Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-08-27
LEATHER BREECHES.
From the Atlanta Constitution.


es.''
Nobody else had occasion to call her
any other name since her mother died,
except the man who occasionally
brought corn to old SOILS still.
Old Sol was her father and "moon-
sinner" He was called a "moon-
sinner" because, being an illicit distil-
Ter, he was supposed to run his still by
moonlight to prevent detection by the
revenue officers. But he wasn't a
moonshiner in the strict sense of the
word. He didn't run his distillery by
night any more than government
distillers did There was no need for
it.
The still was in pit under his own
hut, and the smoke found its way out of
his own chimney.
Subterranean pipes conducted the
water to and from the still, so that there
was little danger of detection. Besides
this there was small field of corn about
the house, and altogether this seemed
to be the last place a revenue officer
would look for an illicit distiliery.
The vigilance of Leather Brooches
made it doubly safe, for she was handy
with Old Soils rifle and never feared
to use it when the occasion demanded.
But she was a beauty-Leather
Breaches was.
Her black hair was like silk, and her
beautiful plump flesh shamed the most
luscious peach. Her eyes There is a
large spring in Western Georgia which,
from its great depth, is supposed to be
bottomless, and has blush tint like
the sea. A casual glance at its surface
reveals nothing uncommon. But gaze
steadily through this pellucid water,
deep down into the bowels of the earth,
and a changing scene presents itself.
Variety stones, pebbles, petrified trees,
and sparkling crystals rise successfully
to your enchanted vision. Leather
Brooches eyes were like this.
She was a great help to Old Sol and a
great comfort, too, for when he was low
spirited she put her arm around his
neck and kissed him, and sometimes
leased him to get him right again.
Often she would say, Pap, I'm gwine
ter marry"
Leather Breeches," he would say,
tfdon't yer think Nv it. Their man whut
gifts yer'll halter whup me first that's
shore An [ amt no SLOUGH, fer
I've done up Their hes Nv 'em in my
time"
:sDon't get riled, pap; 1 was just er
piaguin' Nv yer" she would console Il
leave yer lSI IICDOQN.
One evening Old Sol was chopping
some pine in front of the cabin door
when well-dressed man with light hair
and blue eyes approached unobserved
and stood within q few feet of him.
"Good evening" said the stranger.
Old Sol Strengthened himself, eyed
him critically from head to foot and
said:
sHowdy."
81 am seeking lodgings for the night, :"
said the we'll dressed man in answer to
this greeting. q
Sol scrutinized him again as be-
fore, and after some elaboration re-
marked:
'eLooks ter me lack I orter know
"You ought" said the stranger; "It'
no disgrace"
II reckon not" said Old Sol, in such a
tone as left some doubts as to whether it
was sarcasm or admiration.
s'I remarked" said the stranger after
al awkward pause, 'that l was hunt
ing place to spend the night
stAnd don't yer know Their way ~
said the old man with foolish grin.
s'No-I-the fact is [ am a strang-
er here and don't know any place to
60"
Wal, sw ar"
Leather Brooches tripped out the
door, leveled a long rifle at the we'll
dressed man, and commanded:
stranger, git
The person addressed looked inqulr-
ingly at Old Sol:
ssStranger," said the Ole man, "yer'il
halter do it. She's er mighty notional-
iy creature, that gal er mine is, but
folks gener'ly humors her In her
ways"
'sCrazy? Wal, swar pine blank
Crazy, stranger? Not by er dang
sight"
The stranger saw that he was IN for it
and decided that to put on bold front
was the best policy.
s'Shoot !" said he defantly. IT have
done nothing to merit it, and I'll die
rather than I'll turn coward"
STRANGER said the old man signif-
cantly, Hshe don't say often, she don't,
but when she says, she says !"
The last phrase was spoken with a
peculiar emphasis which conveyed eX-
actly the idea intended, to-wit: That
the declarations of Leather Brooches
in important matters like the present
were not be overruled.
stranger" said Leather Beeches,
lowering the gun to Ter side, "ain't yer
still nuntin' ?"
sNo"
ashore ?''.
"Of course"
ssWhat yer huntln' %
Gland and a place to spend the
night"
ffWhat land ?"
'sbIy land. Lot No. r."
ssPap," said she, turning to Old Sol,
che talks squar'.'
SO he do, Sol.
can his eyes is middlin' good"
"Jesso"
s'An he amt erfeered."