Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1891-09-16
DIANA'S LOVE STORY.

wreaths of fog. which looked for all
the world like white-capped waves.
For weeks at time nobody came
near US, but / do not mind. The
doctors had told Adam that the restora-
tion of his health depended on his
living for a few years at this high alti-
tude, and what sort of a sister should
/ have been to let him stay alone in
the little brown cabin, where the
smoke from the charcoal pits ascen ded
night and day, as if the place were an
extinct volcano, and never mad left off
belching fire and smoke?
We took turns, Adam and /, like a
Vigilance committee. / worked all
day in the little stone walled garden
trying to make the rose bushes and
hollyhocks believe they were down in
some sheltered valley. and singing
about my little odds and ends of house
on Bald crag, and the whip-poor- will Is
began 70 sing below US, Adam, who
had slept all day. sailed out to the
charcoal pits to keep his lonely vigil
for we were poor people, and had to
earn our living as best we could.
And all went very smoothly until old
Uncle Pomp, the colored man, an
nOunced his intention of abandoning
the charcoal business.
rs gettin' DID," said Uncle Pomp,
"an' amt neider bald e-gle nor yet
a lizard to lib atop O. de mountain
no longer. It's too desprit lonesome
FUR ole Pompr'
But think what it is for u.s." rea-
soned Adam.
"You's young folks" oostinately
uttered Uncle Pomp. Things is alto
gedder different wild yous."
So We were left alone, which made
matters pretty hard tor Adam. No
body cared to come up Bald mountain
if they could possibly make a liveli-
hood anywhere else.
But one evening, just as I was get
ting ready to take a chicken sandwich
and a pail of tea to the charcoal pit for
Adams supper a tall, red shirted man
came swinging up the stony path to-
ward our gate.
Heard you wanted help up this
way" said he, t king off his cap and
incllning his head not ungracefully.
My heart leaped within me.
"Oh." cried l. ''we dor'
What sort of work is it?" he said.
looking curiously around him. There
don't seem to be much chance for
farming up here. and | haven't seen
any mill machinery nor shafts for
ore
Tending the charcoal pit" 1 ex-
planned. sit down and rest a little,
and l will show you where my brother
is. VIII you have a drink of tea and
q sandwich"
He drank eagerly; he ate as if he
had not tasted food for a week. |
watched him the while. He was dark.
strong-featUred. sinister-looking, with
a close shaved-face, yet 1 felt no
sentiment of fear or aversion to him.
Now he said at last Il am
ready"
He tended the fires that night while
Adam slept.
"Can you board him, DIP" said
Adam.
Why not? He'd be a much pleas
anter boarder than Uncle Pomp. Pm
sure" said 1, laughing. See those
beautiful red lilies he has transplanted
so carefully into my garden that they
havn't dropped leaf! See the funny lit
tie turtle he brought from Black brook
for my aquarium. Oh, by the way. no
one has told me his name"
1T is rather an unusual one-John
Smith," Adam answered"
What brought him on top of Bald
He was out of work, and heard
that l needed hand up here He is
very bright and intelligent and has
travelled a good deal. l rather like
the fellow"
John Smith remained a month with
US. He did great deal more than his
share of the work.
The squire isn't over strong" he
said, nodding toward Adam, land he
ought to be favored. He shall be, as
long as l am here"
II was in the spring of the year. and
John Smith helped me with my little
flower garden. He brought home rare
birds eggs for my collection; he
evinced a knowledge of plants that
quite surprised me on one occasion
when we unexpectedly came across a
rare orchid in the woods
II should think you would be a good
gardner, john" said |,
Il was a gardner once. had
charge Of a house full of Jamaica
ferns, and looked after a forcing house
for early peaches that brought 81
apiece in market"
why did you leave your place?"
''Oh, for a variety of reasons, Look
here, Diana! you've set this lily bulb
too far in the shade. Bring it for
W ard little"
colored a little. felt that per-
haps had asked an impertinent ques-
ton. But. after all, he did not seem Of
Tended, because he worked long after
dusk making the border of wild violets
for my flower bed. so that the newly
roots should get the bene-
fit OF the coming shower that muttered
along the west
1t was the very next day that Ralph
came up Bald Mountain and
asked me to marry him.
"Of course you said 'yesi" said
Adam. when he questioned me about
Il afterward.
''Of course | said 'non
Adam oped his eyes very wide.
"Why, | thought you liked Ralph
Maddox said he.
Zone can't marry avery man one