The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1885-01-22
CHAPTER II.

came 1 could not get my consent. 1t
was not that 1 was tired of wandering
among the blue-topped mountains; it
was, l think, that having passed an
evening so delightfully."-, / fondly con-
templated another.
Don't think O. going SO soon," sand
the old man Jeffries, when, after sad
ding my horse, l stood hesitating. eff
you air airter health, Mr.. Moseley, an
air willin' to put up with our rough
way O. Twin, wy we ken accommodate
you. If I was out lookin' airter health,
1 wouldn't want a better place than this
here is"
..Mr. Jeffries," said 1, turning and
catching sight of a beautiful face in the
doorway as l did so, '.if I can engage
board with you 1 will remain a few
weeks"
II can board you as cheap as any
BODY"
Il was not considering the cheapness
of accommodation"
''Then why don't you turn your horse
a loose an go in the houseP"
l went into the house. Although the
sun had come up in a golden burst over
the jagged peak of the Eagles Nest
"a grand pile of rocks and trees that
looked as though distorted BY perpetual
anger-yet a cloud that had at dawn
lurked with lowering frown over the
DEVILS Knob spread its v%ulture-like
wings, lowering about the valley, and
sent down a steady pour of rain. Is
there anything that facilitates acqaint-
ance like confinement in a farmhouse
on a rainy day? Contemplate the dash
of water against the windows; the
dropping bushes in the yard; the great
rocks down whose seams the water runs
like a flood of tears; the despoiled
rooster, standing On one foot-and then,
urn to the fire hat murmurs like q
drows, cat; to the old-fashioned churr
in the corner; to the spinning-wheel,
which from the semi-gloom under t!ae
stairway seems to throw up its heaC
like the picture of unicorn; the SOUND
of knitting-needles and-ah, the de
lightful snap of beautiful eyes, ths
smile of beautiful lips-is there al
earthly situation more enjoyably mixec
with the bright and the dreary. a blend
ing of whose charm seizes us, and maze!
us live one hour for each minute, yc'
never tire of times slow ''drag along
"By the way" said /, when we were
all seated around the fire, YESTERDAY
while exploring a valley on the othel
side of the river, 1 found an old MAJ
sitting in front of a cave, blowing a flute
1 tried to engage him in conversation
but he looked so unkindly upon my at
tempt that / was compelled to Withdraw
without being any the wiser for having
see him.
Hes been thar a dozen years O.
more" replied Mr.. Jeffries. 'Nobod,
knowd when he come or why he come
He never leaves the cave. When h,
amt inside he sets at the door an blow
music outen a piece O tishin' pole.
may not nave a very good year fur mu
sic, but give me my choice, lissenin' t.
a dyin' calf III that ole Teller, an blamed
eff l wouldn't tell the calf to go ahead.
Does ne eve allow any one to ente
the cave?'
80, yes. He's sorter curious, but
| you don't pay no attention to him. it
all right. Anybody can go up an wal
into the cave, which they tell me is
curious place. Lentie here has been i
thar. l neverhad much curiosity abou
the old Teller. His music is enough 70
me-"
.'Wha kind of place is it insidep"
asked, turning to Lentie.
Very quaint" she replied, '.every
thing you see suggests the peculia
character of the old man."
20, she's a scholar" said the oil
man, in admiration of his daughter
readiness of expression. II never ha
much money, an I've always had
work hard, me an my wife, but we sen
Lentie off to school, didn't we, Nancy?
fumbling with her knitting to recover
lost stitch"
..Yes we did, an the beauty O. it il
Lentie amt ashamed O. her old dat
nuther, air you, Lentie?"
PA, you ought to be slapped for ash
ing such a question:" she rejoinet
bounding to the old mans side and er
circling his neck with her arms"
Thar, now said he, 1--WE don
want no spectickel. Set down an tie
our frien' about the cave"
"All that ! could tell would not /
half so interesting as a visit to the plac'
Tomorrow we will go and see it."
CHAPTER III.
Early next morning, when the ''shou
ing SUM- rose as though freshened
the rain, Lentie and l set out for tt
abode of the venerable t~roglodyte. II
distance was not great, for We were III
more than out of sight of the house unit
we could see the river. The old fello
must have been eating his breakfast, fl
we heard nothing of the flute until v
had crossed the river in a canoe whic
we found under the willows. When v
started up the oank the old man a
peared and began to blow q blast
solemn notes.
1--WE want to look in the cave" sa
Lentie.
well, you're looking in the cave,
he replied.
j.. "But we want to 60 in"