IC-NRLF LUCKY A Tale of the Western Prairie BY EVA BELL BOTSFORD fJ "Words are tiny drops of ink." ANON. BUFFALO THE PETER PAUL BOOK COMPANY 1895 Copyright, 1895, By EVA BELL BOTSFORD. PRINTED AND BOUND BY THE PETER PAUL BOOK COMPANY, BUFFALO, N. Y. TO SCHOOLMATES AND TEACHERS OF THE DETROIT TRAINING SCHOOL, THIS BO OK IS INSCRIBED WITH REGARD AND AFFECTION. CONTENTS PAGE. CHAPTER I. A LILY AMONG WEEDS 9 CHAPTER II. A DREAMING GIRL AND A PRAIRIE KNIGHT .... 18 CHAPTER III. FOLK LORE AND THE NEW NEIGHBORS 28 CHAPTER IV. BUB AND ROSE . 39 CHAPTER V. AFTER FOUR YEARS 51 CHAPTER VI. IN THE CITY 64 CHAPTER VII. A PROPOSAL 75 CHAPTER VIII. THE PALLADIAN ACADEMY AND NEW LESSONS OF LIFE 86 CHAPTER IX. THALIA 97 CHAPTER X. AT THE ROYSTER FARM LUND COMES INTO HlS INHERITANCE 115 CHAPTER XL MRS. STAR-HARTMAN 127 CHAPTER XII. THALIA'S OLD STUDIO 137 CHAPTER XIII. THE CAMP MEETING AND WHAT AN OLD BOOK TOLD 148 CHAPTER XIV. ALL THINGS COME ROUND TO HIM WHO WILL BUT WAIT 157 LUCKY A TALE OF THE WESTERN PRAIRIE. CHAPTER I. A LILY AMDNG WEEDS. THE great, pompousj^Waced sun came up from behind the little green hills, and the cackle of ducks from the region of the rush-grown ravine greeted his advent. The farm hands were bringing out their breaking ploughs from the machine shed, whistling stray snatches of dance music and love songs. Two buxom girls in pink calico sun-bonnets stood beside some pails of foaming milk, guarding it from the ravages of pigs and chickens until the arrival of the man whose mission was to convey it to the vats in the dairy house. The cattle were leisurely making their way through the wide open gate of the spacious pine-board corral, quite indifferent to the " Whoop halloo! G'lang there! " of the herd boy, which rang out sonorously upon the air, accompanied by the cracking of an immense whip wielded with more ostentation than purpose. They knew the whip and its owner, and were not afraid of its sting. Ninety sleek milch cows were there in the herd, of various sizes and colors. There was a mild-eyed dun beauty with white spots on her flanks, a noble roan with a line along her back, and a coquettish little speckled heifer with spiked horns; but the queen of the herd was a superb black creature with a star on her io 'LU.CKY. brow who carried her* head with a proud air as if con- scious of superior distinction. Slowly they lagged, nipping at the tender grass as they went, while the herd boy rode to and fro on his ginger-colored pony, vainly shouting and flourishing his formidable whip. This was the dairy farm of the Roysters. To the right of the corral was the spring, noted far and wide for its water of icy coldness, walled up with limestone and shaded by overhanging willows. It was the pride of the farm. To the south, were the barns and sheds, while to the west stood the dairy house, or cheese house, as it was more commonly called, an immense frame structure painted pale yellow like the cheeses it contained; to the right of that, was a quaint L shaped building known as the <( House." In this latter place Mrs. Royster held her august sway and also the official position of postmistress for the settlement, that honor having been thrust upon her because no one else would have it. By the spring* stood a child of some ten or. eleven years of age, dressed in a loose gown of coarse, brown ducking. Her feet were bare and scarred by daily contact with stone and stubble. This was Nana Meers, adopted daughter, bound child, ward, or no- body knew what, of the Roysters. She was beautiful, not with the soft outlines and fresh tints of the ordi- narily pretty child, but wildly, defiantly dark and lovely. Her arms were full of long trailing rush blades, and a sober smile stole into her great eyes, as she stroked the green, glossy, ribbon-like things, with A LILY AMONG WEEDS. II one little brown palm. The look changed when the herd boy rode past. It became intense and eager. She flew to him, and put her hand entreatingly upon his stirrup. 1 1 What is it, young ' un ? " came the gruff query. "Oh Lund, you won't forget to get my almanick, now will you ? ' ' she coaxed plaintively. " Not if I think of it," was the curt reply, and the boy drove his cattle away, over the hills and out of sight. The child, however, was contented. She returned to the shade of the willows and sat down musing. "I'm going to have a almanick! Won't it be awful splendid! It won't be a old one, but bran' new with white, shiny leaves, and it won't be a borrered one, but all mine, mine, mine! If Lund don't forget it, it will, and I guess he won't." Presently, a head appeared at one of the upper windows of the house. Nana started when she saw it, dropping some of the rush blades into the spring. " See here! You get away from that spring with your rubbish, you imp! " was the greeting of the new- comer. " I ain't a imp! " came the prompt reply, " and I'm glad I spilled 'em in the spring! " ' * Take care how you talk to me. ' ' "But I ain't!" "Didn't I say shut up?" "But I ain't!" " I'll come down there and larrup you if you say that again!" 