The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-01-01

" Kentucky is my native place. Kentucky wa
my home, 5l4E.. b..
And here be across the plains in soap-sud
white as foam.
Wake snakes and clear the track,
Old Kaintuck Is my song;
My name Is Nelly Green, boys
Till Bob shall come along"
The last line was sung very softly
as if afraid some one would hear her
Bob put down his pack and walked
in; but Nell's quick ear heard, and al
she turned and saw him, her cheel
flushed and her eyes sparkled.
What! Bob, is that you come a
last Pin store clothes, too! = said she
glancing with bright eyes at the youne
man, and with poorly disguised pleas
ure.
Certain sure, Nell, you said
might come.
Yes, Bob, but how about the whis
ky3
Nell, l haven't touched drop since
you saw me if haye they may shoot
me, And what's more don't mean -tc
If you say so,' replied he.
AN Bob, did I bring luck to yer
Was there gold up thar2
Nell, thar's six thousand dollars an
more rolled in them blankets thar, l
owe to yer pretty self, orI m nigger.
And Nell. just look here and Bob
took from the breast of his shirt q
package carefully wrapped in paper,
which had rested on the bow of Nellss
blue ribbon he had found, and which
she plainly saw. Unwrapping it
there was piece of gold in the shape
Of a spread eagle, and almost exact in
every part, and weighed six ounces.
'Nell, you said might bring you
specimen from my pile, and here
it is.
Yes; Bob, but what gals bit of
ribbon is that yer so careful about p
said Nell, with loving look. but
turning her face from him mischiev-
ously, and stirring the soap-suds.
That ere,' replied he, sbroke loose
from the har ov an angel that met me
on the mountains, yonder, and said
some kind words to dead-broke man,
that gave him new life, and what's
more, brought good luck and pile Of
gold to him, and he kept the thing as
a charm and to lighted his thoughts,
when he felt down-hearted, and Bob
went close to Nell, whose cheek turned
red.
Yes, Bob,' said she, but ain't that
talk kind O. airy2 Angels don't fit
round these. .diggins, as 1 ever heard
of.
Yes, Nell, that's so; but any wo-
man is an angel to man that is going
wrong, who, in loving kindness other
heart, encourages him to do right, and
that is what you have done for me.
Ye see Nell, never had any folks of
my own blood to keer for me went
into ships cabin as 'printice boy,
from an orphan asylum. That ere gold
came by luck to me, from you, and if
you'd only take it with something
else
with what, Bob?' but still Nell
kept her face turned away, while he
was edging still closer to her.
well, Nell, if I must make the
rifle, jest take Bob with the dust and
make. a happy man of him for life; he
loves you and would die for you any
time and Bob stole his arm around
her slender waist.
Nell at last turned her blushing face,
and looking roguishly at Bob, said:
Don't you think, Bob, it would be
better sense to say ye'd live for Nell
than die for her?
Bob didn't speak but drew Nell to
him and kissed her. Nell, somehow
had her hands so tangled in the soap
suds and clothes she couldn't resist,
but pouted her lips, and Bob took his
kisses back from them.
Nell found her voice at last. Bob,
be quiet and behave. Yer stranger
to my folks, and if the boys come in
and see yer taking liberties with Nell
they're almighty quick on the trigger.
I hear somebody coming now,' and in
stalked tall Kentucky boy over six
feet high, about twenty years old, with
a deer across his shoulder aud rifle
in his hand, and seeing Bob with his
arm around his sisters waist, dropped
the deer with thud on the floor and
brought the muzzle of his rifle toward
Bob's head, with finger on the trigger
and face flushing with anger.
Hello, stranger, tackling our Nell,
eh, under her own roof? said he.
Neil, quick as a panther, sprang
from the wssh-tub and threw herself
before Bob to protect him.
Here, you, Jim Green,' said she,
with a flashing light in her blue eyes,
'jest you put that shooting-iron down,
This young man Is a friend of mine,
and means all right, I've known him
here some time, and jest you let Nell
Green take care of herself; she kin do
it as sureas shooting. ds
tHer brother, confused, apologized,
saying, well, stranger, We took me
sudden like, and reckoned our Nell
was being done wrong to, and ye see
she's our only sister, and the apple of
our eyes like, but eff yer her friend I'm
yer friend, and here's my fiat on it.
2 Bob grasped his hand, and was thus
introduced to the head of her family.
Pretty soon others came in from their
various occupations, three more bro-
theirs and her mothery all of whom
were shyly aud with some bushes