The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1878-03-22
Selerf Story.
THE BLUE RIDGE.

In the early autumn or the year lS49,
within about half an hour Of sunset, 1
drew rein in front of the large double
log-house on the very ridge of the Blue
Ridge mountains of Eastern Kentucky.
The place was evidently kept as tavern
at least so sign proclaimed; and here
l determined to demand accommodation
for myself and servant, Bose, q dark
skinned body guard. Bose and had
been playmates in childhood, and Ineed
hardly say that the faithful fellow was
attached to me, as was to him, and on
more than one occasion he had shown
his devotion.
There had been a shooting match at
the Mountain House that day, and, as L
dismounted, l saw through the open
window of the bar room a noisy, drum
ken, and evidently quarrelsome set of
backwoodsmen, each of whom was
swearing by all possible and impossible
oaths that he was not only the best shot,
but could Outright, outjump, outwrestle,
run faster, jump higher, dive deeper and
come up drier than any other man on
the mountain.
Il say. Mars Ralph" said Bose, in a
low toneas handed him my bride rein,
II don't like de looks OBJ dem in dar
S'pose we go on to de next house; 'tain't
fur"
Nonsense, Bose," I replied; "these
fellows are only on a little spree over
their shooting. We have nothing to do
with them, nor they with us. Take the
horses round to the stable and see to
them yourself You know they've had
hard day of it." And, throwing my
saddle-bags over my shoulder, / walked
up the narrow path to the house.
found, as / have intimated, the bar
room filed with noisy, turbulent crowd,
who one and all stared at me without
speaking as L went up to the bar and
inquired if and my servant could have
accommodation for the night Receiy-
ing an affirmative reply from the land
lord, little, read-headed, cadaverous
looking specimen of the clay eater, |
desired to be at once shown to my room,
whittier went, but not until had been
compelled to decline a score of requests
to take drink" much to the disgust OF
| the stalwart bacchanalians.
The room to which | was shown was
at the far end of a long, two-storied
structure, evidently but recently added
on to the main building, which it inter.
sected at right angles. A gallery extend
ed along the front, by means of which
the rooms were reached. / found my
apartment to be large and compari
lively well furnished, there being. beside:
the bed, comfortable cot, half a dozen
@splint bottomed" chairsa heavy clothes
press and bureau with glass. There
were two windows, one alongside the
door and the other in the opposite enc
of the room. The first mentioned wa,
heavily barred with stout oak STRIPS
protection, | presumed, against intrusion
from the porch, while across the lattel
was drawn heavy woolen curtain.
In the course of half an hour Bost
entered and announced that the horse.
had been attended to; and few minute.
later a bright faced mulatto girl sum
|; moned us to supper.
!. Supper over, 1 returned to my room
first requesting to be aroused for az
early breakfast, as 1 desired to be on th,
road by sunrise. Thoroughly weariet
with my days ride, l at once begar
preparations for retiring, and had draw
off one boot, when Bose came in rathe
hastily, looking furtively over his shoul
der, and then cautiously closed anc
locked the door.
Mars Ralph, daris going to be trouble
in dis house afore mornin'," he said.
saw in moment something haC
occurred to upset the faithful fellow
equilibrium.
"Why, Bose, what is it, What do Vol
meanS" l asked, barely restraining /.
lsmile.
q to!e you, Mars Ralph, we'd better
trabble furder,n was the rather mysteri
! Gus reply. You see that yaller gal der,
tole me dar would be muss If westavef
In dis founded ole house all night
by Close Questioning L elicted the fac
tnat the girl had really warned him tha
iour men whom had noticed talkin,