to the others of the circle, each 
 member handling it as reverently as if it were some 
 grave talisman. The successive touching of this or 
 nament ratified the proceedings of the council, of 
 which this was the final ceremony. They rose imme 
 diately, and without a parting word, all save the 
 Yanktons departed, striding in the different directions 
 towards their several camps. Mrs. Ellis felt an almost 
 irrepressible desire to visit some of the encampments 
 to ascertain the fate of her neighbors, and a deep re 
 gret that she was to be one of those allotted to the 
 Yanktons, whose gross features and sleepy eyes com 
 pared unfavorably with many of the other tribes. 
 
 Many had sat in council whose appearance of 
 greater intelligence she believed might be an index to 
 more humane hearts. Ah ! humanity never had any 
 part in uie emotions of any of those monsters, whose 
 hands had desolated Maple Range, and were destined 
 to wipe out of existence other frontier towns. Mrs. 
 Ellis was ignorant of the extent of their outrages, and 
 sometimes felt almost a criminal when she reflected 
 upon her own work of murder and arson. 
 
 The sun was still low in the eastern sky when the 
 squaws, accompanied by a few Indians, started on the 
 trail, taking great care to step in each other s foot 
 marks for a long way, to deceive the whites whom 
 they feared would soon be upon their track. Orders
 
 268 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 were also given not to break any bushes upon the 
 wayside, or to displace any object lying near it. 
 Great care was taken that the captives left no shred 
 of clothing or any article that might be a clue to their 
 route. 
 
 The rapid traveling, added to the mental excite 
 ment of the prisoners, told fearfully upon them, and 
 great suffering was the consequence. Mrs. Ellis set 
 herself at once to acquire the Yankton dialect, conning 
 the lessons as she marched, and taking them from the 
 living text. Her success furnished amusement to the 
 squaws, who applauded with hideous grins whenever 
 she mastered a word or sentence. She experienced 
 less pain from the forced marches than a more deli 
 cate woman, a Mrs. Cummings, and her children, who 
 were fellow-captives and plodded despondingly along. 
 She always accepted her fate, if not cheerfully, at 
 least with a determination to make the best of it. 
 Difficulty was always an incentive to her, but she had 
 wonderful health and strength and was spared the 
 suffering her poor neighbor experienced that of see 
 ing her hungry, weary children hurried on by the 
 goads of the heartless wretches. She felt deepest 
 sympathy with that poor mother and the objects of 
 her solicitude, and tried, in many ways, to alleviate 
 their distress, which was the more difficult inasmuch 
 as an expression of sympathy was sure to result in 
 greater hardships imposed upon the recipient. After 
 three or four days of constant travel by day, and 
 sleeping on the hard, damp ground at night, the 
 little creatures were completely worn out. 
 
 Toward night one little girl began to cry ; her
 
 A MOTHER S STRATEGY. 269 
 
 mother stooped to take her in her arms, when a squaw 
 interfered and separated them, which increased the 
 child s crying, in which the other children now joined, 
 through sympathy and terror. Mrs. Ellis felt such 
 pity for both mother and children, that she ventured 
 to plead for them. What was her horror then, when, 
 with the look of a demon, the squaw caught up a 
 billet of wood and deliberately pounded the little child 
 to death ; then severing the head from the body, she 
 held it toward Mrs. Ellis, saying : 
 
 ; Here ! take the part that cried ! " 
 
 Mrs. Ellis blood curdled at this ghastly cruelty, 
 and recalling the Indians whose death she had caused, 
 she pronounced it, not murder, but demon-slaughter, 
 exclaiming in the best Yankton she was mistress of : 
 
 "You can not be a woman! God never gave a 
 heart of stone to one who might be a mother ! " 
 
 The hag heard her with apparent indifference ; yet 
 she was observed to show many favors to Mrs. Ellis 
 after that ; not that she was in any degree impressed 
 by her words, but simply because she admired her 
 courage in speaking them. Such scenes of cruelty 
 were rife throughout their journey. They penetrated 
 forests that seemed interminable ; ascended long rivers 
 in birch-bark canoes ; climbed rugged heights. Ere 
 the journey was half completed, save Mrs. Ellis, 
 every pale face had succumbed to exposure or ill- 
 treatment, and the sorrow-laden hearts had found in 
 death the peace they prayed for. Her physical 
 endurance, wonderful though it was, was severely 
 tried, and was daily the subject of her morning 
 prayers, as of her evening thanksgiving. She, each
 
 270 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 day, felt new faith in Him who, she believed, would 
 guard her wandering and at last open the way for her 
 return. As night fell, on the twelfth day after leav 
 ing home, she noticed that the foremost of the long 
 train disappeared, one by one, and at last they, in 
 turn, came upon what seemed indeed "the jumping- 
 off place." In the twilight before her lay a vast 
 " hole in the earth." They were, in reality, winding 
 down the steep sides of a precipice that towered hun 
 dreds of feet above a little valley scarcely a quarter 
 of a mile in width, and less than a mile long. At the 
 upper extremity was a clear lake whose outlet, a 
 beautiful little brook, ran along the base of the bluff, 
 the whole length of the valley. This brook tumbled 
 noisily through the channel formed by the bluffs that 
 surrounded it. From the prairie above, the trail 
 wound curiously down, from ledge to ledge. Its 
 descent, nevertheless, was not without danger to inex 
 perienced feet. Mrs. Ellis heart sank, as she under 
 took it, in the gathering darkness. But the steady 
 pressure of the mass behind compelled her to keep close 
 to the gradually moving mass before her. At last, all 
 had descended into this natural fortress. They crossed 
 the stream on the one log that served as bridge, and 
 filed on in a darkness deepened by the lofty walls of 
 solid rock. Fires soon lighted up the curious place. 
 Part of the squaws prepared supper, and the rest 
 drew blankets over the tepee poles, that showed 
 it to be an old camping ground ; in reality, it had 
 been for many generations. This place a few deter 
 mined warriors might hold against tremendous odds, 
 and so it had been held, time after time, in the wars
 
 A MOTHER S STRATEGY. 271 
 
 with adjacent tribes. The waters of the brook were 
 full of speckled trout, while the lake abounded in fish. 
 The great prairie above was alive with wild fowl, 
 antelope and deer. The forest that crowned the 
 opposite bluff was the home of elk, moose and bear. 
 
 Supper being over, the tired savages sought 
 repose, with heads to the fire and " feet to the 
 foe," each family lying in a circle, on the ground. 
 Mrs. Ellis had fallen to the ownership of the principal 
 chief, old "Running Moose," who, like the animal 
 from which he derived his name, could run three 
 days and nights continuously. 
 
 (La Honton relates that the Indians told him "The 
 moose could trot three days and nights without inter 
 mission ; " and there are incidents recorded of Indians 
 trotting a hundred miles between sunrise and sunrise, 
 without once breaking gait.) 
 
 The family of Running Moose consisted of one 
 wife and two papooses, and these, with most of the 
 other women and children, had been transported in 
 advance, though overtaken on the previous day s 
 journey. 
 
 Before midnight Mrs. Ellis could see by the firelight 
 that she was alone in her wakefulness. She was too tired 
 to sleep, though she courted the god of slumber, in the 
 hope that dreams might relieve the homesick heaviness 
 of her soul. She turned upon her couch, the hard earth, 
 and tried one position and another, to find them equally 
 painful, and sleep equally coy. A strange bird in a 
 neighboring tree-top began to sing. As Mrs. Ellis 
 listened to this minstrel of the morning, the thought 
 came unbidden, and with it her tears :
 
 272 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 " At this hour my children would waken and twine 
 their arms about my neck, each boasting of the biggest 
 love. How many heartaches must I know before I 
 hear again those sweet childish voices." 
 
 Such thoughts made sleep impossible for her. 
 She got up and went out of the wigwam. As the 
 day dawn made objects more distinct, she for the mo 
 ment forgot her sorrow in the interest wakened by the 
 many curious things she saw. The trees were, many 
 of them, covered with the hieroglyphics of departed 
 generations. The bark, t is true, was peeled off,- but 
 still the trees had grown so as to leave the uncouth 
 records, deep indentures, gray with the mould of the 
 ages. Close by were the mounds in which the writers 
 of those strange books lay buried. Golden says : 
 
 "These trees are the annals of the five nations. I 
 have seen many of them ; and by them and their war 
 songs, they preserve the history of their achieve 
 ments." 
 
 So absorbed was she in the reflections awakened 
 by these strange records of ancient history, that an 
 Indian got, unperceived, to her side. She did not 
 hear him, but that peculiar sense which tells us, even 
 in the dark, that we are not alone, induced her to 
 turn around. He stood with raised musket, intending 
 to strike her. (He evidently thought her lonel} r posi 
 tion pointed to flight.) She quickly caught his weapon 
 and, looking full in his face, said : 
 
 "You would not strike me till my book is read. 
 Tell me about these pictures, these mounds," and she 
 pointed to the trees and the mounds, and the pyra 
 midal piles of rock.
 
 A MOTHEK S STKATEGY. 273 
 
 " Records of the red man s deeds, older than the 
 trees that bear them," he said, and then as she cast a 
 glance of inquiry at the mounds, he shook his head 
 mournfully as he went on, "Count the trees, and know 
 the age in generations of our people, count the leaves 
 and know how many red men sleep in these full 
 graves." He turned his look to follow hers and con 
 tinued, "With stones we tell our numbers, and every 
 twelve moons pile as many stones as there are red men 
 in our tribe. When the piles equal in number the years 
 of one age, we make a record on the trees, and unbuild 
 the piles." 
 
 Though he spoke but broken, imperfect English, 
 and she but very imperfect Yankton, they learned the 
 import of each other s words enough to conduct a very 
 pleasant conversation considering their relative posi 
 tions. 
 
 Mrs. Ellis was saved by her perfect coolness and 
 self control. Had she attempted to fly from that up 
 lifted gun she would have been lost, but so cleverly 
 had she averted his immediate purpose, that at last 
 forgetting it altogether, he walked away from her to 
 shoot a pheasant his dog had treed, while she went 
 leisurely back to the lodge in time to assist in the 
 preparation of breakfast, after which she was assigned 
 to some light task of needle work wherein she soon 
 proved her usefulness. The next day she was sold for 
 a pony to another chief, One-e-ah-tah, whose lodge lay 
 at the lower end of the valley, while that of Running 
 Moose occupied a position on the lake shore at the 
 upper end. She went very reluctantly for her mis 
 tress had been an easy sort of a squaw, the children 
 &
 
 274: MAPLE EANGE. 
 
 gave her no trouble and Running Moose did not of 
 fend her by attentions of any kind. At the wigwam 
 of her new owner she could see she was not very wel 
 come. He was something of a Mormon, and his 
 household had several divisions or compartments 
 already, each dedicated to the use of one of his 
 wives. For a day or two she got along very com. 
 fortably, for he was away on a hunt accompanied by 
 some of his squaws whose task it always is to bring 
 home the game. When One-e-ah-tah returned how 
 ever she was given to understand that her place would 
 be nearer him than was at all agreeable. His lasciv 
 ious glances, and patronizing gallantries, were so 
 revolting to her that she was continually revolving in 
 her mind some plan to avoid him. Suddenly remem 
 bering that the wampum touching which is the oath 
 of an Indian had not been used to ratify her trans 
 fer, and that a question might be raised as to his own 
 ership of her, she bethought herself of a plan worth 
 trying. (Any plan to elude old One-e-ah-tah s perse 
 cutions would be hailed eagerly by the appre 
 hensive women.) Watching for a favorable op 
 portunity she escaped to the lodge of Running 
 Moose, who flattered by her apparent preference, and 
 pleased with her acuteness in discovering the omission, 
 took her immediately under his protection on the plea 
 that the sale was invalid. He lost no time though in 
 disposing of the pony to another Indian, this time 
 taking care to bind the bargain.
 
 I TOLD YOU SO." 275 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 "l TOLD YOU SO." 
 
 A CCORDING to all writers of Indian history, 
 -LJL both the calumet and wampum are held in 
 universal reverence by the savages. Of the first 
 Marquette says : 
 
 I must here speak of the calumet, the most mys 
 terious thing in the world. The sceptres of our kings 
 are not so much respected, for the savages have such a 
 deference for this pipe, that we may call it the God of 
 Peace and War the arbiter of life and death." 
 
 Hennepin describes it as follows : 
 
 "The head is finely polished, and the quill which 
 is commonly two and a half feet long, is made of 
 strong reed. They tie to it two wings of the most 
 curious bird that flies." 
 
 La Honton says : 
 
 "The red calumets are the most esteemed. They 
 are trimmed with white, yellow and green feathers, 
 and have the same effect among the savage races that 
 the flag of truce and friendship has with us ; to vio 
 late the rights of this venerable pipe is with them a 
 flaming crime." 
 
 The poet Street sang :
 
 276 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 "Whilst high he lifted in his hand 
 
 That sign of peace, the calumet, 
 So sacred to the Indian soul 
 
 With its stem of reed, and its dark red bowl 
 Flaunting with feathers, white, yellow and green." 
 
 Without touching the wampum no contract is con 
 sidered binding, as it is the sign of the completion 
 and perpetuity of all transactions, sealing the vali dity 
 of all their treaties. 
 
 "This belt preserves my words." 
 
 "This colier (belt of wampum) confirms my 
 speech." 
 
 These expressions occur many times in the 
 speeches of La Barre and Garangula, in their famous 
 interviews described by La Honton. 
 
 "Without the intervention of these belts," says 
 that writer, "there is no business transacted, no nego 
 tiation among the savages, for, being unacquainted 
 with writing, they make use of them for contracts and 
 obligations." 
 
 One-e-ah-tah submitted gravely to a loss of prop 
 erty that was the result of his own carelessness. 
 Mrs. Ellis was put to work by the wife of Running 
 Moose, fashioning and remaking garments, with such 
 approach to the prevailing styles among the whites as 
 the material furnished would allow. Cosmopolitan 
 la mode " is as arbitrary in the woods as in the cit 
 ies, and presides over the making of the squaw s one 
 yearly garment of broadcloth as much as over that of 
 the plain drab dress of the Quakeress, and the multi 
 tudinous articles that comprise the wardrobe of a city 
 belle. White women at that period wore enormous
 
 "I TOLD YOU SO." S77 
 
 hoops and many yards of material were required to give 
 sufficient length and fullness to the dress. The nar 
 row broadcloth skirts of the squaw, haply all of blue, 
 were subjected to no end of piecing and supplement 
 ing to bring them to suitable width to cover the huge 
 imitations in willow of the " skeleton " in vogue with 
 white ladies. The outer garment, or skirt, would, ex 
 panded to its full dimension, hang with never a re 
 lieving fold, and much abbreviated in length, dis 
 played the nicely fitted moccasin, and often consider 
 ably more. The wife of Running Moose had command 
 of more material than the other squaws, and her 
 dress was more easily made to conform to Mrs. Ellis 
 taste. 
 
 She made her appearance one day in a new, long 
 trailing dress of blue, tastefully expanded. Her 
 frilled and neatly buttoned sacque of brown merino 
 was confined at the waist with a belt to match her 
 exquisite bead necklace and wristbands, and elicited a 
 hum of admiration among the feminines. In compar 
 ison with her, the comet sank to a miserable ten cent 
 side show. The members of One-e-ah-tah s harem 
 were filled with burning envy, and he was forthwith 
 besieged and implored to buy Mrs. Ellis back and 
 put a stop to the triumph of Mrs. Running Moose," 
 that the victory might be secured to their end of the 
 valley. 
 
 He had sundry reasons for listening to their peti 
 tions, of which his weaker halves (or quarters) were 
 ignorant, and resolved to get possession of Mrs. 
 Ellis once more. He was a cautious, wary old chief, 
 and reckoned upon his revenge for the loss of his
 
 278 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 pony in her aversion to him. Knowing that Running 
 Moose was an inveterate jockey, he thought he would 
 only have to make the offer to buy and she would be 
 his forthwith. But he had for once "reckoned with 
 out his host." Though Miladi declared she had no 
 more use for Mrs. Ellis, no sewing to do for a whole 
 year, and no work in the lodge for her, and she was 
 not strong enough to fish and hunt ; though white 
 women were not to his taste, and were not included in 
 the market quotations, still Running Moose absolutely 
 refused to part with her ; at least, he would not sell 
 her to One-e-ah-tah. 
 
 The affair was dropped for a fortnight. One day 
 a miserable dog of an Indian, a dependent on village 
 charity, proposed buying her. He had no squaw to 
 cook his samp when it was given him, and he thought 
 he might make Mrs. Ellis catch fish, trap woodchuck 
 and decoy birds enough to keep his soul and body to 
 gether. He offered for her an old arquebuse (a 
 clumsy gun, the pioneer of the musket), the only 
 property he had in the world, useless by reason of his 
 laziness, and the offer was accepted. Running Moose 
 took the old weapon, hung it up on a hook where half 
 a dozen more modern ones were hanging, and taking 
 down a belt of wampum, said to Mrs. Ellis : 
 
 " Do n t come back again. You are Six Toes (by 
 some accident he had lost four toes, hence the soubri 
 quet) slave; by this wampum he holds you." 
 
 Mechanically she gathered up her scissors and 
 thimble and put them in her pocket (she had brought 
 these with her from home). She took out a fish line 
 and reel to return them to Mrs. Running Moose, to
 
 "l TOLD YOU SO." 279 
 
 whom they belonged, but her sharp-eyed purchaser 
 insisted they were his, they having been in her pocket 
 when the wampum sealed the bargain. Running 
 Moose assenting, she obeyed him and putting them 
 back, followed her new owner through the village 
 down the valley. His tepee lay below that of One-e- 
 ah-tah, and as they passed, that chieftain, who sat 
 smoking in his doorway on a handsome mat, saw 
 them and at once comprehended the whole transac 
 tion. Calling to Six Toes. 
 
 " Me buy your white squaw," said One-e-ah-tah. 
 
 " How much you give? " asked Six Toes, halting 
 at the prospect of a bargain. 
 
 " Peck of beans." 
 
 "No!" 
 
 "Two pecks." 
 
 "No!" 
 
 "Three pecks." 
 
 "No!" 
 
 "Bagful." 
 
 "Yes!" 
 
 An imaginary bean porridge was already cooling 
 under Six Toes olfactories. At this Mrs. Ellis de 
 termined to either win her liberty or lose her life. 
 
 One-e-ah-tah s harem had heard, and visions of 
 gorgeous apparel danced in the near perspective. 
 One-e-ah-tah heard, and his savage face was lit up with 
 the flame of passion long repressed, of vengeance 
 long deferred. He said to her, 
 
 "Take these beans to Six Toes lodge." 
 
 "What! and for that paltry price become your 
 slave \ No, sir ! I know I am worth more than a
 
 280 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 bag of beans, and I intend to march till I am quoted 
 at par." 
 
 Her intention, apparently so wild and barren of all 
 hope, was not realized by them until she had turned, 
 and was flying at a desperate speed, death behind her, 
 home before her, down the green slope to the stream, 
 which, by recent rains, was swollen even with its 
 banks. She bounded upon the spanning log. Her 
 weight was just sufficient to loose it from the bank, 
 and it swung round with her to the other side, where, 
 by a lariat loop it was fastened to a stump. She 
 slipped the noose off the stump, and swiftly winding 
 it about the log and her limbs so as to make her hold 
 secure, she laid prone upon the floating spar. Just as 
 the whole yelling pack of squaws, Indians and dogs 
 reached the stream, her rolling bark whirled into the 
 seething current. Their arrows flew thick about her, 
 yet harmless, for tumbling over and over, she was as 
 often below the surface as above. 
 
 She rode those blinding waters as though a part of 
 the log to which she grimly clung. She had no sen 
 sation of fear from drowning ; that fate was infinitely 
 preferable to recapture. She heard the unearthly yells 
 of the chase, for they followed her down along the 
 bank of the stream, hoping by some chance she might 
 drift ashore, toward the narrow gorge above the 
 rapids, which they, with her, believed to be the very 
 gate of death. But now the rocks along the shore, 
 and other impediments, hindered their advance, and 
 glancing back at their baffled, hellish countenances, 
 she felt a pleasure in the thought, " They can not see 
 me. I shall die alone/
 
 "I TOLD YOU SO." 281 
 
 A sob for the children who would wait her so long, 
 a prayer that her husband might be spared to take 
 care of them and with a resigned expression, " Fath 
 er! to thy bosom," she entered the wild, narrow 
 space through which the waters madly rushed, with a 
 deafening tumult and blinding spray ! 
 
 O helpless voyager ! no human hand can guide thy 
 bark ; no human hand can stay thy course ! 
 
 With closed eyes and gasping for breath, she had 
 no definite thought, only a dim consciousness of 
 shocks and dashes and plunges, so rapid that, but for 
 the security of the lariat, she would have lost her hold 
 a hundred times. How long ere her feet shall step in 
 colder flood ? Her bark is still ! A moment of won 
 der, and clearing her eyes of the spray she looks up 
 to see her long craft fast, diagonally across the stream 
 just above the yawning, boiling cataract, a bridge, 
 reaching from rock to rock. She could not clearly 
 make out her position, for night here deepened early 
 owing to the towering rocks, so she resigned herself 
 to waiting to see what morning should reveal. The 
 position left her feet and ankles in the water. To 
 ward morning she found the water was falling. 
 Her feet could not feel it. 
 
 " Better," she thought, "be dashed to death, than 
 to die by the slow torture of starvation, or the 
 arrows of savages who may reach me as the water 
 recedes. " 
 
 Filled with such apprehensions, she moved uneasily 
 about, until she reached without intending it the 
 lower end of the log, which, she found, was rest 
 ing on a shelf or opening in the rock, and she thought, 
 12*
 
 282 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 "Perhaps this friendly cleft is large enough to 
 hold me." 
 
 She could, however, only wait for increasing light. 
 But at last her expectant eyes discovered a friendly 
 cavern, inviting her to enter and repose an invitation 
 she was not slow to accept, as her position on that 
 narrow bridge was tiresome in the extreme, and to 
 sleep upon it was impossible. She slept most of the 
 day. Toward night, undoing her fish line, she caught 
 some trout. 
 
 " I can not eat them raw, yet ! Perhaps I may be 
 glad to, she said, and wrapping them in her apron, 
 prepared for a desperate venture. She tied her fish- 
 line to the loop or noose of the lariat, and dropped 
 one end down to the rocks below ; then she put the 
 lariat round the log, slipped it through the noose, 
 and by this means descended to the rocks. It was 
 dark, but she found the fish line, and with it drew 
 down her friendly lariat. The stream, like all moun 
 tain streams, rose and fell quickly, and now it was a 
 subdued and decorous brook, and she found it easy to 
 creep along its margin. 
 
 " I will go boldly up and take my chances of get 
 ting on to the prairie, by the only way I know. T is 
 bristling with dangers, not the least being the red 
 men, who will show me no mercy if I fall into their 
 hands now." 
 
 But indeed the red men were thrown off the scent 
 altogether. They had searched for her body below 
 the rapids all day, believing it a physical impossibility 
 for her to live through the passage of that gorge and 
 the rapids beyond. She had now crept up the stream
 
 ""I TOLD YOU SO." 283 
 
 so long, over the boulders, that her hands were bleed 
 ing from contact with their sharp edges, and her 
 naked feet (she had worn out the moccasins that 
 had been supplied her when her shoes were gone) 
 were very weary ; yet she went on, thinking, 
 
 " T is long, but why so still ? I can not hear the 
 murmur of the stream ! " 
 
 Light began to break gradually, and she feared 
 the day would dawn just as she had to pass through 
 the village ! What should she do then ? 
 
 She stopped a moment to wipe her brow and get a 
 breath, and rising up, to her amazement, she stood 
 upon the prairie. She had followed a ravine that, 
 yesterday, most likely was a torrent, for it contained 
 rocks and stones similar to those along the stream she 
 had descended. Her pulse beat quick with hope, and 
 stretching out her arms she ran as gleeful as a child, 
 in the direction of her home. She knew the route, 
 for she had noted its every feature in coming, and 
 besides, in her clear head she carried a natural com 
 pass. If only she could strike the trail, perhaps she 
 would be miles upon her way ere morning. A fire 
 across the prairie attracted her. It was trees burning 
 in a ravine. She sat down by a smouldering fire, 
 broiled her fish and ate them. The night was chilly 
 the fire so grateful that she was overcome by 
 drowsiness, and dropping upon the grass, she fell 
 asleep. 
 
 The sun was high in the sky when she awakened 
 and looked with sudden fright about her. A few feet 
 from her couch was a yawning chasm, down which it 
 was wonderful she had not stumbled in the dark. A
 
 284 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 pony was grazing quietly out on the prairie and tow 
 ard it she crept, in the Indian manner, through the 
 grass. Now her practice of throwing a lariat with 
 the squaws served her a good turn ; practice and her 
 strait perhaps gave her accuracy, for she succeeded in 
 throwing the lasso over the head of the pony, a suc 
 cess which had never before attended her attempts. 
 She tied some dry grass in her apron and bound it on 
 her shoulders in such a way that it looked like a pa 
 poose, and mounting her pony a la squaw, she bound 
 ed away toward the trail, and struck it just at sundown 
 on the verge of the woods. All night she rode on. 
 That pony was used to long trips at a round trot. In 
 the morning by the uncertain light of early dawn she 
 met three Indians. She passed by without seeming to 
 notice them but saw by a side glance that one of 
 them sharply scanned the pony. About ten o clock 
 her steed turned into a blind trail leading to a little 
 meadow where were water and grass. Dismounting 
 and remembering the Indian s scrutiny of her steed, 
 she made a more critical examination of him than she 
 had done before and then discovered that she had stol 
 en the very pony for which she had been sold. Then she 
 identified the curious Indian as its former owner. She 
 turned the pony to grass while she searched the woods 
 for elm bark and wild berries to appease her hunger, 
 after which, selecting a secluded spot, she lay down to 
 sleep. She was wakened two hours after by her pony 
 neighing. Much alarmed, she hurried out and found 
 him resting after his bait and having evidently been 
 asleep. Near him a sharp-pointed stick had been 
 driven into the ground, to the top of which, securely
 
 "I TOLD YOU SO/ 285 
 
 tied, were a piece of her own ragged dress and a piece 
 torn from a dress she remembered having seen worn 
 by Miannetta. 
 
 What could this mean? She was not long left to 
 conjecture. She concealed herself in the long grass, 
 for well she knew that device was a warning that 
 Miannetta was near, but dared not openly communi 
 cate with her. Volumes might be filled with her 
 hopes, fears, and surmises during that pregnant half 
 hour which Mrs. Ellis measured by still pulse and 
 bated breath. The silence around was broken at last 
 by a low sweet voice speaking her own name; another 
 moment and Miannetta stood by her. Greetings were 
 fervent but hurried. 
 
 "You must mount your pony and ride for your 
 life," said Miannetta. "Avoid meeting a Yankton ; 
 from other bands you have nothing to fear they will 
 not molest the prisoner of another tribe. I was on 
 my way to the Yanktons in search of our dear little 
 Nellie. I heard a white woman was with them." 
 
 "Not now," said Mrs. Ellis. 
 
 "No, she is drowned, a Yankton told me," said 
 Miannetta with a meaning smile. " I was on the trail 
 traveling fast when your pony neighed. I turned in 
 here and found him and the piece torn from your 
 dress, and understood all. From that pony s neigh I 
 knew other horses must be near, so setting up the 
 warning to you I hurried back to protect your retreat, 
 and none too soon, for I encountered the owner of this 
 pony looking for him. To his inquiries I replied that 
 I had seen a pony three miles to the sunset of us. He 
 turned back, but seeing the track of this animal,
 
 286 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 wheeled his horse and pointed to it. Yes, said I, 
 that is the track of my pony feeding now in the 
 little meadow to the left. I came back here to get 
 good water. He was satisfied, and turning his 
 horse s head galloped away. We have both many 
 things to say, but to do so would be to risk your life; 
 but you must not go without food, take this piece of 
 dried venison. Turn, take this trail which you 
 remember well. God help you, my friend ! Away ! " 
 
 She struck the pony with a stick in her hand and 
 Mrs. Ellis was flying away with a thankful heart that 
 God had thus raised up a deliverer " from imminent 
 peril. 
 
 She kept her pony at full speed. Twas well for 
 her he had been primed by hard riding under heavy 
 horsemen ; now, her slight weight was no incon 
 venience. After the next noon s short rest and bait, 
 when she mounted him, he seemed still quite fresh 
 and soon settled down to the steady trot which, by the 
 rapid recession of trees, Mrs. Ellis knew was telling. 
 She smiled as she patted his shining brown shoulder 
 which she had gratefully rubbed, as well as his black 
 legs and dark flanks, and said : 
 
 "My noble fellow-chattel, you shall never depre 
 ciate in value as I have. I have two charming little 
 boys whose proud care it will be to groom you. " 
 
 Grass being more easy to obtain than food for her 
 self, his strength never seemed to flag though the 
 farther she got upon her way the more she favored 
 him and let him rest, though rest to her was a torture 
 because of dreams of satisfying repasts. She would 
 waken chilled and sick, yet full of hope as she neared
 
 "l TOLD YOU SO." 287 
 
 the settlements. Once she came to a nice log farm 
 house where she found food in the cellar^ A cow 
 came to the bars with her calf. Mrs. Ellis milked 
 her, and O ! the delights of that supper. Here her 
 pony also fared well with a nice feed of oats in the 
 sheaf. This silent home h#d been deserted by the 
 owner and his family through fear of the Indians. 
 Mrs. Ellis spent the night there and when she mount 
 ed Besom in the morning she said : 
 
 "One more long ride and to-morrow night you 
 shall have a permanent stable. 1 
 
 She had procured food there to last her through, 
 but the quality scarcely gave her the strength she 
 needed for the last stretch. She was terribly ex 
 hausted, so that even her sleep that night had not re 
 freshed her and it was a painful weary journey the 
 next day. the seventh since her last sale to One-e-ah- 
 tah. 
 
 The shadows of the maple trees grew longer and 
 longer ; something troubled her throat, the great chok 
 ing lumps threatened to suffocate her, her heart kept 
 up an incessant pit-a-pat, and she could not suppress 
 hysterical sobbings, which her face however showed 
 were not sorrowful ones. The trail now lost its for 
 est appearance and was nothing more than a well-trod 
 den cow-path From either side came the pastoral 
 sound of familiar cow-bells. 
 
 Anon her pony pricked up his ears and neighed, as 
 he struck his hoofs into the soil of a well-traveled 
 road. Around a curve a white lamb bounded, and 
 from behind him two childish voices rang : 
 "Nanny, Nanny, Nanny!"
 
 288 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 Mrs. Ellis sprang from her seat, and holding out 
 her hand, it was instantly recognized and licked. The 
 children came running into view, stopped in astonish 
 ment an instant, and then the woods pealed with their 
 glad shouts : 
 
 "Mamma! mamma! " 
 
 Uncle Carce sat smoking on the doorstep. Grand 
 ma was getting supper. Both ran out at the cries, 
 and saw the three twined in a long, close embrace. 
 A mist was before their eyes, but grandma, true to 
 her sex, first found speech -and that speech was an 
 other characteristic of women, 
 
 "There now, Carce, I told you so!"
 
 TWO RECOGNITIONS. 289 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 TWO RECOGNITIONS. 
 
 IT was December, 1862. The weather was extremely 
 cold, and constant rains kept the roads on the 
 Peninsula bad ; but the worst could be found at Fal- 
 mouth and atong the Rappahannock, where the Army 
 of the Potomac, under command of Burnside (Mo 
 Clellan had been relieved in November), was encamped. 
 The rebel batteries were frowning upon the heights 
 beyond the city of Fredericksburg. Rebel sentinels, 
 buttoned to their chins, paced briskly back and forth, 
 puffing the smoke of their pipes over toward the Fed 
 eral pickets, within speaking distance, in a way that 
 was sometimes considered insolent ; but such insolence 
 was now disregarded. On the eleventh, the city was 
 shelled by our troops, and pontoon bridges laid, amid 
 the hot hail of the sharp-shooters safely hidden in the 
 houses and church steeples opposite. Of the soldiers 
 engaged in laying the bridges, three out of every 
 five fell at their work ; but another gallant trio in 
 every instance took their places. The interruptions, 
 however, were so frequent and fatal, that it was 
 thought expedient to send a force to dislodge the con 
 cealed foe. Several companies volunteered (that of 
 Captain Ellis among them) for that preliminary ser 
 vice, which was accomplished with little loss. The 
 T 13
 
 290 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 bridge completed, the troops marched over and took 
 possession of the city. 
 
 Two days afterward, a dreadful battle was in pro 
 gress. Cannon rolled out their death sentence, and 
 the musketry was deafening. A man, in soiled, 
 tattered garments, erstwhile a handsome Federal uni 
 form, was observed to step out from the ranks of the 
 enemy toward Captain Ellis, evidently with the pur 
 pose of speaking to him, but fell, whether from the 
 effect of a deadly missile or not was not evident to 
 his only observer. 
 
