The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1889-01-12

| the air CalleQ Billy IN tne Low
Grounds" executed with rasping vigol
on creaking violin. AS l was about
to give the sesame, 'Hello - which
opens all doors in that section, the dool
of the log shanty opened and girl:
face appeared. 1t was plainly visible
in the glare of a pineknot fire. Nuns
should not, take it, be beautiful, but
many OF them are; l once fell in love
with ones face-big, black eyes, quiv.
ering lips, complexion clear, deep and
white as Parian marble and features
like Charlotte Corday, evoking both
pity and passion. This face at the door
was that nuns picture. l spoke. II
instantly disappeared, the door closed.
the music stopped. Presently another
head-a man's-appeared, cautiously
peering into the darkness. 1t said:
"Who's thar2"
ga stranger" l replied, "who has
lost his way, and would like to have
shelter from the rain.''
81 hain't hxt for strangers, but |
reck'n l kin take yer in outer sich
weather ez this fur it is mighty bad ter
be tunterin' Ground in, shore. Say, let
down them bars right whar yer are
standln' an turn yer hoss inter the lot.
Fetch yer saddle and things in here. "
did as hidden, and, seated on the
bench before the fire, was soon sat
home" with the man of the house.
The girl was not present, and as l
supposed she might be preparing sup
per for me, l said: 81 have a lunch
here, SO won't put your folks to the
trouble of fixing anything for me-"
"All right, mister" he replied "'tis
er little late at night ter cook vittuls-
but say" he broke off, "don't yer say
grace afore yer eat2'
81 hardly"
81 know yer do" he interrupted,
reaching under the bed and bringing
out bottle, which he handed me, after
having taken corn-cob stopper from
its mouth "tech that ez heavy ez yer
can, an it'll make yer feel ez rich ez
Jay Gold"
l was somewhat accustomed to such
''tech," and drank his health.
"Will you play tune while l eat
The whisky gave me an appetite may
be your music will make this ham and
bread taste like angels food"
He stared sternly at me his sharp,
red nose, yellow eyes and carrotty hair
looked like threatening interrogation
points. But met his gaze calmly, and
he concluded l was not making sport
of him. He took up the violin, and
humping himselfinto "half moon" shape
as he sat on the bench beside me, COM
menced to run the scale to find the KEY
that pleased him best-which, with all
"muslcians" like him, l have discovered
is invariably ga"
"That tune you were playing awhile
ago." spoke, as he struck a chord
that was leading to Jennie, Put the
Kettle on" reminds me of old times.
Play it again.
He ratified away as ate, and when
he ceased suddenly asked:
"What mought yer name be2'
"Tom Gladden.
'Whenever yer feel sleepy, jess tum-
bic inter that bed, thar. I'll go an feed
yer hoss an come back arter while"
When | awoke in the early morning,
the rain had given way to snow. l
looked toward the Fireplace, and saw
the girl, stopped down and blowing the
Goals to light "kindlin'" she had placed
up them. She was prettier than the
man and as she ''pursed" her lips they
looked like the heart of red rose,
while her eyes shone bright and seemed
to be looking far away, at something
beyond the present occupation. The
blaze came, and as it did so l lnvolun-
tarily exclaimed:
"You thought of your sweetheart
then !" She rose. l guessed her age
to be twenty ; she was dressed in striped
kersev, wore russell shoes, and her form
had, evidently, never known the pres
sure of a corset. She was tall, too and
as she looked at me, she seemed to rise
higher, while l shrank to a correspond
ing littleness. She replied:
| never had sweetheart. | never
seen man worth my thoughts"
81 beg your"
81 amt offended Air you a drum
mer?
81 am."
"They don't b'lieve it.
"Who are theyP"
"Uncle JARVIS an the rest Of 'em."
"What do your mean2"
81 mean they're moonshiners, who
kilt the depperty marshal last week
They think you're one"
"But don't they take my word fol
what l am. l can prove it by my
papers,"
"'Twon't do no good"
"My horse"
"He's gone-Uncle Jarvis tuck him
he tuck your pistol, too"
"What shall l do?" whined, for
was paralyzed with fear, and as weak a:
convalescent.
"Glt up an dress, take this pistol an
Il. l. 1.,ft y.