The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1888-07-12
THE MOONSHINERS.

The girl closed the door of the
crumbling spring house. Her express
sion was alert and expcctant-her
movements sluggish, almost dilatory;
and yet a chilling wind whistled
down the holes of the rotten roof,
through the gaps and chinks between
the worm eaten logs; it tossed her
brown hair, crimsoned her pretty
cheek, all unhecded. Miriam Sagsby
did not feel tho northerly
gale. Her gaze fastened itself
Upon the thickets of laurel, sassafras
and creeping bramble, where a mar
row path, onlya few yards away, alb
ruptly disappeared. The spring bub-
bled out from under huge rock, be-
hind which ran a deep ravine where
sunlight never penetrated the great
pines, even at midday. The spot
could not have been more wildly
somber; but there was a safety in
that black abyss, serviceable more
than once within M;riam's memory.
Her smile broadencd into a pleased
laugh as tho tapping bushes were
pushed aside, and a man looked
warily about him before quitting
their shelter-a man in the rough
home-spun of 4 mountaineer, but
bith the handsome face, soft hands
and indescribable aspect of one used
to ease and luxury.
Its you, DR.. I1eathe!" she ex-
claimed in we'll fcicned surprise.
"Who did you think it was, Aliriam?'
inquired DR.. Hea the, his keen, rapid
glance darting with lightning rapidity
into every dinGy nook and remote
shadow. There was something pain
fully apprehensive in the watchful
scrutiny continually in those restless,
suspicious eyes, IS well as the firm,
half mcnacing hold up the rife always
carried or at hand for instant use.
"Have you seen any strangers?' be
questioned.
''Strangers? How should l? Strang-
ers don't come this away, onlicst
they're arfter the moonshiners," she
laughed.
Don't they?' be said, without echo
ing the laugh. "Thero are worse
things than free stills"
Last winter when went down the
ridge to Odds Corner to school, the
guv' ment men We're arfter the moon
sinners, en- they met me one eyenin'
whenst lse a-crossn' Diftikil branch
en- offered me new dress to show the
way to ole Tim Skinner's''
did you do it?' and again that
sharp glance went off on it's perpetual
search for secret danger.
''Do it?" she retorted scornfully
"Do you think Id tell Of anybody?'
"Perhaps yon didn't know?"
''But did know" she triumphant
" asserted. 81 knew jest where the
still was, en- l knew they were
a-goin' off that night with load, but
I'd die befo' I'd tell Of 'em.'
Are you as brave as that, Mir
iom?" The modulated tone became
earnest and anxious; his gaze restec
on her fine, glowing face full minute
before it Travelled away upon its tire
less hunt of something or some one
never absent an instant from his
mind. 'Could you, at the peril o
your life, save men tracked like wild
beasts?'
IF 'twur father, now; I'd like tt
see 'e,n catch him while I'm about
onliest father don't have no mo- tt
do with the free stills. When he did
KEEP him safe, en- give him the sig
nal if ever stranger prOwled tn
ridge" returned Miriam; "but you
ain't no moonshincr?'
''No, Miriam, not a moonshiner
but would you stand by me in tina
way, my girl, and care what becam
of stranger
"You have been on the ridge 81!
months or better-you are not ;
stranger she interrupted.
'No; not a stranger rs these PEG
ple see it" was the half ironical re
ply. "But, Miriam, would you car
enough to marry me? / mean t.
stay here in the mountains all m.
life-spend my days in these pine
where no one will ever see me. Doe
it matter to you that / don't wan
any one to see or know of me?"
A more vigilant Apprehension
gathered under the intensified sus
pense. She had hesitated and avertc
her face. The crystal surface of tn
water at her feet reflected the super
grace and manly beauty ofthis strar
ger, SO unspeakably different fror
the rugged sun hardened habitant
of ridge and hollow. The girl turne
slowly toward him.
II know you've got sommut t
hide FROM" she said quietly; "bu
for all that, DR.. Heathe, you're BET
ter than am-you're quality breet
and am only the old moonshiner
daughter'--
"Hush, Mariam! What does
matter what 1 was?" he broke
passionately. you're too good &c
me. Only say that you will MARI
me and care for me, scoundrel that
am" added the man bitterly.
A dauntless resolution depicted il
self upon Miriam's count enarce, q
she lifted her lustrous eyes and hel
his shifting glances by the subtl
force and fire in their depths.
eyes, I'll marry you, en- stand b
YOU, too-stand by you en- help yo
true en- faithful, i'll am onliest
moonshiner's daughter, I'll say it Ell
promise it, eff so be you're true Ell
faithful to me-"
The harrasscd TENSION of Heathe
cOuntenance relaxed.
"You have bound yourself to stan
by me and love me. I'll hold you t
it,"
II want you to hold me to it, onlies
Iwant you to do the same by me,
she replied.
Relinquishing his gun for q M
ment, he drew her into his arms an
,.1 lon Inn Io,,lv fhnn u-ifh q O11lIt