Morris tribune., 1881-04-14
WHO WAS THE TRAITRESS!
A Story OF the Noonshiners in the Mountains
of Tennessee.


of Tennessee.
Captain James Peters, riding home from
a raid into the moonshine counties, stopped
at Jared's store and asked for drink. A
Jug was taken from the shelf, and finger S
length of clear yellow whiskey poured out
NO moonShiue in this sto you see, cap
tain. remarked Mr.. Jared.
"Humph" and the captains keen eyes
glanced toward the loungers in and about
the store. Reckon if l took a notion, l
could unearth some moonshine, an spot
some moonshiners not fur OF. "
Captain, you mustn t be so suspicious.
Captain Peters only laughed. He was
very good humored, this mountain terror,
except, when, they would say, his blood
was up. Then 1t was rs safe to meet a
starving tiger.
Seem to mes if you had somethin' on
your mind" remarked Mrs. Peters that
same evening.
"Ye- es," said the captain, I'm plagued
about them Jared boys. l can't ketch EN-
nohow."
A knock at the door, and young fellow
came in and shook hands eagerly with the
captain. His name was Maddox Captain
Peters had picked him UP in Nashville, and
EMPLOYED hum ION trial.
said. I'm pretty sure they We got a still
somewhat. They look me in the eye too
powerful innocent to be all right. Now I've
got notion in my head, if l only had any
body 1 could trust" Maddox drew
himself up, ert, watchful as a listening
sentinel What can't be done one way,
must be done another, said Captain Peters,
slowly, and he and Maddox had a long
whispered conference.
a few days later, a peddler stopped at
Beylock's and asked for a drink of water
Old mother Bleylock sent Eliza to the
spring for a fresh bucketful, and the ped
dler, after refreshing himself, opened his
pack.
Pears if We oughtn't ter trouble YOU"
she said, cause we can't buy pins
wuth."
''. t for the pleasure, ma'am," said the
m peddler.
Tn ack was opened, and three pair of
eyes grew big with delight.
- F you'll wait till par comes home, I'll
make him buy me that collar, said Janey,
the younger Of the Bleylock girls.
"P'raps Dick Oscar d buy you a present
f he was here, suggested Eliza.
+" If faint maxim too free, I'd like to say
admire Dick Oscars taste, said the ped
der with an admiring glance.
Janey responded with, 'Oh, you hush!
and toss of her head: and old mother
Bleylock said, The boys most generally
always paid Janev good deal f attention y
She possessed a bold prettiness, this
mountain pink Brown skinned, black
eyed, red-lpped, and way of dropping
her head on her swelling neck, and looking
from under her heavy brows. Eliza was a
thin slip of a girl with a demure but va
cant look In her blue eyes, and shy ner-
vous manner.
''Tll tell you the truth, ma'am, remarked
the peddler to the mother, you could take
these girls o yourn to Nashville, an people
in tn streets would follow them for their
good looks. AND that's Heavens own truth.
All y202,- family"
,<II 7 .ps- no; I've got three boys"
AN at home farmin', spose?"
"Yaas"
Now" bout these goods O. mine said
the peddler; ''f you could put me up for
few days, we might make a trade. Inns
tireds lame horse, and wouldn't want
nuthin better n to rest right here.
I'D like nuthin' better'n to take you.
But tn amt no use saying word till pa gifts
home. He amt no hand for strangers,
well, won't be a stranger longer'n I
can help" said the agreeable peddleT. My
names Pond, Marcus Pond, Nashville boy;
but roIlin' stone, you know. I've peddled
books an SEWN machines, an no end of a
lot of traps ginnerally. Fond o travel you
see; but jest's steady as old Time. Never
drink When l travel; promised my mother
wouldn't"
It's good thing" said mother Biey-
lock, with energy. Il do despiso to see a
fuddled man. Whisky amt tit fur nuthin
but ter fatten hogs on.
Father Bleylock came home, and beyond
stare and beyond silent nod, took little
notice of the peddler. He was a tall man,
thin taciturn and yellow, and with neck
SO small that his head presented the ap-
pearance of being stuck on with pin.
He lighted his pipe, and after soothing
interval of smoking, "Peddler'd like to
stop over period" said his wife.
Puff, puff. Don't see no objection"
Puff, puff.
Mr.. Pond, as he had promised, soon
ceased to be stranger. The old man dis
coursed on the gu vances of taxes, and the
old woman, after the manner of mothers,
talked about her daughters.
My gals is dedicated, she would say
"been over t Cookville months an months
a-schoolin'. But lor! thar's some folks you
can't weed the badness outn, an Janey's a
spitfre, she is. Seems if Dick Oscar wants
to have her, but he acts kinder curious
about it-blow hot, blow cold. Dunno
Now Lily is different. Can't tell why,
less'n It's that I went to camp meetin' an
perfessed a while befo' she was born.
Somehow she's always been delicater an
quieter like n any of my children"
The Bleylock boys, easy, rollicking fell
lows, treated the peddler very much as if
he had been 81 harmless though unnecessary
cat about the house, and were surprised
when Dick Oscar, dropping in one evening,
Informed them that they were all pack of
fools for 'takin' in u stranger so free and
easy"
why. I amt paid no more attention to
tn man n if he'd a-been preacher" said
Sam Bleylock; seems g if tn amt no
harm t him."
Hes very God -fearin' man." said Eli
"a, softly, AN apowerful reader O. the
biole.
F you'll take my say SO, you'll git quit
of him." said Dick Oscar.
Hes got such beautiful taste" said
mother BIeylock. ''It's as good g goin' to
tn city to look at his things"
'Isee he's a-dressin' you up," said Os-
car, with a sheer at the new ribbons the
girls wore round their necks.
Janey sprang up. Her face Redeemed.
In an instant she had torn off the ribbon,
and stamped her foot on il. "Thatis how
much care for him an his ribbonsp she
ried.
Don't fly off the handle, /" said Mr.. Os-
car, coolly.