The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1878-10-17
as we'll tell You that was only nine-

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ssWhat is it that you require!" said
the fair young girl, quietly slipping
from the hammock. :,
'Rest and guide and food and firey
I replied, making very apt quotation.
1--WE don't entertain strangers, sne
said, smiling sweetly. -.
This did not discourage me IN the
least had made up my mind to stay
there anyhow, for, as l have told you.
I had fallen in love with her at first
sight. :. Il.
II en- not only tired, fair lady, but
ill.," said pleadingly. "You certainly
Will not turn me away.
I looked into the beautiful eyes, and
then. as I felt that I had gained my
point, even by an atrocious falsehood,
the fair maid beckoned me to follow
her, and together We went into the
house.
There I was fed sumptuously, and We
talked first sense, then nonsense. then
moonshine,- then love, and when it was
time to retire / Thought my cup OF bliss
was full. Bear, in mind, kind reader.
I was only nineteen when all this hHp'
pened.
The next morning was up with the
sun, and when met the fair object oi
loves young dream she greeted me as
an old friend.
"Let us walk over your fathers pos
sessions" I said, with a thought or
what might be the marriage dover oi
this fair charmer.
"It would take us several days to
make the distance around" laughed
the girl. "There are several thousand
acres"
.'rhunder!' calculated.
"Yes, and the old man says it aim
much of a farm either" went on the
girl, tossing her glossy curls.
I did not like to hear her call hel
father ''old man," but she looked so
sweetly when she said it, that I forgave
her.
We walked back to the house, and
all that day we walked and firted and
romped among the orange trees, and
were as gay as birds.
Finally I asked her how she would
like to change her name, and at this
she laughed wildly and before an hour
had passed we had made it all up aud
were engaged.
ri have mighty little cash. and no
way of getting any MORE" | SAID, after
she had consented to be mine.
"rhat dosen't matter" replied the
sweet girl. ''Fathel will give us a
good start. He has often told me that
he would place my husband in way to
make five thousand year"
said no more. What more did
want to know? The gods had favored
me, and 1 was on the high road to for
tune.
While I think of it, will say that
the name of this beautiful girl was
1nez Bond.
"Your mother is a Spanish lady,"
remarked, as we walked into the house.
"What is your father?'
"a Texas; born here, raised here,
always lived mere. h is not home
much of the time. I do about as !
please"
She SAID this so pertly that smiled,
and then she broke into a Joyous laugh.
and felt that loved the beautiful girl
But 90 ~ I must. DUST for I was on the way
to San Antonio, and must reach there
before the next day night. So noun
ted my horse and started on my way,
and the last that I saw of my angle
girl she had climed gentle eminence
near by and vas waving her handker>
chief to me as I disappeared among
the trees.
An hour later, while my mind was
busv with happy thoughts, the savage
command to halt, OF which have
spoken, rang in my ears.
"Wel, who are We? Aad amt We
goin' ter drink" growled the stranger,
his keen grey eyes looking me through
and through.
"What have you to drink?' / asked.
He pointed to canvas arrangement,
under which vas whisky barrel, no
doubt half full OF that intoxicating
beverage.
There's the hui OUTFIT" he said: 50
barrel O whisky an deck O kurds.
You kin take yer choice. It's big
business, young feller, an nobody
knews how to run it better'n Simon
Bond. I started this thing fifteen
years ago, and now I'm q rich man.
Thar's nothin' quito SO lively as this
trick. and it brings in the money hand
over fist. Ye see. this is cross roads,
an everybody knows it as "Helfs
Corner. Thar's playin' here from
morn till night some days and whisky
list a fowin'. Nobody kims here un-
less they drinks, an it's all cash. An
then once in a great while, say every
other week. manage to kill stranger
or two with lots of dnst, and throws
thar bodies in the bushes for the crows
to eat. Fer instance, eft you hadn't
halted when [ guv the word I'd a
blow'd the hui top of yer head of and
then went through yer pockets. See?''
I looked at this inhuman wretch in
silent terror. There he stood, with
his long body bent forward. his gray
eyes upon me, his rifle still raised, and
look OF general cussedness about him
that I cannot explain.
"Who are you?" I finally asked.
"Simou Bond" he replied, shortly.
Istarted.
"Haven't you daughter" I asked,
thinking of Inez.
'sHaven't I. though?" fairly yelled
the old wretch. "Did you see her?''
II shonld say did," I fairly gasp>
ed. "We are engaged"
The old man did not wait to hear
another word. He pulled me from my
horse. and dragging me to his whisky
barrel. fairly glutted me with the fiery
liquid.
$50 the little gal has gathered you
in, has she?" he cried at length, laughs
ing wildly.
II am going to marry her. said,
trying to look very happy.
"When will you be back?" he asked,
as I mounted my horse to ride away.
''In six weeks" replied.
''Thats the way to say it" roared the
old man. 81 was at the house early
this morning. and Inez told me all
about it, and promised TO set ye up IN
business an I'll do it. Thar's another
four corners fifty miles from here, and
jist, the minute We git hitched. we'll
roll Q barrel o. whisky up thar. an git
a deck O. kurds, and ye kin go in fur
glory an all that's ont Did ye ever
kill anybody. young feller? No! Wal,
than, ye must try yer hand on the first
stranger ye meet. for it's quite an &C :
oomplishment in these parts. I'll give
- !. h:<p ofork IN fho wh1ckv hY1ninaan