The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1876-08-24

teen, whom Granny had taken from
the poor-house years before.
This girl, Ellie Darke, was stand
ing on the porch shading her face
with one hand, and looking anx-
iously over the water Her eyes
were large, and absolutely startling
in their wild, dark beauty, with
long curling lashes, and delicately
arched brows. The scornful, curv-
ing mouth was red like Southern
wine. The head was daintily poised;
the nose small and straight; the
foot slender and arched like an
Arabs. Far below her slender waist
swept her pretty hair, in a silken
waving mass. She was a most ex
quisite creature, notwithstanding
the rouhgh caress of the salt breeze
had Drowned her cheek and the
small hand that shaded her wonder
full eyes.
A brown skirt of some WoOlen
material fell to her ankles. She
wore a short jacket of scarlet fan
mel, and a scarf of the same color
was thrown lightly over her head.
Suddenly a harsh, croaking voice
sounded from the house: "Come in,
gal! What are ye standing there
for, and the cold wind blowing over
one?'
Ellie uttered an impatient excla-
nation, but did not move, and the
wrinkled old crane crept to the door
and looked over the girls shoulder.
"Ah, ha! That's what troubles
ye, is it? No wonder, and your
lover the only one of the smugglers
at home. 1 suppose they'd gin a
good round sum to get him-eh,
gal?"
''Hush'' said Ellie, imperiousIy,
as she turned on Granny Crane.
'Don't you dare betray him =
The old woman chuckled, and,
shaking her head, hobbled back to
the house without speaking.
Ellie looked after her with a trou-
bled expression on her face, and
then turned her gaze seaward once
more. A vessel lay at anchor just
outside the cove. Ellie knew it well
enough; it was the Government cut
ter in pursuit of smugglers. Ellie
was thinking of her bold, handsome
lover, and her heart beat hard and
feverishly as she considered the
chances of his escape.
He was coming to see her that
night. She would wait; nothing
could be done at present, for she
knew not where to find him.
The night closed blackly; the
rain came down in drenching floods
when Granny Crane, wrapped in s
long cloak sailed forth, passing
just outside the door a stalwart fig
ure that approached the house from
the crazy old barn where he haC
fastened his horse.
"Going to stay the evening will
the gal?" she called after him.
''Yes," came back to her in
bold, free voice, and they passed on
he to the house, and she into tn
night which grew blacker an'
wilder.
"You are a fine lad, Rolfe Stuart
but you'll not spend the evening
with Ellie. The government hand
will track ye ere long" and the oil
woman pulled her hood over he
face and hurried on. Straight
the beach she went, and arrive
there just in time to see n numbe
of figures leaping from boat. Th
men regarded curiously the weir
: figure that approached them.
"Mayhaps the gentlemen woul
be glad TO know the whereabouts ,
a smugglerP'
"Yes, yes, my good woman! Thi
is what brings us here" said on
who appeared to be leader "Hay
you any information to give us
She hesitated a moment and look,
at them, craftily from under h
heavy eyebrows. q am poor o
! woman" she began
"Here-" the man drew a roll
bills from his breast and counted
; part of them into her eager finger
"Now, then, tell US all you know
"You must follow the beach
until you reach the road - she sat
.then cross the grove of pines
D. the right, and you viii see the il
Is In the front room you viii find t
sr captain of the band, with his swe
~ heart.
$. A murmur of satisfaction arc
j from the men, and the leader, co
Y: pelling Granny to follow, strobe
as across the beach. Inside the
n inn, Ellie and her lover were talki
Sc earnestly.
nd you must ga at once, Rol
a. The cutter lays just outside
a. cove" the girl said nervously;
,e thought you would see her
Il have been out of town all di