The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1888-02-02
ON THE CHILHOWEE.
now A PARRY OF GEOLOGICAL
SURVEYORS SPENT a MIG HF.
ssAt Our Arrival There Was Tow
Head Thrust From Behind Every
Available Hiding Place on the Prem

Available Hiding Place on tne rreHi
ises."
John w. Hays Jr., in State thro"'ele
sIt was on Chilhowee one evening
that several hunters stood watching
my queer looking instruments while
saddied Jack" and made ready fol
descending the mountain.
Jack is one of those solemn, melan
choly mules with face that bears the
mark of an unutterable sorrow. Te
see him standing with ears pendant
and that expression of woe upon his
face will move the stoniest heart that
beats. And then sometimes, as IT the
anguish can be borne no longer, from
his inmost being there comes muf-
fled moan, his head lifts, his ears &c
back while the moan swells into pit.
eous lamentation that seeks in vain a
vent for lis wretchedness, for with a
stifed sob the head droops, the ears
fall and the agony settles upon his
face again.
One of the men was observing Jack s
solemn visage closely when presently
he slapped his hand upon his knee.
"Se sesh. | be du1nl' was the excla
nation. Eyer hoP yer age vel! ole
feller, bat knowd yer by yer face,
he added.
His companions pressing around
confirmed his conclusions. 1t was at
once evident that he had mistaken
the official brand sc. S. for &c. S" "
and fancied that Jacks long face was
from the memory of that lost cause
which he was supposed to have aided
and abetted twenty-five years before.
By this time the baggage was upon
the patient beast and inquiry was
made for the nearest house.
"W-aa-l, Silas, he live in the cove
wander, an about as nigh As ye can
git" answered one as he rolled his
uuid of tobacco and expectOrated pro-
fusely.
"W a-al." "I reckin 1 can take
yer in," at length came from lank,
saIlow faced hunter, to whom the 9th
ers turned for answer. ~ reckin l
can, eff yer can put up with our far
case the ole oman is kinder poly.
Things is gone agin her, an she air
mighty upset"
Certainly we could put up with his
fare, and were soon clambering down
towards the little cabin on the noun
tain side.
stranger, druwled Silas presently,
stopping short, ''the ole oman air
mighty upset, things is gone agin her"
and without waiting an answer he
trudged along, eyeing the while my
ancient mule.
Silas was even mere quiet than his
quiet brothers, and asked not ques
ton as he led the way through the
forest. But as we neared the little
clearing where the house stood he
paused again.
"S-t-r-a-n-g-e-r, things is gone agin
Ter, she air mighty upset" came the
ominous sentence once more, and ss I
looked at Silas' face it seemed only
less long and sad than Jacks. But
We had entered the clearing, and
there on the verge of the cliff, perched
like fluffy owl on limb, was his lit
tie log house. So near the brink it
rested that tree had been felled and
rolled to the ed &c of the rocks to guard
unwary steps Over the log a pole
was held in forks, and twining around
and around this gourd vine had
stretched it's tendrils. A ray of sun
light touched the broad leaves and
yellow blossoms, and through these
the purple lowlands could be seen
stretching away beyond the shadow of
the mountain.
Silas babe us wait outside while he
went within to announce US. But be
had not spoken before sharp, scold-
ing voice opened upon him.
'sWaal here yer come sneakin' in
like hangdog, been atrapesiD' about
the mounting all day, an marry
mouthful O. 7ictuals in the house an
marry stick o. wood ter git supper"
A mumbling within seemed to in
terrupt her but the next moment she
began again.
Nav Hain't 1 told yer time an
sgin not to fetch nobody herel It's
all / can do ter keep these ten chill
lens soul an body together, an now
yCi 4SeOA O AOAO PoSoOA AhCh uCA .,
an we hain't got nothing now"
Again the mumbling seemed inter-
ceding for US, but 10 was no use, for
the sharp voice cut him Off
The situation was unpleasant. There
was not another house within several
miles and night was almost upon the
mountain. The prospect OF sleeping
on the ground supperless was not en-.
ticing, and when presently the woman
with the ubiquitous baby appeared at
the door we pnt forth all our peraua-
sive power to win her. Perhaps il
was our beseeching or the compliments
lavished upoa the little brat, bur ]
shall always think it was Jacks sad,
melancholy face that touched hel
heart
Telling US at length to dismount. she
placed chairs out in front of the cabin
for our comfort, and then hustled
about prepal ing ERE and supper. The
baby had been given to little tow
headed urchin, and moving odt direct.
~ in front of US he settled into stat.
uesque stare. never heediuk at all the
bowling humanity in his arms. Al
our arrival there had been q tow.
head thrust from behind every availa,
bic Inning place on the premises, and
I was just wondering uhither theJ