1 2 LUCKY. "If you do, I'll kill you!" "Haw! Haw! Haw! Talk about killin', you little slim snipe! " " But I will I'll choke you to death! " "Haw! Haw! Haw!" " Stop laughin' at me, you big big brute! " " Look a' here, young one, you're a gettin' a little too sassy. Dry up, and go tend your ducks." " I won't tend the ducks, and I'll put more stuff in the spring if I want to." The child with a determined toss of the head arose, and started to run away. She had not proceeded far, however, when she heard heavy footfalls behind her, and soon a rough hand grasped her shoulder. ' * Say that again ! ' ' hissed a voice in her ear. "I will if I want to." The hand tightened its grasp. Nana turned, and struck at her tormentor with her little brown fist, at which he laughed exasperatingly. If strength of spirit could slay, Bub Royster in one second would have been no more. As it was, Nana could only battle in the cause of justice with feet, teeth, and nails, which she did right manfully. Bub Royster only laughed the more. "Now, see here. I'm going to drown you for your impudence," he said at last, when tired of the sport. Nana struggled while he dragged her to the edge of the spring; but soon her fragile form relaxed, and she felt her head thrust beneath the surface. Then she fainted from exhaustion and fright. A LILY AMONG WEEDS. 1 3 When she recovered consciousness, she was lying on the grass, her dress wet from the water which dripped from her curls, and a woman in high, metallic voice was saying: " What do you mean by duckin' her in there, and sp'ilin' the water?" "She called me names," said Bub. 4 'Well, you jist stop this onery behavin' or I'll tell your pap." Nana sat up, and laughed aloud. Oh, it is a rare day when we see those who have made us suffer dis- comfited in turn! The woman hearing the uncontrollable merriment, turned upon the child. ' ' Here you ugly sprite, you get out of here, and go to your ducks, or I'll make you laugh out of the other corner of your mouth. You ought to be in the Deform School, and you'll get sent there too, first thing you know! " Not caring to match her strength with any one else this morning, Nana scampered away, but once out of sight and hearing, she paused, and her little face turned livid with rage and indignation. " If I could only kill them Roysters!" she ex- claimed, stamping her foot. Then a sudden thought struck her. Falling upon her knees, she clasped her hands and prayed. " O God, I hate 'em all, Bub and Mis' Roysterand all, and I want you to come and kill 'em, dead, dead, dead all but Lund he's going to get me a alma- nick. Amen. ' ' 14 LUCKY. " I guess they're fixed now," she said as she arose. The ducks were an exceedingly wild species and required constant watching, lest they should wander away and join the nomadic flocks which daily flew over the farm, now and then pausing to visit their more domestic brothers and sisters, and express their con- tempt for civilization. The Roysters, however, need not care, since they were to suffer annihilation so soon. The sun was warm and the atmosphere lazy. Nana threw herself down among the tall grasses, and let the ducks go their way. When time came for returning home, she could find but half the flock. She forebore to search for them. The Roysters might beat her to-day for her carelessness, but they never would again. They were going to die. As she had expected, soon after her return, Mrs. Royster's stout cottonwood switch was called into requisition. Nana did not cry when the blows rained down upon her tender shoulders. She was triumph- ing in her sincere belief that the sway of the tyrant was brief. Mrs. Royster was nonplussed. "Oh, it don't hurt, don't it? Well, I'll give you something that will ! ' ' and the blows fell thicker and faster. Then Nana wept for the sake of policy, all the while her heart was exulting. " Oh, Lund!" she cried to the herd boy, as he came toiling tired and hungry up the path. ' ' I want to tell you something. It's a nawful secret! " "Well, what is it ! " "By to-morrer morning, the Roysters will all be A LILY AMONG WEEDS. 