 Long Dave Persons marked the spot with his clear, 
 eagle eye, with all the precision possible amid that 
 cloud of dust and smoke. A few minutes afterwards 
 he bent over that ragged, prostrate form. Turning it 
 over, he discovered features that caused the rough old 
 woodsman to relieve himself of expressions of surprise 
 and emotion, far more forcible than elegant. He raised 
 the unconscious man as easily and tenderly as an 
 infant, and carried him away, past the shrieking 
 groups of wounded, past the silent dead. Dave 
 hurried to the hospital, in a church, where he laid him 
 down, and stood anxiously beside the surgeon while 
 he examined him. He caught the words of the report 
 with avidity. 
 
 Not wounded ? Good God ! what ails him then ? " 
 
 " Exhaustion, my good fellow ! He s been starved 
 and exposed to some terrible privations. Look at his 
 cadaverous face and his poor, maimed feei ! Oh, this 
 is a cruel war indeed ! " 
 
 "Why, must he die, doctor?" said Dave, while 
 bis white lip quivered.
 
 TWO RECOGNITIONS. 291 
 
 " With good nursing, he might recover, I think," 
 was the reply. 
 
 Tears rolled down the bronzed cheek of the soldier 
 as he grasped both hands of the kind-hearted surgeon, 
 and looking into his face, said : 
 
 "Doctor, save his life if possible. After the 
 battle I will come and help you nurse him yes, I 
 will, in spite of captains, generals, or even the Pres 
 ident of the United States." 
 
 He was gone. Ten minutes afterward, his regiment 
 charged those stone walls, fortifications which, situ 
 ated as they were, might defy the armies of the earth, 
 and whence death had been dealt to thousands who 
 had attempted the impossible task of carrying them 
 by storm. 
 
 Half way up the heights, and half their number 
 lay dead or dying ; still, undaunted, they pressed on 
 through the smoke. Ah ! t was repulse again ! The 
 disastrous field was strewn with the mangled, valiant 
 dead, who had not questioned, had not hesitated, but 
 obedient to the shrill "Charge!" had rushed on, to 
 fall in the great rivers of blood where no living man 
 could stand. 
 
 Among the devoted dead, none more worthy of a 
 tear than brave, generous Dave Persons, who lay 
 among the upper tier, nearest the "mouth of hell," 
 where he had been arrested and detained by a stronger 
 power than "captain or President," even that of the 
 King of Kings. Nor mother, nor wife, nor child shall 
 mourn him, for he had no kindred ties ; but a 
 grateful people will hallow his memory, in that he 
 died in the service of their mother country.
 
 292 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 After this useless effusion of blood, a council of 
 war was held, and it was decided that the enterprise 
 of taking Fredericksburg should be for the present 
 abandoned. The army recrossed the Rappahannock 
 under the cover of darkness. The retreat was accom 
 plished and the bridges partly removed, before the 
 rebels discovered the movement. 
 
 The unnecessary slaughter on those dreadful slopes 
 of Fredericksburg, had a very depressing effect upon 
 the army as it took its old position on the muddy 
 banks of the Rappahannock, where, depressed and 
 chilled, it gazed on the renewed insolence of rebel sen 
 tinels, and waited }^et again. The Northern press was 
 very severe in its criminating tone, and of all positions, 
 civil or military, the least enviable at that time was 
 that of the General commanding. 
 
 The wounded were sent to Acquia Creek, where 
 they suffered exceedingly in consequence of inade 
 quate sanitary stores, poor buildings and the inclement 
 weather. 
 
 One cold December morning following a night of 
 great mortality in the hospital, an old gentleman and 
 young lady moved slowly down between the long 
 rows of cots, peering wistfully, though politely and 
 with evident sympathy, into the faces of the sick and 
 wounded. Save an occasional word of comfort to the 
 poor fellows as they passed, they spoke but little. It 
 was Mr. Meade and Alice, in search of their son and 
 brother, "Walter," who was known to have been in 
 the recent battle, but of whom no tidings had been 
 obtained since. They had come down, hoping a search 
 in the hospital might reward them. Many of the
 
 TWO RECOGNITIONS. 293 
 
 men were sleeping, and their hearts sometimes beat 
 with quicker throbs, as the cast of a face in repose, 
 or the tone of some speaker, suggested the lineaments 
 and voice of him they sought, and yet, following the 
 momentary illusion they would stand face to face with 
 a stranger. In all the forms of suffering, humanity, 
 there had been no recognition of their own flesh and 
 blood, and they were about passing out the door when 
 a nurse followed them hurriedly, saying : 
 
 "You seek some friend ? " 
 
 "My son," said Mr. Meade. 
 
 "Follow me, please ! I was attending a man who 
 has been very low, but is mending. As you passed, 
 he appeared to recognize you, but fainted directly 
 you went on." 
 
 While she spoke, they were rapidly retracing their 
 steps, and now stood beside the pallet of the wan-fea 
 tured man, just recovering from a swoon. As he opened 
 his magnificent eyes, Alice threw herself beside the 
 cot. 
 
 " O George ! my darling, whom I believed dead ! 
 Father, this is he whom I have mourned, who was so 
 wickedly personated by another. It is George Lang- 
 mere. " 
 
 Almost beside herself, she put her arms about his 
 neck and embraced him. 
 
 Then he faintly spoke, 
 
 " There is some cruel mistake here. My name is 
 Herbert Gray, and you are you not the wife of 
 George Lanymere ? " 
 
 You have seen the electric flash athwart a leaden 
 sky light up the heavens for an instant, then all again
 
 294 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 has been enveloped in midnight gloom. So the face 
 of Alice, supremely radiant with sudden hope, as his 
 feeble voice pronounced his own and her husband s 
 name, grew still and pale till it looked like chiseled 
 marble. Her father, with an apology, unlocked the 
 hands that had grown rigid in their clasp about Her 
 bert s neck, and taking her in his arms carried her to 
 the carriage and drove to a hotel, where she was many 
 days ill and delirious. 
 
 That meeting had been a peculiar awakening to 
 the pure young girl, whose ship, freighted with gor 
 geous wealth, had sunk months before, thousands of 
 fathoms deep, into the silent waters of fate, when at 
 Dr. Bartholt s she had married an impostor. This 
 was the man she meant to marry, the man she sup 
 posed was the veritable Langmere, with whom she 
 had corresponded; and behold, now he announced his 
 name, one she had never heard, and yet, mystery of 
 mysteries, he seemed familiar with the fact of her 
 marriage. 
 
 "Who shall ever unravel the skein ? 
 When she had explained all this to her father, he, 
 unknown to her, visited Herbert again, and following 
 the impulse of his honest old heart, made a "clean 
 breast " of the whole matter. During the recital, 
 Herbert saw the villainy of Langmere and was moved 
 to great compassion for the peculiar position of Alice, 
 whom he loved all the more deeply that she owed her 
 terrible predicament to love of him. His proud, up 
 right nature forbade his seeing her, but he sent her 
 assurances of esteem, and words of hope for a 
 brighter day.
 
 TWO RECOGNITIONS. 295 
 
 Capt. Ellis was unremitting in his care. Gradu 
 ally strength came to him, Mr. Meade generously 
 supplying him with many comforts and aids to speedy 
 restoration, alternately taking him and Alice out for 
 air in an easy carriage. In one of these long rides 
 he learned the incidents of Herbert s imprisonment 
 and sojourn among the rebels. 
 
 He was captured by Johnson s black cavalry. 
 Pinioned upon a horse behind a brutal fellow, who, 
 regardless of his discomfort, had ridden with him 
 "hither and yon," now in pursuit of flying, demoral 
 ized Federals, and now searching for stragglers. 
 Once he saw Dave Persons and Gus Harkness lying 
 prone upon their faces, beside a fallen tree, over 
 which the horse was compelled to leap at the risk ot 
 neck and limb. He tried to release his hand to drop 
 to them some trifling token of recognition, which 
 might serve as a clue to his fate, but he was too 
 tightly bound. Watching the spot as the urged horse 
 tore madly on, he saw other rebels approach very 
 near, thrusting their bayonets at random through tan 
 gled bushes and firing into clumps of brush and under 
 growth. He believed it almost impossible for them 
 to escape ; death would have been certain had they 
 moved. 
 
 Late in the evening he was carried into camp, and 
 after being exposed to the rude jests of common sol 
 diers till nearly midnight, he was contemptuously 
 handed over to the custody of an old Arkansas sharp 
 shooter, whose 
 
 "Long Polly could whisper a lullaby at three hundred yards or 
 more."
 
 296 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 t 
 
 Supperless and without cover, he slept on the 
 hard, open ground, and before morning was drenched 
 with rain. He broke his long fast the next afternoon 
 twenty-four hours after his capture, when the train 
 which carried him was well on the way toward the 
 Confederate Inquisition, the tobacco warehouses of 
 Richmond. Of the long months of torture endured 
 there, his experience differed not materially from that 
 of others. 
 
 The vile food was eaten when revolting nature 
 could hold out no longer. The loathsome vermin 
 infested his garments, hitherto the subject of fastidi 
 ous care, and multiplied in the little sixteen-foot room 
 occupied by six men and the jailor s dog. It is not 
 easy to conceive of the emotions of one so situated, 
 much less delineate them. Marmontal said, How 
 can I take portraits before I have seen faces ? " and 
 how can I presume to portray the wretchedness of 
 such- a prisoner, who have never known anything like 
 it. It is so easy to console ourselves for the miseries 
 of others or to say, if so situated, we would find 
 means to avert or mitigate them. It is as impossible 
 for those at ease to realize the pain of perpetual toil, 
 as for those who toil to conceive of a life without 
 task. 
 
 Passing over this period of monotonous durance, 
 let us examine with Herbert Gray the forlorn chances 
 of escape. 
 
 He has come to be a favorite of the rough but 
 heartsome jailor, who is greatly indebted to him for 
 the quiet and subordination of the mutinous, noisy 
 fellows under his charge. Rebel conscription is very
 
 TWO RECOGNITIONS. 297 
 
 close ; every man it is possible to spare from places 
 of trust is in the army, and here one man relieves two 
 or three in the twenty-four hours. It is not wonder 
 ful that the turnkey is sometimes drowsy and sleeps 
 at his post, and Herbert has humanely served him 
 many times while he has snatched repose, when, if 
 discovered, reprimand would be very severe. Her 
 bert has more than once stood guard outside the door 
 with his garments on, while he slept just within, and 
 as no good chance seemed to offer or his courage 
 would fail him if escape seemed possible, he had 
 never outraged this confidence so strangely reposed 
 in him. But the hour came when courage and temp 
 tation coalesced. 
 
 One dark, rainy night, the jailor s wife, who had 
 been very sick for many days, sent a message to him 
 to hasten, for she was dying, and he once more confided 
 the key to Herbert, with the promise to return in a 
 short time. Whether he did or not we shall never 
 know. 
 
 The prison door closed behind two parties of three 
 men, who had resolved to risk a desperate fate. The 
 leading party, consisting of Herbert Gray, Fred 
 Steele, a Michigan artilleryman, and Sumner Burgess, 
 a citizen of Buffalo, New York, whose curiosity had 
 led him sight-seeing to Bull Run. They threw them 
 selves upon the sentinel who challenged them three 
 feet from the door, bound and gagged him, and laid 
 him carefully inside the room they had just quitted 
 forever. It was quick work, for those men " kept 
 time by heart-throbs," and arm in arm now the three 
 named (the others were already gone in the gloom)
 
 298 MAPLE KANGE. 
 
 went stealthily down the streets, Gray, the lay figure, 
 to be exhibited as required, the " spokesman, " Bur 
 gess, and the "man of news," Steele. 
 
 They ran on, they knew not whither, but always 
 instinctively away from the warehouses and the street 
 lamps. The rain deadened their footsteps on the. 
 pavement, save an unfortunate slipety-slap that regu 
 larly accompanied Burgess, whose boot was so worn 
 that upper and sole parted company every time he 
 lifted his foot. They had gone some distance straight 
 on, having said "in turning there may be doom," 
 when a sudden and authoritative "Halt!" arrested 
 them. Burgess blustered out in genuine Arkansas 
 tones : 
 
 "Make it halter, old hoss, and we are at 1 your ser 
 vice in no time. We ve got another candidate for the 
 maggot-shop. We clapt hooks on him jest as he 
 crawled into the lines to-night, an had orders to pull 
 him through on the double-quick, though we \1 rather 
 stretch his neck than his legs this mi nit. But we 
 must get back for another skunk that we reckon will 
 try the same hole. So give us the watchword, com 
 rade, and save delay next time a sentinel bites his 
 word off. Hurry up your cakes ! " 
 
 And the countersign was given by the raw sentry 
 or patrol, and they went on rapidly, slipety slap, 
 slipety slap," through dim-lighted ways, ever straight 
 on. Once a fierce-looking fellow turned the blaze of 
 his bull s-eye full into their faces, and aiming a revol 
 ver at Burgess head, halted them in the "name of 
 the Confederate States and commonwealth of Vir 
 ginia."
 
 TWO RECOGNITIONS. 299 
 
 "The same name commissioned us to take this 
 man, who is one of the reliables, to division head 
 quarters, where he will make valuable disclosures 
 concerning the enemy. We are ordered to observe 
 haste, and without multiplying words with those 
 whose business it is to demand the countersign," said 
 Burgess, respectfully emphasizing the word that im 
 plied reproach, which the guard noticed and recov 
 ered his lost ground by immediately and sternly 
 saying, 
 
 " I demand the countersign ! " 
 
 "Stonewall, " said Burgess, coolly. 
 
 "All right. Turn to the left the next corner or 
 you will be on the old bridge that is very unsafe now. 
 A bad night, comrades, a bad night." 
 
 On they went straight to the "old bridge," 
 avoided by other men, therefore offering safety to 
 them. A brief council resulted in the tearing up of 
 three planks, upon which they purposed to embark 
 and glide with the current. The dark waters were 
 not more cruel than the enemy in whose stronghold 
 they were. 
 
 After a mute grasping of hands, more eloquent 
 than speech in the hour of peril, they launched out 
 into the darkness upon their frail planks and dropped 
 silently down the stream, committing their souls to 
 Him who walked upon the wave. Once fairly poised 
 and in the current, their peril lay in change of posi 
 tion, and though chilled through and through, Her 
 bert dared not risk the advantages of repose in one 
 position. Aching and stiff, and wet below by the
 
 300 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 river, above by the rain, he still feared the dawn and 
 its revelations, but it came at last. 
 
 Before, behind, on either side of hinTfog, and be 
 side himself, as far as he could penetrate the mist, 
 not a solitary voyager. Guiding his raft to the shore, 
 he clambered up, pulling it after him, and hiding in a 
 clump of bushes under a shelving bank, he lay down, 
 with the idea of remaining there till darkness again 
 
 o c? 
 
 favored navigation. His eye fell upon a peculiar im 
 pression in the mushy soil. He recognized the track 
 of Burgess broken boot and with something of his 
 old pleasantry he laughed at the grotesque mark, re 
 peating audibly Longfellow s 
 
 " Some forlorn and shipwrecked brother 
 Seeing shall take heart again!" 
 
 The darkness being so many hours away, he was 
 not afraid of oversleeping himself, and so with tanta 
 lizing dreams of food and fire, he spent many of these 
 hours, waking as the sun sent red slant rays over the 
 water into his chamber. "As night dropped her cur 
 tain down and pinned it with a star," he embarked 
 again upon the water, and floated on past many a 
 guarded spot and saw the sentry on his lonely beat. 
 Many times he was painfully near discovery but, fav 
 ored by fortune, he still followed the merciful waters. 
 
 At break of day the second morning he heard 
 dogs barking and other sounds of plantation life. 
 Hunger impelled him strongly to follow them. He 
 felt that he must make some effort to obtain food. 
 Without it he would be too weak to hold on to his
 
 TWO RECOGNITIONS. 301 
 
 plank ; it was with difficulty even now be drew it up 
 the bank. He lay down to rest a little after the effort 
 of pulling it out of the water and almost immediately 
 dozed ofi into slumber. How long he slept he could 
 not tell, but on waking he heard a voice chanting in a 
 low mournful wailing tone something like a hymn. 
 Kaising himself on his elbow, he discovered an old 
 negro fishing, with his boat fastened to a pile of drift 
 wood. Hunger could be restrained no longer, pru 
 dence was cast aside, and he called out : 
 
 "Sell me a fish, uncle?" 
 
 The old man looked up, his eyes rolling so that it 
 was some seconds before he fixed them upon his inter 
 locutor, when, with a good natured grin that extended 
 to either ear, he answered : 
 
 "Laws no, but I ll gib ye one, sah; an I have got 
 some hoe cake an sweet taters heah that you may 
 hab, for de Lawd help me if ever- 1 seed a crittah look 
 so starved like, an wid eyes that seem as if washed 
 wid de glory of angels." 
 
 He at once came up the bank with the eatables and 
 set himself to broil the fish while Herbert dispatched 
 the hoe cake and potatoes. Never had food seemed 
 so delicious. The old negro seemed very watchful 
 while thus engaged and to Herbert s inquiry as to 
 what he feared replied : 
 
 "Dey s looking for ye, honey, with dogs, all ober 
 the country an thru de woods, three poor fellahs dey 
 tuk this morning, an one with a sore foot, went past 
 here down the river this time yesterday. I give him 
 breakfast an he tole me to look for ye, an I did all 
 day, wraslin and pray in for ye, an pears like some
 
 302 MAPLE KANGE. 
 
 spirit tuk them titions up to the New Jerusalem, for 
 here ye are, eatin what I provided for yer, ye pore 
 persecuted friend of the colored race. Ye would 
 break the yoke an let the opprest go free, an for 
 that reason the oppressors hunt and will harm ye if 
 they find ye. The retribution that is waitin em 
 shall come as a whirlwind, an they shall not see the 
 glory of God when he shall come in pillars of fire for 
 his own." 
 
 He was not a common specimen of the negro race 
 and to Herbert became at once a psychological study. 
 Some of his scriptural applications were very sensi 
 ble and others showed that in his head sound was 
 made sometimes to answer all the purposes of sense. 
 He borrowed without stint from the Bible, uttering 
 the texts with the peculiarity of intonation character 
 istic of the religiously inclined of his race. 
 
 He remained some time with Herbert, giving ut 
 terance at intervals to strange expressions, which 
 seemed a part of a continuous prayer, either for the 
 weal of the oppressed or the woe of the oppressor. 
 
 When it was dark, he rose from the ground and 
 shouldering the poke (bag) that contained the remnants 
 of the feast, said : 
 
 Come ! follow me closely, if I drop on the ground 
 as if dead, drop you also, but do n t speak or ask me 
 why." 
 
 They went on rapidly as Herbert s condition would 
 allow, and made good use of the darkness. Sev 
 eral miles had been made, when suddenly the deep 
 hoarse baying of near hounds startled them and in 
 creased their gait. They ran across a cornfield to a
 
 TWO RECOGNITIONS. 303 
 
 wood, on the right, and plunging into a morass strug 
 gled through it to a sluggish stream where they set 
 tled up to their ears in water. Some time they lay, 
 trembling at the barking and growling of dogs, foiled 
 in their pursuit by losing their trail at the brink of 
 this morass. Mingled with the furious barking were 
 curses and brutal oaths, which, Herbert noticed with 
 satisfaction, grew fainter and fainter as the baffled 
 pursuers retired. They crawled out of the stream 
 onto the opposite bank and went on, more fearlessly, 
 as the chase was now evidently miles away though its 
 echoes even then sounded all too real. From the 
 quaint rambling speech of the negro, when not in his 
 absent prophetic moods, Herbert learned the most 
 feasible route to Fredericksburg where the Federal 
 army lay. 
 
 I s scratched de grabble on dat are route two 
 times, wid de dogs arter me, honey, I orter know 
 de safe way, an de safest way ain t de plainest, 
 shore. " 
 
 "Tis a narrow way, and few there be that find 
 it," suggested Herbert, adding, "Twice you have 
 been a fugitive by this route ?" 
 
 "Yes, sah ! an I s been wuth a heap more to 
 myself than to massa, ever since ; for, tho I s 
 worked hard nuf, I s tole more niggahs how to git off 
 than he got back in the two t ousan dollahs he swoah 
 I was wuth, at Fredericksburg." 
 
 " And did none others return to him? " said Her 
 bert. 
 
 "Yes, oh, yes!" he said, and then took up the 
 tone of prophesy, crying: "Oh, yes; dat was my
 
 304: MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 own chile, my Lizzie. Behold the stone doth cry out 
 from the wall, and the timber doth answer it. Why 
 dost thou delay, O thou avenger of the weak ? Did 
 she not lie three days speechless upon my breast in 
 this jungle, after that awful scourging, and did I not 
 make her grave in the wilderness ? " 
 
 They traveled on till near morning sometimes in 
 the water, the more effectually to elude pursuit, and 
 as often on the spongy, springy banks where footing, 
 always insecure, was much more so in the darkness. 
 
 As the day began to glimmer through the fringy 
 needles of the pines, at the risk of discovery, they 
 made a fire and cooked a chicken the negro had cap 
 tured in a midnight raid upon the negro quarters of a 
 plantation they had passed in the night. After eating 
 they settled down into the grass, out of sight, and fell 
 asleep. They were upon a little island, not more than 
 ten feet square, of solid ground, and which seemed, 
 from the high land, eighty rods distant, to be a part and 
 parcel of the swamp that surrounded it a perfect jun 
 gle of cat briar and tangled vine. Its existence, except in 
 dire extremity like this of Herbert s, would never be 
 ascertained by a white man. But the negroes of the 
 South became familiar with such spots, to their great 
 advantage over their pursuers when attempting to 
 realize their liberty by flight North. T was afternoon 
 when Herbert awoke. His companion was up before 
 him, preparing dinner, which he had evidently pro 
 cured in some clandestine manner not entirely without 
 human assistance. He had a nice loaf of white bread 
 and some butter, and he was busy broiling a chicken 
 over the coals. He did not notice at first that Herbert
 
 TWO RECOGNITIONS. 305 
 
 was awake, as he was stooping at his task. When he 
 raised he began repeating with monotonous enuncia 
 tion: "Who is this that cometh from Edom with 
 dyed garment from Basrah ? " then in a louder tone: "I 
 that speak in righteousness, mighty to save, I will 
 tread in my anger and trample them in my fury, and 
 their blood shall be sprinkled on my garments." 
 
 These quotations were made in clear, good English, 
 and yet when Herbert, who had risen, came forward 
 to the fire, he was addressed in the most simple negro 
 dialect : 
 
 "Ye see, I s cum to luck dis mornin , sah ! De 
 Lo d jest opened my eyes, an I seed dis loaf and dis 
 pot o 1 steamin coffee settin on t other bank over dar, 
 an I could n t fend de Lo d no how ; so I jes went 
 over an tuck em yes, sah ! One ting is bery certain: 
 If de Lo d sent em, de black folks brought em dar. 
 But de black critters will some of em provide for 
 them that is hunted an starvin an is ready to perish. 
 Was n t de ravens dat fed Lijah an brought him de 
 hoe-cake in de wilde ness, black? Yah, yah ; jest as 
 black as Massa Wheelock s Grundy that brought dis 
 supper down to the bank while I was singin , " saying 
 which, he sang again in his rich deep voice : 
 
 " Our harps that, when with joy we sang, 
 Were wont their tuneful parts to bear, 
 With silent strings, neglected, hang 
 On willow boughs in mute despair. 
 
 "Dat, sah, is de spression of dem dat hide from 
 de terrors of de yoke. It means dat some poor, 
 bruised reed is hungry and faint ; dat some Hagar 
 U 13*
 
 306 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 sits in despair in de wilds, or some broder is in strem- 
 ity. Ye can go into de wust swamp in all dis swampy 
 land, sah, an sing dat ar little ditto, an de plantation 
 hands will pack der bandannas wid hominy an chick 
 en, an when night comes dey will flock roun ye like 
 blackbirds in a co n-field. Can ye sing ? " 
 
 " Yes ; but not like you," was the reply. 
 
 "Well, now, ole Whiting will Tarn ye some of 
 his songs that he sings as he wades the Jordan, ca se 
 it s borne in on my mind that ye will be in some 
 powerful straits afore ye git through, an it may sarve 
 ye to member this. " 
 
 He repeated it over, line by line, till Herbert had 
 learned it ; then he joined with him in singing it. 
 
 It began to get dark again, and the negro repeated 
 his instructions, which, when followed, were a perfect 
 key to this peculiar route infallible as an engineer s 
 map and now they prepared to separate. Remnants 
 of the supper were put into the bag where, also, an 
 other loaf was found, and swinging it over his shoul 
 der as he was bid, Herbert wrung the hand of his 
 sable guide and friend. Turning away, he left him 
 standing on the little isle in the cane-brake, while 
 he plunged into and struggled slowly through the mud. 
 Now and then the rich voice reached him as, in wrapt 
 thought, Whiting gave utterance to snatches of the 
 inspiring poetry of those men of old, who saw visions 
 and dreamed dreams. 
 
 " Amen ! amen ! Behold we are in readiness, O 
 Lord ! Thy people have seen the sign of Thy com 
 ing. "
 
 TWO RECOGNITIONS. 307 
 
 "Amen!" was the last sound Herbert caught, 
 vehemently pronounced by that overwrought soul, 
 absorbed in unceasing calculations of human abuses 
 and Almighty justice. 
 
 All night long he toiled on, feeling more lonely 
 for the recent companionship ; but as details of that 
 journey of days of rests and nights of unremitting 
 effort would occupy too much space here, I will pass 
 over the various incidents wherein he proved the use 
 fulness of musical signals, and was fed and put in 
 safer ways. 
 
 Two weeks had been occupied in this journey ere 
 the heights of Fredericksburg rose upon his vision. 
 It was just as the whispering trees waved their 
 branches in salutation of the early dawn. He had 
 with great difficulty drawn his wet, weary legs out 
 of the river along whose shallow margin he had 
 waded some hundred yards. Putting forth all his 
 remaining strength, he climbed up a large oak where 
 he saw an opening large enough to hold and hide him 
 from view a very necessary thing, as the whole 
 country was swarming with rebel soldiers. 
 
 For two days he had tasted no kind of food except 
 some nourishing roots that grew upon the banks of the 
 sluggish stream he followed. It was the very day of 
 the Federal troops crossing the river and taking pos 
 session of the city of Fredericksburg, and the whole 
 movement he witnessed from his hungry outlook in 
 the tree. Below him were encamped men he knew 
 to be thirsting for Federal blood. 
 
 The company had been detailed upon some duty,
 
 308 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 and left their camp under the trees for many hours 
 that day. He dropped down and found some cold 
 coffee and bread which sickened rather than refreshed 
 him; he had grown too weak to digest anything. He 
 climbed again to his lonely eyrie to wait with impa 
 tient heart the favorable chance to creep under the 
 beloved banner that flaunted its significant hues over 
 the rebel city so near, and yet, considering the desper 
 ate chances, so far. 
 
 Involuntarily he borrowed the cadence of his late 
 colored guide, and stretching out his hands toward the 
 
 O O 
 
 flag, cried pathetically : 
 
 U O, that I had wings like a dove, I would fly to 
 thee, my beloved, and be at rest." 
 
 His excitement was so intense that he had no sense 
 of suffering, during the interim between his last as 
 cension into the tree and the hour when he found him 
 self unrecognized among his own comrades on the 
 
 <r> o 
 
 battle field. He thought he must be dying, his suffer 
 ings all returning, and he remembered thinking he 
 must speak to Capt. Ellis, come what might. At that 
 point his memory failed him, not knowing even who 
 saved him till, in the description the surgeon gave him 
 of the man who brought him to the hospital, he recog 
 nized his old friend, Long Dave Persons. 
 
 The wintry days wore on. Alice had recovered 
 from her illness, and to-morrow with her father would 
 return home. A long drive had occupied the hours 
 of the last day of their stay at Acquia Creek. About 
 two o clock they drove along past the headquarters 
 of an Ohio regiment and were attracted by the pre 
 liminary ceremonies of a military execution.
 
 TWO RECOGNITIONS. 309 
 
 A private with his cap drawn down over his face 
 so as to very much hide his features, came out of a 
 tent, attended by the chaplain, and entered an ambu 
 lance. Behind in another ambulance was a coffin, on 
 every side guards with bristling bayonets. A half mile 
 was traversed, and then the soldier left the ambulance 
 his arm interlocked with the arm of the chaplain. They 
 walked thus to the designated spot, while the whole 
 division was drawn up on three sides of a hollow 
 square, the prisoner, chaplain and guard occupying the 
 open side, where a grave had been dug, and by the 
 grave they placed the coffin. He sat down upon the 
 coffin while fetters were placed upon his feet, and his 
 eyes bandaged. In front of him a firing party was 
 drawn up composed of two from each regiment. One 
 face in that party is particularly familiar to us ; Gus 
 Harkness is one of the firing party. 
 
 A division General stood by while the Provost 
 Marshal read the death sentence, and shook hands 
 with the condemned. A prayer was offered while all 
 heads were uncovered solemnly, yet the faces of 
 the officers and soldiers betrayed no evidence of emo 
 tion or sorrow. Evidently the wretched man who was 
 about to experience the extremity of military disci 
 pline, had no personal friends. The chaplain shook 
 hands with him, speaking some last words of spiritual 
 consolation, and then stepping away, the prisoner 
 stood alone. The word of command was given, one 
 volley and he fell upon his coffin dead. He was lifted 
 up and placed within it. The troops all filed by to 
 look upon his face. Alice and her father felt an irre-
 
 310 MAPLE EANGE. 
 
 pressible desire to look upon him also. They left 
 their carriage and fell in behind the soldiers as they 
 marched past the dishonored dead. 
 
 One look, and the shivering girl clung tightly to 
 the arm of her father as he led her quickly away from 
 the mortal remains of George Langmere.
 
 CHECKMATED. 311 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 CHECKMATED. 
 
 ~TTT"E left Lizbeth Harkness and George Langmere 
 V V on the lofty precipitous bank of a river, one 
 Summer night, months ago, the first impressed with the 
 Arcadian beauty of the scene spread out before and 
 below them. The other more particularly impressed 
 with the apparent difficulties of their descent, turned 
 to their guides and inquired (rather sharply for a cap 
 tive gentleman): 
 
 " How in the name of your dead sachems are we 
 going to get off ?" 
 
 "Why, jump," said Lizbeth, recovering her spirits 
 in the excitement of a novel situation, "and light up 
 on that inviting carpet of green, or more delightful 
 still, upon the sparkling waters below us." 
 
 The Indians preceding them, followed a circuitous 
 route down to a ford. It was twilight before they en 
 tered the town and drove to the most respectable 
 structure, a white birch bark wigwam of circular 
 form and very comfortable dimensions. Judging 
 from olfactory evidence, Langmere s whisky had 
 already found its home there. A bright fire burned 
 upon the hard beaten ground, in the center, the smoke 
 seeking an outlet through an opening on the top. 
 The game upon the green was suspended and the
 
 312 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 players were gathered in knots along the bank and 
 near the door where the travelers stopped, an idle, 
 listless, uncouth set of young loafers, behind whose 
 apparently imperturbable indifference and stoicism 
 were burning fires of curiosity. They had no appear 
 ance of seeing the newcomers, and the staring loung 
 ers about a country church door might have taken 
 profitable lessons of them. Their method of taking 
 observations was so unobtrusive and inoffensive that 
 the chances would seem favorable to maintaining an 
 incognito a grand mistake. Every feature, every 
 article of dress, every peculiarity of gait or gesture 
 were as clearly daguerreotyped upon those young 
 savage minds as are the delineations of the masters 
 upon the speaking canvas. Twenty years thereafter, 
 if Lizbeth or Langmere were to meet one or all of 
 them, they would be recognized instantaneously. 
 
 Langmere sprang from the buggy and assisted 
 Lizbeth to get out. They were within half a dozen 
 paces of the door and together walked toward it. 
 Beside it Langmere, with considerable extravagance 
 of manner, bowed too graciously to suit the grave 
 mood Lizbeth happened to be in, at the same time 
 stepping to one side to allow her to precede him. 
 This was only natural gallantry, but she was a back 
 woods girl, with few ideas of the fine points of eti 
 quette, and she felt a sudden suspicion of this move 
 ment, accompanied, as it was, by his whispered, 
 "Enter thy palace, my beautiful queen." 
 She had crossed the threshold, but his word 
 struck her ear and roused the thought, " He designs 
 this as my infamous abode." That thought awakened
 
 CHECKMATED. 313 
 
 a madness that was lurking in her soul. Turning 
 
 " O 
 
 round she would have darted out, but he had antici 
 pated this and swiftly closed the door behind her. 
 With almost superhuman strength she pushed him 
 away and tried to open the door, but it was fastened 
 already from without as well as within. 
 
