San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-02-19

ever thought of the trouble whisky brings
upon peopleF
Mart could not say that he had, yet for the
first time he felt vague shame of his occu-
patton, but said
"Pore folks has ter make money somehow
'thout stealin' it."
Eyes, but would rather make it any other
way than by breaking the laws to sell people
that which Injuries them"
Somehow Mart felt that the usual argu-
ments in favor of moonshining would not
have much effect on this refined, delicate
girl, whose presence now beamed upon him
almost like some angelic presence from an
other world.
The rain at length ceased, and they soon
arrived at the Widow Green's. Agnes, at
the door step, offered him silver dollar,
saying she knew she had put him to a good
deal of trouble. Silver dollars were tempt
ing, but he declined t ing it, saying:
81 reck'n | KIN erbleege people, ef am
moonshiner."
"Never mind" she said, with .eassuring
smile, you must take it just to please me.
Perhaps it will help you little in getting
better employment"
The next day Little Mart returned for his
sack and kegs, rejecting deeply. After get
ting them he went to the Hanging Rock, and
there kindled a fire with chestnut bark on the
very spot where Agnes had sat and talked to
him. Then he placed the sack and empty
kegs thereon and grimly watched them turn
to ashes. As at last he turned away he NUT
tered:
me m mother hev got to git our Twin
some yuther way after this"
That night his mothers little cabin in the
Red Knobs was surrounded by four deputy
marshals and Little Mart marched off,
prisoner of the United States, to Athens. Two
months later, after his release from jail, he
came home. only to learn that Mrs. Baird
and her daughter had returned to Chatta-
nooga.
Little Mart felt disappointed. Though be
realized the nature of the social gulf between
them too well to hope to mingle much with
people like the Bairds, yet he wished to see
Agnes once more, and tell how her kind
words and sweet smile had made another
man of him.
He secured work in the log camps in the
mountains, and few weeks thereafter went
down to Chattanooga OH large raft of logs.
Having then an idle day on his hands, he
thought he would venture to call on the
Bairds
He dressed himself in his best suit Of home
spun jeans, and soon found the house from
the directions given him by the Widow
Green. The imposing brick front and the
aristocratic neatness of the surroundings
rather daunted him, but he resOlutely
Knocked on the door regardless of the pol
ished bell handle and boldly asked of the
trim colored houSemad, who at length came,
if he might see Miss Agnes, explaining also
that "She n her mother knowd me in the
mountains"
The servant surveyed him wonderingly,
yet after moments hesitation babe him fol-
low her, and at once ushered him into the
parlor where Agnes and another young lady,
with two or three fashionably dressed young
men, sat talking and laughing together.
Agnes had risen as the door opened
Agnes recognized him instantly, and col
ored with the reverse of pleasurable sensa
lions, as she said, carelessly:
"Oh, yes, you wish to see my father. He
never transacts business at the house; you
will find him at the office Margaret" to the
servant, "show this-gentleman to the door"
Then she coolly turned away, and before
Little Mart fairly knew what he was about
lie was walking down the street with his
thoughts in q whirl and dull pain at his
heart. At the corner a gentleman stopped
him.
why, you are Mart Dodson, are you not.
This is fortunate as you happen to be the
very man l was wishing to see."
The speaker was the father of Agnes Baird,
whom Mart had seen once or twice when
Mrs. Baird and her daughter were at Hawks
Cliff Mr. Baird was largely interested in
ha irOn ind trio
throughout East Tennessee; and after drag
ging our half reluctant hero into an Office
nearly as luxurious in it's appointments as
the parlor from which he had been so uncer-
enormously dismissed, the former said to him:
Young man, you are In luck. Our min
ing experts have been investigating some of
the iron deposits Of the Red Knobs, particu-
larly near Hawks Cliff, and they report some
veins Of unusual richness. The new railroad
now projected from Cleveland to Tellico will
render some land there valuable. You and
your mother have eighty acres. am pre-
pared to buy you out for lump sum, or give
you $1,000 for half interest"
Little Mart gazed at Mr.. Baird, half stupe-
fed with wonder Yet amid the turmoil OF
his emotions came the thought that, if this
were so, he would at last have the time and
means to make gentleman of himself, so
that people would not want to turn him out
of doors for looking like the clod he felt him
self to be at present.
The new manager of the great Tellico com
pany was in his private Office. A lady en-
tered, and he looked up from his morning
paper, then inquired briefly:
"Well, ma'am, whan can do for your
The lady pushed aside her veil. The man
ager looked at her more closely, then rose