15 dead! " she answered in a whisper not untinged with awe. "The young 'un's crazy," Lund muttered. " No I aint, and you'll see for yourself and oh, Lund, did you get my almanick ? " ' ' No. Forgot it. Come on to supper. ' ' But Nana did not care for supper. That almanac had been the desire of her heart for days. The Royster family had no books, not even a bible, and the almanac, especially if there were pictures, con- tained for the lonely child, food for a whole year of dreams. She crept up to her ragged bed in the gar- ret under the rafters, to sob out her disappointment. She had not been there long when a rough, though not unkindly voice called: "Nane!" The girl sat up and dried her tears. " It's Lund! Maybe he has been teasing me, and has brought the almanick, after all! Oh, Lund, where is it? " holding out her hand. " Here," said Lund, depositing in the outstretched palm, a huge piece of corn-bread savored with sorg- hum molasses. "Oh, no, not that! " " Well, what did you expect ? Apple-pie and plum- puddin? " " No, no! I only want my almanick! " she sobbed. "I I forgot it," stammered Lund. I didn't go near the burg to-day. I didn't know you cared so much. What do you want an almanick for anyway, kid?" 1 6 LUCKY. "Oh, Lund, they are de-light-ful ! Such pictures, and such readin'." " Well, I'll go to-morrer, cross my heart, I will! " "Bless you, Lund!" and Nana threw her arms about the boy's neck, and kissed him. " Oh my! The girl is crazy shore enough! " mut- tered Lund. "But," he observed, after a little reflection, " I don't know but I like such craziness, after all." " You, Lundy!" called Mrs. Royster sharply, from below. "I must go; Mis' Royster' s a callin'," said Lund reluctantly. " What are you a doin' a wastin' ot you time up there ? Come down here this minute, or I'll pack you right off to the Perform School! There's the young calves to feed, and the turkeys to shut up, and the kindlin' to get in 'gainst mornin'. What with you and that shiftless girl a shirkin' of your work, I'll be driv' to my grave," the voice continued. " Good-bye, kid. Sorry I can't stay," said Lund. "You won't forget to remember to-morrer," the girl asked, creeping close to him, and laying her cheek against his ragged sleeve. ' ' Catch me a forgettin' . ' ' " If you aint the laziest, good for nothingest rascal that ever lived! I " from below. "Yes'm, yes'm," answered Lund promptly, thus pouring oil on the troubled waters. An hour later every one on the farm was asleep A LILY AMONG WEEDS. 1 7 except the boy. He was tossing to and fro on his hard bed saying over and over to himself: " She did take it hard didn't she ? Well, I'll get it for her to-morrer, shore. Pore little kid ! ' ' CHAPTER II. A DREAMING GIRL AND A PRAIRIE KNIGHT. YOU, Lundy!" 1 ' W-li-a-a-t ? ' ' was the drowsy reply. " Is that the way to speak to me, you pack o' lazy bones ? Why don' t you say, ' what mum ' to your betters ! ' ' * ' What mum ? ' ' repeated Lund obediently. " You jest stir your stumps now and mount up to that loft, and tell that girl to be up and about a searchin' for them ducks, for I swear she shan't have a bite to eat till I see them, every blessed one before my very eyes. ' ' Having issued these peremptory orders, Mrs. Roy- ster went her way singing: " How tedious and tasteless the hour." She did not know the hymn and never got beyond the first line, following out the air with a cracked and doleful hum. The farm hands averred that she made many an hour tedious and tasteless for them with that hum. Lund opened his eyes, surprised to find it morning so soon. He arose and dressed, then climbed the shaky ladder very softly, lest he should awaken the sleeper a moment before he must. Lund's hours of A DREAMING GIRL AND A PRAIRIE KNIGHT. 19 slumber were dear to him, being as they were the hap- piest of his life, and it seemed cruel to rouse the girl from sweet unconsciousness to ugly hard reality. Be- sides, Nana had become an especial object of consider- ation to him since the previous night. No one but she had ever kissed him since the day his mother had been laid to rest in the back woods of Iowa. "Nane!" he called gently, perking his head up over the floor of the loft. No answer. "Nane!" still louder. ' ' H-e-y ? ' ' from the corner where Nana lay, half asleep, half awake. ' ' Mis' Royster says ' ' ' ' Aint she dead yet ? ' ' inquired the drowsy Nana. " Dead, Nane? What do you mean ?" ''Just what I say. Well, if she ain't, she will be soon. Tell her I'm comin'." Not long after, Nana came into the little bare apart- ment which served as dining-room and kitchen in one, where the farm hands were devouring their morning repast. ' ' You get out o' here, ' ' was Mrs. Royster' s greeting. " I won't till I've had my breakfast," declared Nana. "You won't! Well, we'll see," Mrs. Royster returned, accompanying her remark with a sound box on Nana's ear. The farm hands laughed. Mrs. Royster gave them an approving look. " See there. They're laughin' at you, spunky, and well you deserve it. Now get. ' ' 20 LUCKY. " I don't care how much they laugh. They're just as bad as you are, and I hate 'em just as much, and I'm going to have something to eat," said Nana, seizing a plate of corn bread that stood within reach. " Oh, you will, will you ?" exclaimed Mrs. Royster, "We' 11 see about that." She caught Nana's hand, and tried to wrest the bread from her, but the child clung to it as an animal clings to its prey. " I'll fix you !" exclaimed Mr. Royster, coming in just in time to witness the disturbance. * ' You are gettin' a bit too sassy to the folks that feed and clothe you and teach you manners. ' ' With this, he snatched