Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1888-08-03
THE INCONSISTENCIES.

The girl closed the door of the crumb-
ling spring house. Her expression was
alert and eXpectant-her movements
sluggish, almost diatory; and yet a
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, crimsoned
her pretty cheek, all unheeded Miriam
Sagsby did not feel the northerly gale
Her gaze fastened itself upon the
thickets of laurel, sassafras and creep.
ing bramble, where a narrow path, only
few yards away, abruptly disappeared.
The spring bubbed out from under a
huge rock, behind which ran deep
ravine where sunlight never penetrated
the great pines, even at midday. The
spot could not have been more wildly
solnbre; but there was safety in that
black abyss, serviceable more than once
within Miriam's memory. Her smile
broadened into a pleased laugh as the
tapping bushes were pushed aside, and
man looked warily about him before
quitting their shelter-a man in the
rough homespun of mountaineer, but
with the handsome face, soft hands and
indescribable aspect of one used to ease
and luxury.
'It's you, DR.. Heathe!" she exclaimed
in well feigned surprise.
"Who did you think it was, Miriam2"
inquired DR.. Heathe, his keen, rapid
glance darting with lightning rapidity
into every nook and remote shadow.
There was something painfully appre-
hensive in the watchful scrutiny con-
tinually in those restless, suspicious
eyes, as well as the firm, half menacing
hold upon the rifle always carried or at
hand for instant use. ''Have you seen
any strangers" he questioned.
"Strangers2 How should 1? Strangers
don't come this away, onliest they're
arfter the moonshiners," she laughed.
''Don't they!" he said, without echo
ing the laugh. There are worse things
than free stills. Could you, at the peril
of your life, save men tracked like wild
beasts?"
"If 'twur father now, I'd like to see
Fem catch him while Pm 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 if ever a
stranger prowled the ridge" returned
Miriam; "but you amt no moonshiner2"
"No, Miriam, not 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-you are not stranger, "
she interrupted.
"No; not stranger as these people see
it." was the half ironical reply. "But,
Miriam, would you care enough to marry
me9 mean to stay here in the noun
tains all my life-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 me?"
A more vigiant 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
inhabitants of ridge and hollow. The
girl turned slowly toward him.
81 know you've got summit to hide
FROM" she said, quietly; "but for al
that, DR.. Heath, you're better than an
you're quality bred, and | am only the
old moonshiner's daughter"
"Hush, Miriam! What does it matte
what l was3" he broke in passionately
"You are too good for me. Only say
that you will marry me and care for me
scoundrel that l am" added the mar
bitterly.
A dauntless resolution depicted itsel
upon Miriam's countenance, as she lifted
her lustrous eyes and held his shifting
glances by the subtle force and fire il
their depths.
eyes, I'll marry you, en- stand b,
you, too stand by you en- help you
true en- faithful, if am onliest moon
sinners daughter. I'll say it en- proms'
it, ef so be you as true en- faithful t,
me-"
The harassed tension of Heathes coun
tenance relaxed.
The girl laughed, and Heathe opened
the door and went in.
"Mirry kin tie ter whomst she pleases.
her father said, when Heathe, taking ad
vantage of Miriam's absence in the she'd
told him of his hopes. ''Hit's a gooc
leetle gal as you'll git, en- she's smar
gal, Mary is--h'ain't Altered o. nothin'
She'll stick ter you, spite o'ole Nick his
self, less'n you go back on her; 'twouldn'
be overly safe fur you then," and A
chuckled, while the great quid of tobac
co oscilated in his cheek.
Abner relapscd into his moody enjoy
ment of the huge cracking blaze. Grand
mother sagsby came in, and soon doze
over her knitting. Miriam came in an
sat on the hearth opposite Heathe. TIL
freight glowed over her beautiful fac
and the strong, shapely figure. Ute
repose and the delightful warmth cor
duced to that half drowsy haziness an
apAndop Of perfect rest The one exOer