 What does this mean ? " she asked passionately. 
 "Why am I thus imprisoned and why are you here 
 with me ? Speak, for it is your plan, and the Indians 
 are only your infamous tools." 
 
 Yes," he answered, "it is my plan. What I 
 value I will keep, and you know I love you. " 
 
 l You are a perfidious fool to make such a state 
 ment to a married woman," again pushing him back 
 from her. 
 
 "Thanks, you are quite too complimentary, espe 
 cially as it is my pleasure to consider that married 
 woman my wife. I suppose such compliments are 
 frequently exchanged by married folks, and as I am 
 an apt imitator it will not be long before I shall be an 
 adept in those little amenities that tend so much to 
 connubial felicity. " 
 
 " Let me go ! I will not stay here another mo 
 ment. We are out of the woods now, and I answer 
 your question as to our friendship, George Langmere, 
 a thousand times no ! " she cried. 
 
 " It is to your advantage to yield gracefully to my 
 ilicitations, " he said, "while they still are the solici- 
 tions of love." 
 
 : "No, no!" she shrieked, "I shall never taste 
 O uilty love, I have been vain, have loved admiration, 
 and oh, how I am atoning for it, but I am not the 
 14
 
 314: MAPLE EANGE. 
 
 dreadful thing, the impure creature, that will accept 
 such unholy love." 
 
 " I have money, Lizbeth, and will have more." 
 
 "Pile it to the skies and my indignation at your 
 offer shall set it on fire," she said. 
 
 " Your caprices shall govern me, your will shall 
 be my law." 
 
 He said it almost humbly, as if he really meant it, 
 but she answered : 
 
 "Prove it, then, if you are sincere, by setting me 
 at liberty. That is my present wish." 
 
 "And will you love me, come voluntarily to 
 me?" 
 
 "No, you loathsome fool, I will put the widest 
 space between us, and leave nothing but hate behind. " 
 
 "Now, my little spitfire, just cool down a minute, 
 while I tell you what." 
 
 " I won t hear you. Open this door. I hate you ; 
 you are a hypocrite and a villain." 
 
 "But you shall hear me, you shall accede to my 
 wishes, sweetly if you will, and so much the better ; 
 but listen, if by coercion, steeped in very shame you 
 shall grovel at my feet and I shall spurn you, as you 
 now spurn my oifered love," he said, pausing a little, 
 and then throwing all the meaning possible into his 
 deep voice. "Whether through love or through 
 force, t is for you to choose, but I swear it by the 
 God you pretend to worship, you shall be mine. " 
 
 "Never, as that same being rules on high, never!" 
 she cried in a voice irrecognizable as that of Lizbeth 
 Harkness, so harsh and unnatural had it become, as
 
 CHECKMATED. 315 
 
 she realized now to the full extent the horror of her 
 situation. 
 
 Again she tried the fastenings of the door, but 
 + hey were too much for her strength, though that 
 strength now was wonderful. He stood with folded 
 arms and a cold, heartless smile, watching her efforts 
 a smile that would never, no never, raise the signal 
 of relenting, though she might stamp and shriek all 
 night, and call for the help that never would come. 
 Tired at last of remonstrance and entreaty, tired of 
 calling in vain for help, and finding no way of escape, 
 she sank down at last in a heap, hopeless, yet still 
 determined, near the fire. Her attitude of utter 
 dejection did not touch his flinty heart, yet he spoke 
 not ungently: 
 
 "Here are the materials for our wedding supper. 
 Come, I remember you can cook nicely. See now, 
 how I defer to you, though you are so cross to me. 
 Shall I put on the tea kettle, my dear Mrs. Lang- 
 mere ? " 
 
 A startling whoop from without, from a hundred 
 hoarse throats, answered a similar whoop in the 
 forest, the exchange of salutations with the returning 
 band of murderous Indians, fresh from scenes of car 
 nage. 
 
 Langmere hurried to the door, but Lizbeth was 
 there too and, determined to get out, clung to him des 
 perately. At last finding egress impossible without 
 her, he caught her up and flung her on the bed, fas 
 tening her hands and then her feet with strong cords; 
 
 ~ 
 
 while her screams rose high and higher. Then he 
 left her to ascertain the cause of a commotion which
 
 316 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 momentarily increased without, till Bedlam seemed 
 reproduced in that Indian village. A hurried council 
 succeeded the warriors arrival, and as flight seemed 
 imperative to the safety of the tribe, flight was decid 
 ed upon and preparations made at once so that before 
 midnight they were in marching trim. Langmere 
 drove to the door of the hut in his buggy for Lizbeth, 
 and entering found her of course just as he had left 
 her. He told her of the enforced exodus, which com 
 pelled a postponement of their happiness (?). She 
 cried piteously, 
 
 "O, leave me here, even alone in this wilderness. 
 Its terrors are as nothing compared to my abhorrence 
 of the relation you propose. I never can be anything 
 to you ; I never will ! " 
 
 " Leave you here, ha, ha ! that s a good one. No, 
 ma am, you have a destiny to fulfil. I have been 
 casting our horoscope, and separation nowhere ap 
 pears. You must go with me ! " 
 
 " Very well, sir ! When the destiny you speak 
 of is fulfilled, you will do well to remember you in 
 sisted upon my going. " 
 
 "Why, do you imagine I intend to leave pussy 
 the use of her claws? O, no, "he said laughingly, re 
 leasing her hands but not her feet. 
 
 The food he then offered her she ate through mo 
 tives of self-preservation, thinking she must keep 
 up her strength to resist this villain. He lifted her in 
 to the buggy and took his seat beside her, waiting to 
 witness the novel process of packing his wares for 
 transportation. Indian emigrants have a very pecu 
 liar method of disposing of heavy articles in their
 
 CHECKMATED. 317" 
 
 removals. Two long poles (in this case) or shafts 
 were fastened on either side of a pony to the neck- 
 yoke, higher however than shafts of a buggy. The 
 long supple ends are left to drag along on the ground 
 behind. Just behind the pony the load is bound 
 tightly to the shafts and seems to be borne with all 
 confidence as to result. It was a curious caravan that 
 marched away that night, the central body consisting 
 of about fifty ponies laden with the paraphernalia of 
 Indian travel and Langmere s stock of merchandise. 
 Some of the ponies were very small and looked funny 
 enough with the pole ends sticking above their heads, 
 and the load jogging along after them. "Women with 
 papooses on their shoulders, and little nude wretches 
 beside them clinging to their skirts, trotted along. 
 Girls with loads that were too heavy for their slight 
 forms came chattering along, the difficulty of weight 
 obviated by a broad strap that was connected with the 
 load and brought up across the forehead; so that 
 without knowing a letter of the alphabet, those girls 
 would do more head work than many a conceited Miss 
 who boasted of having mastered the three Rs." 
 Boys walked along erect and proud, without a burden 
 save their bow and arrows slung at their side. Hun 
 gry dogs prowled along at their heels, while some of 
 them led or jerked a lazy pony along. 
 
 There are flanking parties of the line of march on 
 either side of the loaded horses. How the squaws 
 move on ! They whoop and struggle through the 
 bushes, laughing, chattering, scolding children and 
 horses. Behind these are marched the prisoners and 
 behind them again are armed warriors to protect and
 
 318 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 defend if surprised and overtaken. Strange pano 
 rama ! Of prisoners there are three only (by which 
 it is safe to conclude that this party of Sioux warriors 
 saved few lives theirs were impatient hatchets that 
 could not brook delay), a man, his wife and child, 
 strangers to Langmere and Lizbeth, who rode along 
 just before them. 
 
 The second day of the march they became foot 
 sore and weary ; the man begged that his wife might 
 be allowed to ride, and for an answer was shot 
 through the heart, the ball breaking the arm of the 
 child he carried. Langmere stopped his horse, 
 demanding the reason for the shooting. 
 
 "Ugh! He s a fool with a squaw s tongue, only 
 fit to kick," said the Indian as he spurned the body 
 with his foot contemptuously. 
 
 The poor distracted woman had caught up the cry 
 ing child and was trying to still its moans at her 
 breast, when a repulsive-looking squaw turned back, 
 snatched the baby, and raising it with both hands 
 above her head dashed it upon the hard ground, still 
 ing its cries forever. The- tearless mother gathered 
 the form of her dead,, crushed baby again to her heart 
 and said : 
 
 "Only me to suffer now and not for long." 
 
 Langmere pointing to the squaw with his whip 
 said : 
 
 " Lizbeth, such are the women," then pointing to 
 the chief, "such are the men 
 
 "Devils you mean," she interrupted. 
 
 "Yes, devils if you will, whose aid I have secured 
 to bring you to terms. Take warning and be wise."
 
 CHECKMATED. 319 
 
 She was silent. Indeed her conversation now was 
 almost entirely confined to monosyllables. She desir 
 ed to give her seat to the poor creature thus violently 
 bereaved, but she knew it was useless to offer such a 
 petition, and she had made up her mind that she never 
 would open her lips to ask a favor of him. 
 
 The next day when they broke camp and resumed 
 the march, no prisoners toiled along with weary feet. 
 The night before, Lizbeth had held the cold hand of 
 a woman who, with dying breath, said that it 
 would "soon be over and the anguish of the earth 
 forgotten in the glory of the skies." 
 
 After thirteen days flight they finally encamped 
 in a locality as picturesque as the one they had left, 
 a locality moreover that with beauty combined more 
 natural advantages. 
 
 The final encampment took place about noon, and 
 the afternoon was spent in getting comfortably 
 settled. 
 
 Habitations were erected in the most primitive 
 style of architecture, and the business part of the 
 community (that is the squaws) worked industriously 
 till dark. The last task was that of eating their 
 supper. The great camp kettles steamed with their 
 mysterious compounds, and the squaws that stirred 
 them with their long paddles, looked in the glare of 
 the fire, not unlike the legendary witches stirring their 
 famous broth. 
 
 Lizbeth was served with broiled venison and 
 mush, but she could not bring herself in any instance 
 to taste of the soups, which were eaten from the
 
 320 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 kettle; a whole family gathering round and dipping 
 in their wooden spoons. 
 
 There had been great preparations on the green 
 that afternoon. A council house had been erected, and 
 now a bonfire blazed high in front of it to light up the 
 ceremonies of exultation over the success of the late 
 raid, and to exhibit its trophies. The council house 
 (a long, low tepee of poles, covered with birch bark), 
 stood upon a triangular plat of green, formed by the 
 confluence of two streams. Before the council house, 
 a ring of painted braves was formed. A rude drum 
 made of raw moose hide, was beaten by an old white- 
 headed prophet; while a boy rattled the senseless gus- 
 tah-weh-sah, a gourd filled half full of beans. Fore 
 most of the ring was a chief, bearing on his head a 
 waving plume of deep vermilion dye; a snake of the 
 same color was tattooed upon his breast. Every spot 
 upon his huge form, naked to the girdle, bore hiero 
 glyphics telling of his battle-deeds. Behind him 
 were ranged warriors in all the pomp of plume and 
 ochre, porcupine quill and beads. The first chief, 
 when all were in position, waved his hatchet and 
 brought it circling round his head, while with heavy 
 stamp he opened the scalp dance. 
 
 Forward all with rocking feet, and heavy zig-zag 
 of the body, while from every throat poured a wild, 
 deep guttural strain, weird and unearthly. The 
 wooded hills reverberating, as the long column like a 
 writhing serpent, wound around and around the 
 frame in the center, upon which hung the gory scalps, 
 evidence of their prowess in the late massacre.
 
 CHECKMATED. 321 
 
 This is the translation of their song, or part of it : 
 
 Ho-ah ! dance again the dance, 
 Let our knives and hatchets glance. 
 Loud and louder peals the strain; 
 Lo ! the pale face mourns the slain. 
 
 Great spirit unto thee. 
 
 Swells the song of victory. 
 
 Scarce a mark our war-path made, 
 Gliding from beneath the shade ; 
 Near and nearer still we creep, 
 Lo ! the pale face is asleep. 
 Great spirit, etc. 
 
 Whoop ! and down the doors we crash, 
 Then on the pale faces dash ; 
 Our bloody hatchets fly. 
 See! they pray, they groan, they die! 
 Great spirit, etc. 
 
 They lie like the leaves around, 
 Thickly cover they the ground. 
 See! their heads are lowly now, 
 And our feet are on their brow. 
 
 Whoop! Whoop! 
 
 Great spirit unto thee, 
 
 Swells the song of victory. 
 
 A very efficient adjunct to this ceremony was 
 Langmere s liquor stand. A mark of civilization, 
 recognized with enthusiastic patronage, which in 
 spired hope in the owner s breast, for the success of 
 his commercial venture among these sworn enemies 
 of his race. He sat there without a twinge of con 
 science, pouring out drink after drink, the liquid that 
 he knew would intensify the flame of animosity ; 
 setting an example by freely imbibing himself. To 
 V
 
 322 MAPLE KANGE. 
 
 make the " sixpence nimble," Langmere was willing 
 to sufier any amount of inconvenience. He drank 
 often and deeply, attracting attention to the fact by 
 holding up the empty glass and giving utterance to a 
 prolonged "whoop!" 
 
 Night had dwindled to the "wee sma hours" 
 before the cheap whisky had done its work, and the 
 painted revelers had taken to grassy couches, and all 
 was still. 
 
 Lizbeth, who had refused to witness this revolt 
 ing ceremony, had been left in the care of a young 
 squaw, in a wigwam covered with blankets, hastily 
 constructed, but made more than ordinarily comfort 
 able by an apology for a bed, composed of straw laid 
 upon bark matting and covered with blankets, all 
 supported by a rude tamarack bedstead. Upon this 
 bed, across the foot of which her drowsy attendant 
 had fallen asleep, Lizbeth half sat, half reclined, 
 her mind in no enviable state, for she was tied 
 securely, hands and feet, thus making escape impos 
 sible. She had requested the squaw to pin back one 
 of the blankets forming the side of the house, so 
 that she could look out into the moonlight in a direc 
 tion opposite to that whence the yells and whoops 
 proceeded. Langmere had visited her several times 
 the forepart of the night, each time saying with a 
 meaning leer : 
 
 "Shortly I will come to remain with you, so be 
 patient." 
 
 Soon after his last visit, she was startled by a 
 shadow across her low doorway, and filled with
 
 CHECKMATED. 323 
 
 wonder, when a tall white man entered, and, seating 
 himself on a keg of rum, said: 
 
 "I am addressing Lizbeth Harkness, of Clip- 
 nockimi Hollow." 
 
 "Yes ; you are a stranger to me ; but, oh, you 
 have come to save me from a villain ! " 
 
 "Do n t flatter yourself ! Your husband did not 
 so deliver me ! I have sworn to hate all that he loves." 
 
 " But he does not love me ; he has given his heart 
 to another woman. Oh, help me if you can ; I am so 
 wretched ! " she cried. 
 
 "Did he not outrage my manhood and place a 
 lasting shame upon my name ? " asked the stranger. 
 
 How should I know, who never heard that 
 name ? " she replied. 
 
 "Is it possible I am so changed? Well, Gus 
 Harkness caused the change, and I hate him ! " 
 
 " Why dwell upon the faults and misdeeds of Gus? 
 He is nothing to me ! " she said, almost petulantly. 
 
 "If I were sure of that, I would help you ; but 
 you were always thought insincere," he replied. 
 
 " I know it and perhaps deservedly ; but, oh, to 
 witness murder and fiendish cruelty ! to be bound and 
 menaced with worse than death, is more than I can 
 bear ! " she said vehemently. 
 
 " Bound do you say? Are not your relations 
 to Langmere voluntary ? " he inquired. 
 
 "Oh, indeed, they are not! I loathe him as I 
 loathe a reptile ! Come here ! " she said earnestly. 
 
 He came to her side. She lifted her hands so that, 
 he could see the cords with which they were secured. 
 With his knife he cut them, muttering anathemas
 
 324 MAPLE EANGE. 
 
 against Langmere. She looked up to thank him, and 
 exclaimed with astonishment, 
 
 " Charles Center ! " 
 
 His knife had just released her feet, when they 
 heard heavy steps without. Each sprang, for conceal 
 ment, to a darker corner of the hut, when Langmere 
 entered and, staggering to the bed, fell upon it, draw 
 ing the squaw with disgusting familiarity to his 
 breast, saying : 
 
 "Come, Lizbeth hie give s kiss, an then git- 
 up-an-get-a-bite hie my stomach cries cupboard 
 come, get-me-bite, then come snooze hie." 
 
 The squaw started from her slumber, struggled 
 desperately a struggle which finally resulted in his 
 rolling off the bed. As he fell, his head struck one 
 of the kegs underneath, producing a tremendous con 
 cussion, which, added to his inebriated condition, 
 effectually overcame him. He became silent, and 
 went off into the deep slumber of intoxication. Liz 
 beth put her shawl about her shoulders, and seated 
 herself with Charles Center, on a log near the wigwam, 
 and in answer to his questions concerning his wife and 
 child, told him of the former s patient suffering and 
 tranquil death, and that her father took little Carlos 
 home to Chicago. 
 
 u I am glad the old man had to come down with some 
 of his cash. He might have helped me more than he 
 did, and my wife knew it, but she would not ask him. 
 I expected she would write to him and get money to 
 take her to Chicago, for I gave her a hint that I was 
 going to stir up some kind of a mess that would make 
 the neighborhood pretty hot, and I did too ; but then
 
 CHECKMATED. 325 
 
 I thought she and the boy were gone. I did not want 
 them harmed ; but I tell you I spread it on about old 
 man Maynard to the Indians. Like my wife, they all 
 worshipped him ; but I told them what a two-faced 
 old fellow he was, and in less than two weeks after I 
 came up here, they had alternately scalped, slashed 
 and burned the old man in effigy Mock-ane-sah, his 
 sworn friend, assisting in the little ceremonies." 
 
 After listening to much about himself and his 
 grievances, Lizbeth said : 
 
 "Charles Center, will you not help me to get 
 away ? " 
 
 "I will," he said, and they then proceeded to dis 
 cuss various plans of escape ; but none seemed imme 
 diately feasible, and they finally concluded that safety 
 lay only in her waiting and feigning to regard Lang- 
 mere s proposals with less repugnance. Not assenting 
 all at once that would be suspicious but yielding 
 little by little, to throw dust in his eyes while their 
 other plans ripened. 
 
 " How can I, when I hate him so ? " said Lizbeth, 
 with a shudder. 
 
 "I hate him as much as you do!" (It was a 
 necessity for Center to hate somebody.) "I was a 
 very king among the Indians ; had become identified 
 with them in many ways. I sent old Jim John down 
 to buy Langmere s liquors for me, and behold Lang- 
 mere comes up to sell them himself by the drinks. 
 He has supplanted me, but his reign will only last 
 while the drinks last, and I will have every Indian 
 under my thumb again. If he wants to sell liquor,
 
 326 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 let him go amongst white folks and do it, or hunt up 
 some other tribe of Indians. This is my field." 
 
 " He will never go among the whites again," said 
 Lizbeth ; "at least, if he does, he knows very well 
 he will get shot." 
 
 "What for?" 
 
 "Desertion and some other crime, known to mil 
 itary law, I don t exactly know what." 
 
 "I ll fix him then," said Center, with a smile 
 that looked almost like genuine happiness. It was 
 daylight when they parted Lizbeth seeking out the 
 squaw who had attended her the previous night, and 
 by signs and gestures seeking to establish a friendship 
 with her. Together they joined a knot of squaws on 
 the green. She was naturally something of an actress, 
 and managed by significant pantomime to converse 
 with them, and to some extent be sociable. She sought 
 to make them believe she had great regard for Lang- 
 mere, hoping thus to satisfy them that she had no 
 designs upon any of their lords or lovers. She asked 
 for breakfast, and forthwith they produced a wooden 
 bowl of steaming soup and a piece of broiled venison. 
 As the morning advanced, the feminine side of life 
 began to show itself in the village, but not one of 
 "nature s noblemen" graced the circles round the 
 breakfast camp kettles. 
 
 When Langmere awoke from his long lethargy, 
 he found a good meal ready biscuits, baked in an old- 
 fashioned, shallow kettle, a broiled pheasant and fried 
 mush. Among his stores Lizbeth had found a sack 
 of coffee, and she had prepared some in a camp kettle. 
 She was sitting out beside the fire when he got up,
 
 CHECKMATED. 327 
 
 feeling considerably the worse for his dissipation. He 
 came as near feeling ashamed of himself as such a 
 man could, and as if he had lost ground with Lizbeth. 
 He went out of the tent at the opposite side from the 
 fire, down to the river, and bathed his head and face 
 and hands. Beginning to feel a little fresher, his 
 courage revived, and with something of his usual 
 bonhomie he came back and sitting down by the side 
 of Lizbeth, said : 
 
 " I was drunk then ; can you overlook it? " 
 
 That depends upon whether you behave your 
 self as well when sober." 
 
 She said it so pleasantly that he dropped the stick 
 he whittled with astonishment, and looking at her as 
 well as his squinting eyes would allow, uttered a 
 long, low whistle. She laughed and said : 
 
 "You do owe the squaw an apology, but she ll 
 wait. Your dinner is ready ; you went to bed hun 
 gry last night." 
 
 "That s so, and bumped my head to boot," he 
 said, rubbing the sore spot. 
 
 " Yes, that concussion broke my cords. Twas aw 
 ful; your head must be a regular iron clad. 
 
 "Well, come; you must eat too. All this nice 
 dinner is not mine." 
 
 " Yours ! I am only a servant, and servants do not 
 eat with their sovereigns ; but I want to make a bar 
 gain with you. Tell me you positively will not bind 
 me again." 
 
 "And you, what will 3^011 do ; try to escape ? " 
 
 "No, no. I dare not do that; no, but I will be 
 better than if bound. "
 
 328 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 "And be my wife?" 
 
 "Possibly in time," she said, looking over his 
 head. 
 
 "How long, a month?" he said, peering into her 
 face earnestly. 
 
 She looked away from him and said nothing. 
 
 " Two months ? " he said raising his hand as if ad 
 ministering an oath. 
 
 " Yes, if you treat me respectfully," she replied, 
 looking frankly into his eyes. 
 
 "I ll do that ; give me your hand." He extended 
 his own in which she laid hers with all seeming confi 
 dence. He raised it to his lips, but she exclaimed : 
 
 "No, no; during these two months all such 
 familiarity is tabooed. I will keep your wigwam, 
 cook your food, and be your friend, but you shall not 
 touch me, you shall not offer to kiss me. Can I de 
 pend upon you ? " 
 
 " Yes, but it s darned hard !" 
 
 From that time she treated him with marked def 
 erence, often putting on an appearance of fear that 
 completely disarmed his suspicions. A new building 
 was made in which were two rooms, one of which she 
 occupied, having as a companion the young squaw al 
 ready referred to. To Center she said little, telling 
 Langmere : 
 
 "That man I will not speak to, no matter how 
 agreeable he may be to you. I hate him. He is 
 only attracted here, I believe, by the strong odor of 
 your liquor." 
 
 "When I bring up another stock I will not have
 
 CHECKMATED. 329 
 
 it in the house we live in. I 11 have it placed as far 
 away as you wish it, darling." 
 
 Look out, sir ! When are you going for it ? 
 pretty soon ? 
 
 "When I get to the bottom barrel of the stock on 
 hand." 
 
 " And will you bring me a dress suitable to be 
 
 " Married in ? " he interrupted. 
 
 " Well, I suppose so," she replied with feigned 
 confusion, which fairly transported him, so genuine 
 did it seem. 
 
 " I 11 bring you a dress, and two or three of them 
 for that matter, but it is not customary among these 
 people to have any ceremony. It s only 
 
 " You love me and I love you, 
 Now let us be no longer two." 
 
 " Well, ceremony or no ceremony, I won t be 
 married in this old dress," she said. 
 
 "You need n t; you ve been a good girl and shall 
 have a new one. Lizbeth, I want to kiss you the 
 darndest. " 
 
 "Well, you can t while I wear this dress, but I 
 promise you may as soon as I get another one. " 
 
 " All right, but you shall have a new one right off? 
 by thunder ! " 
 
 The emergency seemed to warrant this deception 
 of Lizbeth s, and justify any extraordinary measure to 
 extricate herself from her present situation, even to 
 wasting Langmere s whisky to hasten the time of 
 "going below for spirits." She procured a gimlet 
 and made some small holes in the lower side of the 
 14*
 
 330 MAPLE EANGE. 
 
 barrels, which greatly assisted the leak at the tap. 
 The sandy floor of the lodge quickly absorbed the 
 tiny but continuous stream, and gave out liberally 
 intoxicating odors, that were powerful to attract the 
 Indians and to call out their furs and greenbacks, to 
 the great satisfaction of Langmere, who continued to 
 bait them by drinking himself. One day, six weeks 
 after the compact with Lizbeth, when all were more 
 convivial than usual, a storm of snow drove them all 
 to cover. Langmere s spirits rose with the rest, and 
 his glass was emptied oftenest if possible. Center 
 dropped in and called for a drink, a thing he seldom 
 did, for he was no hypocrite and took no pains to hide 
 his hate of Langmere, and generally kept away from 
 him. Langmere poured out a glass and handed it to 
 him, at the same time filling his own. 
 
 " Give me a glass from the bottle you take yours 
 from," said Center. 
 
 " Mine is medicated. Do you fear poison that you 
 ask this ? " he said coolly, setting his bottle back upon 
 the shelf behind him. 
 
 " Never mind what I fear. I insist upon a glass 
 from that bottle." 
 
 And I say you can t have it. I run this institu 
 tion myself. A nice time I should have if I was to 
 humor the whims of every old swill-guzzler that 
 comes in for his es-coo-ta-wah-bo (whisky)." 
 
 Apparently satisfied, Center drained his glass, 
 but turning to the Indians present he addressed them 
 in their own language, of which Langmere understood 
 little, save the common expressions in daily use. 
 Lizbeth, who knew what Center was about, beckoned
 
 CHECKMATED. 331 
 
 Langmere to her and detained him by her on some 
 trivial pretext, while Center proceeded to the accom 
 plishment of his object. 
 
 "Wiry do you hate most white men ? " said he. 
 
 Because they have lying tongues and black 
 hearts," was the reply of old Jim John, who was the 
 spokesman generally in that division of the tribe, as 
 Mock-ane-sah was in another. 
 
 "Do you believe Langmere would deceive you 
 for the sake of inducing you to patronize him ? " 
 
 " No ! " was repeated by a dozen throats in con 
 cert. 
 
 "Will you do my bidding if I tell you how to 
 prove him ? " 
 
 " Yes," was the reply, but with less energy than 
 the first. Their faith in Langmere was entire, and it 
 looked treacherous to test his fidelity, shown in so 
 many ways. However, they all crowded close to 
 Center, curious to know what he would say next, and 
 he, reaching across the rude counter, took down the 
 bottle, tasted its contents and passed it to Jim John, 
 who, tasting also, passed it with a grimace to the 
 others, and as it passed round that circle, Langmere 
 went down commercially in their estimation as rapidly 
 as the contents of his private bottle, which contained 
 water. 
 
 There was a flash of indignation in the looks ex 
 changed by that half-drunken crowd, and Center 
 knew it boded mischief unless controlled. Lang- 
 mere s trade in that village was over, and he had 
 timed this discovery just as the " bottom of the last 
 barrel " was reached, as Lizbeth s watchful eye had
 
 332 MAPLE KANGE. 
 
 already observed, and that day s conviviality would 
 finish what was left in the bottles. The savages stood 
 there now, just as ready to commit murder, if that 
 was his wish, as they were to obey him in anything. 
 But violence was not his game just yet. 
 
 "Wait; I know of a punishment worse than 
 murder, and I will show you how to lead him to it. 
 For the present he must not know that you consider 
 this deception as more than a good joke. Let us 
 compel him to go to the river and there drink with 
 each one of us." 
 
 Langmere, entirely ignorant of what had taken 
 place, answered very reluctantly when called from 
 his attractive conversation in the next room. 
 
 "Come," said Jim John, "it s our treat now. 
 We know the drink you prefer." 
 
 And laughing, they led him down to the river. 
 Amidst shouts of derision that reached Lizbeth s ears, 
 they compelled him to honor each treat until nature 
 revolted. Then they desisted and allowed him to 
 return to his shanty. 
 
 He was able to confer at length with the cautious, 
 cunning woman, who proposed to assist him in his 
 preparations for "going below for spirits," where he 
 hoped to secure a supply for the Winter s use from 
 Indian traders who always hang upon the frontier. 
 
 Poor fool ! He cared less for the liquor, for the 
 sale was getting to be dry business, than he did for the 
 dry goods that were declared to be indispensable to 
 the consummation of his compact with the woman he 
 had come to love. Yes, he was really in love, and he 
 resolved to risk everj^thing to realize the affection that
 
 CHECKMATED. 333 
 
 he believed was in store for him, when the womanish 
 caprice regarding the new dress was gratified. True, 
 he had enjoyed none of the privileges usually accord 
 ed to an accepted lover, but his imagination was active, 
 and readily construed the flashes of Lizbcth s dark 
 eyes, which we know were not lighted by love s fire, 
 into rapturous gleams of a passion she could not en 
 tirely control. He was determined to lose no time 
 now in accomplishing the work that lay between the 
 present and the accomplishment of his wishes. 
 
 She carefully assisted him in dyeing his hair and 
 arranging the heavy false whi-.kers, and declared him 
 a "duck of a man" when the disguise (which she 
 carefully explained to Center) was completed. She 
 actually kissed him when he left two days after. 
 
 To that Judas-like salutation he was indebted per 
 haps for the happiest moment of his life, and while 
 over and over again he felt the thrill of her ripe lips 
 on his own, he congratulated himself upon the dis 
 covery that after all she had an affectionate nature. 
 He started on snow shoes ; for in that northern region 
 snow comes early, and it was now November -with 
 three or four trusty Indians (that is trusty from Cen 
 ter s point of view). He had made arrangements for 
 a larger party to follow with dogs and sledges to bring 
 up his supplies, when he and they would return to 
 gether without delay. 
 
 He had no fears that Lizbeth would try to escape; 
 how could she? Old Jim John was to guard her go 
 ing and coming, and the snow forbade any woman s 
 traveling for. Besides he flattered himself she loved 
 him now.
 
 334: MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 He had not been gone two days, when Lizbeth, 
 Center and Jim John, her trusty guard, with the larger 
 party that he had arranged should follow him, set out 
 on sledges, following the trail he had broken, towards 
 the settlements. The young squaw that had shared 
 her bed, also shared her journey. They had each 
 acquired enough of the other s language to make con 
 versation very brisk. 
 
 "Let em talk," old Jim John said. "Let em 
 talk, big, long, then go faster." 
 
 The monotonous journey was over at last. In the 
 comparatively comfortable sitting room of a half- 
 breed, who kept an Indian post, near the frontier, 
 they were divesting themselves of blankets and bear 
 skins. They had detoured from Langmere s route 
 about ten miles above to avoid his encampment which 
 they knew was about half that distance above the 
 post. The Indians that composed Center s party en 
 camped below it two or three miles, while he accom 
 panied Lizbeth and her companion to this place. 
 Though the sympathy of the half-breed that kept this 
 station was believed to be with the whites, the fact 
 that he held that position through the ^massacre, and 
 still held it, was indisputable evidence that his friend 
 ship was on the side of the aborigines. He entered 
 heartily into Center s plans, who proposed with him 
 to control the stores Langmere had come to purchase 
 as soon as he had paid for them. The half-breed 
 approved this plan so warmly that Center had the sat 
 isfaction of seeing a messenger depart for a military 
 station some miles below. To avoid Langmere, he
 
 CHECKMATED. 335 
 
 withdrew to the encampment to wait the develop 
 ment of his plan. 
 
 Langmere, confiding in his disguise, lost no time 
 in calling upon the half-breed and making the 
 acquaintance of some traders who had the very com 
 modities he desired. These, in obedience to a hint, 
 caused negotiations to hang fire several days, but 
 finally promised to complete the trade the following 
 day and give him an order on the person who had 
 the liquors in charge. Agreeable to appointment, 
 Langmere discovered a large covered sleigh coming 
 through the woods. It stopped about ten rods from 
 the camp. Three gentlemen got out and advanced 
 to the fire. Langmere recognized two of them as 
 his business acquaintances. They proceeded at once 
 to the completion of their bargain, even receiving 
 payment of the money and writing the order, when 
 one of the traders said: 
 
 " You can get into the sleigh if you like, and ride 
 down with us, and see that you get the worth of your 
 money." 
 
 " Thanks," was the reply; "I will do so, for I am 
 anxious to get started back; the force that came 
 down to transport the stuff have arrived, but by some 
 mistake are camping, I understand, below the station. 
 I will go down and start them out. We can get a 
 good ways up country before night." 
 
