The Hazel Green herald. [volume] (Hazel Green, Wolfe County, Ky.) 1885-19??, 1888-03-02

| nnu striped with white In imitation Of brick,
J but all mean Of size, and always beside
or surrounded by a sort Of garden or mimic
farm These the wife or wives worked,
with babes about them, while the older chill
dren herdcd sheep upon the mountain sides
| or watched the cattle browsing in the hol-
lows. The men in large part were simply
human drones; some were industrious,
many were well-meanng, but most Of them
had drained the numbing upas-cup Of po-
| lygamy and were morally and physically de-
| bauched and undone.
Just at the skirt Of the village cool
mouthed canyon opened gradually into the
valley. Through IL creek of water, clear
and cold from chasm-springs and melting
| snow upon the peaks, came leapinR and
| tumbling forward from the mountains.
Crossing the bridge that spanned 1t the
| road became two, one turning across the
valley, the other making downward through
the town. Pausing there with indecision
| our rider at last dismounted, sprang over
the fence and crossed IA tiny meadow 10 a
house that stood among the trees. He was
a tall fellow, blond-headcd, with a mobile,
pleasant face and clear decisive step
The place was such pretty one he could
not choose but look about him. On the
right lay a garden and on the left a little
orchard, while in front were rows OF cotton
wood and locust trees. Close in front OF the
house, which was Of hewn logs and rather
large, were walks and beds of flowers, and
blooming vines clambered round and over
the doors and made green net of the mar
row porch that ran along the structure.
plot Of ground of perhaps dozen acres,
belonging TO the valley but seemingly
driven part way into the canyon, comprised
the farm that surrounded il. A hundred
acres more Of sand and stony hillside, to be
sure belonged to IL, as with most of these
poor places among tho mountains, but only
the ground the creek had made through
centuries OF silent toll could bear the pillow.
That much was fat indeed and exceedingly
productive, being quickened by the power
full light of these high attitudes and watered
daily by irrigating streams.
When Paul Elchard came up the walk
among the flowers their many odOrs met
him like II heart-easing balm Away III the
west the sun had sunk far down in u mount
ain notch and was sending its last long
rays across the valley aud among and under
the trees, spotting and scattering the leaves
and log walls and very ground with gold
All his life, not knowing, he had been max
ing his way toward that hour, which, look
ing back, he should see standing out from
its sisters like span against the dawn;
but he felt no president thrill; only the
beauty Of the flowers and the vine-wound
house spattered with sunset gold attracted
him.
Approaching the open door, but looking at
the blossoms, the sound Of football touched
his ear and he looked up. A young woman was
pausing on the threshold as if she had come
to meet him. Invountarily she had put out
her hands on either side catching the door
frame and startled look was fitting across
her face, while on her hair and all down her
fine strong figure trembled the spots of sun
set light. Without being conscious OF it
the young man stopped and their eyes met;
hers. when lifted with the light upon them,
looking not unlike two sombcr violcts, when
averted seeming dreamy and almost black;
his gray blue, large, wild. out still alert
and alive with sparkles. For an instant
something held them wordless, much as If
each were n surprise TO the other or from
a kind of shock that each should find the
other there though they had never met be-
fore in all the world, then he said civilly,
but hardly with his usual easy fashion of
speech:
II wished 10 inquire if the road leading TO
the left hand would take one to the Eagle
mines, and if it would be less long than the
road running down through the village"
"The ono To the left is the shortest" said
the GIRL land it will take you to the mouth
of Eagle canyon. You go up that to the
mines" Her voice was low and mel
low and though her form was strong and
Grecian in it's lines, she seemed slow and
half sluggish with melancholy. Her dress
was very plain, and hung upon her superb
shape without hint at fashion, an old silk
cord serving TO draw IL to her about the
waist, while a bunch of dark roses, with
their stems thrust loosely into her dress,
lay confdingly upon her bosom. But, y she
continued looking across the valley, then
turning her eyes back TO his again, 1.-THE
creek IL have 10 be forded twice going that
way, and it's bad just there ut the bend"
"Oh, think shall get through safely"
he said, with slight bow and half turning
TO go. at will be late when | reach the
mines, and wished 10 go the shortest road.
l am obliged TO you," and he lifted his hat.
Then, as If 1t were somehow due this girl,