Here Major Caspar had brought his New England bride many years before.

Here he had built up a mill business that was promising him a fortune in a few years more at the time when the war called him.

When peace was declared, this business was wellnigh ruined, and the soldier must begin life again as a poor man.
For many months he struggled, but made little head-way against adverse fortune.

The mill turned out lumber fast enough, but there was no demand for it, or those who wanted it were too poor to pay its price.
At length the Major decided upon a bold venture.

The Caspar mill was but a short distance from the Mississippi.