The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-07-07
MIRIAM.
Courage and Faithfulness of q
Moonshiner's Daughter.

courage ana Fa1thfuln0SS OF q
Moonshiner's Daughter.
The girl closed the door of the crumbling
spring-house. Her expression was alert and
expectant-her movements sluggish, almost
- dilatory; and yet chilling wind whistled
down the holes of the rotten roof, through
long gaps and chinks between the worm
eaten logs; 1t tossed her brown hair, GRIM
soned her pretty cheek, all unheeded.
Miriam Sagsby did not feel the northerly
gale. Her gaze fastened itself upon the
thickets of laurel, sassafras and creeping
bramble, where q narrow path, only few
yards away. abruptly disappeared. The
spring bubbled out from under huge rock,
behind which ran a deep ravine where sun
light never penetrated the great pines, even
at midday. The spot could not have been
more widely sombre, but there was safety
In that black abyss, serviceable more than
once within Miriam's memory. Her smile
broadened into pleased laugh as the lap
ping bushes were pushed aside and man
looked warily about him before quitting
their shelter-a man in the rough homcspun
Of mountaineer, but with the handsome
face, soft hands and indescribable aspect of
one used to ease and luxury.
tits you, DR.. Henthe!" she exclaimed in
well-fegned surprise
"Who did you think it was, Mramw in
quired DR.. Heathe, his keen, rapid glance
darting with lightning rapidity into every
dingy nook and remote shadow. There was
something painfully apprehensive in the
watchful scrutiny continually in those rest
less, suspicious eyes, as well as the firm,
half-menacing hold upon the rifle always
carried or at hand for instant use. "Haye
you seen any strangersa" he questioned.
strangers. How should II Strangers
don't come this away, onliest they're arfter
the moonshiners," she laughed.
"Don't they" he said, without echoiug
the laugh. "There are worse things than
free stills"
"Last winter when 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 crossin' Diff
Kill Branch, en- offered me new dress to
show the way to ole Tim Sl1inner's."
"Did you do its" and again that sharp
glance went off on its perpetual search for
secret danger.
''Do it9n she retorted scornfully. "Do
you think I'd tell of any body!"
"Perhaps you didn't know!'
'But did know" she triumphantly as
serted. 81 knew jes' where the stilI was,
EN- knew they were goin' Off that night
with load, but I'd die befo' I'd tell of 'eun
"Are you so brave as that, Miriam9" The
modulated tone became earnest and anxious;
his gaze rested on her fine, glowing face a
full minute before it travelled away upon its
tireless hunt of something or some one
never absent an instant from his mind
"Could you, at the peril of your life save
men tracked like wild beasts?,
'sIf 'twur father, now, I'd like to see 'em
catch him while Pm 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 II ever stranger prowled the
RIDGE" returned Miriam; "but you amt no
moonshinerl''
"No, Miriam, not moonshiner; but would
you stand by me in that way, my girl, and
care what became of stranger"
"You have been on tho ridge six months
or better-you are not stranger" she in
terrupted.
mo; not stranger as these people sect it,"
was the half-ironical reply. "But, Miriam,
would you care enough to marry mea I
mean to stay here in the mountains all my
life-spend my days in these pines where no
one will ever see mo. Does itmatter to you
that don't want any one to see or know of
mel"
A more vigilant apprehension gathered
under the intensified suspense She had
hesitated and averted her face. The crystal
surface of the water at her feet reflected
the superb grace and manly beauty Of this
stranger, SO unspeakably different from the
rugged, sun-hardened habitants Of ridge and
hollow. The girl turned slowly toward him.
~ 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 moon
shiners daughter"
"Hush Miriaml What does 1t matter
. what was!" he broke In, passionately.
"You are too good for me- Only say that
you will marry me, and care for me, scoun-
irel that am" added the man, bitterly.
Adauntless resolution depicted itself upon
Miriam's countenance, as she lifted her
ustrous eyes and held his shifting glances
oy the subtle force and fire in their depths.
"Yes, I'll marry you, en- stand by you,
;oo-stand by you en- help you-true en-
faithful, II am onlicst moonshiner's
laughter. \ I'll say II en- promise It, ef so be
you're true en- faithful by me-"
The harrassed tension Of Heathe's coun-
.enance relaxed,
'sYou have bound yourself to stand by me
mi love NEIL hold you To it,"
~ want You to hold me TO II, onliest
want you 10 DO the same by me-" she re-
,lied.
Relhlauishing hi, gun for moment, he
lrew her into his arms and kissed her ten
ierly, then, with a guilty start and invol'
antary glance around him, released the girl
and took up his weapon.
I'm scoundrel to ask IT. he said, with
sforcod, angry lpagh, ignoring the amend
ing request. Il!
''SIirryi Mirryr' called shrlll voice from
the house
20. me! That's grandmother She'll b'