Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-12-14

you never feel lonesome up here?"
Lonesome! Now you make me laugh. Most
al the company 1 want-ain't ye, old fellow?
Thers-dcwn-down! No time Tor feolin' now
When Bose and Joe are both gone, talk to hat
coal.pit, jet as IL twss human bein' or q dog.
Foolish, L s'spose, but il does me good. Soms-
times il pears as II 1t knew all was A-ssyin' to
II, and answeren in its dumb way. And, when
ye come to understand q pit, there amt puff
o. smoke comes out that haint a meanin' TO It,.
There's Waller smoke, aud white smoke, and
black smoke, and blue smoke, and smoke tn at
amt no color at all-only gas. When ye see
that, then's the time for tn experience to come
in. When she's Albumin she's got TO be watch
ed every minute, night an day. If it rains. We
must see that yer fires ain put out IL the wind
blows hard, We must bank FER up, or she'll barn
eide Or Iotheri that must be fixed. Sometimes
she blows. Then you've got to fly around
lively"
"what do you mean by blows?'D
why, buSts, OF course. If We don't keep the
vents open the gas c'lects and the fust We kaow
she blows. Ii you'd been a. vatchiD' that pit
alone to-day, she'd ha' blow'd sure. Come lie r
il Is twas"
Very likely" l said, meekly. for began to
appreciate my httieness, when brought into
contrast with Sans superior knowledge.
Must keep yer vents open. It's les so with
a steam biler. Keep yer safety-valve right and
the steam blows off git ser ismbed, and bang
pss Yer ,s Sser sgt begin 70 tell yi
Must have hard coal to smelt iron, and you
can't get hard coal out of soft wood. But you
may burn the best OF chestnut, and maple, and
OAK, and git only soft coal, III ye don't run her
right. I've seen One-half a piI as good hard coal
as ever went into furnace, and t'other halt
soft ana mealy; A pit wants as much nussiu'
Sam paused and stopped to listen. His Quick
ear caught the sound of some one sppro aching
Presently we heard a clear, sweet voice carol
ling one Of the popuiarsmelodies OF the day. A
smile lit up Sans honest face as he 4 lid In r.
Spouse TO my inquiring look, -'' That's my
Sally"
The next moment the bushes parted on the
mountaln-side, and young girl, in the full
glow Of health and beauty, sprang into the open
space. Surprised atthe sight of a stranger she
ceased her song abruptly, blushet as red as the
scarlet hood she wore, and paused as IL in doubt
whethes TO advance or retreat. Whether it was
the romantic surroundings, the unAxpectedness
OF the vi -iOn or the intrinsic beauty of the Cir
herself, know not, but In sli my world wan
behring's had never before looked upon 30 love-
ly sight, nor one which took such hold upon
my heart. had seen the women of almost all
chimes, from the sun painted senoritas OF the
south to the blue-eye blondes of the north, but
that form vas unique In grace and beauty. She
was plainly, even coarsely clad; but the simple
calico gown ant the cheap shawl about her
shoulders were worn with an air that a princess
might envy. Her hood, which was the only bit
OF bright color tn at relieved the sober poneto-
ny Of her dress, was thrown back UPON her
neck, displaying a mass of lustrous black tress-
rs confined by simple ribbon. Her flashing
eyes, her mouth ripe as Hebe's, her cheeks
Wnere mingled the ttnts or the peach and the
olve-but why attempt what words cannot
paint? Had the goddess of beauty herself fall
en- down from Heaven, 1 could scarcely have
been more thoroughly enrrsnced.
"This is my Sally" said Sam again, smiling
proudly as he caught my look of genuine AT
miratiOn. " Sally, this is Mr.. Trsinor. He's
come to stay all nj ght with me-"
The girl cOurteSied gracefully while the trn.
ant blood again flushed her cheek. 10 hide her
confusion, she stopped down and petted Bose,
who had pushed his nose into her hand with
the familiarity of an old friend.
I've brought your supper, father" she said.
