Request for a future promise-fulfillment. None of the boys dared
bed--teasing for their way ahd never been tolerated, but wistful eyes
were turned toward their mother.
During the night a flurry of snow had fallen and early the next morning
the four oldest sons and Mr. Coryell met around a generous breakfast
Aunt Margaret prepared and put before them on a clean white cloth. She
busied herself in the keeproom adjoining the dining room--making up the
fire and brushing back the ashes as Miss Ann came in--hoping to hear her
decision about the boys' going hunting.
Whit spoke as his mother came in. "I can't go today, let Vol go, please,
I have some chores Uncle Bill and I have laid out to attend to.
Tomorrow can be my treat." He arose and left the house pulling his coat
about his ears as he faced the cold. Delighted, Volney looked to his
mother for her decision.
It isn't wise to be out all day in the snow. It might get to coming down
harder--and--well, I just hate for you to be in it, Vol."
Coryell interceded, "We will bring you the honey from our bee-tree
first, get warm, go out again for a little hunting if you will let him
go, Miss Ann."
"Oh, very well, against my more prudent judgment--but be back by high
noon, I shall worry of you are not in when the sun is at it's zenith."
Almost beside himself with excitement, Volney thanked his mother and
went to get his heavy clothing, not having expected to be the chosen
one. Aunt Margaret looked at her mistress in dismay. She dared not let
her forget the warnings, she must speak even at the chance of a rebuke.
"Scuze me, Miss Ann, mam, but ain't you forgot them wild Injuns been
here-bouts too recent for comfort? Me and Sam got sight er two near the
spring squatted down jes looking las Tuesday evenin, please doan let the
chile go, please mam."
Ann nodded to the woman and turned back to Mr. Coryell. "Are you sure
there are none of those fearful buffalo herds thundering through the
timbers hereabouts? To me they are even worse frightening than the wild
Injuns, as Margaret calls them. I'm alive today only because my little
Nancy is the fleetest animal on four legs, I know anything about."
Volney was back, knitted cap pulled over his ears, heavy blanket coat
pinned up about the neck, ready for a day in the cold. He put a couple
of gold biscuits in his pocket and looked lovingly at his mother. The
two were off and down the yard toward the fence that had the hard to
open gate. Ann looked out the door absently gazing at nothing--gazing.
Suddenly a shudder ran over Ann. "No, no, no, he can't go--Margaret run
and stop them!" She screamed as though in sudden physical pain, and
started running toward the gate where the two were working with the
balky wire loop that fastened it at top and bottom.
"Come back, Volney, come back, son, you cannot go today." The startled
boy heard his mother calling and looked questioningly at Coryell to ask
if he were going to defend him from the ignominy of returning before
they had even left. But they both listened to Mrs. Cavitt as she
explained. "It was like an apparition--the Indian I mean--and do not see
visions nor hear voices, Mr. Coryell--but I just saw an Indian scalping
man as clear as I see you. Will you not return to the house also?" she
inquired laying a protective arm about the unwilling shoulders of her
second son.
Mr. Coryell laughed off the premonition and went to join the three
friends to cut the bee tree, promising to return for early supper. He
did not return that night and on the
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The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or touched.
It must be felt with the heart. Helen Keller
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Last Blue Promise...Poetry and Links to All my Web Sites
http://www.fortunecity.com/bally/meath/45/index.html
OR
http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Bistro/6720/index.html
...It is in silence where music lies...
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Listowner CARRINGTON and CAVITT surnames
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