the food from her hand, and, thrusting her out, closed the door upon her. The next moment an unearthly scream rent the air, and looking in the direction whence it came, they saw Nana, peering through the window, shaking her fist with intense violence, her face livid, her eyes aflame, and her slight figure quivering from head to foot. "Ah," she cried, through her clenched teeth, 11 You'd better be down on your knees a sayim' your prayers from now on, for you aint long for this world, none of you !" "What ails the young one?" said Mrs. Royster, as Nana vanished. ' ' She' s mad, ' ' said Mr. Royster. ' ' She needs that taken out of her, and by the old Harry, she'll get it done too." "She's an awful young one," said the girl who waited on the farm hands. A DREAMING GIRL AND A PRAIRIE KNIGHT. 21 "Terrible !" echoed the hands. "She's half crazy," said Bub Royster. ' ' She ought to have been sent to the Inform School long afore this," said his mother. Lund, who was at the table, listened silently ; but his food stuck in his throat, and refused to be washed down by constant deluges of water from his tin cup. " What's the matter, boy? Your face is as red as a beet," remarked the man who sat next to him. " Nothin'," muttered Lund dropping his eyes. "Try in' to eat too fast. Don't be afraid; you'll get enough, greedy," said Mrs. Royster. When he went out, Lund found Nana sitting in a disconsolate attitude in her accustomed place under the willows by the spring. He had his dinner-bag in his hand. He threw it into her lap. 1 ' There, Nane, ' ' he said, ' 'take it and run for your life. They'll half kill you if they find you here." " But you won't have any, then." " I don't care. I'm a boy. I don't get hungry." The tears rose to Nana's eyes. "I won't take it at all, Lund, dear. Here's half of it back. Now, I'll scoot, and before I get back they'll all be dead. Won't we have good old times when they're gone ? Don't forget the almanick." * * # # * # The long grass swayed to and fro with a sleepy sound; the lithe dragon-fly hovered over the little pools of stagnant water, beside which the child lay with half- closed eyes, watching the graceful darting hither and 22 LUCKY. thither of the pretty creatures on their transparent wings. ' ' I wonder why they stay around those ugly puddles," she mused dreamily. "If I had wings, I'd fly away to where everything was nice." Then, as the low, mournful call of the prairie gopher fell upon her ear, she reflected : ' ' What makes him feel so bad ? He must have lost friends that he can't forget. I never had any friends, so I feel bad like him. Poor thing!" At intervals a freight-line teamster passed down the great road, which, in the parlance of the West, led from ' ' Omaha to Idaho. ' ' Nana could hear the creak of the oxen' s yoke and the snap of the driver' s whip. The teamsters were called bull-whackers, and Nana never quite overcame her dread of them. Every time she heard their rasping "Whoa, haw," she crouched farther down in the grass to hide. She believed them terrible creatures, in whom the spirit of torture was instinctive, and whose chief delight was to mistreat the poor dumb animals which they drove. It had been the custom of Mrs. Royster when the child was younger to frighten her into submission by the threat, "I'll give you to the bull-whackers. ' ' Now, despite her endeavor to keep well out of sight, one of them had espied her. "Hello there, little 'un! " he cried, stopping his wagon, " What do you know ? I am dogoned thirsty, and want a drink. There's water there I should say, by the rushes." Nana's heart beat wildly, but she was determined A DREAMING GIRL AND A PRAIRIE KNIGHT. 23 not to show her fear. She pointed out to him a little spring that she had hollowed out of a bank with her own hands, aided by a piece of broken milk crock. "Gee, that's good !" exclaimed the man, when he had quenched his thirst. "Little 'un, you are a trump. What's better than a drink o' cold water to a man that's dry? Good-bye, chick. If you ever come to the city where I live you must make me a visit, shore. I've two or several little girls like you, and I think a heap of 'em. Here's a paper of goodies one of 'em stuck in my pocket th' other day, when I left. I aint much of a sweet tooth myself, and I'll give 'em to you." Nana took the package with a half audible ' 'thank' e, sir," as she had been taught. The man went on, and the little girl sat down to examine the gift. It proved to be ginger snaps. Better than all, the paper in which they were wrapped contained a wonderful story, which suited her appetite also. It was about a noble man who expended his immense wealth in founding colleges and building schools for orphan children such as she. Dr. Eustace was the gentleman's name. He cured the sick too, with a wonderful remedy known as Dr. Eustace's Miraculous Com- pound. Many a young man, the story said, had received a start in business from this benevolent gentleman, whose chief thought in life was to do good to his fellow creatures. " I wonder if he would do anything for me," medi- tated Nana. "What a good man he must be !" 