The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1890-01-10

lage. Caney Fork, q tributary of the
Cumberland River, rises in the noun
tains, and surges over the rocky lodges
q full hundred feet into the sequestered
valley below. And it is this cataract
that is known as Falling Water.
Tho surrounding country is wild,
lonely, and romantic, and was a favor
lite resort of the moonsliners, until the
United States eyenue officers swept
down upon them, shooting a few of
them dead and sending many of them
to the penitentiary.
Not far from Failing Water is n
deep. PERCEPTIONS ravine, the sides of
which are covered with pines and an
impenetrable undergrowth of vines
and shrubbery. The density of the
foliage hides the bottom of the
ravine from view, but if You follow
q dim b%ridle-path trcnding from
the road, you will find that it
leads to the door of an old cabin sur
rounded by q stake-and-rider fence
half hidden by blackberry bushes,
sassnfras, and weeds.
This cabin was the home of old Mel
ton, a moonshiner, and his family, un-
til the spring of 1879.
The still was located within a stones
throw of the house, between two gigan-
tic powders. and SO clcverly was it
hidden by the rocky walls that lowered
up on three sides of it. and SO cur
tanned in was it on the remaining side
by the vines that fell in green festoons
from the gray lodges of free-stone
above. that the old moonshiner felt
himself perfectly safe from the prying
eyes of both officers and inio.mers.
One evening about dark, as old Melton
sat in the gallery OF his cabin, drawing
consolation alternately from a stone
Jug and a corn-cob pipe. he was saluted
by o young man on horseback, who had
ridden up from the right and whose
face betrayed an expression of keen
annoyance.
"Hello!" cried the horseman, draw
ing rein, scan You tell me how far it is
to Cookeville?"
a'Bont TO- miles. stranger" replied
Melton. rising to his feet and slouching
forward. 3Hev yo' lost yer beamn's?"
Eyes; went down to old Davenant's
to collect a bill this morning and-'
Long Jack Dayenant's, stranger?"
"Yes; up at the head of Caney Fork,
and"
"Why didn't yo' turn to the left when
yo' came to Sluar Mills place."
II did; but L took tho wrong road
out in that confounded fiat woods.
@Jesso, jcsso! Been thar myself.
lis q puzzle to a stranger. An what
shell 1 call yer name:"
3Wilford-Harry MILFORD"
3Any relation T. the Wilfords down t.
| Smiths Fork?"
no; my home is in Nashville Am
a professional man there. Had to look
! after q farm of mine lown i, Dckalb
County, and so j concluded TO ride up
here and collcc a bill from old Nay-
enant De.o.e L wciit back to Lebanon.
The old man wasn't Mt home, though.
By the way, could l find Il place here
or hereabout to stay all night? Ii will
rain long before 1 can reach Cooke
| VILE"
IL dunno. r'r'ars Henry Q. cold
keep yo'."
WHO is Henry O., and where does
he reside:"
Henry @. Clark, yo' know. Lives
bout q quarter out ON tie Cookcvillc
road yander," pointing TO tho lift.
aHenry Q.'s ricl-lienry z. is. His
house must a. cost a cool five hundred.
Jest follcr that-"
A blinding fash, q Handicapped AID
o driving torrent of rain interrupted
the speaker.
swall, I say, MI. Milford, if tibet
ares ther way thcr weather's ev.gwino
ter act, I low yo'd better stay with
we'uns. We laint much t. offer, but
sech OF We hev yo're welcome to-"
Wilfordleaped from his saddle. threw
the reins W q sapling bough, and
bounded gracefully over the grass into
the cabin. He was a tall, slender,
handsome young fellow, with blonde
hair, q beardless face. and large, blue,
winning eyes, that sparkled with hunor
or scintillated with wrath according to
his varying moods.
Mrs. Melton was sitting before the
huge fireplace, industrionsly dipping
snnif. She was . lsnk and angulal
womanof forty. barefooted and dressed