"Mountain Memories" Page 11
knew Harvey would be walking in a little while. Sure enough, he soon heard footsteps coming along the path, and then he heard voices. He had hoped Harvey would be alone, but Ollie knew he might not get the chance again and he planned to kill him anyway.
But when they came in sight, he was shocked. It was Louisa walking along beside Harvey. They were walking and talking happily, but Ollie was so enraged by the thought of Harvey killing his brother, he was determined to go through with his plan and he put the gun sights right on Harvey's heart. He hesitated as they came closer, thinking. Louisa's brother Cicero had married Ollie's aunt. Louisa might get in the way of the bullet. What would the poor girl do if she saw her sweetheart shot down right before her eyes? No! He just couldn't do it. He turned and walked away.
There was some good in that man, but the Hartness family wasn't taking any more chances with Harvey's life. They packed up their belongings and moved far away, to Oklahoma. Louisa was left behind. She and Harvey were not married.
Oklahoma was Indian country, wild and desolate. One could stand and look as far as the eye could see and not see a tree, just grass and loneliness. But the Hartness family stuck it out; how they made a living, I don't know. They made friends with the Indians and two of the Hartness boys married Indian girls.
Harvey was not content. He could not forget the blue eyes of Louisa Self. One day, after about two years, he bought a train ticket for a trip back to East Tennessee and the girl he had said he was going to marry.
Time always changes things, for good or for bad. Oklahoma was a
far-away land. Weeks and months had turned into years. Louisa never expected to see Harvey Hartness again. It was a lonely time for her and she began to accept the invitations of other men, even though they could never take the place of Harvey. She finally found a man she "liked" and they were going to get married when she heard that Harvey was on his way to back East Tennessee.
Somehow she had to get down to Tellico Plains to meet the train - and she did. When Harvey stepped off the train she ran into his arms.
Was Ollie Whitmore going to try to kill Harvey again? As far as I know, he never bothered him any more.
After Harvey and Louisa married, Harvey changed his way of living. He joined the Baptist church and became almost a fanatic in his desire to live a good Christian life. He would walk for miles to attend a "foot washing," which was considered an
11
But when they came in sight, he was shocked. It was Louisa walking along beside Harvey. They were walking and talking happily, but Ollie was so enraged by the thought of Harvey killing his brother, he was determined to go through with his plan and he put the gun sights right on Harvey's heart. He hesitated as they came closer, thinking. Louisa's brother Cicero had married Ollie's aunt. Louisa might get in the way of the bullet. What would the poor girl do if she saw her sweetheart shot down right before her eyes? No! He just couldn't do it. He turned and walked away.
There was some good in that man, but the Hartness family wasn't taking any more chances with Harvey's life. They packed up their belongings and moved far away, to Oklahoma. Louisa was left behind. She and Harvey were not married.
Oklahoma was Indian country, wild and desolate. One could stand and look as far as the eye could see and not see a tree, just grass and loneliness. But the Hartness family stuck it out; how they made a living, I don't know. They made friends with the Indians and two of the Hartness boys married Indian girls.
Harvey was not content. He could not forget the blue eyes of Louisa Self. One day, after about two years, he bought a train ticket for a trip back to East Tennessee and the girl he had said he was going to marry.
Time always changes things, for good or for bad. Oklahoma was a
far-away land. Weeks and months had turned into years. Louisa never expected to see Harvey Hartness again. It was a lonely time for her and she began to accept the invitations of other men, even though they could never take the place of Harvey. She finally found a man she "liked" and they were going to get married when she heard that Harvey was on his way to back East Tennessee.
Somehow she had to get down to Tellico Plains to meet the train - and she did. When Harvey stepped off the train she ran into his arms.
Was Ollie Whitmore going to try to kill Harvey again? As far as I know, he never bothered him any more.
After Harvey and Louisa married, Harvey changed his way of living. He joined the Baptist church and became almost a fanatic in his desire to live a good Christian life. He would walk for miles to attend a "foot washing," which was considered an
11
posted by Barry T. Self | 8:57 PM
<< Home