24 LUCKY. Her dreams were cut short by the sound of a voice, singing lustily : "Old Missouri, souri, soo, Old Missouri ay, Old Missouri is the place For you and I." There was a rustle among the rushes and a step near at hand. " Wall, I never !" broke from the lips of the new- comer. ' ' Nana looked up sullenly. He was a neighbor, a bachelor, who lived all alone on his claim, some miles distant. He had a broad jaw covered by a thin, stubby beard, a hair lip, small fish-like eyes, hulking body, and ambling gait. Nana despised him, ?.nd took pains to show it. ''Wall, I never !" he repeated. " I go out to find wild game, and run right onto a tame gal. Or bent you tame, little 'un ? I swow I can't tell by the looks of you." Nana did not condescend to reply. Joe Slocum, for that was the man's name, placed the butt end of his gun upon the ground, and leaned against the barrel, regarding the child with much amusement. "Wall, my gal!" he said at length in the same jocular tone, " when air you goin' to marry me ? " Nana immediately found voice. " Marry you! I aint goin' to at all! " " Yes, you air." "No, I aint." A DREAMING GIRL AND A PRAIRIE KNIGHT. 25 The man laughed exasperatingly. " Your pap give you to me." Her ire was now thoroughly roused. "Go away!" she cried, stamping her feet. "I aint got any pap, and you are tellin' lies." " No I aint, and you'll be glad on't too, when you come to keep house for me in my little shanty. I'm a good marksman, and you'll have plenty of prairie birds to cook. It'll be mighty fine." 4 'But I aint, I aint," protested Nana. "Yes you air oh, no you aint, kid, if you're goin' to look so glum about it not till the time comes any- way. What air you a doin' of here ? ' ' " None of your business. I've lost my ducks, and they have sent me out to hunt ' em up. ' ' 11 Let 'em alone and they'll come home, a waggin' their tails behind 'em," chuckled Slocum. * ' Shall I find your birds for you ? " he inquired presently. " P 11 warrant I can. ' ' He was off without delay, but returned shortly with a string of game over his arm, which he flung at her feet. ( * There you air. They went out in the mornin' , I'll warrant, as noisy and gossipy as a lot o' gals, but they come back as quiet a pack o' fowl as I ever see. ' ' Nana looked at them ruefully. "I'll make it all right with the old man and old woman," suggested Slocum. Still Nana did not speak. She kept gazing at the mute, inglorious birds. 26 LUCKY. * ' What time will you go home ? ' ' questioned the man. 1 ' At dinner time, ' ' and her hungry eyes wandered towards the sun. "I'll be there," said Slocum, and walked away. ****** ' ' What, Nana Meers ! The ducks are dead ! What can you mean ? ' ' exclaimed Mrs. Royster when Nana had imparted the news to her. " They are dead, that's all," said Nana doggedly. * ' Give me my dinner. ' ' 1 ' You shall never have another bite, you ' ' ' ' Yes, she shall too, ' ' interposed a voice, the voice of Joe Slocum. He had come up unperceived by both Mrs. Royster and the girl. " Here, I'll pay for the birds. I shot 'em. Give the gal her dinner. Air you goin' to ? " "Yes, but I'll lick her first!" cried the woman, making a spring at Nana. 1 ' Not if I know it, ' ' answered the man, placing himself in front of the child. Mrs. Royster looked thunder clouds at the in- truder. "I'd like to know what business it is of yours, Joe Slocum," she ejaculated fiercely. " Don't I house and keep her ? ' ' ' ' Yes, ' ' said Slocum impressively drawing close to his angry neighbor, "but I'll tell you what; the gal's mine. You give her to me, and she's mine, and I aint goin' to have her sp'iled by thrashin' nor starvin' neither. You jest put that in your pipe." A DREAMING GIRL AND A PRAIRIE KNIGHT. 27 Mrs. Royster was somewhat appeased, but muttered something about encouraging the young imp in her bad ways. "See here, chick," said Slocum, turning to Nana, "if this here woman don't treat you well, you jest come to me. Now, will you ? ' ' Nana did something quite unexpected by both enemy and friend. She turned upon the good Sa- maritan with, "No, I won't! Not if she beats me into the ground, I won't not if she starves me dead! " CHAPTER III. FOLK LORE AND THE NEW NEIGHBORS. YES, I know, or I think I do." The speaker was Lund. Nana had just told him of her interview with Joe Slocum. "Well?" said the girl impatiently, as the boy paused a moment studying the proceedings of a swarm of ants that were bustling about a hill at his feet. ' ' Well, ' ' continued Lund thoughtfully, ' ' it was the day I was sick and couldn't herd. Joe Slocum came over to see about ridin' to town with Royster next time he went with a load of cheese, and I heard them talkin'. I was hidin' under the big vat in the cheese house for fear some one would find me and set me to work, and I heard Royster tell old Slocum that as soon as you were big enough, Slocum could pay Roy- ster three-hundred-dollars for your keep, and marry you. Then they shook hands, and took a drink out of the bottle that Royster keeps under a big canister in the cheese house." ' ' Did they say any more ? ' ' ' ' No. Just then I had to sneeze, and Slocum come and pulled me out from under the vat. But Royster said 'don't be afeard of the boy. He won't blab.' And he winked and put his front finger on his fore- head." FOLK LORE AND THE NEW NEIGHBORS. 