The Spirit of the Border: A Romance of the Early Settlers in the Ohio Valley

owing powerfu

ter Joe, if often te

istic of her. Playful words, arch smiles, and a touch of coquetry had seemed natur

more earnest side of her character. It checked his boldness as nothing else had done. Suddenly there came to him the real meaning of a woman's love when she bestows it withou

t that they were at the gateway of the unknown West; that somewhere beyond this rude frontier settlement

the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers. Here these swift streams merged and formed the broad Ohio. The new-born river, even here at its beginning proud

which were little box-shaped houses that bulged out as if trying to see what was going on beneath. The massive timbers used in the constructi

orses were grazing on the short grass, and six red and white oxen munched at the hay that had been thrown to them. The smoke of many fires curled upward, and near the blaze hovered ruddy-faced women who stirred the contents of steaming kettles. One man swung an axe with a vigorous sweep, and the clean, sharp strokes rang on the air; another hammered stakes into the ground on w

but had a promise of innumerable smiles. The blue eyes could not long hide flashes of merriment. The girl turned, and the two young people looked at each othe

and that you knew no one in all this wild country. You even said you could not, or would not, work at farming. Perhaps my sister and I are as unfitted as you for this life; but we must cling to our uncle because he is the only relative we have. He has come out here to join the Moravians, and to preach the gospel to these Indi

e Jim," said

is

brot

me o

left of our people, as are you and Kate of yours. Jim's a

did you l

hurt him. Besides, I wanted to see the West; I'd like to h

for?" asked Nell, smiling. She

I had to leave them behind," answ

he's a preacher, and could h

hing you've said or done has made me care for you i

ve it, when you say you ar

, and suddenly g

way from him. Her face was bright now,

tion to throw the chestnut hair from her face, and looked at him with e

n. They turned and saw another wagon-train pulling into the settlement. The children we

n uncle expected. Let

ey gained a clump of willows near the cabins he bent forwar

'll see," sh

eason you have, I rec

o

't say-I didn't tell-oh!

th spirit. She saw the fur-trader's wife looking out of the window, and remembered laughing and telling the good woman she did not like this young man; it was, perhaps, because

sharp or saucy words and impulsive in her movements; but now the bewilderment of being kissed, particularly within view of the trader's wife, confu

the incoming wagon-train without looking backward. Flashing after him a

cret. Mrs. Wentz, the fur-trader's wife, was seated by the open window which faced the fort; she was a large woman, strong of feature, and with that calm placidity of expr

you allowed you'd known him only a few days. Lize Davis said she saw he was sweet on you. I like his face. Jake, my man, says as how he'll make a good husband for you, and he'll take to the frontier like a duck does to water. I'm sorry you'll not tarry here awhile. We don't see many lasse

l the while Mrs. Wentz was speaking grew

re; but neither surprise, concern, nor any of the quick impulses so common among other people. And this was another lesson Nell took to heart. She realized that she was entering upon a life absolutely different from her former one, and the thought caused her to shrink from the ordeal. Yet all the suggestions regarding her future home; the stories told about

ver. She stood with her face turned away from Mrs. Wentz; the lit

ister?" she pr

wagon-train come in.

ith yellow mud. The grizzled frontiersman who had smiled at Nell stood leaning on his gun, talking to three men, whose travel-stained and worn homespun clothes suggested a long and toi

them; but glanced quickly around in search of some one else. At length she saw Joe unloading goods from one of the wagons; his back was turned toward her, but

young man turned, glancin

vening,

om Joe. There was not the slightest trace of repentance

ou-you treated me s

and apology she had expected, and which was her due, he

dropped a blan

he said, gravely. "I

d sufficiently for pardon; but now, forgetting her good intentions in the belief that he was making sport

ackward with his hand to his cheek, she heard a smothered excla

dog was leaping upon him. Suddenly she felt faint. Bewildered, she looked from Joe to th

d Joe, starting forward and fli

," answered the young man, while a peculia

rth did you know? Where did you strike my trail? What are you going to

he felt something was amiss. He glanced quickly from her t

rother Jim, the one I told you about

aid Jim, with a smile, "even thoug

, and he laughed until the tears came into his eyes.

ed in her eyes; but she tried bravely to stand he

you for him. He-he has insulted me."