 While he was speaking they had been advancing 
 towards the sleigh, and pausing suddenly, as if a mor 
 tifying omission occurred to him, one of the traders 
 said: 
 
 ".I must apologize to you, sir; though really, I
 
 336 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 am not acquainted with your name, but it may not 
 be too late to announce to you that of our friend, Mr. 
 Burke, an assistant provost marshal/ 
 
 That gentleman laid his hand upon Langmere s 
 shoulder, saying: 
 
 "You are my .prisoner, George Langmere, 
 Regiment, Ohio Volunteers. I arrest you as a 
 deserter. Be kind enough to accept these bracelets ; 
 they are a little inconvenient but very expressive of 
 rank." 
 
 u All right," replied Langmere, whose coolness 
 never deserted him. " I shall face the music, and of 
 course, covet all the honors/ 
 
 As he stepped into the sleigh, he gaily addressed 
 the jK?rson on the back seat 
 
 44 How are you, Mr. Center? How plainly one 
 can see through a grindstone when there is a hole in 
 it." 
 
 They took dinner at the station. Langmere, im 
 perturbable as ever, seated beside the oflicer, was pro 
 ceeding to tell a funny story, when "Lixbeth came in 
 and took a seat opposite. lie bow* d to her saying: 
 
 "Excuse me, but this gentleman insists that I 
 must wear jewelry, which obliges me to shake hands 
 with my elbows, so I fear we shall have to forego the 
 courtesy/ 
 
 She made no reply. Somehow she felt dreadfully 
 sorry for him; could almost have cried at the success 
 of the plan she had been so long working for. Her 
 spirits returned, however, when at the close of the 
 meal he hissed in her ear
 
 CHECKMATED. 337 
 
 > My robin got tired of waiting for her new 
 feathers and her mate/ 1 
 
 She had fulfilled her destiny," she replied. 
 
 "Well, she must look to her own natural mate 
 for the reward," he sneered ; but she unflinchingly 
 retorted: 
 
 "O you re welcome. I m sure. I do not crave 
 reward for serving friends to whom I am so deeply 
 indebted." 
 
 "When you meet the interesting family of Gas 
 Hnrkness, remember me to the yellow girl, and kiss 
 the child for me," he said, insolently. 
 
 * I never kiss now. save to betray. As I have no 
 further interest in either the child or yourself, I shall 
 not undertake your commissions," she replied quickly. 
 
 The same conveyance that took the marshal and 
 his prisoner to the settlements, contained as a passen 
 ger, Lizbeth Ilarkness. She was sad now. The 
 excitement of foiling Langmere was over; she had 
 positive news of the desolation of the settlement at 
 home; and her parents fate, though uncertain, could 
 hardly be doubted. Nor was her sadness dispelled by 
 thoughts of her husband. She had ceased to think 
 lovingly of Gus, indeed, her nearest approach to that 
 passion had been too much a love of being loved. 
 
 She would ride silently for hours, watching the 
 trees as they glided past like unsheeted ghosts on 
 either side of them, and listen to the low dirge-like; 
 wail sobbing through their branches, as they tossed 
 them despairingly toward the sky. She had ample 
 time to reflect and decide upon her future course. She 
 could not, and would not entertain a thought of Gus, 
 W 15
 
 338 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 Henceforth he should be to her as one who had never 
 been. If her father and mother were living, she 
 would devote herself to them, gladly toiling that she 
 might provide for them. But she determined from 
 this time to crucify her vanity and love of admiration, 
 to exorcise by prayer and fasting the last vestige of 
 pride and ambition ; and taking up the humble 
 threads of life, if she should not realize the picture 
 of a singing Bertha, she would, at all events, prove 
 herself the useful Priscilla. Thus musing and resolv 
 ing, she made the long, lonely journey 
 
 Langmere never addressed her on the way but 
 once. They had reached a little bridge, which 
 spanned a stream, at which the driver stopped to 
 water his horses. Lizbeth remembered the place 
 well. Here it was, when her adventure with Lang- 
 mere had hardly begun, that he first bound and 
 gagged her, lest she should attempt to escape or 
 attract attention by crying out. It occurred to them 
 both now, vividly; and she seemed to feel the very 
 emotions she had experienced then. Her then 
 situation returned to her with such force that she 
 actually put her hand to her mouth as if to remove 
 the bandage, and moved her feet to make sure they 
 were free. Langmere was sitting behind her, and 
 seeing her movements rightly surmised their cause. 
 As if uttering her own thoughts, with a voice so 
 nearly like triumph, that the counterfeit seemed to 
 have the ring of genuine metal, he said : 
 
 " CJieckmate /"
 
 RESTORATION. 339 
 
 CHAPTEE XVII. 
 
 RESTORATION. 
 
 In the cool, green shade of forests, 
 
 Where the dew is never dry, 
 A twitter of birds in the branches, 
 
 And little blue spots of sky. 
 
 TT1IS a hazy " Indian Summer " day. The waters 
 -L of Lake Itasca shimmer in the sun. The 
 shore is thickly wooded, the pine and the stately hem 
 lock, the sensitive poplar, the sturdy oak, the beech, 
 whose clinging moss guides the bewildered traveler 
 northward ; the maple, also, with its beautiful leaves, 
 and the sweet birch, the incense-bearer of the 
 woods," all contribute their quota to provide that for 
 est fringe around Lake Itasca s shores. 
 
 A narrow vista through the roof of interlacing 
 branch and richly tinted leaf lets down the light upon 
 a little bay where a canoe is moored. A dark-eyed, 
 sad featured, but beautiful woman sits in the canoe. 
 At her feet, her head inclined as if listening, sits a 
 white girl, whose pearly complexion seems transpar 
 ent in contrast with the dark skin of her companion. 
 
 The lovely sylvan scene is one to make the bosom 
 thrill with emotions akin to higher life, lifted by their 
 refined agency to heaven. Something of this silent
 
 340 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 worship seemed to hold this woman spell-bound, for 
 she held in her hand an irresolute oar and gazed now 
 with moistening eye upon the fair, pale face in her 
 lap, now at the dimpling wavelets that musically 
 lapped the shore, and then above, upon the Sum 
 mer foliage, and the pure blue sky beyond. 
 Love was written upon her features, love shone in 
 her dewy eyes love not all material, nor yet all spir 
 itual. 
 
 A sound that the quick ear of an Indian only 
 would catch, an infinitesimal echo of dipping oars, 
 roused Miannetta, for she it was, and by a single 
 stroke, that showed her mistress of the dainty shaft, 
 the canoe was gliding noiselessly as a fairy craft out 
 of its leafy hiding place. Now on the bosom of the 
 lake she rowed rapidly toward an island, a half mile 
 from the shore, nor was her tiny shallop all alone. A 
 hundred others of similar construction accompanied 
 it. Each moment, from some point on the leafy 
 shore, there glided a re-inforcement, till it really 
 seemed as if, from out the sky, a fairy fleet had sud 
 denly dropped down, all heading towards the emerald 
 isle in midlake. Then silently is moored to its bank 
 that nestles down to the wave the fleet, whose crew 
 have in a moment disappeared. Now, in the center 
 of the isle, are warriors in fantastic garb. No war 
 paint disfigures the stolid yet fine-looking features, the 
 fusee is left in the lodge, the hatchet is buried. 
 The frontier settler never knows the hour of its 
 resurrection. 
 
 At the apex of this little island mound a rude 
 post has been set, and on this post, rudely traced, is
 
 KESTORATION. 341 
 
 the coat of arms of a " Northern League " a circle 
 of braves with a heart in their midst. These were 
 the small remnant of a once powerful tribe of Cana 
 dian Indians, that belonged to that wonderful confed 
 eration known as* the "League of the Five Na 
 tions. " 
 
 Around the post the silent band were seated on 
 the ground, smoking the calumet successively. Near 
 est the post, upon rich mats, were Miannetta and her 
 charge, evidently objects of particular deference, for 
 they were the only women within the charmed circle. 
 Other women were near, but remained outside, the 
 delighted witnesses of the several ceremonies. 
 
 On the other side of the post sat the musicians of 
 the tribe an old withered medicine-man with his 
 drum, a sharp-eyed boy with his rattle, the latter 
 keeping slow time to the drumming and historic chant 
 of the bowed old minstrel, from whose lips dropped 
 the musical legends of the tribe. 
 
 An hour they listened to the monotonous recapit 
 ulations. Then "Springing Panther," the chief of 
 the league, arose, and all in an instant were on their 
 feet. With low obeisance to the minstrel, the stately 
 chieftain opened the swinging dance, and every throat 
 droned out a deep, guttural strain, in time with the 
 beating of the drum. One after another fell into the 
 dance, a long, chanting, zigzag line, winding round 
 and round the post, a dusky, curious file. The sun 
 pours down its warm rays upon their hirsute limbs, 
 and their terpsichorean enthusiasm seems to gather 
 strength as they wind. Shorter and heavier grow the 
 beats upon the drum, the eyes of the boy are aflame
 
 342 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 as he holds higher his vibrating rattle. The stamps 
 of the dancers are more expressive now, and as if 
 their voices were one, a deafening shout rolls out upon 
 the air echoed from the opposite shores. The 
 whole band sinks to the earth in silence while the 
 eldest sachem speaks. 
 
 " Brothers, this is our anniversary of the league. 
 The sun smiles; we have not offended him. Our rice 
 and corn are plentiful; we have done well. Birds 
 darken the sky, fishes flash in the water, game 
 abounds in the forest ; we shall not starve. We have 
 no fevers, we have no war ; let us thank the Great 
 Spirit." 
 
 Waving his arm aloft, again rang out the shrill 
 whoop, and then each dusky warrior sought in silence 
 his canoe. Again, from the island across the lake, 
 glided the fleet men and women using the oars with 
 equal dexterity 
 
 Upon the shore of the lake, two Indians raised 
 upon their shoulders a litter, upon which reclined the 
 form of the white girl ; and now to their village, 
 miles up the lake, in single file they march their 
 trail like a deep furrow cut through the wood. A 
 long ro\v of tepees, curved like an Indian bow, nestled 
 against a similarly curved forest, is reflected in the 
 clear, still waters of the crescent-shaped bay. Here 
 in this rude village, Miannetta, after long and indefat 
 igable search, had found Nellie but not the Nellie of 
 the old "Maples" memory merry, gentle and soul 
 ful. Of these, gentleness only remained, and that 
 was of a kind that inspires pity. No word ever 
 passed her lips, even to Miannetta, who loved her well,
 
 RESTORATION. 343 
 
 and with whom she had been so familiar at home. 
 She seemed ever to be listening for something she 
 never heard. In other respects she retained her phys 
 ical faculties, though her eyes had a vacant look, or 
 if any, an expression like that of some gentle animal. 
 She ate and walked like a somnambulist. She had 
 been picked up by the admiring chieftain, Spring 
 ing Panther," who found her where she fell, beside 
 the spring. Believing the blow she had received 
 would not be fatal, and obeying the attraction we 
 often notice of natures extremely opposite, he bore 
 her into the woods and gave her into the care of 
 squaws, who had treated her very tenderly, according 
 to his instructions. 
 
 During the long march to this northern locality, 
 she had been carried on the shoulders of the Indians, 
 growing apparently stronger, but never speaking. 
 Miannetta now claimed the right of an old friend, to 
 care for her ; but she was first put under oath by the 
 intervention of the wampum, that she would never 
 take Nellie back without the entire knowledge and 
 consent of him who brought her away. Miannetta 
 had a sacred regard for that belt as well as he, and 
 she was bound. No harm would ever come to Nellie 
 if she attempted to take her away, but she had said 
 I will not," and though she wished much to take 
 her to Robert, without the canceling of that promise 
 she never would. Alone she would thread the forest 
 path, go back and tell him all, if so it seemed best ; 
 but she would keep her Indian vow. She was pro 
 vided with all the comforts and luxuries available. 
 The elegant wigwam, assigned and fitted up for her
 
 344r MAPLE EANGE. 
 
 use and Nellie s, was a circular tent, made very warm 
 and neat by being lined throughout with the inside 
 bark of the birch, beautifully mottled and very sweet 
 to the smell. The hard-beaten, earth floor was car 
 peted with wolf skins, sewed together with the sinews 
 of elk so cunningly as to look like a pack of the ani 
 mals in chase. In the center of the room was a 
 hollow tree, at the foot of which was a stone fire-place, 
 so built that the former served as a chimney to carry 
 off the smoke. A low bedstead, with rich mattings, 
 blankets and seal-skin spread, occupied one side of 
 the room ; a table and cupboard, the other. The 
 latter was so covered with rare and valuable orna 
 ments as to completely conceal the puncheons of 
 which it was composed. Rude ottomans, covered 
 with beaver or other handsome fur, lay carelessly 
 scattered about ; but Nellie s couch, near the fire, was 
 the crowning piece of furniture. Luxurious and soft, 
 its lavish profusion of magnificent furs, its ornaments 
 of beads and mother-of-peajl, would, in more civilized 
 circles, have indicated its owner as the scion of some 
 royal house, or the favorite of some Eastern harem, 
 and its beautiful occupant would in no wise have dis 
 pelled the illusion. The stuffed birds that were sus 
 pended from the tent s sloping walls, seemed to hang 
 poised on their waiting wing. A beautiful tame 
 mocking-bird, of dark red plumage, had the freedom 
 of the wigwam, and made music all the day for Mian- 
 netta, who watched her fair charge, not impatiently. 
 She was one who had learned that hardest of all 
 lessons, to wait. 
 
 Here the Winter was passed comfortably, and the
 
 RESTORATION. 345 
 
 Spring came, bringing no change to Nellie, except 
 that through the long Winter confinement she grew 
 to look even more delicate and spiritual. She was 
 always a sunshine flower, never seeming to flourish in 
 the shade, and she looked very frail now. Miannetta 
 would sigh as she held the little hand to the sunlight. 
 It was clear as a beautiful carnelian, turning rosy in 
 its rays. 
 
 Nothing of interest occurred during the Spring 
 months, and in June the preparation for the festival, 
 or, as the Indians term it, u the strawberry dance," 
 was the first real appearance of gaiety. 
 
 It was a late season, and the very last of the month 
 saw the best of the berries. The week s preparation 
 completed, they all repaired, as before, to the island, 
 where, on the ground around the post, was piled an 
 immense bed of green strawberry leaves. The usual 
 position was assumed, the chant commenced, and feet 
 kept time to the weird music of the drum and rattle ; 
 but they did not rotate until some minutes, when each 
 threw upon the leaves a basket full of delicious berries. 
 Several times they went round, and then pausing, the 
 foremost chief addressed them, recounting " the innu 
 merable benefits and kindly offices of the Earth the 
 home of the living brotherhood and the cherishing 
 tomb of the dead ; the receptacle of the seed and 
 producer of the strawberry. He bowed his head in 
 reverential gaze upon the ground, and laying his 
 hand upon his breast, cried : 
 
 " Earth, we thank thee ! " 
 
 The whole band repeated his words in a wild 
 chant, stamping and circling round, then paused.
 
 346 MAPLE EANGE. 
 
 The chief, turning his eyes to the Itasca s smooth 
 surface, proposed as the next sentiment : 
 
 "Water bearing canoes safely, slaking thirst; 
 giving drink, and therefore perfection, to the straw 
 berry water, we thank thee ! " 
 
 Again the march and chant around the post, then 
 the pause. The chief raised his head and waved his 
 hand to and fro, saying : 
 
 "For sweeping off all poison vapors, bringing 
 rain, cooling the weary frame and giving breath 
 while are gathered strawberries air, we thank thee ! 
 On with the dance ! let voice be uncon fined ! 
 
 With chant and quickening feet, the sentiment is 
 enthusiastically received. 
 
 Nellie was dressed in the holiday attire of young 
 Indian women. Excepting her hair, there was nothing 
 unusual about her. Since her capture she had worn 
 it combed straight back and braided in two long plaits 
 hanging down behind, but to-day Miannetta had dress 
 ed it in the old style. 
 
 A shower of golden curls rippled down beside her 
 face and over her shoulders. She seemed as usual all 
 day, apathetic, unobservant a beautiful statue of 
 some saint, an angel sent to earth on some divine 
 commission and frozen at her task. While the dance 
 was at its height, Miannetta, watching with jealous 
 care every movement of her charge, saw a quick, 
 burning flush upon the cheek that had so long been 
 colorless. For several minutes the unaccustomed car 
 mine had lain there, while the wan hand, so long idle, 
 toyed with a curl that dangled against her forehead, 
 then fell helpless again in her lap, and the flush paled
 
 RESTORATION. 347 
 
 out of her cheek. AVhen the dance ended Miannetta 
 arose, lifting her hand high above her head as betok 
 ening a desire to be heard. Every brave and every 
 maid sank silently to the ground while she spoke. 
 
 "Brothers, in the shade of yonder trees, when the 
 Autumn wind was blowing, I found this poor stricken 
 girl, and I gave you my word, with her to wait your 
 will. You know with what faith my mother s line 
 bore the sacred flame through all the long house of 
 the League. That faith is mine. Now by certain 
 signs I know the time draws nigh when light will 
 come again to these starry eyes, arid sound to the long 
 silent lips. But if she wakens here both light and 
 voice will last a moment only, for she will die ! 
 Brothers, I have said? " 
 
 She sat down and the chieftain who had put her 
 under oath, arose and with the wampum in his hand 
 approached her, saying : 
 
 " Miannetta has spoken truly, her faith has been 
 proven hundreds of years by her unbroken lineage. 
 It shall be unquestioned now. By this sacred token 
 she is absolved of her oath. If she can save from 
 death the silent lily she is free to take her to her 
 far off home and Springing Panther will die ! " 
 
 He raised Nellie s hand to his lips, severed a curl 
 from her head and noiselessly departed. The whole 
 band of dusky excursionists defiled to the water s 
 edge and "swift were the barks that bore them from 
 the lovely moss-grown isle." Miannetta made rapid 
 preparations (assisted by Springing Panther, who how 
 ever never ventured to look upon Nellie s face that he 
 had grown to love too well) for the long journey which
 
 348 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 she knew must be accomplished by easy stages. Thir 
 ty stalwart Indians went with them, packing ponies 
 bearing the provisions and camp equipage and canoes. 
 Nellie, by the chiefs orders, traveled as before, borne 
 on the shoulders of Indians in a comfortable litter. 
 
 Two weary weeks they were on the march. They 
 reached the boundary of the The Maples " estate 
 just at nightfall. Three trusty Indians remained with 
 them, the rest had swiftly retraced their steps from 
 the last encampment, for it was not safe for such a 
 large force to be in the neighborhood of the whites. 
 Miannetta took unusual care that quiet reigned about 
 the camp and that her charge slept early. After 
 Nellie was sound asleep, she left her and wended 
 her way under the bright moonlight to the farm 
 house. All was still in the kitchen, but a plaintive 
 strain reached her ears from the side porch where 
 Robert sat whistling. She approached, and, through 
 the breezy lift of the vines, saw his noble face which 
 bore the refining evidences of great sorrow. Gently 
 she spoke : 
 
 " Robert, I have accomplished my mission." 
 
 "Miannetta! Where is Nellie?" he quickly 
 asked. 
 
 "She lives; come with me and you shall see 
 her." 
 
 Together they walked toward the camp, Robert s 
 eager step showing his impatience of her moderation. 
 
 I can not keep pace with you, Miannetta ; par 
 don my impatience, but I long so to clasp my darling 
 sister once more in my arms. " 
 
 "And yet, Robert, you must promise me you will
 
 RESTORATION. 349 
 
 not touch her, will not breathe a word in her ear, that 
 you will be satisfied to look upon her sleeping face." 
 
 He looked wonderingly in her eyes. A terrible 
 thought crossed his soul ; a thought of the possible 
 extremity to which his pure and beautiful sister might 
 have been driven by savage passion. The thought 
 was maddening. Laying his hand upon his com 
 panion s arm almost fiercely, and sending a look that 
 explained his thought to her very heart. In a husky 
 whisper he said : 
 
 "And is it worse than death ! O, tell me not that, 
 in God s name ! " 
 
 "Robert, you do not comprehend me, poor boy! 
 As unpolluted as the snow on the mountain top do I 
 restore Nellie to you, but she now walks in darkness." 
 
 Then she told him all, of Nellie s long, long night, 
 of which she seemed to have almost a premonition, 
 the reader will remember, in that last good night ex 
 changed with her father and mother a year ago. 
 
 Relieved of that one blighting suspicion regarding 
 her, Robert listened almost calmly to the long story 
 Miannetta told him, and acquiesced when she added : 
 To-morrow, as you know, is the anniversary of fear 
 ful events. Our prophets say, that certain influences 
 prevail on certain days of the year, and recur in more 
 or less force each anniversary : who knows what may 
 befall Nellie to-morrow ? " 
 
 Yes, Miannetta, the idea is not new, nor enter 
 tained alone by your prophets. Our wisest, most 
 philosophic minds believe that. But what do you 
 propose doing? I know you have a plan, or you 
 would have brought Nellie home to-night."
 
 350 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 I can not tell yon all my plans, but this part is 
 for you. Wait to-morrow till she comes to you and 
 whatever whim she may have, do not thwart her, or 
 enlighten her in the least ; she must not know of your 
 parents death ; she must not see the new faces at the 
 farm house. To her questioning your answers must 
 accord as far as possible with the answer evidently 
 expected by her ; there must be no shock. She must 
 seem to take up her life just as she laid it down one 
 year ago. Do you comprehend me ? " 
 
 " Yes, and I am impressed with the cleverness 
 of your plan. Now let me look at her." 
 
 He followed, stooping to enter the little bedroom 
 of blankets, which was lighted by the bright camp 
 fire before it. She lay like an exquisite piece of 
 sculptured marble. One fair hand was beneath her 
 head, crowned with its halo of sunset hair. Her 
 slumber was so deep and motionless that he felt an 
 icy chill gather about his heart. Miannetta read his 
 fear in his face, and whispered: 
 
 Do not fear ; so she has slept each night for 
 months. " 
 
 His tears fell fast, as he bent yearningly over her, 
 but those were not all tears of sadness. He went 
 outside, and, seated by the fire, watched the camp 
 till morning. He went home, and with Mr. McDou- 
 gal, brought them breakfast, which, however, the 
 three Indians did not share ; they had left the night 
 before, and were now far on their way toward Lake 
 Itasca. 
 
 The warm Summer sun had passed the meridian, 
 when Miannetta took from a ba the dress of dark
 
 EESTOKATION. 351 
 
 print, which Nellie had worn on that sad day, one 
 year ago, long preserved for this very purpose, this 
 very hour. It required some ripping of seams and 
 re-sewing to fit the form, which in the year had 
 rounded into more perfect womanliness. While thus 
 engaged, her hand trembled with excitement and fear, 
 lest, after all, she had not found the key to this poor 
 child s thralldom ; but there is an intuition in woman, 
 superior to all the science of professions and schools. 
 
 Nellie sat, unmoved as ever, under the hair dress 
 ing and robing process. She took no notice when 
 Mr. McDougal and a farm hand lifted the litter, 
 hitherto borne by Indians, and carried her through 
 the woods. The sun was getting low ; Miannetta 
 looked anxiously upon its rapid decline, and then, 
 noticing Nellie s hand move to her head and take 
 hold of a curl, pulling it out straight and winding it 
 again about her finger, while a flush lay upon her 
 face, she whispered to the bearers : 
 
 " Increase your speed. In Heaven s name 
 hurry." 
 
 They did so, and set her down as Miannetta 
 directed, by the spring, then hurried away. She 
 made an effort to get upon her feet, but fell heavily, 
 Miannetta assisted her to rise, and then dreAv back 
 out of sight. 
 
 For a moment, Nellie stood as usual. A cow was 
 lowing in the lane that led from the clover field to 
 the dairy house; from a calf sho had been Nellie s. The 
 spring gurgled, as its waters sought the channel under 
 the dairy wall over the smooth stone floor, and to 
 that sound she suddenly inclined her ear, that ever
 
 352 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 seemed to be listening. The sun has gone, a flush 
 warms up her either cheek ; a light of intelligence 
 steals into her eyes ; she turns and looks upon the 
 familiar sights of her childhood s years, and woman 
 hood s dawn house, trees, and prairie with almost 
 a smile on her glowing lips. She bends over the 
 spring, dips her hand in the cool water, and scatter 
 ing the drops upon the grass at her feet, lays it 
 moist upon her forehead, while she gathers up the 
 threads of broken melody (dropped at the close of 
 the first line of her song, commenced a year ago this 
 very moment), and the air thrills to her sweet voice. 
 Hark ! 
 
 "From every cum bring care, 
 And spend the hour of closing day, 
 In humble, grateful prayer." 
 
 While she sings she is following the path that led 
 out upon the prairie. She gathers a generous bouquet 
 of the rich purple flowers, and returns with them to 
 the spring. She takes out the vase so long concealed 
 and dipping it full of water, walks up the path 
 while arranging her flowers ; holding it up and 
 smiling with satisfaction at the perfection of her 
 work. She seems oblivious of all else, till, stepping 
 into the kitchen door, she meets Kobert. She set 
 her flowers in a chair and threw her arms about 
 his neck, crying : 
 
 " O, brother Robbie, how glad I am to see you ; 
 you came sooner than I expected. See our flowers, 
 how perfect they are ; I was going to put them in 
 your room. "
 
 RESTORATION. 353 
 
 " I brought you a present ; another vase, the twin 
 I think, of this. Shall we go up to my room and see 
 it?" 
 
 " Have you already been there ? " 
 
 "Yes, and inadvertently left the vase." 
 
 "Why, what child is this?" she asked, as Ruth 
 Palmer s boy, escaping from restraint, came in and 
 ran to Robert, who explained 
 
 " A little orphan child I brought you to take care 
 of." 
 
 " What s his name ? " 
 
 "Freddie Palmer," laughed the child, whom she 
 kissed and said : 
 
 "Two little Freddie Palmers for me to love. Did 
 you meet father and mother. Robert ? " 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 Ah ! how deep the wound opened by the recollection 
 of that meeting. 
 
 "And tell them of this beautiful little fellow I 
 am to care for." 
 
 He avoided an answer by saying : 
 
 " Come I want to compare the vases." 
 
 "Yes, in a minute, when I introduce Freddie to 
 old Hector." 
 
 "No, no, I shall be jealous of both of them, if 
 you do n t come now. " 
 
 He took her arm and led her away up-stairs, lest 
 some change below should attract her. On the stair 
 she stopped and called: 
 
 " Cloe ! Cloe ! She does not answer me, I must 
 go and find her, and tell her to give Freddie some 
 
 X 15*
 
 354 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 bread and milk, and when he goes to sleep to put him 
 in my bed." 
 
 "Never mind now. She knows well enough 
 what you will expect her to do. Come, I never like to 
 wait when I wish particularly to do anything," he 
 said, impatiently. 
 
 They entered the room, she advanced with her vase 
 of flowers to the table, singing : 
 
 "Bring flowers to strew in the conqueror s path, 
 He has shaken a world with his stormy wrath. 
 
 "Forgive me, Robbie, I did mean to cry all the 
 time when you came home. " 
 
 "So sorry, eh?" 
 
 "No," she said with a peal of laughter, "not 
 sorry you came, but sorry that you must go again. 
 But instead of being sad I am so joyous." 
 
 Go where ? " he said, forgetting himself. 
 
 "Why, into the army, where you belong, Rob." 
 
 "But if I do not go? 1 
 
 " Robert ! " She looked at him very gravely, then 
 continued, Will your staying bring a blush to your 
 brow, or grief to mother s heart ? Is there no shame 
 in it, since, having enlisted, it will seem strange that 
 you remain at home ? " 
 
 " No, Nellie, I shall not blush ; there is no grief \ 
 no shame ; it is not strange." 
 
 "Then I will laugh and you shall not be sad." 
 
 Miannetta came in with a lighted lamp and said, 
 
 " Why, Nellie, you are wildly joyous to-night." 
 
 "Behold my inspiration. My brother s come 
 to go no more." She sat down on his knee and put-
 
 RESTORATION. 355 
 
 ting her arms about his neck gave way to uncontroll 
 able laughter, greatly to Robert s alarm, for he feared 
 her mind would never entirely recover its equilibrium. 
 She was so excited that he looked to Miannetta to 
 stay the tide of tumultuous joy. But oh, who could 
 speak the word to that lovely, joyous creature, th_at 
 would shadow her spirit, just burst so radiantly from 
 long continued gloom. Miannetta came close to her 
 and said : 
 
 " I put a light in your room, Nellie, thinking you 
 would be there. Shall I extinguish it ? " 
 
 "No ; I am going down now. Will you go with 
 me, Robbie ? " 
 
 They all went down together. Robert had taken 
 care everything should be as she left it, and she en 
 tered with his arm about her. She drew him along 
 to the wardrobe and laughingly said as she shut the 
 door, 
 
 " I do n t want that thing gaping at me." 
 
 " What do you read these days ? " he asked, tak 
 ing up the book that she had lain down a year ago. 
 
 "Nothing to-night. I promised mother not to 
 read." 
 
 " Well, let us sit down and talk then, instead." 
 
 Yes, when I get my glass of milk. Cloe has 
 forgotten to bring it; or no, she must be rocking Fred 
 die to sleep." 
 
 " I will go for it," said Robert, " and prove my 
 love by willing service." 
 
 She took the milk from him when he returned and 
 drank it, saying : 
 
 " If that glass of milk were to be given to me at
 
 356 MAPLE EANQE. 
 
 the North Pole, I should know it was Zephyr s milk, 
 it is so sweet." 
 
 A long talk followed. She told him all the little 
 home gossip in which her mother figured extensively, 
 and his tears were many times nearly discovered when 
 the conversation dwelt upon events of a year ago. 
 
 "I am tired, Robbie. Will you excuse me to 
 night from visiting any more ? To-morrow morning 
 I want to go out with you and sit on our old favorite 
 tree-chair (the very spot where her mother was buried) 
 and tell you some of my wonderful thoughts while 
 reading that book. I dare not tell mother, she would 
 put the book away." 
 
 " Well, you put the thoughts away, little sister, 
 to-night, and to-morrow we will compare our thinking 
 on your book. Good night." 
 
 He kissed her and left the room, out not to go to 
 bed. When all was quiet, he, with Miannetta and 
 Mrs. McDougal, went in to look upon the precious, 
 fair face. A warm, healthy tinge was on her cheek, 
 and in her slumber, blessed with pleasant dreams, she 
 moved naturally, and threw a white, round, dimpled 
 arm above her head. Smiling in her sleep, she mur 
 mured coaxingly, 
 
 Mother, do n t tell Robbie. He 11 laugh at me. " 
 
 When the women raised their moist eyes, Robert 
 had left the room, unable to control his deep emotion. 
 Endowed with strength of mind rare in one so young, 
 Robert had still a heart sensitive to smallest wounds. 
 Against that heart of late had been directed shafts 
 steeped in sorrow, but though it quivered and bled, it 
 had never grown bitter. As one who walks in dark-
 
 RESTORATION. 357 
 
 ness, amid dangers, clings to the guide he feels but 
 can not see, there had been a clinging in all his sorrow 
 to Him who whispered, "Fear not, for I am with 
 thee." He drank in the soothing influences of the 
 moon s rays as he walked up and down the graveled 
 drive under the trees, where after a while Miannetta 
 joined him. 
 
 " Are you not very weary ? " he asked. 
 
 "No," she answered absently ; "at least, I am not 
 ready to retire. I have something to say to you. 
 May I say it now ? " 
 
 "Certainly," he said, and offered her his arm. 
 "Has not the service you have rendered me given 
 you the right to command, rather than to beg atten 
 tion ? " 
 
 " I just came from Nellie s room ; her sleep is as 
 natural as an infant s. You will tell her all to-mor 
 row ? " 
 
 "Yes, if you think best. I came out to think 
 how best to do it, I am so fearful she may relapse." 
 
 "I have no fears now," said Miannetta. "One 
 night of natural rest, I think, was essential to thor 
 oughly restore her and call into healthy activity long 
 suspended faculties. These fragile women often bear 
 sorrow very composedly. Her late disability was 
 physical, the result of a blow she never realized. I 
 have known women that she resembles, who, with 
 the appearance of extreme delicacy, possessed powers 
 of almost marvelous endurance. I believe she will 
 bear this better, perhaps, than you have done." 
 
 "I hope she may," he said fervently. "But, 
 Miannetta, aside from the death of father and mother.
 
 358 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 aside from the anxiety I have felt for Nellie, I have 
 waded through waves of sorrow that would easily 
 overwhelm stronger men than I." 
 
 Miannetta took Annette s picture from her pocket 
 and laying it in his hand, said : 
 
 " Tell me truly, I do not ask through idle curiosity, 
 do you love the original of this ? " 
 
 "Truly, devotedly, as God is my witness." 
 
 She is your affianced wife ? " 
 
 " She was." 
 
 Who broke the engagement \ " 
 
 " She did." 
 