2Q " Well/' said Nana firmly, "I think I see myselt marryin' Joe Slocum." " Won't you have to?" Nana threw up her chin, and answered by repeat- ing the old, iron-clad adage of the bullwhackers, " We don't have to do anything but die." " Oh, Nane! Such a girl! I wonder if you really be crazy. Half the people say you be. ' ' " Pooh! They're crazy themselves. It's all be- cause I take my own part. Now you, Lund, you are good; you never sass or talk back, and you're never called crazy. But between you and me," she went on assuringly, "you are the craziest of the two." Lund was half convinced. "But it's an awful thing to die," he hesitated at length. " Yes, for bad folks. For good ones it's nice." ' ' But you ain' t good. Everybody says you ain' t. ' ' "Maybe I ain't. I don't care if I ain't. The Lord knows what I have to put up with. He'll ex- cuse me." 1 ' Maybe he will, ' ' said Lund with a sigh of relief, "I hope he will." " What's this, my sharpies ? " called a cheery voice hard by. Both children started at the sound. *' I've been laying for prairie chickens, but your gabble scares them all away," the stranger went on. " So you're discussing theology, are you ? " " No, we're talkin' about dyin'," said Lund. ' ' Your conversation savored of the science which I 30 LUCKY. name. Now, you leave all these vexing questions to me, for I have a diploma at home, three feet square, which proves that I'm fully capable of deciding." He was proud of his superior knowledge and experi- ence, this handsome, dashing fellow, who stood nearly six feet in his short jacket, high boots, and corduroy trousers. You could see it in his entire bearing, but more especially in the arrogant, backward tilt of his broad sombrero, which disclosed to view an open, genial brow over which the short, brown curls tumbled in a very becoming confusion. He had a merry hazel eye and large, mobile lips forever threatening to smile, but seldom getting beyond the threat. He carried a gun, game bag, and powder horn. His name was George Fielding, but he was commonly called ' ' Lucky, ' ' for it was his favorite boast that life for him was one jolly round of gayety. He never undertook anything which he failed to accomplish, was accustomed to the admiration which success and good looks are sure to bring and was somewhat spoiled by always having had his own way. He possessed one glaring fault, a strange, unconquerable disposition to pervert the truth, to lie with so sober a front that even the most penetrating reader of character would have sworn he spoke gospel facts. His friends attributed it to a vivid imagination, and he was so good natured withal, that his grave failing was in the main, over, looked. ' ' Theology, ' ' he went on to explain to the two wondering innocents, ' ' that means the science of FOLK LORE AND THE NEW NEIGHBORS. 31 religion. The real thing and the science must not be confounded. I know plenty of people who have theology by the headful, without a speck of religion in their hearts. I knew a woman once who could talk doctrine by the hour, tell you to a T how many rods you'd strayed from the path of righteousness, had measured the gate of heaven with a tape line, and knew how many steps exactly there were to the golden stair. Why, any one would have supposed by the way she talked that she had even tested the tempera- ture of the river Jordan. She always hollered in meeting. Young folks of the worldly sort used to go for miles to hear her holler. And what do you sup- pose she did, one day ? She beat her horse to death for eating a turnip or two out of her cart. She had theology. Now I'll tell you another story of a woman who had religion. You couldn't have told she had anything by her looks or conversation. People thought her very bad because she never professed in public. But somehow, wherever a kind word or a helping hand was needed that woman was there, first of all to put her shoulder to the wheel. She gave all the cabbages and turnips she could spare to the poor, and I've no doubt, would have gone hungry herself rather than to see anyone suffer. She had a temper of her own too. Yet when she felt cross and wicked, she never laid the blame at the poor, much belied old devil's door, but took a good dose of herbs to tone up her system, smiled and went on as before. When she died, her neighbors shook their heads. She was 32 LUCKY. such