Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1871-09-23

Gus in their notions. We were sit
ting on a rude bench which reached
: across the end of our rude cabin
talking over our days work, anC
speculating on what the BOYS were
! doing over to the left side Of US
! when all at once a young woman
stood right in our cabin door.
Now q woman in those days wa;
a curiosity among bucks here among
the hills. and there were men in ouI
camp who hadn't set eyes on one fol
better than two years. She stood
still, Just looking at us. / don'i
know what the rest thought, but
Aunt Betty said afterward "that il
seemed like warning to some OF
u.s." and he was wondering whose
=. time had come. The Judge sat Oh
the edge of the bench, and he arose
and took of his hat. One after
another followed his example slow
ly, each one getting up in turn and
taking off his hat.
We must have looked comical, for
we all had on wooden shirts, our
sleeves were rolled up and our col
lars turned back. Our pants were
tied about our waists, and tucked
up in 10 very careful manner into
our rubber boot-legs. Add to our
costume eight faces unshaven and
unshofn for weeks, and you can
catch some idea of our general ap-
pearance. The pale light of our
sputtel.ing candle added to the
weirdness of the scene, and when
Jack the Wicked murmured, "To
your knees, boys, all at once" /
guess we were all more than halfin-
cIined to obey. The Judge recov-
cred himself the quickest and ad-
vanced toward the door.
Il wish to see my brother, VIII
Browning; heard he was here"
said the most musical voice ever
heard.
"IIe was here a few months ago"
replied the Judge, ''but we do not
know where he is now. How did
you come, and where are your
friends?"
al came through the valley and
shadow of death, should think, for
am nearly dead with hunger, and
for friends, have the gloomiest old
teamster you ever saw, though /
thought it was rare good luck when
1 found him, and he engaged to take
me up here to Will. / paid him ev-
cry cent Of money had, and have
not had a mouthful for days but bad
bacon. Is there any hotel within a
short distance? If not, perhaps
there is some good woman who
would let me stay with her until /
can get word to Willl"
l guess every man hugged to him
self the thought that she would be
Obliged to stop with, US, even for
short time; and the Judge didn't
look very sorry, though he profess
ed to feel dreadfulIy for her dilem-
ma.
He said, and am sure his full,
rich voice must have seemed a tow
er of strength to her: "Wil is dear
friend Of ours, and if You will kind
" allow us the honor of protecting
his sister until he can be communi-
Gated with, we shall be under great
obligations to you. We might look
very odd to you; but we claim to be
gentlemen, and assure you we can
and viii make you comfortable"
She had perplexed look on her.
face when the Judge told her there
was no woman living near; but She
was mistress of the situation in a
moment, and said very demarely,
though with rather sly sparkle,
"Oh, l shall be quite comfortable,
but I'm afraid shall be troubling
you terribly"
Every one spoke at once, ''No
trouble, not the least" And then
Dandy said: "Judge, If you were to
Introduce us to the lady, perhaps
she would feel more at ease with
u.s."
The Judge must have been awful
ly smitten at first sight, or he would
not be guilty of introducing us by
our camp titles. AS it was, he said,
''Miss Browning, allow US to intro
duce yon to Will's friend, Mr.. South
Carolina" He advanced as he was
called, and in the most chivalric
manner bowed over the lady's ex-
tended hand. "This is Mr.. Nutmeg,
another friend of your brother"
He bowed stiffly, and everywhere
but at her. "Aunt Betty, did you
know viii? kbelieve you didn't;
but he viii be friend AL the same
to you, Miss Browning"
You can bet your life on that ev-
cry time" said Aunt Betty, and we
were all ready to split by that time,
the Judge looked so dignified doing
the honors of the occasion in such a
manner, as he no doubt thought.
He continued: 'This is Mr.. Dan
dy; 81 wish you could see the bow
ing and scraping. By that time she
had taken in the drollery of the
thing, and when Dandy bowed so
profoundly, swept him courtesy
that liked to have finished him on
the. spot.
''Senolf and Will were sworn allies;
we used to call them David and JON
athan."
She sEliled and asked, (which are
you?" And for the first and only
time in my life did not know what
to say, hut l stammered out, ''Eith-
er, ma'am." There was something
like silicker from our company,
but our Judge had no eyes or ears
for any one but her; so he kept on,
and with a wave of his hand pre-
sented "Our Baby" The great six
footer locked for all the world as
though he would put up his lip and
cry, until Miss Browning said
'How do you do, dear? Can he
talk?" and then he blurted out, 'tMy
name is Otis Allen"
Jack got the start of them, and
stepping in front of them, said in
tragic tones, "'Jack the wicked
known sll over the Pacific coast for
my diabolical acts-and let me as
sist our friend-this is the Judge,
who is terror TO all evil doers, and
the protector of distressed inno-
eenee, whenever they have the good
fortune 20 fall into his hands"
= -. T..
most inlperturable gravity, ''and
now you know us all, and must con-
slider us your obedient servants"
She laughed a low, ripping laugh,
and said, eyes, am sure / know
YOU all now, and 1 should like to
shake hands all round, it would give
me sort of home feeling, and YOU
would feel better acquainted with
me. guess"
She began with the Judge, and he
looked, while he held her hand. as
though he had been translated.
She's got an awful lot of magne-
tism about her, l tell you; my arm
and hand thrill now when / think
of that first handelasp. We hadn't
a chair in the cabin, but we gave
her our best three legged stool. She
IOOh OA uSI JaNhs1 Ha1 anu edCA.
and each. one sprang 10 take them.
She didn't seem to notice us, but
left them lying in her lap. She told
us that she had some baggage a lit
tie way from our house; she lad left
it there so as to walk in upon Will
unannounced, and instead of find
ing her dear old Will. she had stum-
bled upon such lot of friends
"Can yOu give me something real
good to eat?" and she glanced at the
table with its dirty dishes and the
scanty remains of our supper.
That table was cleared of in a
| = e.. a r,lnAn rrachnd aud q 90, nf