 "When?" 
 
 l Shortly after the massacre. Why, she never 
 told me." 
 
 " Have you a suspicion ? " 
 
 " I believe her mother lies at the bottom of it. 
 She is a cold, haughty woman, and from my first ac 
 quaintance with the family has made me feel a want 
 of cordiality on her part, which has apparently deep 
 ened almost into dislike. Her unladylike treatment oij 
 and objections to me, I can not understand. Before 
 addressing Annette, I obtained her father s sanction 
 and consent. I believe in her affection that it is in 
 alienably mine." 
 
 Ah, Robert, you do not know her mother. Be 
 lieve me, she is the cause of your misunderstanding 
 with Annette, but not in the way you think, and if 
 you could know all, you would love the poor girl none 
 the less. It is a mysterious barrier mysterious to 
 you, but clear as noonday to me, who, knowing her 
 well, can guess her secret"
 
 RESTORATION. 359 
 
 " Yet the barrier seems eternal. No word gave 
 me any hope of its removal." 
 
 " That depends upon you, strange as it may seem. 
 The hour will come when you shall have to decide 
 if the barrier shall be eternal." 
 
 " You know what it is, and that it rests with me 
 to remove it, and yet do not enlighten me. Miannetta, 
 is this kind ? " 
 
 "Robert, I dare not take the responsibility. 
 Wait ! Farther than to express my belief that the 
 clouds will ultimately disappear, I have no words to 
 comfort you." 
 
 "I am so little used to comfort, perhaps it is as 
 well to administer it sparingly," he said, smiling sadly. 
 "My heart is sore for all the sorrow that has been 
 laid upon it. Life became suddenly a Aveary blank. 
 For awhile I lost all interest, even in my military du 
 ties. I was callous to fear, for what physical suffer 
 ing could be more poignant than the grief that was 
 consuming me ! I was reckless of danger ; what was 
 there in life that made it worth preserving ? It is all 
 a dream, the scenes I passed through, the battles, the 
 charge, the carnage. Once, I remember, I saw a face 
 that of a dead drummer-boy as we charged a re 
 doubt fair and slight, with a mass of hair like Nel 
 lie s, but dappled with blood. The thought pierced 
 me, So Nellie may have lain. I recall our expos 
 ure now, but it was not terrible to me then. I was 
 still in my dream. I felt that in all the world I had 
 no one left to sorrow if I fell, to rejoice if I survived. 
 I went on with others less desperate, but more nobly 
 courageous. A color-bearer fell where four others lay
 
 360 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 dead. I caught the quivering staff from his hand, 
 and firmly planted it where he had intended to, and 
 still my dream went on in a whirling, melancholy 
 maze, A ball struck my right arm and the pain 
 brought me to a realizing sense of my position, the 
 only upright man on the parapet which that flag now 
 proclaimed as ours. To-day that banner hangs in 
 the State House, a tattered memento of tremendous 
 slaughter. " 
 
 "And that banner cost you your right arm? 1 
 said Miannetta. 
 
 "Amputation seemed unavoidable and barely 
 saved my life. Since the 20th of last May my coat- 
 sleeve has been useless except to better set off the 
 epaulet that since then has decorated my shoulder." 
 
 " I noticed with what care you avoided a disclos 
 ure to poor Nellie of the false arm; but of your 
 wound, was it long in healing ? " 
 
 " On the contrary, it healed too soon. I came 
 home immediately. My health made service impos 
 sible and care imperative. Under Mrs. McDougal s 
 nursing I got well rapidly, and thinking myself suffi 
 ciently strong, I went back to the field of action again 
 the last of June, in time for the surrender of that 
 Rebel Sebastopol, Vicksburg But the exposure and 
 exertion, together with the warm weather, proved too 
 much for my strength, which I had believed greater, 
 and the wound broke out again, resulting in a fever 
 which lasted only a few days, but was very severe. 
 They brought me home when I was too ill to know 
 it, and again Mr. and Mrs. McDougal nursed me 
 back to life, which to-night begins to seem more
 
 RESTORATION. 361 
 
 worth having. Miannetta, my more than friend, how 
 shall I ever liquidate my obligations to you for bring 
 ing Nellie back to my desolate home ? " 
 
 She whispered something in his ear. It must 
 have been something agreeable, for he looked into 
 her face with sudden animation and surprise, and a 
 new hope, that, somehow through her, the mystery 
 that enveloped his love would unfold, cheered his sad 
 heart. 
 
 That night, when he besought God s favor, it 
 was not without hope he pronounced the names of 
 Nellie and Annette. 
 
 Early rising was the rule at The Maples. At six 
 o clock, Nellie, attired in snowy lawn, entered the 
 breakfast room, where Robert and Miannetta were 
 waiting for her. Coming forward, she reached out 
 both hands to take her brother s, as of old. He ad 
 vanced to meet her, and took her left hand, swinging 
 her round somewhat suddenly, but successfully 
 averting for that time her notice of his lifeless arm. 
 Then leading her to the breakfast table, he said : 
 
 You and I must preside this morning, with 
 Miannetta for our guest." 
 
 Nellie bowed very gravely and began to pour the 
 coffee, playfully laying great stress upon her import 
 ance and dignity, yet with all her playfulness show 
 ing how gracefully she might fill the chair, from 
 which her mother had dispensed her noble hospitality. 
 
 Breakfast over, they went (Nellie and Robert) 
 arm in arm into the parlor and stood by the window, 
 Nellie tapping on the window-pane and singing, 
 
 16
 
 362 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 " A steed came at morning; no rider was there, 
 But the bridle was wet with the sign of despair." 
 
 A gate had been carelessly left open. Old 
 Deacon had walked into the .yard, round the house, 
 and right to the window where they stood she still 
 wondering why her mother did not come. With a 
 little scream, she pointed to the old horse, and grasp 
 ing Robert s arm, exclaimed : 
 
 " Something must have happened, Robbie ! Where 
 can mother be ? " 
 
 " Come with me, darling, I will show yon," he 
 said, and led her out to the graves and told her all. 
 Her grief was uncontrollable. She fell upon the 
 graves, kissing the earth that lay upon her mother s 
 breast, and calling upon her piteously; then she rose, 
 only to fling herself again upon the mound that hid 
 them from her view, to weep, pray and mourn, 
 calling them touchingly. 
 
 After a time she grew calm, and Robert, lifting 
 her up, led her away to their mother s room, where 
 for hours they sat, recalling her noble words and acts. 
 Then after another visit to the graves, they returned to 
 the parlor. Miannetta brought in Mr and Mrs. McDou- 
 gal, and Nellie was made acquainted with all the sad 
 change in their home tho new faces there. Robert, 
 who noted the expression of her face, saw that she 
 already loved these people who had been so considerate 
 of him. Freddie Palmer was almost smothered 
 with her caresses, and she said, in a voice choked with 
 sobs : 
 
 "Don t you remember, Robbie, I said I would
 
 RESTORATION. 363 
 
 care for Ruth s baby, if anything ever happened to 
 Ruth herself?" 
 
 "Yes, sister; and I believe you are restored in 
 part to fulfill that promise. But great duties require 
 a proportionate fortitude and self denial. You must 
 not indulge in the grief that will shadow his young 
 life. We have, both of us, grave duties to perform, 
 and eminent patterns to imitate, and must be careful 
 that we may not fall short of the perfection they 
 wished us to attain." 
 
 "Let us help one another, brother, that our walk 
 upon the earth may be light as befitteth the children 
 of saints, who must ever watch and rejoice over our 
 progress." 
 
 So life was taken up again at The Maples a life, 
 t is true, with a painful void, for the death angel had 
 been unsparing, but there was yet a healthy cheerful 
 ness pervading it. Robert was now altogether at 
 home his health utterly forbidding his return to the 
 army, or as he expressed it, his "conscience forbid 
 ding the crippled service of a left-hand sword."
 
 364 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 HEART S-EASE. 
 
 f I iIME, ever on the wing, has brought us to Autumn 
 -L again that of 1864. Its signs are unmistakable. 
 The trees are gorgeous with Autumnal tints. The grass 
 is crisp and sere. The cricket s chirp is shrill, as if 
 the early frosts had so disconcerted the piper s throat, 
 that she sings perforce in the wrong key. 
 
 Herbert and Phil Ellis are busy as bees and more 
 noisy, gathering cauliflowers and onions into heaps, 
 and loading them onto their diminutive cart, which 
 holds by actual count five large heads and ten small 
 ones. To this cart is hitched the mettlesome little 
 Besom, a manageable creature, between whom and 
 the boys there is a perfect understanding. He stands 
 gravely, with half-closed eyes save when roused by 
 some louder burst of boyish glee, when he pricks up 
 his ears, switches his long tail, and straightening him 
 self up trim and firm, communicates by champing 
 bit the assurance that he fully enters into the spirit 
 of his loving little masters frolic. 
 
 On the other side of the garden, digging potatoes, 
 is the whole-souled boy, though a practical joker, 
 Tad Wilson. He pauses in his work, now and then, 
 to deliver himself of sundry odd speeches, only half 
 understood by his limited audience, but received,
 
 HEART S-EASE. 365 
 
 nevertheless, with rounds of applause. The cheers 
 and laughter strike Mrs. Ellis ears, as she sews by 
 the open window, and she smiles affectionately and 
 says to herself, "Bless their young, joyous hearts ! " 
 
 Captain Ellis smiles while he works, shingling the 
 new barn, and wonders, between his hammer strokes, 
 if there is no limit to boyish nonsense. 
 
 Tad stoops to examine his work close and longer 
 than usual, and then calls drolly : 
 
 "I say, Herbert, did you ever practice much in 
 Tithmeric ? " 
 
 "Not much ; but I know the tables, and have 
 ciphered as far as Long Division. " 
 
 Well, I never ciphered much by rule, but I Ve 
 just now did a neat sum in Subtraction, with my hoe 
 took one toe from ten ! Look e ! " 
 
 "What is it, Tad" 
 
 Tad held up one of his great toes which he had 
 mistaken for a potato, half concealed and half revealed 
 as it was, by the dirt of the hill in which he was dig 
 ging. He had struck at it with the sharp hoe, and 
 nearly severed it from his foot, and with his usual 
 impetuosity and fearlessness, had then completed the 
 dismemberment with his knife. The sight of the 
 blood and pain of his foot sickened him, and he sat 
 down, while Herbert ran for his mother and Phil for 
 his father. With many expressions of sympathy, he 
 was carried to the house, where the wounded member 
 was dressed carefully and laid on a pillow in a chair 
 in front of him. He, regarding it with a comical 
 face, said : 
 
 "I m glad it s off! It was always bothering
 
 366 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 me, one shape or nother, no matter what I went 
 into." 
 
 While thus putting on a brave face, Gus and Liz- 
 beth Harkness drove up in the bright, new lumber 
 wagon. They entered the house unperceived, and in 
 an adjoining room overheard Tad s short, comical 
 speech, at the close of which they came forward, 
 learned the nature of the accident, and expressed 
 their sympathy. Lizbetb, laughing, said : 
 
 " Nobody will ever tread on that toe again ! will 
 they, Tad?" 
 
 "Not if I know myself," was the reply. 
 
 "Now, Tad," said Gus, "you just go in for a 
 good time. Pass yourself round while you re sick. 
 After you get tired staying here, let the boys bring 
 you on their cart to our house. When that gets to 
 be an old story, I will harness up the creams and take 
 you wherever you say. Your home is everywhere 
 now. I am glad you are in good spirits, for I have 
 got a little news that might make you feel bad, but 
 you mustn t let it, for you have got a plenty of 
 friends, and 
 
 " What is the news ? " interrupted the eager boy. 
 
 " Your father and Johnny have re-enlisted in a 
 veteran regiment. " 
 
 "What, won t pap be home this month with Mr. 
 Porter and the others ? " said Tad, with a quavering 
 voice. 
 
 "No, my little major ; Mr. Porter arrived at The 
 Maples last night, and is there yet. I came from 
 there here. Your father and Johnny sent love to you 
 and some money, but will not come right away.
 
 HEART S EASE. 367 
 
 But do n t take it to heart so, Tad. I thought you 
 was the bravest boy in all the world. " 
 
 The boy that could cut off his toe and laugh over 
 it, was sobbing now. Hope deferred had made his 
 young heart sick. No word of compassion could 
 ease the bosom that ached for want of a father s ten 
 der presence. Mr. Ellis took him up and laid him on 
 the bed in the spare bedroom, and closing the door 
 softly, thoughtfully left him alone with his disap 
 pointment and his tears. Homeless as he was, yet to 
 every house in the neighborhood he was welcome, 
 whenever and as long as he chose to abide there. 
 Mrs. Ellis considered him a member of her family, 
 alternating with uncle Carce Smith and the Maynards 
 in giving him a home. Always lending the help of 
 willing, cheerful hands in the hurry of planting, hoe 
 ing and harvesting at either place, he was a universal 
 favorite ; manners unpolished and rude of speech, but 
 heart warm and true. The whole neighborhood, 
 young and old, shared his sorrow and now sympa 
 thized in his disappointment. Cheerful, ready hands 
 nursed him. 
 
 Capt. Ellis, with a few of the original volunteers, 
 had been mustered out of Federal service the pre 
 vious May. The history of the successes of the army 
 in which they participated since we last saw them on 
 the gloomy Rappalwnnock is so familiar to the reader 
 that a repetition would be superfluous. Indeed, it 
 was not my intention to follow them in all the inci 
 dents of the war in which they participated. 
 
 A handful of men, the remnant of some of the 
 regiments that, three years ago, saw the Rebels at
 
 368 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 the first Bull Run, and were now conquering the Reb 
 els in the Wilderness, were drawn up one morning to 
 receive their discharge papers. They had stacked 
 arms for the last time, within the sound of and not 
 beyond the dangerous missiles of the deadly conflict 
 then going on. Some apprehension had been feit the 
 night before, that now their time was out they would 
 not be allowed to go. At all events, the commanding 
 general seemed determined they should work to the 
 last. They had been under steady fire for many 
 hours, and at last, in the evening, had been ordered 
 to take respite in a trench, after an exhaustive and 
 long continued struggle. They lay with their faces 
 on their arms, without exchanging a word, but the 
 half-suppressed sighs that would escape in spite of 
 all effort, along the prostrate line, spoke, more than 
 words could do, the hopelessness of the hour. 
 
 Suddenly a shell went screaming over them and 
 struck the bank just above them, covering them with 
 fragments of earth, announcing the frightful truth, 
 that they were exposed to an enfilading fire, even 
 while at rest. Still as they lay, speechless, what 
 throbbing life was in that trench. If those guns 
 should be lowered a trifle, what a furrow of death 
 they would plow. Capt. Ellis spoke once : 
 
 "Keep up your hearts, boys. Unless those 
 muzzles are put down, we shall be able to stand it." 
 
 " Arrah, yer honor, it s very aisy to say so, but 
 thry it awhile. It s not aisy, at all, at all, to stand 
 on yer belly when even the shmell of whishky is all 
 gone from yer canteen, an sin daylight not a one of 
 us has tipped the wink across the mess. The gin-
 
 HEART S-EASE. 369 
 
 cral has no right to hould us in sich exthremity, 
 jist the last minit of our sarvice, begorra," grumbled 
 Mike, without raising his head. 
 
 o 
 
 " Hush up, Mike, or the Rebs will get better 
 range, and there will be corpses in this grave with 
 never a b iled shirt on," said a dashing young corpo 
 ral, in a sonorous whisper. 
 
 " Och, bye, yer always thinkin o the decorations. 
 Ye d feel warse about the shot that peeled them 
 sthripes off ye than the cannon charge that sint ye 
 with niver a confession to judgment. Sure now, a 
 good soldier is willing to die naked, an he can be 
 covered wid glory. " 
 
 That poetic jest Avas Mike s last. 
 
 Just then a bomb, heralded by a deep hoarse cry, 
 swung in its airy orbit, and coming swiftly down, 
 plunged into that trench. Through that earthquake 
 shock, Mike had passed to immortality. Those 
 momentary lights, the wide-spreading glare of fear 
 ful discharges, flung back, as they were, by thousands 
 of burnished gun-stocks, and the little pools of water 
 here and there, revealed an awful sight. Dying and 
 slain steeds in one gory tangle of trunk, harness, and 
 half-severed limbs; officers in rich uniforms, and pri 
 vates in plain coarse blue, side by side, were, evidence 
 how truly death obliterates distinctions. Men with 
 stretchers, picking their way through the horrible 
 debris, bear their bleeding burdens to burial or lin 
 gering pain, while on every side are the sharp crack 
 and the incessant flash of musketry, and the grim, 
 dirt-stained soldiery that press on, a living wall, 
 toward the foe. All this beneath a cloudless Spring 
 Y
 
 370 MAPLE KANGE. 
 
 sky, bestrewed with glittering stars, and the May 
 winds breathing cool and fragrant through the 
 boughs of the wilderness wood, that are green and 
 fresh and guileless^ as if, instead of these grim hor 
 rors, they were the fairy haunt of innocence and love. 
 But morning came at last to the sleepless men in the 
 trench a morning, chill and comfortless with rain 
 and piercing wind. After a comfortless breakfast, 
 they were ordered to headquarters and there received 
 their discharge. Stiff and weary, their tread was 
 heavy as they stepped in perfect time with the grand 
 old " Hail Columbia," as they marched to the waiting 
 train that was to bear them Hark ! that cheer shall 
 tell you "HOME." 
 
 Surely that train was drawn by a slow locomotive, 
 for those eager men have made the journey home 
 over and over again in fancy, while on their way. 
 
 Once again the train stopped at a beautiful little 
 town in Ohio. Herbert Gray was observed to ex 
 change a significant glance with Capt. Ellis. A few 
 moments afterward he was seen on the platform of 
 the depot, deeply engrossed in conversation with Wal 
 ter Meade, the long-missing soldier. When again the 
 conductor shouted, "all aboard," the young officer 
 failed, for some reason, to hear it. 
 
 One by one the lumbering old stage dropped its 
 passengers, pausing a moment, and then again its 
 wheels hummed on over the smooth road. Conversation 
 since nightfall had been very dull, each man was busy 
 thinking, and his thoughts were such as could not be 
 expressed, and, perhaps, would not be interesting to 
 the others. Heavy sighs were exchanged as they
 
 HEART S-EASE. 371 
 
 passed the ruins of Ben Palmer s house, pleasant 
 exclamations as they passed the Maples, and 
 
 "Wonder who lives in Jehial Smith s house," as 
 they drove by and perceived it lighted up. 
 
 A husky "good night, comrades," had been re 
 peated at the door, until now, at last, only Gus Hark- 
 ness and Capt. Ellis are left of the seven who entered 
 the stage two days since. And yet the silence 
 remains unbroken ; a silence full of dismal fore 
 bodings for one, sweet, beautiful fancies for the other, 
 in which he already enfolds in manly arms the blessed 
 trio awaiting him within a half mile. A light 
 twinkles through the trees from the window of his new 
 home, built on the site of the old one. The vehicle stops, 
 his baggage is thrown off, and, from an open door, two 
 fine boys run out, shouting his welcome home. A 
 short embrace must answer for them now, for in the 
 shadow beside the gate, a bright little woman awaits 
 his kiss, with speechless lips, but a heart throbbing 
 warmest welcome. With his arm about her he went 
 up the door steps, entered the house, forgetful in his 
 great happiness of his lonely fellow-passenger and 
 comrade, who was now recalled to him by a sight of 
 that comrade s wife coming forward to greet him. 
 
 He ran out quickly to call Gus, but the coach was 
 already gone, and Gus with it. 
 
 Much regret was felt for this, as Ellis termed it, 
 "unpardonable forgetfulness and selfishness." 
 
 I know how he feels, poor fellow, and how dis 
 appointed he will be to find no wife awaiting him. 
 Why, I should have died, to-night, if mine had not 
 been here," and he clasped his Kitty in his arms, and
 
 372 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 kissed her again and again, till her round, full face 
 grew still rosier. 
 
 Lizbeth replied to him coldly: 
 
 Well, I do n t see how a man can expect to have 
 a wife at both ends of his journey. He should have 
 brought his yellow girl and her child along, if he did 
 not fancy being alone." 
 
 An angry crimson mantled her cheek as she 
 spoke, and she fairly trembled as with palsy, under 
 the astonished gaze of Capt. Ellis, as he exclaimed : 
 
 "What in the world do you mean, Lizbeth Hark- 
 ness ? " 
 
 "Don t call me by that name; keep it for her 
 who has the latest claim," she said, spitefully. 
 
 Mrs. Ellis here interposed an explanation. She 
 had long known a coolness existed between Lizbeth 
 and Gus, but till that day had been ignorant of its 
 cause. Lizbeth wished to remain with her to avoid 
 meeting her husband, who she rightly supposed 
 would go on to his former home. 
 
 She did not mean to see him till armed with the 
 proofs of his guilt, which, strange to say, she had 
 not doubted. All this Mrs. Ellis told her husband, 
 while Lizbeth, sinking into a chair, sobbed bitterly; 
 her face buried in the folds of her dress. Capt. Ellis 
 listened patiently; and then said: 
 
 " Lizbeth, pardon me if I seem severe. I 
 mean it for your good. You have made yourself 
 very unhappy by crediting the story of a man, who 
 not only disgraced his manhood, but sought to 
 involve womanhood as well. A person with whom 
 you had no business away from your mother s roof.
 
 HEART S-EASE. 373 
 
 You have not only made yourself miserable without 
 any cause, but have wounded the heart that was 
 true to you as the needle to the pole. Gus has 
 suffered untold agony by your mysterious silence of 
 two years duration. That story was a fabrication 
 from beginning to end, and you woefully sinned 
 against your husband, by listening to it for an instant. 
 He has been under my eye almost constantly since he 
 enlisted, and I do not believe that in that time he has 
 had a thought, or a word, for any woman, save the wife 
 whom he loved and trusted, as few men love and 
 trust, but who has returned his confidence with cruel 
 doubting and a silence that has grieved his noble 
 heart to the very core." 
 
 When her husband began to speak, Mrs. Ellis, with 
 a woman s quick instinct, divined what he would say, 
 and knowing how it would end, had gone out, and 
 putting Tad Wilson onto the back of fleet-footed 
 Besom, she told him to " overtake the stage and send 
 Gus Harkness back." 
 
 Entering the house, she delayed the supper, that 
 was nearly ready when Captain Ellis came, in as 
 many ways as possible. Lizbeth sat still in the chair, 
 weeping and reproaching herself for the wrongs she 
 could now see she had been guilty of against her faith 
 ful Gus. Mrs. Ellis at last placed the pot of fragrant 
 tea upon the damask-covered table, with its tempting 
 dishes. Just then her listening ear caught the ring 
 of a firm, military step upon the walk, and motioning 
 to her husband, he followed her from the room. "The 
 opposite door opened, and they caught a glimpse of 
 the fine, manly face, radiant with expectation heard
 
 374: MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 Lizbeth s cry of surprise, ere it was smothered in the 
 great black whiskers of Gus Harkness. 
 
 Gus never questioned his wife as to the motive of 
 her ride with Langmere the night of her supposed 
 capture by the Indians. There was a vague notion 
 in his heart that she had accepted Langmere s invita 
 tion through the promptings of the lingering coquetry 
 of her nature ; but he could not reproach her for 
 that, for well he remembered that when most coquet 
 tish with himself, he had loved her the most madly. 
 
 Langmere was the villain who would have taken 
 advantage of her innocence and love of admiration, 
 
 O 
 
 and upon Langmere he vented the bitter reproaches 
 of a man who, though not actually dishonored, had 
 been saved from it only by the merest chance. He 
 had no pity, no forgiveness, because the offender was 
 in his grave. Often times when madly recollecting 
 the unfortunate adventures of Lizbeth with Lang- 
 mere in the woods, he would say to her : 
 
 "Fool, that I was, when I fired at him that day. 
 Ignorant of the base wrong he had intended towards 
 you, I prayed earnestly that my gun might not be 
 loaded with the fatal bullet ; but now, to the latest 
 day of my existence, I shall never cease to hope that 
 it was loaded with ball and my bullet killed him. 1 
 
 A few weeks after the arrival of Captain Ellis, all 
 theories regarding the strange failure of Herbert 
 Gray to get " aboard " at that distant Ohio station, in 
 response to the conductor s call, were set at rest by 
 an announcement, contained in some newspapers 
 received at Clipnockum post-office, to wit :
 
 HEARTHS-EASE. 375 
 
 Married, on the evening of June 15, 1864, in , Ohio, at 
 
 the residence of the bride s father, Captain Herbert Gray, late of 
 the Federal volunteer service, and Miss Alice Meade," 
 
 A few days after reading this notice, the neighbor 
 hood was thrown into a "positive conniption, 1 as 
 Lizbeth said, by the arrival, in an elegant carriage, 
 of Captain Herbert Gray and his lovely young bride. 
 The happy pair were hospitably entertained many 
 days at Captain Ellis . 
 
 It was interesting to hear Herbert and his sister 
 compare notes of their individual adventures "by 
 field and flood ; " to listen to the story of their cap 
 tivity and escape from enemies, so different, and in 
 regions so remote from each other and from the 
 peaceful home where they were recounting them. 
 Those adventures, similar in more ways than one, were 
 particularly so in their deliverance from peril by the 
 friends Providence had raised up from among the 
 humble and despised colored races. As Mrs. Ellis 
 would never forget how Miannetta had been chiefly 
 instrumental in preventing her recapture, neither 
 would Herbert ever forget old Whiting, the crazy 
 boatman of the James river, who taught him how to 
 sing for his dinner, and how to "trabble de hard, 
 wat ry roads ob Jordan." 
 
 Herbert and his young wife settled in St. P , 
 
 where the former entered upon the professional career 
 for which he had fitted himself before the war, and to 
 which he now applied himself with renewed vigor. 
 His fidelity to justice whenever he represented a client, 
 was almost severe, and many times he refused to de 
 fend a case which he believed was based upon ex-
 
 3T6 MAPLE EANGE. 
 
 tortion and wrong. He carried this peculiarity to 
 such an extent that in a few months he established a 
 reputation as the "poor man s lawyer." Rich men, 
 as well, often sought his office when business of grave 
 importance had to be intrusted to legal hands. Mr. 
 La Moore, who had failed to establish his claim among 
 the sharp Parisian lawyers, had returned to St. P , 
 and placed his business in Herbert s hands ; but after 
 each consultation grew graver, until his gravity set 
 tled into a profound melancholy. His two eldest chil 
 dren entered joyfully into a plan he proposed, for a 
 change of scene a journey, in his own easy family 
 carriage, into the northern part of the State, accompa 
 nied only by them, as soon as the weather was cool 
 enough to make traveling agreeable. 
 
 We will now take a last look at some of the char 
 acters that have figured more or less conspicuously in 
 our long story, ere we pass to more interesting details. 
 
 The gloom that has hung over Maple Range since 
 the massacre, is gradually clearing off, and the settle 
 ment, ere another Spring, will no doubt show a pro 
 fusion of roses. Uncle Carce and grandma Smith, in- 
 the blossom of good old age, "both still sixteen," 
 occupy the cosy block house " across the lot," leading 
 to which are innumerable well-worn paths, attesting 
 the popularity of the dear white-headed pair. Mr. 
 Porter boards with them. He Avears the appearance 
 of a second youth. Sometimes he seems rather absent 
 in conversation, and pauses as though listening for 
 the curious and inapt interruptions of his deaf spouse. 
 Gus Harkness noticing this once irreverently said 
 to Lizbeth :
 
 HEART S-EASE. 377 
 
 The only real mercy the Indians can be credited 
 with was relieving Mr. Porter from the batteries of 
 his wife, and at the same time affording her an oppor 
 tunity to ascertain to a certainty the fate of Saman- 
 tha s man. 
 
 Asa Birdsell, whose farm adjoins that of uncle 
 Carce, and with his family escaped the notice of the 
 Indians, is making handsome improvements with the 
 money he has saved during the term of his service in 
 the war. 
 
 Mr. Ellis has the finest, most commodious build 
 ings ; but then, his wife s good taste had draughted 
 the plans, and who should know better than a farmer s 
 wife, in what consists the convenience of a farm 
 house and its appurtenances ? 
 
 Mr. Center is supposed to be still with the Indians. 
 His house and farm are taken by a stranger, with a 
 large family of bright-looking boys and girls. 
 
 Gus has just completed his house in the Hollcw, 
 and taken as a boarder the dashing young tradesman 
 who has built a new brick store opposite the old 
 " Watkins stand," and is doing a smashing business, 
 " they say 1 in the dry goods and grocery line. 
 
 Reader, are you thinking of the possible conquests 
 in store for our impressible friend, Lizbeth. How 
 ever, as she is now under the guardianship of a lov 
 ing and forgiving husband, I must say that if she 
 outrages his feelings again, she certainly will not be 
 worthy of our regret, though we shall pity Gus. Mr. 
 Cross, with his physical peculiarities intensified by 
 the death of his sainted Polly Ann, resides with 
 them, in a state of painful indecision on all matters of 
 
 16*
 
 378 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 moment, as he can not know just " her sentiments," 
 since her translation to the other world. Paddy 
 O Shannon, who was drafted, was wounded at Port 
 Hudson, one burning July day, and died in the hos 
 pital that night. His wife and children were victims 
 of the Indian outrage. His log hut has fallen into 
 ruin. 
 
 A handsome new school-house is nearly finished in 
 the Hollow, and the schoolmaster, who is "abroad," 
 has promised to occupy the evenings of the coming 
 Winter term profitably to old and young with lyce- 
 ums, grammar and spelling schools. Mr. Button is 
 about returning from the East, where, with his family, 
 he has been the last three years, to occupy the new 
 parsonage in Clipnockum, and perform the duties of 
 his sacred office. 
 
 Measures are on foot to increase the gayety of the 
 corning Winter, and Pomp (who, with Dinah, has 
 brought up at last in Minnesota, and bought the 
 house and eighty that Jehial Smith used to own), 
 in consideration of a written promise of a good cow 
 when the work is done, has agreed positively to 
 rosin the bow " on stated occasions, for the benefit of 
 lads and lassies in the woods and Hollow. 
 
 Lincoln s proclamation of emancipation made a 
 free nigger of Pomp, but it will require an amend 
 ment of the constitution and his heart before he can 
 be a man. In his present neighborhood, the cultiva 
 tion of self-respect will be greatly facilitated, and 
 may, let us hope, lead to the practice of virtue. 
 
 Robert and Nellie Maynard are still at The Maples, 
 quietly enjoying the many good things Providence
 
 HEART S-EASE. 379 
 
 and a productive estate of three hundred improved 
 acres afford. The crops have been abundant ; the 
 herd sent to market in September netted a comforta 
 ble sum. A part of the elegant front just being fin 
 ished is to be fitted up as a library, and some large 
 boxes of books have lately arrived. By all appear 
 ances, The Maples will be a grand place to spend 
 the Winter. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. McDougal seem to be necessary 
 fixtures, being as warmly established in the hearts of 
 Nellie and her brother as they are firmly in their 
 home. Miannetta also seems as much at home here 
 as she did in the little village on the shore of the 
 Itasca. 
 
 It is a warm November day, such a one as comes 
 rarely so late in the season. The noisy blackbirds 
 had their convention a month ago, and left en masse 
 for Summer s climes. But the Winter birds, that 
 sing loudest when it is coldest, the blue jays, in 
 dandy tuft and feathers, are shrieking and flitting 
 from bough to bough of the maple trees under which 
 Robert and Nellie are standing. They are discussing, 
 with some difference of taste, the painting of the 
 plain, heavy cornice of the new front. A call from 
 the gate caused them to look around. A close car 
 riage had, unnoticed by them, driven up, and the 
 driver was making signals for assistance. In answer 
 to his importunities, Robert ran down to the carriage, 
 just as the door was opened and the form of a man, 
 covered with blood, was revealed lying on the floor, 
 with his head in the lap of a weeping lady A gen-
 
 380 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 tleman was supporting his shoulders. One inquiring 
 glance at the white face and Robert recognized the 
 features of Mr. Pierre La Moore. In an instant his 
 eyes had met the surprised look of Annette and Eu 
 gene, while the driver explained : 
 
 u Mr. La Moore had been shot in the breast by an 
 Indian, half a mile from here. I hurried the horses 
 to this, the nearest house." 
 
 The explanation had accompanied the rapid re 
 moval of the wounded man to the house. They laid 
 him on a sofa, near a raised window, and tried to 
 staunch the blood that flowed in bright jets whenever 
 they lifted the compress. Robert applied camphor to 
 his nostrils, but he seemed in a dead swoon. Sud 
 denly Nellie said, 
 
 " I will call Miannetta; if it is a possible thing, 
 she will save his life." 
 
