Morris tribune., 1881-04-14

out she was coming 10 the CONCLUSION tnaC
he was hard man to please. She was a
passionate youNg animal, and she had
thrown herself into his arms with readi-
ness that robbed herself of her gaces. He
liked to sting and stroke her alternately,
and was about as unsatisfactory a lover as
Janey could have found on the Cumber-
land. But she liked him, saw with his
eyes, thought with his thoughts. Naturally
she turned against the peddler, and from
this time set herself to watch him.
That harmless young man in the mean
time was doing what he could. He wander
ed about the country, selling such little
things as the people could buy, pumping"
the Bleylock boys, and making love to the
Bleylock girls. The pumping process was
rewarded with about as much success as
would attend fishing for soul through the
eye of skeleton. In the love.making there
VAS more hope.
Janey was accessible to flattery, and en-
couraged him by little looks of fire. But
there was something in her eyes he did not
trust, and he was wary man, the peddler.
Besides, she slapped his face when he tried
that Eliza,-simple, unsuspicious, serious
would be as clay in his hands.
Chance favored Miss Janey. She was
bathing, one warm day, in the creek that
ran out from the spring, when she saw Eliza
and the peddler coming, like Jack and Jill,
to fetch pail of water. Being naked. ia
ney couldn't get away; but she slid along to
cool inlet overhung with tree branches,
and so hidden waited for them to do their
errand. OF course they stopped to talk.
THAT pink ribbon becomes your black
hair NIGHTLY, said the peddler.
chol rlc
you know, Mr. Pond; We don't have many
pretty things. Seems s if the boys don't
have any money left after buyin' the sugar,
-four an molasses. an things"
"Meat, l s'pose, said the practical ped
dler.
mo; We raise our own meat. Pa has a
powerful lot o'hogs."
sol"
But expect you don't take much inter-
est in country life, Mr.. Pond?'
why, my dear"-and Mr.. Pond slipped
his arm around Eliza-''I'd like the best in
the world to settle down in country just
like this. A fellow gets tired trampin'
around. But I'd want two things to make
ME happy"
Eliza looked at him with happy conf
| dence.
First a little wife at was gentle in her
ways. and good religious girl, an one with
black hair to set off the pink ribbons I'd
buy for her, an fleet foot and red
mouth"
Here Mr.. Pond came to full stop with a
kiss.
And the other thing?" with bright
blush.
| The peddler grew practicalagain We'll,
| its nothin' moren some way to make
| T 4Sx,r i
in Cumberland aud made a little crop.
It's too far to git it to market. l might
turn it into whisky, but lately gov'ment's
turned meddler, an is a breakin stills right
an left through the country"
They do hide EN- sometimes" said
Eliza, in half whisper, ''so't a blood
hound could hardly scent 'em. An a very
good business it is, an the hogs live on the
mash"
DO you know of any such stills, my
little darlin'?"
But she drew back a little. EFF 1 do
know of any," she said, I've promised not
to tell of EN-.
Not to the man as is goin' to be your
husband?"
Not to him until he is my husband"
And blushing, but resolute, Eliza filed her
pail and started for the house.
Under the water Janey clinched her hands.
Dick was right" she thought; land l see
his game. He's spy, and Eliza's a fool"
| She knew that she had heard enough to
| justify her lover in his suspicious, enough
to put them all on their guard A passion
ate exultation fired her blood as she thought
of the service she should render Dick Os-
car, his praise, the reward of his rude
kisses.
But, alas for Janey! Something had
ruff1ed her sweetheart temper when they
next met. Before she could approach the
subject of which she was full, singing
words had passed between them.
Dick, said Janey, hoarsely, dye mean
! that you're going back from your word, that
you amt a -goin' to marry me?"
Marry hell" said Mr.. Oscar, and he
walked off.
Il want to speak t'you," said Janey that
night to the peddler. Can you git up in
| tn mornin' befo' tn folks is stirrin'?"
"Of course I can, when it's to meet gal
like you
Privately he wondered at her pallor and
! lurid eyes.
| Morning came. AS the stars were drowsi-
| lv getting out of the suns way Janey and
the peddler met by the spring.
You needn't lie to me-" said she harsh
ly, I've found you out. You're up the
Cumberland spyin for wildcat stills. Ill
take you to one"
But, my dear, is this a trap? I'm moth
tin but poor, harmless peddler.
Come, then, my harmless peddler," said
the girl, with sneer, IAN I'll show you
somethin t make your mouth water"
She struck through the woods, and he
followed, alternately blessing and wonder
ing at luck What thread led her he knew
not. Fallen logs lay in the way, thickets
opposed, dense foliage hid all signs of
paths, but on she went, above, around,
amidst, athwart obstacles of every kind.
And finally, girdled and guarded by trees
and rocks, was the hidden still, where the
com was changed into the flowing moon
shine that maketh glad the heart of man.
He could hardl, keep back shout. He
had won his spurs. 1t was much larger
concern than he had expected. Some hogs
were roofing about the sodden earth. The
monotonous dripping of water mingled
with the grunts of these poetic animals.
Janey leaned against rock, breathing
heavily. The peddler thought he would
about as soon touch a wild cat as speak to
her. Nevertheless he did.
{" B long t. your folks?" he said.
''T b'longs to Dick Oscar, an you know
it, said the girl, dercely. Now I'm going
back home"
You don't know of any more such, "
said the Insatiate peddler, ''lyin' round
loose up here?'
I've done enough. An, look here; keep
your tongue between your teeth. Tell that
1 fetched you here, an you won't see many
more sun ups with them spyin' eyes"
Mr.. Pond was tolerable woodsman and
he led Captain Peters and his scouts to the
mountain still without trouble. They were
all there, the Bleylock boys. the father and
young Oscar. They were hard at work, and
surprised, were haudcuffed Without the fir-
ing of gun.
Whose crest fallen as the toiling, moiling
moonshiners? Who so jubilant as the long
whiskered captain? He would have sung a
ben had he known how. As it was, he
chewed great deal of tobacco, and unbut-
toned his flannel shirt for expansion.
The prisoners halted at Bleylock cabin