Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-07-08
THE M00NSHINERS.

The girl closed the door Of the crum-
bling spring house. Her expression was
alert and expectant-her movements slug
gish, almost dilatory; and yet chilling
wind whistled down the holes Of the rot
ten roof, through long gaps and chinks
between the worm eaten logs; it tossed
her brown hair, crimsoned her pretty
cheek. all unheeded. Miriam Sagsby did
not feel the northerly gale. Her gaze fas-
tened itself upon the thickets of laurel,
sassafras and creeping bramble, where a
narrow path. only few yards away, alb
ruptiy disappeared. The spring dubbed
out from under huge rock, behind which
ran deep ravine where sunlight never
penetrated the great pines, even at mid
day. The spot could not have been more
wildly somber; but there was safety In
that black abyss. serviceable more than
once within Miriam memory. Her smile
broadened into pleased laugh as the lap
ping, bushes were pushed aside. and a man
looked warily about him before quitting
their shelter-a man in the rough home
spun of a mountaineer, but with the
handsome face, soft hands and indescrib-
able aspect of one used to ease and luxury.
Its you, DR.. Heather she exclaimed
In well feigned surprise.
WHO did you think it was, Miriam?"
inquired DR.. Heathe, his keen, rapid
glance darting with lightning rspidity
into every dingy nook and remote shadow.
There was something painfully apprehen-
sive in the watchful scrutiny continually
In those restless. suspicious eyes. as well
as the firm, half renacing' hold upon the
rife always carried Or at hand for instant
use. Have you seen any strangers?" he
questioned
''Strangerss How should 1? Strangers
don't come this away, onliest they're arr
ter the moonshiners. she laughed
Don't they2'' he said, without echoing
the laugh. There are worse things than
free stills"
Last winter when I went down the
ridge to Odds Corner to school. the guv'
ment men were arfter the moonshiners,
en- they met me one evenin', whenst Use
a-crcssin' Diffikil branch, en- offered me
new dress to show the way to ole Tim
SINNERS"
Did you do it2" and again that sharp
glance went off on its perpetual search
for secret danger
.'Do it," she retorted sccrnfully. "Do
you think I'd tell of anybody"
Perhaps you didn't know"
asserted Il knew jes where the still
was. en- knew they were a-goin off that
night with a load, but I'd die befo' I'd tell
of en-"
Are you as brave as that, Miriamf"
The modulated tone became earnest and
anxious; his gaze rested on her fine, glow
ing face full minute before it travelled
away upon its tireless hunt of something
o. some one never absent an instant from
his mind. Gould you, at the peril of
your life, save men tracked like wild
beastsY"
IF 'twur father, now, I'd like to see
EN- catch him while I'm about. onliest
father don't have no mo- to do with the
free stills When he did, KEEP him safe.
en- give him the signal if ever stranger
prowled the ridge" returned Miriam;
'but you amt no moonshineT?'
mo, Miriam, not moonshiner; but
would you stand by me in that way, my
girl, and care what became Of a stran.
GER
"You have been on the ridge six months
Or better-ycu are not stranger" she
Interrupted.
No, not stranger as these people see
It." was the half ironical reply But,
Miriam. would you care enough to marry
met mean to stay here in the noun
tains ali my ife-spend my days In these
pines where no one will ever see me.
Does 1t matter to you that | don't want
any one to see or know of me?"
A more vigilant apprehension gathered
under the intensified suspense. She had
hesitated and averted her face. The crys-
tai surface Of the water at her feet re-
fected the superb grace and manly beauty
of this stranger, so unspeakably different
from the rugged sun hardened haeitants
of ridge and hollow. The girl turned
slowly toward him.
81 know you've got sommut to hide
from" she SAID. quietly; but for all
that. DR., Heathe. you're better than am
you're quality bred. and | am only the
old moonshiner's daughter"-
Hush, Miriaml What does 1t matter
what | WASP" he broke in passionately.
"You are too good for me. Only say that
you will marry me and care for me,
scoundrel that I am" added the man,
bitterly.
A dauntless resolution depicted itself
upon Miriam's countenance. as she lifted
her lustrous eyes and held his shifting
chances by the subtle force and fire In
their depths
ASs IL llsIIg YOU, GA cttiAo W NOu,
too-stand by you en- help you-true en-
daughter, I'll say 1t en- promise it. eff SO
be you re true en- faithful to me-"
The harrassed tension OF Heathe's coun-
tenance relaxed
You have bound yourself to stand by
me and love me- I'll hold you to it,"
81 want YOU to hold me to it. onliest
vapt Won 70 do the sauna hy ma she Ya-
piled
Relinquishing his gun for moment, he
drew her into his arms and kissed her ten |
derby. then. with guilty start and invol-
untary glance around him, released the |
girl and took up his weapon.
I'm a scoundrel to ask It, he said, |
with a forced. angry laugh, ignoring the |
amending request.
'Mirryi Mirry!" called q shriu voics
from the house.
"Oh, mel That's grandmother She'll |
be arfter me in q minutel" and Miriam |
hurried of up the path. Rea.Le followed, /
easily keeping apace with her rapid steps. |
Miriam. shall l inform Alb and your /
erandnother?" he asked. You'll marry |
me when there's O preacher comes to-
Odds Corner. don't you call itr"
Yes. the preacher can come here /
Father don't talk. en- grandmother don't 1
go nowhere. Miriam replied, intuitively /
divining reservation of doubt and eau /
ton under the phrasing Of his question
'Ab can hold his tongue. and there is 1
no one here who cares to hear of me" he /
remarked, rehectively. lab is shy Of I