 She left the room hurriedly, and in response to 
 her repeated calls Miannetta opened the dining-room 
 door and came into the hall. A hurried explanation 
 was given of the arrival of strangers with a wounded 
 and dying man, when the parlor door suddenly opened 
 and the young lady stranger advanced towards them. 
 Another second and with a low cry she was folded in 
 the arms of Miannetta, while Nellie was thrilled by 
 the exclamations : 
 
 " My mother ! " 
 
 "My child!" 
 
 A moment after and the door opened again. The 
 young gentleman, advancing with a bound, was in 
 like manner embraced by Miannetta, who cried, 
 
 " My boy, my own Eugene ! "
 
 HEART S-EASE. 381 
 
 While he, disengaging her arms, cried, 
 
 "Mother, mother, come quickly. You can save 
 him." 
 
 Hastily they all entered the parlor. Silently Mi- 
 annetta glided to the couch, and gracefully she bent 
 over La Moore. She kissed his marble brow, while 
 she laid her finger on the wound and stopped the flow 
 of the life-stream. With lips glued to his forehead, 
 and drops of perspiration on her own that told her 
 suffering, she seemed the silent impersonation of love. 
 The man s lips moved at last and with difficulty he 
 articulated, while feebly his arms drew her down to 
 him. 
 
 " Miannetta, your kiss would almost bring me 
 back to life if I were dead but it comes too late 
 save to make my exit more blessed. Forgive me, my 
 wronged my only wife. Kiss me again if you for 
 give in God s name forgive." 
 
 The impressions of her lips were rapid and im 
 passioned, but not life-giving. His clasp about her 
 neck was relaxed. The change settled upon his 
 features which we all instinctively recognize, and his 
 disembodied spirit stood before the "Judge of the 
 quick and the dead." 
 
 Then falling upon his motionless form, Miannetta 
 uttered a wild cry. The cry was in the Iroquois tongue, 
 and was followed by a shriek of agony so piercing, 
 it made the hearts round her thrill. In compassion 
 for her, they all left the room, and she was alone 
 with her dead. After awhile, her children went back 
 and knelt with her beside their father s still form.
 
 382 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 What words they spoke, what tears they shed in this 
 their hour of union, the imagination must supply. 
 
 An hour afterward, with a step stayed by the 
 solemnity of the occasion, and yet wUh face radiant 
 as with a new revelation, Robert entered the room. 
 Gently raising Annette from her kneeling posture, he 
 said : 
 
 " Pardon me for asking you the question at this 
 painful hour, but is there still a reason why I may 
 never call you my wife ? " 
 
 "Yes; it still exists. My mother s people murdered 
 your parents. " 
 
 " Ah, Annette ! Your mother is my truest, noblest 
 friend. Will you not permit me to assume to her a 
 nearer relation ? " he said, pleadingly. 
 
 " Can you, Robert ; knowing all ? " 
 
 For only answer, he laid her head upon his breast 
 and drew her form to his heart, saying : 
 
 " Miannetta, mother, give us your blessing! " 
 
 The weeping woman rose, and placing Annette s 
 hand in Robert s, pronounced her blessing with falter 
 ing voice, and again knelt beside her husband s form. 
 
 Mr. La Moore was quietly buried near Mr. May- 
 nard, and by his side Miannetta marked the spot 
 nvhere she too wished to be laid, 
 
 " When no more on life s rough billow 
 
 All the storms of sorrow fled 
 Death has found a quiet pillow, 
 
 For the faithful Christian s head "
 
 MIANNETTA S STORY. 383 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 MIANNETTA S STORY. 
 
 Her smiles are with man her tears are with God. 
 Her heart may break, and who shall know tt ? 
 
 GRACE AGUILLAB. 
 
 THE forests of Canada have dropped their russet 
 foliage full many an Autumn time, since by 
 the red light of their hospitable fires, the dusky rulers 
 of the Iroquois nation smoked the peaceful calumet 
 with the simple-hearted Frenchman whose name and 
 memory are revered among their rapidly diminishing 
 numbers. Marquette, with soul aglow with religious 
 fervor, wept with them when the missionaries recited 
 the old, new story of Redeeming sacrifice ; bent, with 
 king and sachem, an humble knee before the emblem 
 of Infinite suffering and Love, as the cross was reared 
 in the wigwam, and untaught hearts acknowledged 
 Him, whose revealing is not alone to the learned. 
 Adown the flowing tide of generations dropped the 
 religion and sceptre of those forest kings, to Sam-o- 
 so-nois a religion as pure and sceptre as gracious as 
 the heart of the monarch was gentle and great. His 
 queen, Ros-qui-nah, was of the ancient line that min 
 istered to the Sacred Flame, an old and singular Indian 
 rite. At a set time every year, I think, in November, 
 when the nights were not moonlighted, a flame was kept
 
 384 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 burning a flame of thanksgiving for the perpetuity of 
 brotherly love, harmonious council, successful hunt 
 and bounteous harvest. Some authorities insist that 
 this flame was perpetual. 
 
 Sam-o-so-nois and Ros-qui-nah were blessed with 
 one child, a daughter, the " star-eyed " and bird-voiced 
 Lucille. She sang wild notes in the- lodge, or by 
 some murmuring stream, warbling in unison with 
 songsters of the air that hovered around her feet, as 
 
 o 
 
 fearless of her as of their mates. 
 
 One day, a scholarly adventurer, a young French 
 gentleman of fortune was attracted by her wonderful 
 voice ; heard, saw and loved. It was the old story. 
 He appropriated the sibyl, and her song, which in La 
 Belle France softened by rarest culture, became 
 irresistible, filling his stately home with its melody. 
 
 The marriage proved most harmonious, and one 
 lovely child cemented this union. In her rich com 
 plexion, her raven hair and eyes, her clear-cut features, 
 eloquently reflecting a noble soul ; in her form, exquis 
 itely proportioned, she resembled her mother. The 
 waving ripples on her hair, the mirthful flash of her 
 eyes, the noble poise of her head and the high bred 
 grace of her manner, bespoke the gentle French blood 
 of her father. 
 
 Monsieur Montfort regarded his Indian wife and 
 her child with a pure, doting worship, and their will 
 was the lever of all his actions. While she was still 
 a child, Miannetta was made to understand that only 
 at her father s death could she administer the estates 
 in France ; that she would inherit without question 
 her father s fortune. She was petted and humored by
 
 MIANNETTA S STORY. 385 
 
 both father and mother, who smiled at her childish 
 caprices, and regarded with too much veneration by 
 nurse and governess to ever receive a reprimand. 
 What wonder, then, that the little Miannetta became 
 slightly imperious ? 
 
 When she was ten years old she expressed a 
 strange desire to visit the woods of Canada where 
 her mother was born, and, forthwith, that desire was 
 gratified. Henceforth she was a bird of frequent 
 passage between Canada and France, accompanied by 
 her parents, but plainly their mistress. For their 
 residence this side the ocean, a suitable mansion was 
 purchased with Indian treasure, Madam Montfort s 
 while living and Miannetta s in the event of her 
 death. But this property, like the property in 
 France, was so tied up by technicalities of entail, that 
 only Miannetta, or her heirs, when they reached 
 their majority could establish a claim to it. 
 
 It was M. Montfort s ambition that his daughter 
 should excel in scholarship as well as in all feminine 
 accomplishments, and of masters he provided for her 
 the best. He was doomed to disappointment. All 
 the Indian in her nature rebelled against the restraint 
 of books, and, beyond the common branches, she 
 was, measured by her father s standard, lamentably 
 ignorant. A child of nature, eager to read nature s 
 books, and loving best the haunts where her favorite 
 author had been least disturbed, music was the 
 only accomplishment not contemned music was her 
 passion, and she possessed the same marvelous voice, 
 which in her mother had so captivated her gentle- 
 hearted sire. 
 
 Z 17
 
 386 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 When on the threshold of womanhood, she became 
 acquainted with M. La Moore, whose proud family 
 name, old as her own, was his only inheritance. To 
 his protestations of undying regard her heart beat 
 reciprocally. When her father cautioned her against 
 a "possible interest in the fortuneless and rather pro 
 fligate young La Moore," she declared passionately 
 she "loved him better than life had already ex 
 changed with him vows of betrothal, and that posi 
 tively she would wed no other. " 
 
 In this, as in all things else, her will finally 
 triumphed, and the doting father had only to 
 acquiesce with what grace he could. He soothed his 
 ambition for his only child somewhat, however, by 
 bestowing on La Moore a gift, a sum sufficient to 
 satisfy his fatherly pride, ere he consented to the 
 young man s demand for his daughter in marriage. 
 
 M. La Moore had been more mercenary than lov 
 ing in seeking the alliance with this heiress of a m- le 
 house and race. He expected important social ad 
 vancement as a result, whereas, at that time he held 
 an obscure government position in Ottawa. There 
 he took Miannetta, who loved him for himself alone. 
 
 A wife of seventeen can not easily leave father 
 and mother, and they can not easily part with an only 
 and adored child. It was arranged that M. Mont- 
 fort and his wife should accompany the handsome 
 young couple to Ottawa, where a residence was pur 
 chased that accorded with the elegant taste and 
 generous purse of the old gentleman. They lived 
 to hold the first born of that marriage in their arms 
 the grandfather s namesake, the passionate, but lov-
 
 MIANNETTA S STORY. 387 
 
 able little Eugene. When the child was a year and a 
 half old, Madam Montfort died. Lonely and sad her 
 husband s days dragged on, till a little pearl fluttered 
 down from the skies into the arms of Miannetta, and 
 he said, smiling, 
 
 "She is a messenger. I must go to my Lucille. 
 I long to hear her sing." 
 
 The baby s escort, when it returned heavenward, 
 bore his spirit to its seat among the ransomed. 
 
 Scarcely had he grown cold in death, when Pierre 
 La Moore instituted measures to secure a handsome 
 share of his possessions. He was unlike M. Mont fort 
 in every respect, but while her father lived, Miannetta 
 had only casual glimpses of his real character, which 
 he found it wise to conceal, lest the wary old man 
 should take alarm and place her property beyond his 
 reach. Miannetta inherited Indian titles to some Cana 
 da lands, and these with much other property she will 
 ingly made over to him. She had solemnly promised 
 her father (who understood her husband better than 
 she did, and provided against his exactions) never to 
 give to anyone the power of attorney, but to hold in 
 her own hands the management of the French estates 
 and the Montreal property. These, he had told her, 
 must be held for her children. Now that he was 
 dead his wish to her was law, and La Moore became 
 cool, and even unkind, as she persisted in this deter 
 mination. He was a handsome, haughty man, laying 
 great stress upon the conventionalities of society, 
 but careless of the small courtesies that spring from 
 the heart. He was never guilty of neglecting the 
 gentlemanly greeting and suave inquiry as to his
 
 . 
 
 388 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 wife s health and happiness, yet he would utterly 
 and designedly neglect to furnish the means to se 
 cure these blessings to her. 
 
 This proved a sad trial to the temper of the 
 high-spirited woman, who in all her life had scarcely 
 known rebuke an angry one, never. Now, when 
 the man who had vowed to love, honor, and cherish 
 her, not only rebuked sternly, but even sneered at 
 her relations and her rese mblance to them, she grew 
 wild with indignation, and gave him taunt for taunt. 
 But when her passion cooled, she was filled with sor 
 row and contrition, and besought his forgiveness, 
 as if she had been the sole offender. Her will was 
 broken at last, and the imperious head bent before its 
 master. Without reserve she gave up all her titles. 
 
 This very self-abnegation and humility inspired 
 his scorn. Forgetting his French manners, he hurled 
 her antecedents in her teeth, and, with the titles 
 safe in his hands, pierced her heart with words that 
 rankled like poisoned barbs. Upon the head bowed 
 so lowly, he placed a cruel, crushing heel was she not 
 his wife, and an Indian ? 
 
 He made a trip to Montreal with the avowed 
 intention of selling M. Montfort s family mansion ; 
 and when, upon his return, she asked him what he pro 
 posed doing with the proceeds, he answered mock 
 ingly : 
 
 "I thought I would buy blankets and fit oat an 
 Indian expedition to the moon. You told me you 
 were pining for a change of scene." 
 
 This was the only allusion she ever made to the 
 sum she supposed he had realized from the sale of the
 
 MIANNETTA S STORY. 389 
 
 old home where she had been so happy. She was too 
 proud to brave another rejoinder. He, too haughty 
 to ask for the power of attorney, without which he 
 could not effect the sale, and the matter was dropped. 
 Sometimes she would take a long ride with her three 
 little children and their nurse, in the old Montfort 
 family coach, away through the green country to an Iro- 
 quois village. The two eldest would never forget the 
 unutterable delight ot those days of unrestrained 
 freedom. These memories were clouded often by the 
 displeasure of La Moore, when he learned of these 
 visits, still he never forbade them until after the 
 birth of their fourth child ; and the periods of his 
 long absences were now dull enough to Miannetta 
 One day she went into the nursery to find comfort 
 in the companionship of her children. She took little 
 Pierre, the baby, on her knee. He was the picture 
 of his father, and it was half for his father s sake 
 she applied tender adjectives to his name, as she 
 pressed him to her heart. She fell into loving muse 
 while singing him to sleep, recalling the time when her 
 husband was not so cold, when he was pleased to call 
 her " his warbler;" to sit beside her long evenings, 
 listening to and complimenting her music. Long, 
 she sat thinking over the past, recalling her beloved 
 parents and her early wedded happiness. She seemed 
 unconscious that Pierre had awakened, and with happy 
 little Josie, was pulling down her long black hair till 
 it lay in coils upon her shoulders. She was buried in 
 the past. 
 
 Her cheek was flushed with her recent abstraction, 
 her hair was all disordered by her children s playful-
 
 390 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 ness ; her eyes had a moisture that yet was not tears, 
 when the door opened and her husband stood before 
 her. With a joyous cry, her baby still in her arms, 
 she sprang toward him, but there was no love in his 
 glance to invite her tenderness, no response to the 
 gladness of her voice. Seeking to hide her own em 
 barrassment, she held up the child, gaily saying : 
 
 " See what a rich, rich man is Pierre. He has 
 achieved a whole tooth in papa s absence. " 
 
 He pushed his boy away and coldly said, 
 
 " Such nonsense is unworthy a woman, at least, a 
 woman of your age, Miannetta. Your manner of 
 spending your time will scarcely impress your chil 
 dren with your dignity, to say nothing of their im 
 provement. Come, attend to your toilet ; I have a 
 matter to communicate that is full of importance to 
 us all." 
 
 Dinner was partaken of in silence. She felt too 
 heavy hearted to risk his displeasure by opening a 
 conversation, and he was too much absorbed in his 
 newspaper between the courses to make any remark. 
 After dessert he sat long over his Avine, forgetful of 
 the wife who awaited his presence in the drawing- 
 room, dreading something, she knew not what. At 
 last he joined her and sat long in silence, smoking a 
 cigar. She rose to ring for coffee, and he said, 
 
 "Sit down, Miannetta, and hear me. I have 
 brought to Ottawa a very superior young lady, 
 whom I have met several times in New York. She is 
 a lady and will be just the person for our children 
 and yourself to look up to. Of course I shall 
 reward her for spending her time here and lending a
 
 MIANNETTA S STORY. 391 
 
 little polish to our atmosphere, which I notice is get 
 ting strongly odorous of the woods. We need some 
 civilization. But look you, Miannetta, no servile 
 duties are to be required of Marian Ramsdell. She is 
 to be in every respect, one of us." 
 
 That night she found among his treasures the pic 
 ture of a young girl with fair hair, blue eyes and 
 clear, beautiful complexion, such a face as she had 
 ever admired, and contrasting it with her own dark, 
 heavy beauty, she did not wonder that her husband 
 had been attracted by it. 
 
 "But oh, could he not have admired this woman 
 and still loved me ? Now I know the meaning of 
 those cruel words he spoke to-day: A woman of 
 your age ! Am I growing old ? Is it age that trem 
 bles in my limbs to-night and makes my weight almost 
 insupportable ? " 
 
 Next day he brought home the original of the 
 picture. His eyes ever followed admiringly her 
 graceful form. Miannetta saw the silent worship 
 with which she was regarded, and resigned herself to 
 a secondary place in her husband s heart and the home 
 her father had provided for her. It was evident from 
 the first she meant to entirely subdue Miannetta s 
 spirit, to be her mistress, and the helpless woman, for 
 her children s sake, submitted to it with aching heart. 
 
 Her eldest boy, Eugene, rebelled against the new 
 "tyrant," as he called her, for she sought to subjugate 
 children as well as mother. 
 
 Mr. La Moore had never undertaken the govern 
 ment of his children, and their mother s government 
 was loving and serene. The combativeness of the two
 
 392 MAPLE EANGE. 
 
 elder children, now, was a new feature which their 
 father was soon called upon by Miss Ramsdell, to 
 suppress by his own authority With many stripes 
 and much wordy admonition, the beauty of civilization 
 of which she was the embodiment, was impressed 
 upon their young minds. Their obedience to her was 
 enjoined in her own and in the presence of their 
 mother, and particular stress was laid upon the fact 
 that the latter was by nature incompetent to control 
 or teach them, as she was an uneducated descendant 
 of the Iroquois. From that hour, Miannetta was 
 denied companionship with the children God had 
 given her. A year of lonely buffering followed, with 
 only stolen interviews with the little ones, who would 
 have submitted to torture rather than betray her 
 frequent embraces. At the end of the year, another 
 little one was laid in her arms, but her strength was 
 scarcely equal to the task of holding it. It was piti 
 ful, her longing for one word of love and sympathy 
 from her husband during her hour of trial. But he 
 was too much in love with another, whose face was 
 not distorted with pain. He preferred laughter to 
 groans. His infatuation, indeed, had reached such a 
 point that he disregarded her cry : 
 
 " Do not leave me, Pierre, I beg you. O my hus 
 band, stay till this is past ! " 
 
 He sought the society of the haughty girl who 
 now ruled his home and him. 
 
 Miannetta forgot in unconsciousness his indif 
 ference when the supreme moment came. For weeks 
 she languished for the want of tenderness and air, 
 which were both denied her. When the carriage
 
 MIANNETTA S STOEY. 393 
 
 rolled away, it was not her form that reclined against 
 the crimson cushions, beside her animated and gentle 
 manly husband. She needed change of scene had 
 always been taken down for sea air after her confine 
 ment before this ; but now it was not for her benefit 
 that a seaside trip was planned, Montreal and other 
 gay resorts visited. No, another and dearer was the 
 invalid. 
 
 One morning shortly after the return from the sea 
 shore of Mr. La Moore and Miss Ramsdell, they were 
 sitting together in the parlor near an open window. 
 The young lady s head was bowed in her hand, and 
 her whole attitude expressive of dejection. Mr. La 
 Moore stooped and smoothed her hair, saying ten 
 derly : 
 
 " You are not so well to-night, Marian ! I hoped 
 our trip would give you better spirits." 
 
 "I shall never have better spirits here, while lia 
 ble to encounter at any moment the only woman I 
 ever really hated ! " 
 
 "Why do you hate her, Marian? She dare not 
 harm you ! she has not the spirit ! " 
 
 " She has the spirit to tell me my presence is loath- 
 som e to her ; that she and her children despise and 
 defy me. " 
 
 " Miannetta said that ? " 
 
 "Must I repeat my assertions, in order to be 
 believed ? She did say so ! " 
 
 "Well, we will see!" 
 
 He strode from the room in a towering passion, 
 entered Miannetta s, and taking her roughly by the 
 shoulder, turned her round toward the window.
 
 394: MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 Pointing to the distant forest where the Iroquois 
 village lay, in a voice husky with anger, he said : 
 
 "Go to your own people! You can sympathize 
 with the rudeness of ^lieir customs, but have no com- 
 prehensi on of the refinement of ours ! Go, I say ! " 
 
 " You do not surely mean this, Pierre ? Their 
 manner of life is as uncongenial to me as it would be 
 to you ! I have never known any, save a home like 
 this, amid luxury and wealth. You do not mean that 
 I shall leave you, leave my blessed little children f " 
 
 "Yes! I do mean it all! You only teach my 
 children miserable Indian manners and resistance to 
 all other authority. Give me that child ! " 
 
 "No! Pierre, I will not! If you insist upon 
 giving Marian all the rest of my children, you must 
 leave me this one ! I claim it by right of my most 
 suffering motherhood." 
 
 "No, Miannetta, not one! not one shall you 
 have ! Here is money for all your needs. " 
 
 "Perish your gold, as the love you feigned to 
 obtain it, has perished ! " 
 
 She rushed past him, with her child hugged closely 
 to her bosom, ran up the long flight of stairs to the 
 nursery, and sat down, breathless, in the midst of her 
 wondering children. Then she told them with 
 choking sobs, and amid their own tearful and indig 
 nant protests, that she "must go." 
 
 I know all about it, " said Eugene, setting his 
 teeth, while his tears were interrupted by rising 
 anger. " I heard them talking through the window. 
 That woman told papa that you had been abusing her. 
 I knew it was a lie, and papa doubted it, for he made
 
 MIANNETTA S STORY. 395 
 
 her say it again fore he d believe her ! See if I 
 don t find ways enough to torment her ! We can 
 make her so unhappy, she will be glad to get 
 away, and you sha n t go a step, my precious pet 
 mother ! " 
 
 His arms were about her neck protectingly, ~::A 
 he looked toward the door, with boyish defiance on 
 his beautiful young face. His poor, distracted mother 
 thought : 
 
 "For this love and noble espousal of my cause, 
 my boy must suffer." 
 
 Annette stationed herself on the other side of her 
 mother, and with an arm about her neck, stood ready 
 to re-echo whatever her brother said, to repeat his 
 every gesture of protest and defiance. Little elfish 
 Josie had climbed up on the back of her mother s 
 chair, and was playing bopeep with Pierre who, upon 
 his highly-prized seat, the maternal knee, was nest 
 ling his head beside the baby s, in the loved and 
 loving bosom. So sweetly hemmed in, could harm 
 fall to that trembling victim of a miserable woman s 
 wiles? Could there be found a power so inhuman 
 and relentless as to tear her from this childish love ? 
 Softly resigning herself to their affectionate demon 
 strations, Miannetta was almost happy till warned 
 by the gathering gloom of night that she must break 
 these chains ; so calmly she sought to prepare for the 
 long separation. 
 
 "Genie, my precious boy, you are the eldest and 
 must set an example to be followed by Annette and 
 the others. Your father has chosen to appoint 
 another woman your mother in my stead, and you
 
 396 MAPLE KANGE. 
 
 must remember, no matter what I may suffer, that 
 he has a right to your obedience." 
 
 "I shall always mind papa," said Eugene, "but I 
 won t mind old Purr daisy." 
 
 "Won t mind old Purr daisy," echoed Annette. 
 
 "But by making an enemy of her, you will make 
 an enemy of your father, and your disobedience to 
 her will bring upon you punishment that it chills me 
 to think of. Your objection to my going will be 
 fruitless as my own. Now for your own happiness 
 and my peace, I want you all to promise to be gentle 
 and good, to treat with marked politeiless Miss 
 llamsdell, for coarseness and vulgar manners are the 
 certain result of ugly thoughts. I do wish to think 
 of you as preserving the old Montfort gentleness, 
 But for this, my father s cherished trait, I might 
 remain and try conclusions with this usurper. 
 But," she added, as if speaking to herself, "though 
 in my veins runs the purest blood of France, it is 
 blended with that of a race that have no rights, 
 whose women, when discarded by the caprice of 
 husbands, have no refuge save in the forest; no re 
 dress save that from which my soul recoils. No, 
 there is no way but to submit, all my claims upon 
 my father s wealth are vested in him who drives me 
 like a dog from my own door, who will tear from me 
 the children that have lain on my heart." 
 
 "O, mother, don t say so," cried Eugene, his big 
 heart bursting at this outrage upon his adored 
 mother, and ready to wage childish warfare upon its 
 authors.
 
 MIANNETTA S STORY. 397 
 
 Miannetta again soothed him, and showed how 
 love may lead the most fiery spirits. 
 
 " Genie stop ! I know you love me well enough 
 to defend me, but now I am going to make a 
 request, and you must all remember it as mamma s 
 last wish. It is that you will conduct yourselves as 
 become the descendants of a man who was a gentle 
 man by birth, and of a woman who was of royal 
 blood, and detested untruth above all things. Do you 
 promise me, my children ? " 
 
 u I promise," said Eugene, and sank upon his 
 knees sobbing, with his face in her lap. 
 
 "I promise," said Annette, striving to find a 
 similar nestling place. 
 
 " I promise," said little Josie. 
 
 Thus La Moore found them, and passionately 
 bade her hasten away. Upon each darling face she 
 imprinted a kiss, the agony of which went up to 
 heaven, then rising said: 
 
 I am ready, Pierre. " 
 
 He attempted to take the baby from her, but with 
 the strength that comes of despair she clung to it, 
 and O, could you have heard her plead with him, her 
 own husband, the father of that child 
 
 " Just this one, Pierre, to furnish sunshine for my 
 dreary days." 
 
 But he was deaf to all appeal, his heart that must 
 have been flint, was proof now against all importuni 
 ties, and, taking the child from her clinging clasp, he 
 dragged her down the stairs. At the bottom step 
 Marian stood, the personification of sweetness and 
 mercy, for she cried nervously to La Moore;
 
 398 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 "Don t hurry her so ; use as little severity as 
 possible, dear Mr. La Moore, for my sake. Let me 
 relieve you of the child." 
 
 That was the drop too much for poor Miannetta, 
 when she found she was indebted for her husband s 
 gentleness to another woman s prayer, when her baby, 
 for which she so piteously plead, was given willing 
 ly into the arms of another her successful rival in 
 her husband s heart shriek after shriek burst from 
 her agonized soul, and she became helpless as the 
 babe just forcibly taken from her. La Moore took 
 her up and carried her to a door at the rear of the 
 house, where a carriage was in waiting, which she 
 was too unhappy to notice was not their own. A 
 rough looking stranger opened the door, and she was 
 thrust in, and it was shut again, fastened securely, 
 and immediately she was driven rapidly away from 
 all she loved. 
 
 For some time she seemed paralyzed, mind and 
 body alike insensible, but gradually she roused her 
 self, and at midnight, apprised by deepening shadow 
 that they were entering a wood, she pulled the check 
 string to communicate a desire to speak with the 
 driver, and he, dismounting, opened the door, say 
 ing gruffly : 
 
 "What s wanted?" 
 
 " Where do you intend to take me ? " 
 
 "To the Iroquois village." 
 
 " Have you no fear? " she asked. 
 
 "No; the Indians are friendly and are Christians; 
 they will hurt no one," he said, and she continued : 
 
 "You have undertaken a deed that will certainly
 
 MIANNETTA S STORY. 399 
 
 meet the reward of death. I can not save you. 
 Every fact of our coming will be known before we 
 reach them, no matter by what agency. Your blood 
 must be upon your own head if you neglect my 
 warning, and cross the boundary of the Indian reser 
 vation. 1 
 
 With an oath he slammed the door to, mounted 
 the box and drove on. The village was aroused by 
 their arrival just at dawn the following day. 
 
 Old Sam-o-so-nois received his grandchild cordially, 
 but he had expected this for a long time; faithful 
 agents had witnessed all, and preceded them with 
 the tidings. It was not the first woman of his people 
 who had come, driven from the arms of a false pale 
 face, but this one was his own flesh and blood, and, 
 moreover, of that sacred line of women, whom every 
 Indian revered. 
 
 Not by his will, for he was a Christian though an 
 Indian, but through younger, more passionate agency, 
 the driver met the penalty of his service in bringing 
 Miannetta, a discarded wife, to the woods. 
 
 Before the sun had commenced its daily journey, 
 his scalp hung limp and gory by the hunting pouch 
 of a young brave. The third night saw that carriage 
 again upon its way city ward, driven by an Indian, 
 Miannetta within, and by her side the feeble hoary- 
 headed king of the Iroquois Sam-o-so-nois. An 
 occasional remark broke the silence, but while they 
 rode, each told their beads devoutly. At the edge of 
 the wood the old man got out, and holding a crucifix 
 for her to kiss, said in good French : 
 
 " I will prevent La Moore from realizing anything
 
 400 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 from the Indian titles. They shall be intact for the 
 benefit of your children. Your father provided 
 for such contingency in his will. The papers you 
 gave La Moore are worthless to him so long as you 
 live, since he has not been empowered legally to ad 
 minister upon the French estates. I shall make rapid 
 preparation now for removal west. The blood in the 
 veins of my braves is boiling to revenge your wrong, 
 and fatal collisions will occur with the whites if we do 
 not go. Toward the sunset is a fairy lake, and a 
 forest of wonderful richness in game. There I will 
 go; come you too, when your heart will allow you. 
 Command Indian currency as you need it." 
 
 . So saying, he disappeared. The coach was driven 
 on into the lighted city, when the driver sprang down, 
 opened the door with a guttural exclamation, and in 
 a moment he, too, was gone. 
 
 Miannetta descended, hurrying to her late home, 
 entered the rear grounds, and stood beneath the nur 
 sery window. She gazed with jealous eye upon the 
 light, that unrebuked might fall upon the sleeping 
 faces of her children, while she was shut out. 
 She stood long in the shadow, comforted by her very 
 nearness to them. Then she heard a feeble wail, then 
 the petulant voice of the nurse, disturbed by the in 
 creasing cry of the baby. Her baby, crying for the 
 nourishment with which her breast was bursting. 
 The calmness that had supported her the few days 
 past gave place to madness now, as through that cry 
 she realized the bitterness of her relentless fate. A 
 lifetime of frenzy seemed condensed in the minutes 
 that followed. The doors, the windows, every possi-
 
 MIANNETTA S STORY. 401 
 
 ble and impossible entrance was attempted. No mer 
 ciful hinge creaked a welcome ; no bar fell down to 
 let her through. She called wildly upon her husband, 
 begged of the servants to let her in to feed her child. 
 No response came, though the house was thrilled 
 through and through. The heads of Eugene and 
 Annette were seen a moment at the open window ; a 
 moment, and they were torn away, calling her name. 
 
 Her cries at last gave place to the silent agony of 
 a forced submission. When she would have fallen, 
 the arm of old Sam-o-so-nois, who, with another In 
 dian, was waiting in the shadow of the shrubbery, 
 upheld and led her through several streets to the 
 comfortable but rude hut of an old Iroquois woman, 
 originally the owner of much real estate in Ottawa. 
 She willingly received Miannetta. They laid her, 
 senseless now, upon a bed where for weeks she lay in 
 a raging fever, only recovering through most skillful 
 attendance and care. 
 
 In Ottawa were warm hearts, who could not ex 
 cuse La Moore for casting her off, even though she 
 had been entirely an Indian, since her Indian blood 
 was his plea. They remembered her in brighter days 
 when, the courted and brilliant belle of an aristo 
 cratic circle in Montreal, she gracefully accepted 
 homage that never questioned her antecedents. They 
 had loved her for her independent, vivacious, yet ten 
 der nature, never dreaming of the shadow of her 
 later years. A poor outcast, upon a mean bed in a 
 lowly hut, denied the wealth assuredly hers, denied 
 her own children. 
 
 White women have suffered the same way, but 
 2A 17*
 
 402 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 with them redress is possible. Laws are enacted for 
 their protection. But what law is there for a repudi 
 ated wife of mixed blood ? What redress if her chil 
 dren are torn from her bosom ? 
 
 In the weeks of her returning health, Miannetta 
 was schooling herself to the renunciation she felt was 
 inevitable. With wonderful trust in the love vouch 
 safed her daily from on high, she resolved through 
 strength from the same source, to bear her afflictions. 
 The day came when she could walk unassisted. Day 
 by day she gained strength, though slowly, ventur 
 ing each day a little further in her walks. 
 
 One night when darkness favored her (darkness 
 now seemed her friend), she passed again into the 
 inclosure of her children s home, and seating herself 
 in the shrubbery where they had often played round 
 her, she watched the light that came dimly from their 
 room. The great, pitying eye looked down upon 
 the tired, wandering mourner, alone in the dark. 
 Suddenly the curtain of the nursery window was 
 drawn aside, the sash was raised softly, and two heads 
 peered cautiously out. Then a paper attached to a 
 long cord was lowered. Dear little hearts ! Think 
 ing she would be there durjng the night, her children 
 had determined to communicate with her. She sprang 
 eagerly forward, detached the paper, and when the 
 cord was drawn up, a lock of her long dark hair and 
 a pure white rose were attached, which were 
 laid carefully away under lock and key. Mian 
 netta hurried away now with her treasure, repairing 
 to the hut of an old Indian woman in the nearest wood. 
 There she read her precious missive by the aid of the
 
 MI ANN ETTA S STORY. 403 
 
 firelight, and we will be rude enough to look over 
 her shoulder. 
 
