The Little Immigrant | Page 5

hope and cheer. Renestine had had many suitors,
had had much admiration. She could have become the wife of a young
adoring banker; she had refused to listen to the suit of men of more
substance than her husband; but because of the quiet manliness of
Jaffray Starr, because of his keen intellect, because of his nobility of
heart and generous nature, she gave her heart into his keeping, sure that
she had made no mistake, and set out with him to share his fortune,
whatever it would bring. They had been married and left at once for
Jaffray's home at Jefferson, where he had a position in the County
Clerk's office. Now they were settled and housekeeping. But it was a
long, rough journey they had made from Houston to Jefferson. The
railroads had not been built in that section of the country and travel was
done by horse teams and in covered wagons. Two good colored
servants accompanied them; old Josiah, who drove and took care of the
rough work, and his wife; Caroline, to look after the "Missus" and do
the cooking. Bringing out kettles and pans tucked away in the wagon,
Josiah would build a brushwood fire and Caroline would cook the
meals, rations for two weeks having been provided. When it was time
to stop for a meal or to rest the horses, Josiah would be on the watch
for a clear spring of water along the roadside, would draw up by the
side of it and begin preparations for camping. It was not as much of a
hardship as Pullman travelers would conclude. The wagons were fitted
with springs which gave easily over rough roads and even had a
fascination and romance, and in the cool of the evening when a stretch
of smooth road lay before them it was delicious to feel the soft air
blowing into their faces and to experience the exhilaration of the rapid
motion of the wagon. There were also arrangements for comfortable
beds.
Word had gone ahead that Jaffray was bringing home a bride and the
people were alert to give her welcome. Jaffray never realized how
much he was thought of until he came back a Benedict. Homes were

thrown open to him and his young wife with offers to remain as long as
they would, and all .kinds of propositions made for their comfort and
welfare.
"No, thank you, John or Tom or Buck," he would reply, kindly but
firmly. "We shall go to the hotel until we can arrange a home. I have
already rented a house and it won't take us long to get settled."
Nor did it. In a few weeks Jaffray and Renestine were occupying a
small house, not far from the river that skirted the town, with Josiah
and Caroline in charge.
"I do not see how anything can be prettier," said Renestine one day
after they had been in their home about a week. She had just finished
looping the pretty Swiss curtains at the windows of their living room. "I
really do not," she continued, stepping back, her finger tips together,
her head quizzically on one side. "Nothing can be sweeter or prettier
than our home. Jaffray, have you noticed how dainty the chintz
furniture is and how well it goes with the walls? I think I deserve
commendation for that wall paper, Jaffray."
"Indeed, you do, my darling," returned Jaffray, pulling solemnly at his
pipe and looking half amused, half serious, at his young wife. "Are you
quite sure the pattern is large enough?" he said, laughing.
"Oh, you ungrateful man, you are making fun of me, I do believe.
Come into the dining-room and have dinner. Caroline is just bringing it
in."
Arm in arm, they stepped into a long, narrow room which went the
width of the house, only excepting a little room off the main bedroom
which was used for a dressing room.
The house consisted of a living room, a small hall and across from the
living room, the bedroom. Back of the little room was a small porch
and detached from the house, but connected by a covered walk, was the
kitchen. The dining-room was a foot below the two front rooms, the
kitchen joining it by the covered passage way. They could never

explain why the dining-room was so arranged, but concluded that the
owner had added it on at a later time. It was cosy and comfortable and
became attractive under the deft fingers of Renestine. The little covered
porch in front of the house was screened by running vines from the
gaze of the street.
"Now for my book shelf!" exclaimed Jaffray, after he had smoked his
afternoon pipe. "You must help me arrange them, Renestine. No real
home without books, little