4" must hurry back, for I'm late tonight. 1
had 10 go for the cows"
WHIP
Mother sent aim to the store. Mother wants
10 know when you're coming hOms?"
Can't tell, Sally. If Joe gifts back by day
light, pr APPS may come DOWN with this gen
tleman to breakfast. Tell ma not TO fret; CUES
III git along some lime"
Well-gOod night, father; good night, sir"
And with another courtesy and another blush
the lovely vision vanished down the mountain
path.
Guess We never see many potter gals N my
Sally, said Sam, with a q1izZical look at me
glimpse at her.
felt as ii rudely awakened from a delightful
cream. Could trust my senses? Could 1t be
that this charming girl. or woman, rather for
she was just budding into xoml uhood, was the
daughter of Sam Ti5betts? The incongruity
was startling. With all due Difference to tn.
many noble qualities OF my honest friend, |
could not help drawing an inward comparison
between the parent and the Incompatible
daughter, which. could he have read nv
thoughts, would, fear, have forever prelude
ed him against me. As il was, my cOuntenance
must have betrayed something OF my feelings,
for Sam heaTei a sigh, and, picking up the
basket which Sally had De post upon stump
he led the way to the hut without a word.
A few minutes sntficed to spread our frugal
supper, which, eked out with a few delicacles
had bought, and seasoned with the sauce of ap-
petite, was eaten, by me at least, with a relish
seldom before experienced. Sam, though he
ate heartily, was remarkably taciturn during
the whole meal. / exerted myself to amuss
him, and to excite his usual flow of spirits but
with very little effect. 1t seemed as il Sally's
coming had made another man OF him, ami
began to regret my inconsiderate promise to
spend the night.
After giving old Bose his proper share of the
banquet, and clearing away the debris. we lit
our pipes and sat down for q smoke. The fra
grant tobacco seemed to have a soothing effect
on Sans nerves, and we soon dropped into a
desultory conversation on the various topics
with which he was familiar, interrupted onlv by
an occasional visit to the cOal-pit But it was
evident that my friend was ill at ease. He hal
lost his usual vivacity, and talked in an alb
straeted manner, quite foreign to his own blunt.
straightforward nature. L knew not why, but
i felt that his thoughts were running in the
same channel with my own. 1 determined to
nnd ont before lett HIM. But Sam opened his
heart to me OF his own accord.
" amt jest right TO- night" he said, with q
sigh. Tain't often get measly when I've
got sOme'n to talk "; but the fact is, I'm both
cred about that gal o. mine. She's poOty-too
pOoty amOst-and all the boys are crazy about
her, and I don't know what to do. Thought
p'r'aps you could help me out"
" You may Command me, Sam, for anything
can do" replied, with some curiosity as to
what was coming next. g. In what way can l
serve yOu?"
That's jest what dom know. Bob Jones's
Bill IL dead set arter my Sally. He hangs to her
like dog to root aud plaques my lie out o.
me. Can't talk the critter out ont. 'Tain't NO
use TO try. III Sally was my own darter,
wouldn't say word agin it. BilPs q COED nun
boy, but him and her amt mates, and that any
fool can see with half an eye"
"Whatv' l exclaimed, 80 do you mean that
she is not your daughter"
50 Lord love You! My darter! wouldn't let
no Twin man but me say it, but God Almighty
don't put up the Tibbettses in such patterns as
that. There amt hair of her head that
don't love jest as much a. il she was nv own
flesh an blood; but she's above me and my
kind and the times come when she ought to 60
some'er else. Bill Jones Amt no more DIT for
her than bear cub Is TO go to Sunday school"
My curiosity was greatly excited for I must
confess that this simple country girl had arous-
ed in me an interest which would have thou yht
impossible few hours before. With q strong
effort TO conceal my emotion, 1 said: -
III Saliys birth Is not secret, will you tell
me her history"
"'rwont take long to do that Do We remem-
Der the Dobbinys th Al used to live over on Kent