 DEAREST MOTHER: 
 
 It s me, Eugene, that writes, but Annette thinks up some of 
 the things to say. The poor little baby cried and cried till it died. 
 The doctor said it was change of food, but we think it knew that 
 you were drove off. Marw/m, as we call her now, talks about the 
 angels it has gone to live with, but we guess she 11 never get near 
 enuff to one to tell how it looks. We shall remember our prom 
 ise to be polite to her, but we take turns making faces at her 
 when her back is turned, Annette and me do. We are all sorry 
 for you, and talk about you a great deal, so that Josie and Pierre 
 won t forget. We will put letters out when we can get a chance, 
 and if they are not gone in the morning we 11 draw em up again. 
 We expect you will go to the old king, our great-grandfather, and 
 will have enough money to make you comfortable, but we know 
 that you will miss us and be unhappy and lonely. Dear mother, 
 this is full of love, for we have all kissed it, each just where their 
 name is written. Josie, Pierre, Annette, and me, 
 
 EUGENE. 
 
 Strange ! We have read this little letter two or 
 three times, and yet, Miannetta seems to be long in 
 making it out ! Ah, she has fallen asleep over the 
 childish scroll ; and look at the blessed smile upon 
 her wasted features ! When she awoke it was in a 
 delirium that lasted many weeks. She had taxed 
 her strength too much. She came again very near 
 death, but, at last, through the agency of powerful 
 remedies administered by the medicine man of the 
 Senecas, who visited the wigwam, she recovered. As 
 soon as her strength would allow, she repaired once 
 more to the Mecca of her hopes, her children s win 
 dow. The light was gone ; the house untenanted ! 
 She inquired among the neighbors, but no one could
 
 404 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 or would tell whither Mr. La Moore had taken his 
 family. She returned to the deserted house and 
 wildly sought for some word of farewell from her 
 children, and found it at last skillfully concealed in 
 the loose bark of the tree that was her own and their 
 favorite resort. She read : 
 
 DEAK MOTHER : We have wrote lots of letters, but you didn t 
 come for em, and we are awful afraid something has happened to 
 you. Maria/in has got a baby, and papa says we must call her 
 mother now. 
 
 Papa sold the house for a pile of money, and we are going 
 away I don t know where, nor papa won t tell anybody ; but 
 I m fraid it is a great way off, cause none of the servants but 
 Lavergn and Casper are going with us, and we sha n t see you 
 again but we shall try to let you know, and if there are any 
 Indians round, it will be easy to do so. We won t forget you 
 never never. We will all be good, and love one another. You 
 always said God would take care of us ; and we ask Him many 
 times a day to never mind us, but take care of poor marnma. 
 Good-by. GENIE AND NETTIE. 
 
 This was the last she heard of them for twelve 
 long, weary months, which she spent part of the 
 time in the woods, with different tribes that were of 
 the League, at home and welcome always ; but she 
 had no heart for their wild life, that charmed 
 her so in childhood. Once she visited Montreal, 
 thinking it possible the beloved ones might be there ; 
 but she was almost maddened by the scenes that 
 carried her back to happier days. She avoided all 
 meetings with old acquaintances ; but that was a great 
 mistake. Miannetta Montfort was too well beloved 
 by the noble French families in Montreal, to be 
 dropped by them simply because her husband, who
 
 MIANNETTA S STORY. 405 
 
 was not so favorably remembered, had dropped her. 
 But she did not know this. Misfortune makes us 
 sometimes suspicious and afraid of friends, especially 
 when those we considered true as heaven have failed 
 us. Many friends would have welcomed her, both in 
 Montreal and Ottawa ; but with a proud sensitiveness 
 she avoided all who hud known her in the days of her 
 prosperity, not knowing to what extent her hus 
 band was censured for his cruelty and wickedness. 
 With the Indians there was no question of her posi 
 tion. Sam-o-so-nois had carried out his avowed pur 
 pose to move west immediately ; but Miannetta 
 found homes in lodges belonging to other tribes, 
 under the protection of other sovereigns. She 
 remained near Ottawa, as there she was sure her 
 children would address her whenever the opportu 
 nity should offer. After a year of patient waiting, 
 she was rewarded by tidings. Two Indians had made 
 the long journey on foot from Minnesota, in compli 
 ance with a request Eugene had made of them to find 
 and tell his mother where they were. She returned 
 with them, traveling on a pony. She reached St. 
 P , and gazed upon the roof that sheltered her 
 dear little ones, but dared not approach it, and for 
 days lingered lovingly near, without a sight of beloved 
 face or form. . 
 
 At last, one day, one of her escorts met Eugene 
 in town, and communicated to him the fact that his 
 mother waited in the long ravine at the foot of the 
 bluff, to see him. Each afternoon she sat down there, 
 to pick over the strawberries she sold in the city as 
 an excuse for lingering near the residence of La
 
 406 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 Moore. The noble little fellow desired to rush to 
 her, but fearing the observation he might thus attract, 
 he managed more prudently, as became his moth 
 er s son. With some other boys, he engaged in a 
 game of ball, which had its disadvantages, to be sure, 
 but which should serve his purpose, he determined. 
 A good throw would do wonders for him now, and 
 how his heart beat when the ball dropped almost into 
 her lap. 
 
 "Run, Genie!" cried one. "The ball dropped 
 down close to that old squaw, down there ! " 
 
 Eugene had obeyed him, bounding down and lay 
 ing his hand tenderly upon her shoulder, and looking 
 with eyes overrunning with love into hers, as these 
 words were quickly exchanged : 
 
 " Mother ! my precious mother ! we are dying to 
 see you ! " 
 
 " Genie, darling, I dare not kiss you ; but I am 
 so thirsty for your love ! " 
 
 "I ll manage some way!" he said; but went 
 whistling back up the bluff, saying : 
 
 " Let s find a better place than a side hill for this 
 kind of a game, boys ! " 
 
 His companions did not see that he was hiding a 
 note away in his pocket, and had no suspicion that 
 other than fatigue took him away from their sport 
 shortly afterward. Going home, he sought Annette, 
 and together they read : 
 
 MY PRECIOUS CHILDREN : I can hardly help rushing to you 
 and braving all for one close, blessed embrace ; but I know we 
 must be cautious, or you will all be taken away again. Come, 
 Genie, to-morrow afternoon, when I start to the city with my
 
 MIANNETTA S STORY. 407 
 
 berries, and cross the slough bridge at the same time. We will 
 talk ; but don t look at me, nor appear to notice me. Oh, what 
 love I have for you all ! YOUR MOTHER. 
 
 This letter, more precious than gold to them, was 
 committed at once to flames ; but in obedience to it, 
 as Miannetta stepped upon the bridge, she heard a 
 light footstep bound upon the plank, and knew that 
 her boy was near. He appeared to be completely 
 absorbed throwing stones into the water ; but all the 
 time they were conversing rapidly in French. It was 
 a short walk for two who had so much to say ; but 
 the language they used was eloquent and comprehen 
 sive, and no time was wasted. 
 
 "We are most crazy to see you," said Eugene. 
 "Papa has promised me that we may go by ourselves 
 in the carriage to-morrow, a nice ride. Lavergn will 
 drive; he remembers you and would lose his arm for 
 you, any day. So you be in the cooley yonder," 
 (he threw a pebble to indicate the direction) " and we 
 will pick you up. All the children shall be along 
 all but M.a.ri-ann s and you shall ride with us once 
 more, mother." 
 
 He crossed over to the other railing in front of 
 her, looking into her face, and their eyes met and 
 spoke the depths of their love. 
 
 "Thank God for this," she whispered, as he 
 commenced whistling noisily. 
 
 Just then a boyish acquaintance came alon g, and 
 addressing Eugene, said: 
 
 That s a Yankton squaw, and, they say, the 
 handsomest woman in St. Paul, Let us follow 
 take a look at her, "
 
 408 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 Eugene, determined to keep his reckless play 
 fellow by him until his mother should have left the 
 city, said: 
 
 " No do n t. Let s go and take a ride ; I can get 
 the horses." 
 
 His friend readily acquiescing, they turned 
 towards the stables. Winking significantly at the 
 did coachman, Eugene asked the privilege for himself 
 and his companion of riding. His signal was 
 understood and the horses were put under the boys in 
 a hurry, Lavergn soliloquizing as they rode away, 
 thus: 
 
 "She s somewhere around, I know; that boy s 
 face is just like a book, and I can read his mother s 
 name all over it. Let me see. Yes, I have it now, 
 that s the reason the strawberries on the bluff side 
 are so much better. Poor thing, to have to pick 
 berries for an excuse to be near the home she could 
 turn em all out of, by twisting a screw or two, but 
 she is made of better stuff than most women. " 
 
 That night, with her blanket over her head, Mian- 
 netta lay wakeful in the silent thicket, to which she 
 had retired in alarm, having noticed that in spite of 
 her disguise, she had attracted attention and a certain 
 coarse admiration. She felt that she was watched, 
 and determined to avoid the streets. To visit her 
 children again might result in her being recognized 
 by La Moore, who, she felt sure, would hear of her, 
 if she were not more cautious. 
 
 While yet the dew lay in crystal globules in the 
 cups of the flowers, or hung like pearls, on the quiver 
 ing leaves, she crept cautiously from her leafy couch
 
 MIANNETTA S STORY. 409 
 
 to u place of concealment near the road that wound 
 down the long cooley, where she watched every 
 vehicle that passed. Not till late in the afternoon 
 was she rewarded. 
 
 La Moore s carriage came slowly down, the driver 
 - not Lavergn holding the reins tightly. As 
 they reached a place where the carriage could be 
 brought to a stand without pressing upon them, 
 Miannetta stepped out of the bushes, and, by a word 
 of command, brought the horses to a full stop, regard 
 less of the drivers imprecation. Quickly opening 
 the carriage door to greet her children, she encoun 
 tered the cold, stern gaze of Marian Ramsdell, and 
 heard her command 
 
 Jasper, get down and take this squaw away, and 
 then drive immediately home? 1 
 
 The driver sprang to execute her command ; Mian 
 netta was partly in the carriage; he took hold of her 
 arm, but Eugene s determined fist was so skillfully 
 aimed between his eyes, that he was sent to the right 
 about in a hurry, while he was warned by Eugene not 
 to interfere with that woman again, as he valued his 
 place, but to 
 
 "Get on to the box and attend to your business, 
 which is driving the horses." 
 
 The bewildered, half-witted fellow climbed back, 
 and taking up the reins, called out: 
 
 "Where shall I drive to?" 
 
 " Home !" shrieked Marian, in a frightfully angry 
 tone. 
 
 Drive on to the place you were told to before 
 starting," said Eugene. 
 13
 
 410 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 "IVo, Jasper, you dare not disobey me. I will go 
 home" said Marian. 
 
 "Well, you will walk then," said Eugene, open 
 ing the door for her. 
 
 She hurried out, crimson with rage, and in haste 
 to inform La Moore of "Miannetta s daring and 
 Eugene s insolence." 
 
 Those two offenders were all oblivious of her, of 
 the past, or the to come, for now the tide of love 
 was coming in, and all hateful things were lost sight 
 of in the bewildering flood. Miannetta was em 
 bracing her children wildly. She would set Pierre 
 down and take up Josie, put down Josie and take up 
 Pierre, kiss Annette at her right, and turn quickly to 
 her left to salute Eugene all the time laughing and 
 crying. 
 
 A stranger looking in at the window, would have 
 thought an escaped lunatic was killing that load of 
 children. They were whirling away now rapidly 
 behind unrestrained horses, into the solitary country, 
 where, without remark, they might all laugh and 
 shout and give vent to their joy at this re-union. 
 
 Stars danced in the sky when the carriage climbed 
 the bluff again (for they had a picnic supper on the 
 grass miles away), and still Miannetta rode with them. 
 The gate swung open, they passed through, the 
 horses dashed up to the door, La Moore came 
 and took the children out. Miannetta, who was 
 getting out the opposite door, heard him say to 
 Eugene : 
 
 " WTiy did n t you bring your mother home ?" 
 
 "We did," was the reply, but when he looked
 
 MIANNETTA S STORY. 411 
 
 into the carriage for her she was gone, had disap 
 peared in the shrubbery. 
 
 The next morning, the little crib of Marian Rams- 
 dell s eldest child was empty. On the pillow where 
 his pretty flaxen head had lain, a note was pinned, 
 addressed to her. It read : 
 
 MARIAN : 
 
 By kindness and considerate treatment of my children, you 
 may ensure the safety of your own. MIANNETTA. 
 
 Marian read the note, and with it in her hand, 
 rushed into the room where her child s father was 
 reading the morning paper, and with frantic vehe 
 mence, shrieked : 
 
 " Miannetta has stolen my child !" 
 
 " You stole five of hers, and her husband," was 
 the calm reply. 
 
 " Follow her, La Moore, bring back my boy my 
 darling baby boy. Why are you so indifferent? Will 
 you not follow her ? " 
 
 "No, indeed; my scalp feels better on my own 
 head." 
 
 This was spoken lightly, but he knew well that a 
 search for that child by him would certainly result in 
 the loss of his scalp, as it also was certain to result 
 fruitlessly. Miannetta would not wish to have him 
 harmed, but she could not control the scalping 
 knives, that had been dedicated to this service long 
 since, and were only waiting a suitable opportunity 
 to fly from their sheaths. 
 
 He knew her tender heart would not suffer a hair 
 of its head to come to harm, that she had stolen it
 
 412 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 only to stay the vengeance of Marian, which might 
 have fallen heavily upon the offenders of yesterday, 
 but for this practical lesson. Though he knew that 
 the child was as safe as in its own mother s arms, he 
 would not tell Marian so. He did not care to com 
 fort her now; that time was past, never more to 
 return. She had no holy claim upon his love. Yes 
 terday when she returned, all flushed and exasperated, 
 from her unaccustomed walk up the bluff, and de 
 tailed to him the mortifying circumstances of Mian 
 netta s appearance, how she had been " foiled by 
 Miannetta driven to an ignominious walk by the 
 Indian," she paused, expecting La Moore would fly 
 into a towering passion, but instead he straightened 
 himself at full length on the sofa, and looking fondly 
 at the end of his cigar, said: 
 
 "Well, Marian, Miannetta has let you ride in her 
 carriage a long time. No one can wonder if she now 
 plans to let you do a little pedestrianism." 
 
 " La Moore, would you insult me ? " 
 
 " ]?o, there would be too little satisfaction in that 
 to warrant the outlay." 
 
 What could it mean ? To coolly invite her to 
 submit tamely to this outrage, inflicted by a woman 
 whom she had ousted from her home by her superior 
 charms that she hated, that La Moore had ceased to 
 love long ago and forsaken for herself, she thought, 
 forever. Ah! forever is a long word. 
 
 It was plain to her now, his infatuation for herself 
 was over, and she feared he was returning to his old 
 love. 
 
 Twas true, the scales had fallen from his eyes,
 
 MIANNETTA S STORY. 413 
 
 the glamour which had blinded him had vanished, 
 and deep in his heart he found her image was still 
 tenderly enshrined. He heard a voice pleading for 
 her the voice of his own soul and it should never, 
 never more be silent. Had she even entered the 
 house and asserted her rights, bidding the false 
 woman begone, his heart would have admitted the 
 righteousness of her act. He had not strength of 
 himself to right the great wrong, but had Miannetta 
 made the first move towards asserting herself, he 
 would have supported her and rejoiced in the discom 
 fiture of Marian. Though himself the greatest sin 
 ner, he would have felt a cowardly satisfaction in her 
 punishment for their mutual crime. 
 
 Weeks ran on, months even, and Miannetta came 
 not ; the children often heard from her ; letters were 
 mysteriously brought from the forest, and the replies 
 as mysteriously transmitted to her. 
 
 It was late Autumn. Snow already lay upon the 
 ground and the weather was very cold. The family 
 of La Moore were gathered in the sitting room one 
 evening, La Moore reading, Marian busy with some 
 fancy work, and the children variously occupied. 
 Suddenly the door opened, and the child taken away 
 months before was set into the room. The person 
 who brought it as suddenly disappeared. The little 
 fellow had forgotten every one of the family, even 
 his own mother, and in his fright called piteously: 
 
 " Miannetta ! Miannetta ! " 
 
 His mother strove to win him back to some re 
 membrance of her, but in vain. With tears and 
 wailing he protested against being left, until both
 
 4:14: MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 tears and voice were exhausted and he closed his eyes 
 in sleep. 
 
 La Moore was now resolved to see Miannetta, and 
 persuade her to return to his home. Ke knew she 
 would not leave the city without an interview with 
 the children, and by Eugene s connivance, he waited 
 outside the door of Annette s room that opened into 
 a charming little enclosure, filled with choice Winter 
 shrubs and evergreens. As Miannetta stole out after 
 a long conference with her dear ones, he caught her 
 in his arms, called her his dear wife, kissed her 
 fondly, and besought her to lay her head upon his 
 breast her shelter evermore ; but she responded not 
 to his embrace. 
 
 "Miannetta, my beautiful wife," he pleaded, "do 
 not look on me so coldly; do you love me no more, 
 darling ? " 
 
 "Love you, Pierre ! Because of my love for you, 
 my life is made wretched ; but my love is pure and 
 will not mingle with that of an unholy passion. My 
 love is beyond my control, as my person is beyond 
 yours. Let me go." 
 
 With a vigorous effort she escaped from him, 
 while he mournfully called upon her to return. 
 
 In his sleep that night, to the dismay of the 
 woman who lay beside him, he called again and again 
 the name she loathed and despised, the name of his 
 true wife. 
 
 Eugene brought her a letter from her husband ; 
 for a moment she held the unopened letter irreso 
 lutely in her hand, her woman s heart clamorous 
 for him, her decision almost overcome, then snatching
 
 MIANNETTA S STORY. 415 
 
 a pen, she hastily wrote upon the envelope the words 
 U TOO LATE." With a deep sigh she turned the 
 key once for all upon her weakness and indecision, 
 and so the letter went back unopened and unread. 
 
 Miannetta bade her children a tender and long 
 adieu, and like Bunyan s Christian, with her fingers 
 in her ears, she fled from his contaminated love. Save 
 an occasional letter exchanged with her children, she 
 heard little from their home in St. P . 
 
 Farther than to assure them of her well-being and 
 that she never ceased to think of them, she believed 
 it less cruel to remain entirely away. She had 
 adopted the dress of the Indians, and sought to dis 
 guise herself so that it should never be known that the 
 wanderer of the forest was the mother of the rich La 
 Moore s children. After her long absences and vis 
 its to old Sam-o-so-nois on Lake Itasca, who died at 
 last in her arms, full of grace and full of years, she 
 returned to the Sioux, with whom she had spent most 
 of the time since she came to Minnesota; not that she 
 preferred being with them they were too wild and 
 savage for her gentle spirit but gratitude largely 
 predominated in her nature, and the Indians who had 
 gone to Canada for her, at Eugene s request, were 
 Sioux. Through this tribe, also, she could oftener 
 
 communicate with her children in St. P , and she 
 
 was among them when she first met Robert Maynard. 
 
 The next Spring she went to Maple Range and 
 spent the Summer, and we have seen how welcome 
 she was, especially at The Maples. The Spring that 
 La Moore went to France he also visited Ottawa, with 
 the intent of building up his finances sufficiently to
 
 416 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 justify the immense expenses which he believed would 
 be necessaiy to unlock the legal barriers to French 
 bullion. But Sam-o-so-nois had placed similar bar 
 riers in the way of Pierre La Moore s realizing per 
 sonally from the Indian treasure. Miannetta could 
 cancel the injunction, or her children when they 
 reached their majority, if she were dead ; but he 
 might as well attempt to establish a claim to the ex 
 chequer of the moon as to make a draft on the gold 
 that would pour from the treasury when demanded by 
 those to whom it was thus doubly secured. Though 
 his attempt had been unsuccessful, yet the knowledge 
 that he had again tried to feather his unhallowed 
 nest through the treasure of his discarded Indian 
 wife, had reached the ears of the little band of Iro 
 quois on Lake Itasca. The offense was designedly 
 exaggerated by the young orators, so that all the 
 white men, women and children of Minnesota were 
 regarded as guilty of the outrage against Mian 
 netta. With wild, impassioned declamation, they 
 exhorted the Itascan braves to consolidate with the 
 other nations that were preparing to wipe out their 
 wrongs with blood. 
 
 La Moore, himself the author of the wrong they 
 proposed so madly to avenge, sat in security, 
 nor heard the first twang of the avenging bow, while 
 partly for his misdeeds the mangled forms of innocent 
 victims strewed the undefended frontier. Miannetta s 
 first intimation of the movement burst upon her 
 grieved sight in the flames that consumed Ben Pal 
 mer s dwelling, when returning after a search in the 
 woods for roots and medicine, she found the house on
 
 MIAKNETTA S STORY. 417 
 
 fire and Ruth dead beside her baby s cradle. She was 
 concealed near by when the stage with Robert arrived. 
 She had seen the baby taken care of by Mrs. McDou- 
 gal. She followed them to The Maples, still conceal 
 ing herself, not through fear of Robert, but not 
 knowing how far exasperation would carry the 
 strange men who were with him, at sight of her 
 Indian dress. 
 
 From her different hiding-places she had witnessed 
 the search for Nellie. She knew the poor girl was 
 not dead, or the Indians would not have carried her 
 off. She stole into Robert s room to give him the 
 comfort of a written promise to find her. When she 
 raised the ornament to put her scroll under and saw 
 the picture of her own child there, guessing that 
 Robert and she were betrothed, such a flood of new 
 feelings rushed over her who had known so many 
 forms of suffering, that her head swam and her knees 
 trembled. What if her relation to Annette, becom 
 ing known, should prevent their marriage and her 
 daughter s life be overshadowed with gloom like her 
 own. 
 
 She was not astonished when Robert told her that 
 the engagement was broken by Annette s own hand. 
 She knew the soul of the noble girl would revolt 
 against a marriage with the man who was ignorant of 
 her antecedents. 
 
 " Would Robert Maynard be likely to marry one 
 whom he knew was even remotely connected with the 
 murderers of his parents ? * 
 
 Miannetta, however, had faith enough in him to 
 believe in his constancy, and to give him the faint
 
 418 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 hope that it would rest with him to remove the bar 
 rier to their union, as he did when he called her " Mi- 
 annetta, mother ! " the day of La Moore s death. 
 
 Reader, you have followed the wanderings of 
 her weary feet, have heard the moaning of her broken 
 heart, will you not now rejoice to turn a brighter page 
 in the chequered life of this daughter of two races, 
 each furnishing types of all that is noble and good, 
 as well as of all that is ignoble and treacherous 
 
 If to the bloody authors of the Indian massacre 
 the mind should revert to the prejudice of our noble 
 Miannetta, let me ask : Does not our land give birth 
 to the lowest types of human degradation, as well as 
 to the transcendent charity which furnishes asylum 
 for the degraded of all nations? If George Washing 
 ton s name stands out resplendent upon hi-.tory s 
 page, is not Benedict Arnold s black with infamy? 
 Were the faithful eleven less holy because of the 
 treason of Judas ?
 
 HEADING THE WILL. 419 
 
 CHAPTEE XX. 
 
 READING THE WILL. 
 
 " Her sceptre was a broken reed." 
 
 Tin WAS the close of a gloomy December day 
 -L the snow pecking and pestering the faces of 
 unfortunate wayfarers. Busy men rushed up and 
 down the streets, with great coats buttoned up to 
 their ears, and hats drawn over their eyes. Early 
 lights gleamed from store and office windows. 
 Carriages rattled noisily over the stones in the streets 
 of St. P . One, driven rapidly through the princi 
 pal thoroughfares and up a roadway artificially cut 
 in the bluff side, entered the gate and swept up the 
 drive to the door of the residence of the late Mr. 
 Pierre La Moore. Eugene sprang out and assisted 
 Annette, who was waiting with hand outstretched at 
 the open door for Miannetta, when Marian, in full 
 dress, rushed down the steps, saying impatiently : 
 
 So you have come at last ! Where is La 
 Moore ? " 
 
 Annette, laying her hand restrainingly upon her 
 arm, replied : 
 
 Speak that name softly, Marian ! He will never 
 answer to it more." 
 
 "Why? Is he dead? Why do you call me 
 Marian, girl ? Speak ! explain yourself ! " 
 
 Just then she was attracted by the lady clad in
 
 420 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 deep widow s weeds, that Eugene was helping from 
 the carriage. The eyes of the two women met. The 
 usurper staggered to the steps of the home she felt 
 was even now no longer hers, and blinded, overcome 
 by conflicting emotions, sat down. Miannetta kindly 
 took her arm and said : 
 
 " Come in, Marian! It is very cold; " but she shook 
 her off, and recovering herself, replied defiantly : 
 
 I know La Moore is dead, or you would not 
 dare to come here ; but the lawyers hold the papers 
 which will decide who shall say Come in to this 
 house, madam ! Summon them directly, Eugene, 
 for La Moore made his will years ago. " Rising and 
 leading the way haughtily into the broad hall, she 
 threw open the door of the reception room at the left 
 hand, and bowing very graciously, said, as her eyes 
 again met Miannetta s : 
 
 We receive transient visitors in this room. " 
 
 Without heeding her, Miannetta passed on and 
 followed Annette, who opened the brilliantly lighted 
 parlor, and bowing her mother affectionately in, tall, 
 pretty Josie, now almost a woman, was once more 
 folded in her arms. Pierre soon came in, with 
 eager inquiry for supper. He was a ruddy-faced 
 little Frenchman, and rejoiced to see his mother, 
 whom he remembered dimly " as the big Injin woman 
 that hugged him in the carriage till he could n t 
 breath," the afternoon of their ride, long ago. 
 
 After supper, which Marian refused to partake of 
 with Miannetta, Eugene took Josie and Pierre into 
 Annette s room, and told them of the death of their 
 father ; and their sorrow was deep and true, for they
 
 BEADING THE WILL. 421 
 
 had loved him who, of late years, had been more affec 
 tionate and loving with them. Marian sent for Eugene, 
 and again bade him summon the legal gentlemen 
 who had custody of his father s papers. 
 
 u We had better wait till to-morrow, Marian. 
 Mother is very tired, and poor Josie and Pierre are 
 grieving bitterly," said Eugene. 
 
 " And am I nothing in this house ? If your father 
 were here, you would not dare call another woman 
 mother, or address me as Marian. I will not be set 
 aside thus. I will show you my legal authority here, 
 and, by the permission your father s will has given 
 me, I will drive this intruder from beneath the roof 
 that can not shelter us both, even for one night." 
 
 " As you insist, I will then summon the attorney ; 
 but you are the only one, Marian, who is anxious to 
 hear father s will ; the rest of us willingly would wait 
 a decorous time," said Eugene. 
 
 "Talk of decorum, with Satan standing at your 
 elbow disputing your rights, intercepting the com 
 monest courtesies and even appropriating your title 
 decorum, indeed ! " 
 
 An hour afterward, wheels were heard rumbling 
 up to the house, and in a few minutes the parlor door 
 was flung open. With some ceremony, the attorney, 
 no other than Herbert Gray, was ushered in, followed 
 by a handsome lad carrying a small box. He 
 advanced and met Eugene s salutation cordially. A 
 glance at "Miannetta was followed by a few pleasant 
 words of recognition. Her smiling greeting of the 
 attorney s assistant induces us to look again. As he 
 crosses the room to put his box upon a table, we
 
 422 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 notice a slight limp in his gait and a habit of putting 
 the right foot, which he evidently regards as the best 
 one, forward a habit, by the way, which will stick to 
 him through life, and eventually lead our old tree- 
 climbing friend, Tad Wilson, to a seat in the halls of 
 our national capitol. 
 
 After some short preliminaries, Herbert read, in 
 a clear voice, La Moore s last w T ill and testament. It 
 read thus : 
 
 " Know all men, by these presents, that I, Pierre 
 La Moo-re, being of sound mind, do hereby give and 
 bequeath to my beloved wife, Miannetta, all right 
 and title to the property hereinafter mentioned, the 
 same being originally her lawful inheritance ; and I 
 also recommend to her fostering care my seven chil 
 dren. " 
 
 Then followed the descriptions of property and 
 the usual legal formulas, and Herbert was deliberately 
 folding up the instrument, when, with a voice clear 
 and cold as steel, Marian said : 
 
 "Read on, sir ! " 
 
 "There is nothing more to read, madam ! " 
 
 " What ! " she shrieked, " am I left at the mercy 
 of this squaw ? my children delivered over to Indian 
 tenderness ? Give me that instrument ! Let me see 
 if I can not prove to you that Pierre La Moore was 
 more just to me." 
 
 She snatched desperately at the hated paper, but 
 Herbert was on his guard, and, drawing it back, 
 placed it again under lock and key, while the 
 room rang with the wretched Avoman s cries and 
 hysterical laughter. Miannetta advanced and placed in
 
 EEADING THE WILL. 423 
 
 Herbert s hand to read, a document, which proved to be 
 a deed to a farm on Lake Onondaga, which had been 
 given her by Sam-o-so-nois after her separation from 
 her family. Marian received the assurance from 
 Herbert that to-morrow she should be in possession 
 of a new instrument, by which the highly cultivated 
 farm, with its stock and appurtenances, would be hers 
 Miannetta s gift. This seemed to rather subdue 
 the ravings of the woman, who had only seen poverty 
 and persecution in the future, and she quietly listened, 
 as Miannetta addressed her 
 
 "Marian Ramsdell, you are troubled about your 
 children; now I hold that to every woman whom God 
 permits to become a mother, there is given an un 
 questioned right, one which man s cruelty or adverse 
 circumstances may thwart, but can not destroy the 
 right to nourish, educate and rear her child. I so far 
 sympathise with you, as to think it a cruel act on the 
 part of my husband to leave your children to my 
 care. Rather than bear the weight of complicity in 
 this act on my soul, I will place it in your power to 
 generously care for your children yourself. I will 
 not mock you with an offer of a home under this 
 roof. As to our past relations, Marian, let the dead 
 past bury its dead. 
 
 That night the same roof sheltered both the noble 
 woman who had so much cause to spurn from her 
 restored threshold the creature who would have 
 driven her forth in the inclement night, if their rela 
 tions had been reversed ; and the woman who shrank 
 humiliated and cowed by the unexpected kindness, 
 from Miannetta s glance.
 
 4:24: MAPLE KANGE. 
 
 The next day she received from Miannetta five 
 hundred dollars. With her children she departed, un- 
 regretted, from the home on the bluff, where so long 
 she had been undisputed mistress, save for the haunt 
 ing shadow now quickened into life. 
 
 It was almost beyond Marian RamsdeLTs compre 
 hension that Miannetta should have thrown a veil 
 over the dishonored brow, where most women would 
 have placed the brand of harlot, compelling her in 
 shame to seek the bread which the man who had ru 
 ined her had failed to provide. Alas ! that such char 
 ity should be so rare. That for a woman, who 
 yields weakly to the allurements of vice, and finds, too 
 late, that men betray, women have the least compas 
 sion. That, too often, the hand that throws the 
 first stone is the white hand of a sister, in whose soul 
 is not the faintest stirring of that Spirit which 
 prompted the Divine sentence: 
 
 "Neither do I condemn thee; sin no more." 
 
 " Let me abide in shade, I have followed the 
 sequestered and lowly paths during the meridian of 
 my life, and now, in its evening, it is not meet that 
 I should sit upon the mountain top," Miannetta 
 answered, when Eugene proposed her taking her 
 place at the head of the table. This had settled the 
 matter for the present. Later the question was again 
 debated, when she replied: 
 
 "I have no ambition but to live with you; I do 
 not wish to assume any responsible position." 
 
 "But, mother, we must have some one to pour 
 coffee and do the honors. Since our year of mourning 
 is expired, no doubt Robert will press his suit again j
 
 READING THE WILL. 425 
 
 indeed, he has been very considerate and patient in 
 view of all his disappointments and crosses. For 
 this reason I speak; Annette is as good as gone, you 
 know." 
 
 Well, my son, since you seem so impressed with 
 the importance of a mistress to this house, which is 
 unquestionably yours, I will leave you to settle the 
 matter to your own satisfaction. I like to see you 
 look about with such evident carefulness." 
 
 ; You are making fun of me, I see ; well, you 
 have had so few things to laugh at, dear mother, that 
 I do not grudge you one smile at my expense. My 
 only desire is to increase the number of your smiles 
 they become you, mother." 
 
 "Thank you, my son." 
 
 How bright the lining of a cloud may be, aye, 
 almost dazzling to the eyes of the poor sufferer, who 
 has been so long unconscious of brightness or 
 gloom. Personal loveliness had come to be coir 
 sidered unimportant to Miannetta, but it must be 
 admitted she was gratified at Eugene s affectionate 
 compliment. 
 
 Eugene was a cultivated Frenchman, loved to have 
 all his surroundings beautiful, and the face of his 
 precious mother was no exception. His was a re 
 fined artistic eye that delighted in harmony, and he 
 loved the beautiful in all the works of nature and her 
 rival art. He admired his mother s dark regal 
 beauty, but I shall show you how he sought to 
 heighten the effect of that beauty by contrast. 
 
