The Red Cloud chief., 1888-07-06
MIRIAM.
Courage and Faithfulness of q
Moonshiners Daughter.

spring-hOuse. Her expression was alert anG
expectant-her movements sluggish, almos,
dilatory; and yet . chilling wind whistled
down the holes of the rotten roof, through
long gaps and chinks between the worm
eaten logs; it tossed her brown hair, Grim
soned her pretty cheek. all UNDECIDED
Miriam Sagsby did not feel the nOrtherly
gale. Her gaze fastened itself upon The
thickets Of laurel. ~sassafras and creeping
bramble, where a narrow path. only a fsW
yards away, abruptly disappeared. The
spring dubbed out from under q huge rock
behind which ran a deep ravine where sun.
light never penetrated the great pines, even
at midday. The spot could not have be0u
more widely sombre, but there was a safety
in that black abyss. serviceablc more thar
once within Miriam's memory Her smile
broadened into q pleased laugh as the lap
ping bushes were pushed aside and q mar
looked warily about him before quitting
their shelter man in the rough hOmespuu
of a mountaineer. but with the handsome
face, soft hands and indescribable aspect OF
n used to ease and luxury.
Its you, DIR. Heathe!" she exclaimed in
weIl-feigned surprise.
''Who did you think II was. Miriam r' in.
auired DIR. Hcathe. his keen. rapid glance
darting with lightning rapidity into every
dingy nook and remote shadow. There was
something painfully a~pprehensivc in the
watchful scrutiny continually in those rest
less. suspicious yes, as well as the firm,
half-mcnacing hold upon the rifle always
carried or 1T hand for instant use. '.Have
you seen any strangcrsr' he questioned.
"Strangerss How should 1! Stranger
don't come this a-way, onliest they're arfter
the mOOnshiners.' b laughed.
''Don't they" no 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 e~venin,' whenst Use q crossin' Dim
Kill Branch. en- offered me q new dress to
show h way to ole Tim Skiuner's."
Ibid yOu do it," and again that sharp
glance went on on its perpetual search for
secret danger.
d itr' she retcrted sc%ornfully. "Do
you think I'd tell of any body."
Perhaps you didn't Knoww
but l did know" she t~riumphantly A.
serted. Il knew jes' where the still was,
en- l knew they Were a goin' of that night
with q load. bu: I'd die befO' I'd tell Of 'em. "
<AaS " cp olosS a. AID NH ldus Inc
modulated tone became earnest and anxious:
his gaze rested on her fine. glowing face q
full minute before it Travelled away upon its
tireless hum Of something or some one
never absent an instant from his mind.
Gould you. at the peril of your life, rave
men tracked like wild beasts."
IF 'twur father, now, I'd like to see 'em
catch him while I'm about. onliest father
don't have no mo- to do with the free stills.
When he did. l KEEP him safe, en- give him
the signal IL ever q strange prOwled the
ridge" returned Miriam; ''but you amt no
moonshinerf"
ND. Miriam, not a mOonshiner but would
you stand by me in that way, my girl, and
care what became of a stranger"
"You have been on the ridge six months
or better-youa are not a stranger" she in
terrupted.
NO; not stranger as these people see it."
vas the h~alf-irOnical reply. '.But, Miriam,
would you care enough to marry me. I
mean to stay here in the mountains all INV
ife-spend my days in these pines where no
one Will ever see me. Does it matter to you
that don't want any one to see or know of
cler"
A more vigilant apprehension gathered
3nder the intensified suspense. She had
nesitated and averted her face. The crystal
surface of the water at her feet reflected
the superb grace and manly beauty Of this
stranger. so u~nspeakably different from the
rugged, sun-har6ened habitants of ridge and
hollow. The girl turned slowly toward him.
Il know you've got sOmmut to hide from"
she said, quietly: ''but for all that, DR..
Heathe, you're better than l aIn-you're
quality bred. and lam only the old moon
sinners daughter"
Hush, Miriam! What does it matter
what l was"' he broke il, passionately.
"You are too good for me Only say that
you will marry me. and cafe for me, scoun-
drel that I am" added the man. bitterly.
A dauntless resolution depicted itself upon
yiriam's counfenance, As she lifted her
lustrOus eyes and held his shifting glances
by the subtle force and fire in their DEPTHS,
"Yes, III airy you, en- stand by you,
too-stand by You en- help you-true en-
faithful, if I am oniiest q moOnshiner's
daughter. III say it en- eromise it, eff 50 b
you re en- faithful ~ me-"