The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-03-05
A Backwoods Elopement.

A Backwoods Elopement.
''rhcre amt. nothing here but the woods,
n the river, n few shiftlcss ncighbors,
but if you ken stand it, VIC should like to
have you stay" remarked Mrs. Savage,
when Marianne and1 proposed spending
month Or so NJ her hospitable mansion.
q winters trip into the pine woods re-
gion had inspired us with a desire to visit
1t when it was green, instead of white, and
this spring, and believes in pine brcezcs
we started, on the last day of April, for. the
same obscure spot. '%s 2
We left the east winds and tho sea fogs
behind us; we found clear skies, fresh
breczcs, arbutus blossoms, and May par
ties, which, are, Still III vogue in this part Of
the country Not the forlorn, paper
wrcathcd, barc-headed, shlvering affairs
which are plentiful in the suburbs of the
larger New England cities, on the first of
the fowery month, bit merry tramps after
>arbutl,s flowers, the parties composed of
young menssand maidens, as well as
5childIcp. ~ && .me.. f%s r
E"Dinncr is usually spread in some vacant
logging camp, or, If it be warm enough, un-
dor tile trees outside, while last years
great deal Of fun apd, ,jollity prevails
We encounteredSman Of these gypsy
parties on our way from Bangor upward,
and each one seemed merrier than the
last. t,<r.,., IT, yaa s
~, Dusk was creeping like mist over the
little hamlet, cut like an oval from the
midst of the forest, when we reached there,
difter our long days ride. II was three
mnles away from the scene Of our winters
aYRiI, NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Ssau. lee~.ie,.
The rivor,snot long released from Its prison
Office, was singing the widest of spring
songs Pale greon bilUhcs, only in the
velvet background of the pine woods.
Frogs were calling tragically from every
direction, and as we alightcdSat Mrs. Say
ages door, we could smell the odorous
breath of kline, and hear the pleasant sound
'of the dripping milk into full pals The
milkmaid. arosy checked, moon-faccd girl,
rushed from the shed near by, pail in baud,
while Mrs. Savage herself stood on the
doorstcps to greet us. %
"Hurry, Phebc!" she admonishcd the
millsmaid; 'supper's all ready now, and l
expect nothing but what these ladies is
half starved S4a. M". -.
Tho cheer of woodnrc revived our
somewhat dropping spirits. The voices Of
frogs and extreme wearincss aro enough to
dcprcss the stoutest souls. - arn
Mrs. Savage ''Phebe, mysdartcr" and
"my son, John," compose the family
Mrs. Savage wears her hair short, and looks
as determined as cheerful. When not
about her houscwork, she makes log cabin
quilts, and hooks rugs. Phcbc has straw
coorcd ringlcts, she is nineteen years of
age, hejsweeps washes the dishes, and,
when John2is busy, does the milking. John
looks manly, but seems quite overcome by
shyncss. lie wcarsrcd shirts, is employed
IN getting out lumber in the day time, and
in courtng in the evening. All this we
learned before noon of the next day, and
We also learned that the first of May is
rather early in the season in the back
woods, If there arc no east winds, and the
skies are clear,
Fairly the next morning we took a little
tramp into tho woods We found the pic
turcsquc ruins Of an old camp, its crum-
bling logs beautifully drapcd with moss, a
lovely little, round pond blinking brightly
under green fripgcs, plenty of the pipkcst
arbutus blossoms, and a drift Of white
moosewood buds and delicate ferns. We
heard the low, sweet, long song of bird
that we had never heard before, but tho
woods were wet, and the air was so chilly
and damp that we were glad to make our
way home in a very short space of time.
IL am interested in Phebe and hor weep
ing" said Marianne. 'After all, human
nature is more interesting than any other
kind, at this season Of the year, cspccially.'
Il who lovo nature much al sinners can
Loyo her whero sho most grandeur shows in
man."
lquotcd. "AIrs. Savage said the elder
was coming tonight, and am anxious to
see him. Isn't there some connection be-
tween this expected event and Phcbc's
weeping p
II in agincd that her tears were evoked
by the pattos offthc New York Ledger" :"
suiu Marianne. 81 saw them dripping
profuscly over the first page, while she
piled the dish cloth this morning."
We went homo to find the house as redo
.cnt of spices as on Thanksgiving Day, and
Mrs. Savage in a perfect hustle OF cookery.
Phebe'sEred checks were Quite blistcrcd
with tears, and she was beating eggs with
al air Of martyrdom.
''Thc elder he's as fond of swcctmcats
as child, and Pm trying 20 git up some
thing that he kin eat, though ;sPhebe's ac-
tions put nc all ont, and hardly know
what Pm doing Of. Who ever heard of a
girls crying the hull enduring time, for
two or three days, COZ her beau was q
coming" said the elder lady. r
''llc amt my beau, no morn'n another
at,allsl aIWon'thavc HIM for beau" as-
serted the fearful damsel, wipng her eyes
With hcrapfon, ''and i think you would
bc ashamed to call him that before folks"
s;tssSStrdngc that gltls never willknow when
they're well off. The elders the gcntcelcst
q man nthe c6dnty, to say nothing of the