 Miannetta, though joyous, had still the pensive 
 manner and calm look that long suffering will impart 
 18*
 
 426 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 and indelibly impress upon spirit and brow. Though 
 sometimes she would seem quite gay, yet it was 
 chastened gladness ; she had been bruised upon the 
 remorseless reefs of life s ocean, and though now 
 healed, she was taking from her Father s loving hand, 
 the hand that chastened, the convenient morsel in thank 
 ful humility. Her drafts were honored in Canada, 
 cashed in France, but she valued money only as it 
 furnished the means to be gracious and useful. 
 
 How much more truly has she earned the meed 
 of lofty womanhood, in patiently accepting the cup 
 of bitterness held to her quivering lips, and draining 
 it without protesting word, than some of her fairer 
 sisters, who, with less than half her sorrow, have 
 haunted divorce courts, with importunate prayers for 
 relief from conjugal infelicities, caused by grievous 
 incompatibilities of temper, that patience and grace 
 perchance might cure. 
 
 Many will say that Miannetta ought to have yield 
 ed to the mother s intense yearning for her children, 
 and sought to compel their father to restore them to 
 her ; that she should have sought redress, and not sub 
 mitted tamely to such treatment. Well, reader, we 
 will not say but what, in spite of the noble resigna 
 tion and courage which enabled her to live under her 
 sorrows, Miannetta might have yielded to the longing 
 for her children ; but, you must remember, she was 
 only an Indian in the eyes of the law, which provides 
 no redress for such as she.
 
 THE WEDDINGS. 427 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 THE WEDDINGS. 
 
 T3OBERT led Annette to the altar in April, the 
 -J- AJ second following Mr. La Moore s death, a 
 quiet party attending. They were married according 
 to the Roman Catholic ritual Robert believing that 
 Christian courtesy required so much of his leaning to 
 the faith of Annette. Eugene and Nellie gave counten 
 ance to the union by supporting the principals during 
 the solemn ceremony, and accompanying them on their 
 bridal tour through Canada to the sea-board, and 
 thence over the bosom of the Atlantic to New Orleans, 
 and from there, after visiting the battle-field where 
 Robert lost his good right arm, by steam up the 
 Father of Waters, home. By Eugene s account, they, 
 himself and Nellie, were the only ones of the party 
 who reaped any benefit from the long journey. 
 
 " Robert and Nettie were so thoroughly absorbed 
 in one another, that they might as well have been on 
 the island of Juan Fernandez," he said. 
 
 In fact, the sight-seeing could have been all done 
 by the bridesmaid and best man, and the result 
 for the groom and bride been just the same. Whether 
 it would have been all the same to them, without 
 the tantalizing eifects of a constant contemplation 
 of the bliss of the newly wedded pair, is not so clear. 
 Without discussing possible results, we will merely
 
 428 MAPLE BANGE 
 
 state the fact that Nellie, our pearly Nellie, was 
 changed by that trip. She was riot less pearly, but 
 more exquisitely radiant, as if her cheek had been 
 touched by the breezes from the promised land. 
 
 It was late in the evening of the balmy May-time 
 when the bridal party disembarked from the steamer 
 at St. P , and were driven to the residence on the 
 bluff. Before long they had exchanged their travel 
 ing dresses for comfortable home suits, and were 
 seated at the sumptuous table awaiting them. It was 
 an informal meal, though luxuries and dainties of 
 every kind tempted their appetites. They were not 
 so hungry as glad to be home. Annette declared it " a 
 luxury to preside over a table where ceremony was 
 tabooed and she could pick her own chicken bones." 
 
 The business which most interested Pierre being 
 over, namely, the eating, and Josie having pocketed 
 rather more than her share of the dessert, the two 
 exchanged glances. Pierre said " Old" and they 
 excused themselves. Miannetta, after a little time, 
 begged leave to follow them. As she stood in the 
 lighted hall, unperceived, watching her two youngest 
 children through the open parlor door, Eugene 
 joined her. She put her finger to her lip to enjoin 
 silence, at the same time pointing to Pierre. Her 
 youngest, her hopeful, was seated, or rather, was 
 lying with the small of his back on the edge of a 
 large upholstered arm-chair, in front of the grate, 
 his toes making a desperate effort to cling to the edge 
 of the ornamental mantel above, a large cigar between 
 his second and third fingers, the big end of which 
 was in his mouth. His footing, insecure, was ren-
 
 THE WEDDINGS. 429 
 
 dorc (I all the more so that his faculties were all con 
 centrated in the cigar. 
 
 Josie, who was sitting with her back toward him, 
 examining some fine drawings Eugene had brought 
 home, becoming impatient because he had not given 
 any sign of noticing her remark, several times 
 repeated, with a more elevated tone of voice, said: 
 
 "I believe it is just as certain as communion 
 day that Eugene and Nellie are going to be married ; 
 do n t } r ou ? " 
 
 No answer ; but Quite a respectable suggestion of 
 tobacco smoke. 
 
 " Pierre La Moore ! are you deaf ? " 
 
 "Whew! No." 
 
 " Well, why don t you answer me ? " 
 
 " I am, a shaking my head ! " 
 
 A shout of laughter from Eugene and his mother 
 followed, while a pair of very short legs were observed 
 getting rapidly out of the front door, and a vision of 
 white ruffles at the same time fluttered up stairs at 
 such a rate that Eugene shouted : 
 
 " Less speed and more stairs, Josie ! " 
 
 Miannetta, with a happy face, turned to Eugene, 
 and looking straight into his eyes, said : 
 
 " I agree with Josie, Eugene ! " 
 
 " I agree with Josie, mother," added Eugene. 
 
 "I agree with Josie, mother," added Robert, who 
 came out to see "what was up," that made them 
 laugh so. 
 
 Robert s simple remark seemed to strike Eugene 
 as very witty, for he was taken again with uncon 
 trollable laughter. Then turning, he said :
 
 4:30 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 "Well, now, since the elder, the sterner, as well 
 &s the younger members of the family decide so 
 unanimously upon the probability of my conduct, I 
 should like to gratify them by an immediate fulfillment 
 of their prophecies." 
 
 " What is to prevent ? " said Miannetta. 
 
 " What, indeed ? " said Robert, beaming at a pos 
 sible reflection of his own happiness. 
 
 "Perhaps," said Miannetta, " it would be as well 
 to discover the sentiments of another equally inter 
 ested party." 
 
 "And I believe I shall be obliged to inquire what 
 we are talking about," said Robert, who was not 
 quite clear on the subject. 
 
 "Suppose we all seek enlightenment," said Eu 
 gene, leading the way to the room they recently left, 
 without apparently disturbing the young ladies still 
 sitting at the table from which, however, the cloth 
 had been removed. They did not appear to notice the 
 entrance of the trio ; but Nellie s rising color was a 
 true tell-tale, and induced Annette to look from her 
 face up to that of Eugene, who was bending over her 
 chair and whispering to her : 
 
 " Nellie, will you pity me ? " 
 
 " Yes, what for? " she said, laughing. 
 
 "That sentiment proverbially leads to ," he 
 stooped and whispered the last word into the pearly 
 ear, and then as Nellie, blushing crimson, turned her 
 tell-tale glances upwards, he said aloud : 
 
 " Yours is the task of refining a wayward French 
 man; will you attempt it ? Will you be my Avife ? " 
 
 He put his hands each side of her head over the
 
 THE WEDDINGS. 431 
 
 delicate ears, and drew her face up toward his own. 
 With an expression of unutterable fondness he gazed 
 down into her pure heart through the beautiful azure 
 of her eyes. But I just happen to think it is treason 
 to my favorite Nellie, to tell what she said on that 
 interesting occasion. 
 
 A few days afterward another wedding gladdens 
 the heart of Miannetta. 
 
 Kobert gives away the bride. It is the rich manly 
 voice of Eugene, that says: 
 
 "With this ring I thee wed." 
 
 And tis Nellie that lifts a calm and holy brow to 
 the kiss of her adoring husband. 
 
 The bells clang out a wedding peal, the sunlight 
 streams through the colored windows, and bathes 
 with a flood of glory the happy twain, made one. 
 
 An hour later the same party are passing through 
 the noble hall of the La Moore mansion, toward the 
 large dining-room. Eugene, tall and elegant, with a 
 grace that recalls olden times, leads Nellie to the 
 breakfast table, and crowns her mistress of his 
 magnificent board. All regard her with admiration 
 as, with perfect composure, she performs this house 
 wifely duty, rather trying, you will admit, this first 
 morning of her wifehood. 
 
 Later a carriage drove up to the door drawn by 
 two superb white horses, whose bright coats, resetted 
 heads, and silver mounted harness, shone brightly in 
 the morning sun. Eugene led the young bride forth, 
 assisted and followed her into the carriage. On the 
 porch, puffy and gracious, stood the old, but still 
 dapper, French butler, Casper, whose services with
 
 432 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 the family extended back to the old days, sacred to 
 the memory of Montfort, and gave him an import 
 ance and dignity which the other servants failed to 
 satisfactorily recognize. He smiled in answer to the 
 coachman s saucy bow and wink. The latter, drawing 
 himself up pompously on the box, swung his long 
 whiplash dexterously round, caused the horses to 
 rear and plunge, then go off with a bound. 
 
 Another equally elegant equipage drew up. 
 Robert and Annette, with more consideration for 
 other people (but they were old married people now), 
 paused on the porch talking with Mianetta, Josie and 
 Pierre. 
 
 Robert handed Annette in and took his seat 
 beside her just as the old family carriage, with trusty 
 Lavergn on the box, came to the door. Miannetta 
 and her two younger children were soon seated, and 
 Lavergn, as Pierre insisted he should do 
 
 " Gave the horses their heads ! " 
 
 That young gentleman was delighted to see that 
 they held their own well with the " new spankers " 
 Eugene had just purchased, and were as often ahead 
 as behind in that week s journey. 
 
 It was night when the three carriages rolled up 
 the fine drive under the grand old maples, where we 
 have been so often, and so delight to be. The house 
 is brilliantly lighted up and all is in perfect readiness 
 to receive them, even to proud little Freddie Palmer. 
 Uncle Carce and grandma, Mr. and Mrs. Ellis have 
 come over to welcome home the young people, 
 whom they love as their own. Every eye is wet 
 when Robert leads his beautiful wife to the table, and
 
 THE WEDDINGS. 433 
 
 seats her where his mother sat. It is the law of life 
 to forget the old loves in the new, but by the 
 momentary pallor of his cheek, we know that his 
 thoughts, even in this moment of supreme happiness, 
 revert to his mother. 
 
 Later in the evening, Mr. McDougal led Nellie to 
 the piano, and Avas rewarded with his favorite air, 
 rendered with a sweetness and feeling which charmed 
 
 vZ> 
 
 the quiet Scotchman. His eyes glistened with a ten 
 der light as the gentle musician sang: 
 
 " It s hame, and it s hame, and it s hame I fane wad be; 
 O hame, hame, hame to my ain countrie; 
 There s an e e that ever weeps, and a fair face will be fain, 
 As I pass through Annan water wi my bonny band again. 
 When the flower is i the bud, and the leaf upo the tree, 
 The lark shall sing me hame in my ain countrie." 
 
 Afterwards Robert and she sang and played the 
 dear old 
 
 " Home again, home again from a distant shore. 1 
 
 Then Annette played some fine pieces, and sang 
 with Eugene some beautiful French airs ; and the 
 house rang with the music of their fine voices. 
 
 After the music the two brides withdrew and 
 returning in a few minutes, crossed the room grace 
 fully together, each bearing in her hand a vase. 
 
 "York true to York, and Lancaster to Lancaster," 
 said Mr. McDougal, as the two distinctly contrasting 
 types of beauty advanced and presented to Mrs. Mc 
 Dougal the vases, that had been her mother s Lang 
 Syne ." 
 
 2C 19
 
 434 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 After this the evening wore on pleasantly, en 
 livened by the bright chit chat of the ladies (remem 
 ber Mrs. Ellis and grandma Smith are of the party), 
 and apt retort follows sally briskly, while merry 
 laughter succeeds to both. Now the gentlemen of 
 the party seem to be drawing together, attracted by 
 the tendency to politics, which some one has infused 
 into their talk. As the gay voices of the ladies are 
 now subdued, that they may listen to the views which 
 they know will be well put and forcibly maintained; 
 we will listen too, and hear what our friends have to 
 say. 
 
 T is our frank and impulsive Eugene that speaks, 
 evidently in reply to some remark of Robert s, which 
 we have failed to catch 
 
 "I will agree to do all that work for you, Rob, 
 till your arm grows out again. I confess that empty 
 sleeve of yours is a perpetual reproach to me, remind 
 ing me as often as I look upon it that I had no share 
 in the double glory attaching to the humblest soldier, 
 who has earned, not only the fame of well-fought 
 battles, on victorious fields, but the still nobler merit 
 of having aided to demolish the edifice of slavery 
 that so long shamed the Union." 
 
 " I believe I can fully appreciate your regret in 
 having had no share in the war," said Mr. McDougal. 
 ^ It must be a great satisfaction to feel that you have 
 participated in the perils and sacrifices of a struggle, 
 whose results are for all time. Lincoln died at a 
 moment most opportune for his fame. He had ac 
 complished great things, and fell with his grandeur 
 undimmed by any commonplace statesmanship."
 
 THE WEDDINGS. 435 
 
 "It is a satisfaction to those who have lost their 
 limbs in the war, that the sacrifice has not been in vain. 
 Blood has been poured out and human life laid down 
 upon the altar of our country, and great is the result," 
 said Robert. "There is no merit in claiming to feel 
 indifferent to the honor of having shared in the sacri 
 fices entailed by the war. I lost my limb in a strug 
 gle that destroyed a monument of oppression, for 
 slavery did not pass away by the slow process of in 
 herent decay, but by a sublime stroke, which we must 
 recognize as legitimately God s act." 
 
 "And Lincoln, as God s agent, for that stroke 
 lies to-day in a martyr s grave," said Capt. Ellis. " I 
 sometimes almost lose myself in contemplating the 
 numerous results of the war. It is scarcely six years 
 since we heard the first premonitory murmur of a 
 gathering tempest. Men were doubtful if it would 
 come, and read differently the handwriting on the wall. 
 Time sped on, and though the heaven was angry with 
 storms, yet in its lightning flashes we saw new ideas 
 that dazzled us, in the thunder we felt old institutions 
 crumbling. Through all we heard a mysterious 
 moaning. It was the future, pregnant with the des 
 tiny of a race. Six years, and the cloud, no larger 
 than a man s hand, has enveloped our sky with gloom, 
 and again has rolled away. In this time a republic 
 has proven to a doubting world that she is self-sus 
 taining, that she is powerful to quiet her internal dis 
 sensions and subdue domestic strife." 
 
 Lincoln died at an hour when his glory was 
 brightest, for his- public acts were graduated, the 
 greatest, the emancipation of the negro," said Rob-
 
 4:36 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 ert. " But if he could have lived to accomplish the 
 work of reconstruction, before the expiration of his 
 second terra, our position would have been the grand 
 est in the galaxy of nations." 
 
 " I agree with you," said uncle Carce, " that the 
 emancipation was the greatest. Of his other public 
 acts I generally approve, but one of them was un 
 worthy. I did think of him as among men the most 
 perfect, till he declined to punish the larger portion 
 of the cruel murderers of my neighbors, until he 
 exempted the Indians, fairly tried and condemned, of 
 the doom their wicked deeds had incurred. In that 
 act there was no justice. He seemed to say to the 
 outraged people of Minnesota, Whatever the court- 
 martial may have determined though murder and 
 other crimes may be laid by them at the red man s 
 door ; though the frontiersman may tremble in fear, 
 /, sitting secure in my high place, think it best to 
 reverse the decision of the military commission, and 
 give these Indians another chance. Even Lincoln was 
 not superior to the conservatism that clings to power. 
 He was unjust to Minnesota, and we shall have another 
 deluge of blood to pay for the commutation of the 
 death sentence at Mankato." 
 
 "I do not altogether agree with you, uncle Carce," 
 returned Capt. Ellis. " Lincoln s course with the 
 convicted Indians was in perfect accord with the hu 
 mane policy with which he prosecuted the war. He 
 followed the precedent of other nations in the execu 
 tion of a percentage of the condemned, the thirty-six 
 hanged at Mankato. He aimed to destroy the walls 
 of prejudice against color and condition of the negro
 
 THE WEDDINGS. 437 
 
 and the Indian. His efforts opened our eyes, as the 
 eyes of the Egyptians were opened, to a recognition 
 of universal brotherhood. But through the whirl 
 wind of battle, amid the conflicting doubts of other 
 statesmen, he walked stately and slow, with right for 
 his guiding star, God for his judge, and history for 
 his vindication. 
 
 "Your figures are very nice, neighbor," said un 
 cle Carce, but how in the name of all that s sensible 
 can brotherhood be established between the whites 
 who have been so cruelly wronged and those savage 
 wretches over the border, who committed those 
 wrongs and are watching a chance to repeat them ? " 
 
 "By brotherly integrity, by education and enlight 
 enment, "was the pleasant reply. "No doubt it was 
 Lincoln s policy to revolutionize the whole Indian sys 
 tem ; to impose laws and their wholesome restraints 
 upon the savages, who, with all the national benefi 
 cences, have never realized that most desirable one of 
 good government. You have expressed the sentiment 
 that wickedness never goes backward, and it is true. 
 The tendency of the unregenerate human heart, when 
 left to itself, is toward evil. The Indians have gone 
 down so low that goodness per se is a mere tradition. 
 The age requires that they should be brought to a 
 recognition of it." 
 
 " Now you are getting upon firm ground," said 
 uncle Carce, approvingly. " We can cross palms on 
 that sentiment. But we shall never bring them to 
 practical goodness without holding them in fear of 
 penalties when they outrage its principles. If, as 
 often as they commit crime, they are turned loose
 
 438 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 upon the frontier without a reprimand, how are they 
 to know good from evil ? How shall they be brought 
 to this recognition ? " 
 
 " By the process of reason. The light of educa 
 tion and religion may be made to illume even the 
 Indian system ; to flood with its glory the recesses 
 of the forest," said Capt. Ellis, earnestly. 
 
 "Would you apply such fine ideas to a race so low 
 in the scale of being that they balance human life 
 with a pair of stolen moccasins ? whose deserts would 
 be met if you loosed the hurricane and swept them 
 them from the earth they cumber ? " said the old 
 gentleman, with a curling lip and eyes aflame, while 
 his voice grew harsh with contempt. 
 
 "I would insist that enlightenment is possible 
 where there is reason enough to weigh," replied Cap 
 tain Ellis. " You must acknowledge it a grade above 
 the brute, though the scales may be unfairly adjusted. 
 Where tornadoes are most frequent, the shore is 
 strewn with wreck. Hurricanes are not discriminat 
 ing. They sweep away much more than rubbish ; 
 and if employed to purify the air every year, and to 
 eradicate every evil, how soon would our land become 
 a charnel-house of ruin ! Reform is slow and tedious ; 
 as in agriculture, the soil must be prepared for the 
 seed." 
 
 "Sometimes," said uncle Carce, smiling. "You 
 remember that, by reason of deep dry sand, even 
 agriculture is not triumphant ; and if you find the 
 intellect of the Indian very far below the surface 
 too far for the certain germination of your seed 
 then what would you do ? "
 
 THE WEDDINGS. 439 
 
 "Excavate and unfetter it," was the reply. 
 
 " Your plan is too Quixotic !" said uncle Carce. 
 "It entails an enormous expense of treasure and 
 blood ; besides, it has been tried." 
 
 - "Not thoroughly," continued Captain Ellis. 
 
 "Yes, so thoroughly as to have proved itself a 
 failure," said uncle Carce. 
 
 "I do not agree with you," was the reply. 
 "I could show you some marked success ! " 
 
 "Not in Minnesota, captain ! and I am too much 
 of a home body to travel out of the State to see them ; 
 but I can cite you a failure within twenty-five miles," 
 said uncle Carce. " I have seen the effort and the 
 failure. I speak that I do know. Civilization would 
 have gathered the Indians under her wing long 
 ago, but they would not. The government has made 
 prodigious expenditure for their elevation, while pay 
 ing them generously for their land. They have been 
 offered every inducement to abandon their tribal rela 
 tions, and to remain and participate in its cultivation 
 and advantages. Churches have been built and 
 schools established for their enlightenment. Thou 
 sands of acres of productive lands have been 
 broken, fenced and seeded ; farm houses and barns 
 have been built and furnished with every comfort ; 
 teams and stock and agricultural implements abun 
 dantly furnished. With a fraction of these opportuni 
 ties, the uneducated of our own race, both native and 
 foreign-born, have by industry and thrift established 
 themselves and added to our national greatness ; while 
 the Indians, with a few noble exceptions, have treated 
 with contempt the effort made for them. They have
 
 440 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 allowed their golden harvest to fall back into the 
 earth ; the soil, for want of culture, to run again to 
 foul waste. The comfortable homes have been aban 
 doned for the smoky tepee. The advantages of soci 
 ety have been voluntarily exchanged for the wild life 
 of the wilderness. As the march of empire has 
 advanced, leveling forests, locating farms and build 
 ing cities, they have slowly and sullenly retired from 
 the great good they were invited to share ; turning, 
 now and then, like some wild beast at bay, and raising 
 their red, dripping hands, have cried : No farther 
 shalt thou come, save through rivers of blood ! 
 Come, now, can you deny that they are radically 
 unworthy of further effort ? that all fraternal attempts 
 are simply a waste of pearls ? How, in the face of 
 these evidences of utter moral depravity and base 
 ness, can you swing round to your ideas of final 
 enlightenment and elevation ? " ^f 
 
 "Very easily ! " was the reply ; " but, in the first 
 place, allow me to say that it is a false philosophy 
 that scoffs at the natural integrity of the human 
 heart. I deny that the Indians are naturally depraved 
 or worthless. (I must have the benefit of this position, 
 or decline the argument.) That they are so, practi 
 cally, is wholly circumstantial, and largely owing to 
 the fact that they are capital imitators, and their 
 patterns are too often the most depraved and worth 
 less of the Anglo-Saxon race. You can not deny the 
 fact that their first acquaintance with white men is 
 often with the basest of that race, unprincipled, igno 
 rant traders, or refugees from justice, who, banished 
 from society, have crept into their wigwams and
 
 THE WEDDINGS. 441 
 
 wormed themselves into their confidence. Even their 
 language is a reproach to ours, for they are obliged 
 to resort to plagiarism to express disrespect of the 
 the Great Spirit. Blasphemy in the Indian tongue is 
 impossible. Missionaries are met with this question : 
 Is this Jesus you preach about, the same Jesus that 
 the white men talk to when they are angry or drunk ? 
 Does not this, of itself, show that their impiety is a 
 reflection of our own ? You were frank enough to 
 acknowledge some noble exceptions to the general 
 worthlessness of the Indian character, and there can 
 be no question as to their preponderance when such 
 white men as Charles Center and George Langmere 
 are placed in the scales with those noble aborigines 
 Wabashaw and Taopi. 
 
 " Go back in history, and in the gloom that en 
 velops the overthrown columns of the Syrian desert, 
 the monuments of Egypt, you will find among the 
 monsters there, forms of majesty and worth. 
 Through the darkness of crime and bloodshed may 
 be seen gleams of the light of truth, that needed 
 only cultivation. Though men were debased till they 
 revelled in the false, the foul, the blasphemous yet 
 better instincts remained. Can you find among the 
 North American Indians, a living picture that will 
 compare with the imbruted sons of Rome, rioting in 
 eternal orgies, consciously wallowing in foulest crime. 
 History tells us they intoxicated themselves with 
 human blood to drown despair. Yet even they were 
 lifted out of their darkness, reeking with corruption, 
 into the light of day. The Sun of Christianity rose, 
 healing, purifying, and elevating. The tide of cor-
 
 442 MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 ruption was arrested. Men abjured their heathen 
 gods, and knelt at the foot of the Cross. The annals 
 of the world show the God-worshipping instinct of the 
 human race, that leads them to the true and the good, 
 when guided aright, and exposed to no contaminating 
 influence. But they who presume to guide must 
 themselves be controlled by lofty integrity an integ 
 rity which teaches faith in humanity and God. 
 
 " Now what influences are brought to bear most 
 powerfully upon the Indians ? Does the sale of ar 
 dent spirits teach them sobriety ? Do the licentious 
 practices of white men, traders and agents, teach 
 them virtue and fidelity ? Does the recklessness and 
 indifference to human life upon the frontier, teach 
 them its worth ? Does the system of extortion and 
 fraud practiced unblushingly, aye, even boastingly, 
 upon them, teach them honesty? Does shameless 
 blasphemy and high-handed impiety teach them the 
 love of God ? Because, heretofore, success has been 
 the exception, failure the rule, we should not despair, 
 but calmly criticize the system. We claim to be a 
 wise and magnanimous people; we contribute largely 
 to foreign missions, but are we taking the course that 
 will enable us to answer unembarrassed the great 
 question : Where is thy brother, thy wayward 
 brother, whom men called Ishmael ? We have a 
 peculiar people upon our hands, for whose weal we 
 are responsible to God. A race too noble to live in 
 slavery is certainly deserving of some consideration. 
 No doubt the Indian can dimly see that happiness 
 and prosperity are the result of a certain routine of 
 schools and toil. That they are efficient as motives,
 
 THE WEDDINGS. 443 
 
 without being definitely understood by the white 
 masses, but the character of that happiness and the 
 routine necessary to its attainment, repels him. He 
 can not bear the restraint of school, because he is 
 Nature s out-door child. He despises books, because 
 they imply restraint. Society and its laws are the 
 modern schoolhouses and restraints on a larger scale, 
 and he spurns them royally, as he would the slave- 
 coffle and the lash. I have a conviction that the fail 
 ure to Christianize and educate the Indians lies in 
 part in the clock-work regularity and order of the 
 system, that whatever would violate its uniformity 
 would give it impetus. If this conviction is true, no 
 doubt time will make it apparent to educators and 
 reformers, and change will come. I believe that we 
 shall see that this race, now so ignoble, is capable 
 of much ; that they are able to think, to act, to rule, 
 and above all to love ; that with the negro they may 
 occupy equal ground with us on the great platform 
 of humanity." 
 
 Well I shall feel the less regret then when 
 Gabriel blows his horn," said uncle Carce, shaking his 
 head and laughing. 
 
 " Oh, this may not be in your time. It may be an 
 hundred }^ears," said Capt. Ellis, " before the rosy 
 light just glimmering in the East, the fresh light of 
 the new reformatory age, shall from noon-day heights 
 illuminate the glens and forests of the West. But as 
 certainly as the barbarians rose to the level of Chris 
 tian manhood, so certainly must elevation of the 
 Indian follow the right effort of a superior race, to
 
 44A MAPLE RANGE. 
 
 fulfill the duties enjoined by a just and impartial 
 God." 
 
 " Well, suppose we adjourn the argument till to 
 morrow, when I will agree to commence at you and 
 talk till all is blue," said uncle Carce, rising and 
 pointing to Eugene, who, it was observed, was con 
 sulting his watch. 
 
 u Late, is it?" said Capt. Ellis, observing for the 
 first time, that the ladies had all retired. 
 
 " O no," said Eugene, " it is early, not quite one 
 o clock ; and Rob is actually fast asleep." 
 
 The gentlemen had soon followed the example of 
 the ladies, and the house was so still that only the 
 angels seemed to be guarding the Maples. 
 
 Miannetta, who, instead of going to her own room, 
 had been sitting long beside her husband s grave, 
 entered the moonlit parlor noiselessly. The piano 
 was still open, and seating herself before it, wrapped 
 in her own thoughts, she almost unconsciously exe 
 cuted a skillful prelude ; then evolving from the 
 chords an impassioned accompaniment, her magnifi 
 cent soprano, that for years had been dumb, poured 
 out upon the silent night, the anthem : 
 
 " Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill 
 toward men." 
 
 THE END.
 
 THE SUCCESS OF THE YEAR. 
 
 HAMMOCK SERIES, No. i. 
 
 "No Gentlemen." 
 
 The brightest, most readable and entertaining novel of the season. 
 
 WHAT THE PRESS SAT OF IT. 
 
 " We are soon amused, interested and charmed. Belonging to the c\at e 
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 opening of the season of hammocks and piazzas, it is far more read 
 able than most of its kind. The plot is not. too much of a plot for a 
 legitimate New England story, and the conversation of Jabe is racy 
 enough to make us forget that we were tired of Yankee dialect, as 
 treated by Mrs. Stowe and Mrs Whitney. Indeed the book ia 
 thoroughly enjoyable." The Critic, New York. 
 
 " No Gentlemen " 
 
 " Is a very bright and readable novel." The Commercial, Louisville. 
 
 " No Gentlemen " 
 
 " Clearly belongs to a class whose highest ambition is to be bright an 
 ambition which, indeed, is seldom more fully justified." The Dial. 
 
 " No Gentlemen " 
 
 " Is readable, bright and never bores one." N. Y. Tribune. 
 
 " The conversations in No Gentlemen are bright, the characters well 
 drawn and adroitly contrasted." Am. Bookseller, N. Y. 
 
 "No Gentlemen " 
 
 " Is written in a bright, fresh style, something like that of Mrs. A. D. T. 
 Whitney, or more nearly, perhaps, that of the author of Phyllis and 
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 present season, into whose hands it falls, will seize upon it, after the 
 first taste, as if it were a rosy ar . juicy peach ; which, so to speak, in 
 a figure, it very nearly is." L\eranj World, Boston. 
 
 Hezekiah Butterworth, in the Boston Transcript,g&ya of " NoGentlemcn" 
 that the plot is well managed, and the story brightly told. 
 
 " No Gentlemen." 
 
 " The story opens in Boston, and concerns New England life. The char 
 acters, relative to the soil, are very clearly drawn, and there is a great 
 deal of originality in the plot and treatment of the story." Boston 
 Courier, 
 
 " It is a bright narrative of the summering of a half-dozen Boston girls just 
 out of school, at Red Farm, in Plneland, with Miss Hopeful Bounce, 
 who advertises for summer boarders, but No Gentlemen. 1 In order 
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 as the girls, particularly the heroine and her special friend, are pleas 
 ant company, the story is as readable as if it were a No Name, as 
 It is in f act." Springfield Republican. 
 
 " No Gentlemen " 
 
 Is issued inelegant style, being printed on fine tinted paper, mak ng a 
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 Sane lunatic 
 
 BY THE ATJTHOK OF "NO GENTLEMEN." 
 
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 the clever dialog and absurd situations would furnish ma 
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 " A sane Lunatic Is a brightly written little story, told, as a 
 good story should be, with no other purpose than to amuse. 
 The conversation has a lightness, ease and freshness that 
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 but awakens sufficient speculation and surprises to maintain 
 one s Interest to the end, which, of course, is essential to a 
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 wlilcli are maintained throughout, and the healthy tone 
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 12mo, 325 pp., Cloth, with elegant Black 
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 I2MO. 417 PP. CLOTH. PRICE, $I.OO. 
 
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 1882.
 
 WHAT THE PRESS SAY OF 
 
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 MARRIAGE 
 
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 BAEBEKINE: 
 
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 A Peculiar People 
 
 An elegant 12mo vol. of 458 pages, handsomely bound in cloth, 
 
 A Peculiar People. 
 
 "The recital throughout is spirited, and the book as a whole is one that 
 may be read with pleasure, for the information it imparts and for 
 the profitable reflections to which it gives rise." Saturday Evening 
 Gazette, Boston. 
 
 A Peculiar People. 
 
 "It is interesting and well written." The Commercial, Cincinnati. 
 
 A Peculiar People. 
 
 "An entertaining sketch of oriental travel. It is full of instructive 
 description, historical references, and interesting incidents." Pitts 
 burgh Dispatch. 
 
 A Peculiar People. 
 
 "The book will well pay perusal." Albany Sunday Press. 
 
 A Peculiar People. 
 
 "There is not a dull page in the book; it will have many admirers." 
 Daily Monitor. Concord. 
 
 A Peculiar People. 
 
 "We commend the book to those who desire home-travel in a wonderful 
 land of mystery and marvel, of poetry and prophecy, of philosophy 
 and promise." Pittsburgh Post. 
 
 A Peculiar People. 
 
 "The scene of this unique story is laid in the Orient, in and near Mount 
 Lebanon. A pleasing plot runs through the volume, which can not 
 fail to interest the reader." Star and Covenant. 
 
 A Peculiar People 
 
 "The style is fascinating, and shows the vigor of young manhood, while 
 the story illustrates the wisdom of a good, just and holy life." 
 Gospel Banner, Augusta. 
 
 Mailed on receipt of price, $1.25, to any address, by the Publishers, 
 
 HENRY A. SUMMER & COMPANY, 
 
 2O5 Wabash Ave., CHICAGO.
 
 A 000 033 073 8 
 
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