a good soul, it was too bad she had never pro- fessed, they said. Then they sighed and agreed to leave her in the hands of the the Lord, to dispose of according to His own mercy, since they could not help themselves." " Of course the Lord knew," said Lund gravely. " That he did, my hearty! He knew! " The young man was beginning to glow with his favorite theme. " What brought sin into the world? " asked Nana. " Royster always says it was women, when he's mad at Mis' Royster." ''There's another story only half told. My friend, the editor of the Elk Bend Sharpshooter says the secret of good composition is in the suggesting of more than you really say. Now, any thoughtful person could plainly see that Adam's mouth was watering for that apple all the while, but he didn't dare touch it. It was the same spirit which prompts fool- ishly fond wives of to-day to sneak half the dainties from their own plate to that of their husband, which made Eve pick the fruit. She just couldn' t bear to see his mouth water, and for that she's blamed to this day. I always felt lenient towards Eve for another reason. She just gave him plain unvarnished apple, fresh from the tree. If she'd gone and pealed it, and mixed up some crust, and baked it, and come to her lord and master with a specimen of young house- keeper's pie in her hand, I wouldn't venture to take her part. Eve was more sensible than ungrateful man gives her credit for." FOLK LORE AND THE NEW NEIGHBORS. 33 ' ' Mis' Roystcr says the devil is seekin' to devour all such youngsters as me," suggested Nana. "Pshaw! You're not at all suitable to the old fellow's taste." " She said he'd roast me over a fire. Has he got a fire?" " Yes, of course. Raw meat isn't good eating." " Where do they get their kindlin's ? " "Why bless you, right here where we get ours. They know a thing or two, and one thing they know is that dried sunflower stalks are the very best kindling in the world. Why, I've seen them skylarking about on this very dairy farm, whisking their tails to keep off the flies, and gathering sunflowers by the armful. They are all black, my children, with long hair and horns. I fell in with the captain of the band one day, and we sat down and had quite a chat." "Wasn't you afraid?" " No, the heart of the virtuous knows no fear." "Why didn't I ever see him? I always pull my sunbonnet over my ears and eyes, and run as fast as I can whenever I pass a cornfield, for Bub Royster says he's apt to rush out and catch me any day." " Ho! He's too much of a gentleman to do that. He'll leave sneaking ways to Bub Royster and his like. In fact he said as much to me. And moreover, he said, 'Mr. Fielding,' he always addressed me as Mr., he was so polite; 'Mr. Fielding,' said he, 'I want to tell you something in strict confidence. I have an eye to business though I do seem gay and 34 LUCKY. festive now. I've been thinking pretty hard about that Royster family up there on the dairy farm. I have been wondering for a long time if I hadn' t better bag them, but I can't make up my mind. The fact is, Mr. Fielding, (do not mention it, for if it should get abroad 'twould ruin my reputation forever,) I am half afraid of them, they are so much worse than I am.' And the father of darkness actually blushed blushed, mind you, and hid his face in his bandana." While he was finishing his peculiar little tale, a young lady mounted on a gentle looking mustang rode up and joined the company. So engrossed were Lucky and the children that they became aware of her presence only when she spoke. "My dear Lucky! What nonsense to be giving those poor, credulous children! " Lucky looked half guilty, half amused. Taking off his hat he bowed to the beautiful creature and muttered something about stating the case as it stood. "As it stands in your imagination," was the gay reply. " Don't mind him, my dears, he isn't truthful. He is a bad boy. He ran away from home this morning to escape a disagreeable duty, and I'll tell you about it. One day he hired to a certain Mr. Slocum to do some breaking, but my fastidious brother, not liking that gentleman's cooking I believe he is his own housekeeper played hooky, and vowed he'd never go back again. This morning as his employer came to see about it, the brave young man shouldered his gun, and escaped through the FOLK LORE AND THE NEW NEIGHBORS. 