The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1889-08-07

Neither father nor daughter observed
him bury his face in his handkerchief
for moment, nor that he slipped the
contents of his cup into it, with a toss
of his hand.
When bedtime came the old man
proffered his guest the hospitality of
the loft, and his horse was staked on
the mountain side, with Fan outside, as
guardian. Before he was ready to re-
tire. the host took his gun and went
out.
isn't your father afraid to leave you
here alone?" Nate Hudson asked Of the
mountain girl, his hostess
II kin purtect myself, as | tole you
afore," answered Lou, proudly, and
with significance Then this audacious
stranger commenced a siege of the most
romantic and desperate love-making
that any gallant ever INDUCED in. He
told this freckled-face, angular girl,
who had never had lover in her life,
that he had been drawn to her by some
blind instinct, that he could not define,
but which he now knew to be love- He
praised her eyes, her hair, her lips.
and swore he would stay there until she
smiled on his suit He promised to do
a thousand mad things to prove his
loyalty. When bewildered and charmed
like the bird charmed by the serpent,
Lou insisted that he climb that unro-
mantle ladder before her fathers re-
turn; he caught her hand and pressed
it to his lips.
Good night, darling" he whispered,
Il know that you must love me, and l
will wait until then"
The first sight that greeted the eyes
OF this hasty lover On the next morn
ing, as he peored out OF the small open.
ing between the logs which answered
for window was Lou carrying two
great cylinders, filed with milk.
so there is a dairy" he muttered,
II must look into this"
Poor Lou had not slept at all. She
was in dazed condition, and had spent
the most of the night in caressing the
hand this rash lover had kissed. 1t was
the first sign and seal of love she had
ever experienced. The young man rode
away after breakfast, but at night he
returned as he had promised, bring
ing with him a plain gold ring.
ut is the best that | can find here
he said, "but when l return to my
Northern homo will find something
better for my mountain daisy"
Poor Lou! her heart-her loving wo-
mans heart, was beating rapturously,
and nothing now seemed too wonderful
to happen to her. She took a sudden
distaste to dishwashing and cooking.
All her life was aglow with roseate
hues 1t was as if sun-god had
tumbled down from his bright lair in
the skies and offered to marry her.
How do you live here, my darling?"
asked the lover, on the second day of
their mad betrothal. ''Does the milk
from the dairy bring in enough for
comfort? Take me with you to the
dairy-let me help you, Lou"
They amt no better nor root houses,
an'-an' there's only two cows" Lou
answered, with a feeling OF shame; bet
yer kin come if yer wants ter"
She led the way through ravine
quite distance from the house.
why do you keep the COWS such a
long way OFF, he asked. curiously.
"There's a spring-houso there" she
said, in low voice. "Oh, what's the
use"-as she looked in her lovers face
with frank, conflding smile, 1--WE amt
a-goin' to begin with secrets the fact
is. we're afeared of the revenoos."
Now, who are the "revenoos9'
asked the young man, with bright
smile.
"The officers lookin' for stills"
81 see; and the COWS are blind.
Oh, you cunning puss! So you cheat
the Government, do you. my darling?"
"Yes, but feyther says its right-we'd
starve OF we didn't have thet There's
a pile of money staked on us, I've
heercd. but the revenoos can't never
get scent of us. Dye mind, Nate"-
her lips trembled as she said his name
-"dye mind the big pals of milk?"
Eyes you witch, / saw them"
II bet you didn't know there was
only milk down a leetle ways, then
they was"
What, you sweet child"
Whisky" Lou was clean gone
now.
Lou" said the lover, in soft i'm
ploring tones. ''let us give the father a
surprise and pop in on him at the
still"
But Lou hung back. She was afraid
of her father and somehow she did not
believe she ought to take even her
lover in upon him unbidden. But
while she hesitated Mates arm drew
around her waist. and she felt herself
compelled to lead on. But where?
There was the miserable stable and
the cows in the yard; there could be
nothing here"
Lou stopped and brushed the matted
straw aside and Nate Hudson saw an
iron ring in the floor. He stopped and
tried to lift the trap-door to which it
was attached, but he could not move it.
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