35 back window as Mr. S. entered the front door. Now shame him." "I'm not to blame now, am I?" said Lucky. " Everybody knows that Slocum first kneads his bread, then sets it under the stove for the pussy cat to sleep in. Why, when the bread comes upon the table it is furnished with such a nice set of furs that it is hard to tell where cat leaves off and bread begins." " I don't believe you, Lucky," said his sister. * ' Can' t help it. Have given you the gospel truth as did the prophets before me, and if you don't accept it 'tisn't my fault. I've done my duty." Both Miss Fielding and her brother laughed heartily at this, and Lund could not help smiling from sympathy. But Nana's countenance did not change. " Why so sober, little one ? " asked the lady. ' ' She is thinking of the Great Terrible, ' ' said Lucky. ' ' Come, cheer up, you little wild elfin. There is not a word of truth in these stories." "Pooh! I don't care for that," returned Nana, "I've things to bother me that no one knows." Lucky and his sister smiled again, thinking this speech caught from her elders. ' ' What is the trouble, little witch ? Has your doll broken its head ?' ' asked Miss Fielding. " I don't have a doll," answered Nana. " Indeed ! wouldn't you like to have one?" " No, I'd rather have a almanick." ' ' Why ? ' ' again asked the young lady wonderingly. 36 LUCKY. " Because it is nice to read." ' * Then you can read ? ' ' " Yes. I went to school a term once." " And you love to read ? " " I should say so. It's my only fun. But I have to hide to do it." Having promised to bring the child a whole armful of story books at no late date, Miss Fielding and her brother turned to go. * ' What an odd child, ' ' mused Miss Fielding. ' ' A regular sprite, ' ' said Lucky. ' ' Her name is Nana, the boy tells me; I've seen him often before, you know. By the way, that chap will inherit the earth some day six feet of it. He's as blindly meek as an ox. Isn't Nana an odd name for a girl brought up by the Roysters ? ' ' "Yes, so soft and refined. She's a remarkably graceful child and more than pretty. They ought to be proud of her. ' ' "Why bless you she's not a Royster ! She's a child they're just keeping for some reason or other. How her eyes did open when I told her I had a personal acquaintance with old Hornie ! A Royster wouldn't have flinched they are distant connections of his, you know. Bub is a family name. It's shortened from Beelzebub." ' ' Lucky, do learn to curb your imagination a trifle at least. Do you know, you are getting quite a reputation in the settlement for that sort of thing ?' ' "What ! Wouldst rob thy gentle brother of his only joy ? " FOLK LORE AND THE NEW NEIGHBORS. 37 " Nonsense !" " Not at all. I like to lie. I believe I have a talent for it. We must cultivate our talents. Every- body says we must." 11 Well, the consequences be upon your own head." " I have often thought of reforming. I will reform, sis, now see if I don't, just to please you. But it is a great sacrifice. You remember the story of the sick lady who died when her looking-glass was broken, because it was all she had to live on. Now what if ' ' " Well, there's oats in the bin worth thirty dollars, and we can have a pretty respectable funeral in these parts for that amount. Hadn't we better step up a bit? It is almost noon." When the Fieldings had passed out of sight, Lund and Nana, who had been watching them eagerly, turned and looked at each other. " The new neighbors," said Nana. " Yes, over in the new house. Mis' Royster says they're awfully stuck up. I've seen the feller before, but not the girl. They've only been here two months. Slip's the one somebody they think it was Bub Royster tried to rob one night when she was ridin' home a horseback." ' ' I remember, ' ' said Nana. " She's as pretty as a picture," said Lund. " But look, Nane, at them cows away off there. Good-bye." Lund mounted his horse, which was grazing quietly near, and was gone. Nana went back to the pools where her ducks were 38 LUCKY. sporting, to dream away the remaining hours of the forenoon. Her mind was full of the new neighbors. She wondered when she would see them again, and what they would say to her. CHAPTER IV. BUB AND ROSE. of Royster's steers is mired !" shouted Joe Slocum one chilly spring day, darting into the yard of Farmer Dolby on his wiry little mustang. " Sakes alive !" exclaimed a rosy young girl, who stood in front of the house, scattering crumbs of corn bread to a crowd of noisy fowls which surrounded her. ' ' How did it happen ? Ma, hear that ! One of Royster's steers is mired ! Get your bonnet, and come quick !" ' ' The men folks aint to home, ' ' said Mrs. Dolby, bustling out upon the scene with a shawl and hood in her hand. "They have gone to mill, but me and Rose will go over. ' ' ' ' So the men folks aint to home. Then I must look otherwheres for help. But you and Rose go on as you say. Down at the North Pond, mind you. Mis' Royster and Mis' Blake and the gals be all there. Bub and his pa be there too, I guess." This with a side glance at Rose. The miring of an animal was quite a social event in these regions. It was all that balls, receptions, and races are to their city cousins. So, when Mrs. Dolby and her daughter arrived at the pond, they found a very sociable group gathered on its banks. I do not 40 LUCKY. mean to say they enjoyed the discomfort of the poor brute who stood knee deep in the soft mud, from which he could not extricate himself ; but when such circum- stances occurred, they made the best of them.