The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1891-09-18

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low accompaniment the while.
"There IL ,noonshine establishment
up the gulch, west somewhere" sait
Colonel Chenier, in low voice to AIDE
laide. She started u little and after
moments reflection:
"Has Frank Ellis anything to do will
It," she asked.
"He may have. don't know. IT.
been rumored about, and there are some
detectives lurking around in the neigh
borhood." said the colonel, his voice>ful
Of doubt and caution.
"He is of good family" said Adelaid,
thoughtfully, smoothing her work, "ant
shouldn't think he'd care to engage il
such business. 1t isn't honorable, is itp'
"Most of the boys consider it none o.
those northern officers business what il
done down here in the mountains" re
piled the colonel. aa
"But it's against the law, isn't it?"
"Yes, against their law; but our boy.
don't mind the Yankee law to any alarm
ing extent"
ut would be better to let distilline
alone anyway, | think, don't your" ex.
claimed Adelaide, in tone of such
earnestness that her father could nc
longer evade the point.
ooh. the business Is not the best" he
said, .'but these revenue meddlers might
find better employment themselves than
going about to destroy the property OF
free men,"
But man Of Frank Ellis standing
and family should think he'd scorn so
vulgar business
"Theres smack Of daring and danger
in it, and then. toe, there is great deal
of money to be made" said Colonel Che.
nier, putting rapidly at his pipe 1.-THE
Yankees ought to be willing for us to
have at least one way Of getting back
what we've lost"
The sound of a horses feet was now
heard, and in a moment a cavalier of the
true mountain type came up IT, a gallop
and drew rein in front of the ma
He lifted his broad brinmed felt hat
and bowed to his horses name. He was
tall, round limbed, compactly built
young fellow, dark haired. with olive
complexion and keen black eyes, regular
features ard superbly poised head A
suit of we'll fitting gray clothes, with
heavy top boots brasss spurs and buck
skin gauntlets, to which were added a
leather waist belt and three heavy PTS
tolls, gave strong emphasis to his rather
brigandish bearing. At his right side
swnny a lirht MAYNARD rifle.
Good morning, Miss Chenier; good
morning. colonel" he said; then, as if
for the first time noting the younger
girls presence, he bowed low again, and
with peculiarly pleasant smile added
Miss Rosalie, good morning"
Lovely morning. isn't it," said the
colonel, the ring of southern cordially
in his heavy voice.
Lovely, lovely" was the answer. in a
rich, sweet tone. Il have had a charm.
ing ride over the mountain. The air is
exceedingly fine and ! have never seen
vegetation SO rich and rank Why, the
leaves on the hickory sprouts are as large
as the skirts of my saddle"
"Those leaves will be immense when
they are quite grown, Mr. Ellis" said
Resale. striking chord upon the old
banjo.
The young man bowed and laughed
lightly.
81 fear you are trying to spoil the ef-
feet of my comparison" he said, ending
with culiar\conpression Of the lips,
which caused This heavy mustache to
droop below his well turned chin.
But your saddle skirts are SO enor-
mously large Rosalie added. He looked
down and seemed for the first time
aware that he was riding one of those
trees. thousands of which had
been left scattered through the hill coun-
try by Sherlnan's troopers He laughed
outright.
II had forgotten that | changed sad.
dies this morning." he exclaimed: lit
wasn't very happy comparison. after
all but the hickory leaves are just as
large, all the same"
81 have letter for you, sir" said the
cavalier. searching in side pocket as he
spoke. He let the envelope fall in get
ting it out. Lightly swinging himself
uOWuWdru, ue recovered IL WlIllOut us
Although the horse was tall
the feat was performed with as much
apparent ease as if he had stopped from
4 standing posture. He recovered his
seat in the saddle with a romantic clang
If spurs and pistols. The noble horse
arched its neck and struck the ground
with its left forefoot, scat
;ering around a shower OF sand and
gravel i
The young man tossed the letter to
Colonel Chenier. lifted his hat again,
md with another low bow loosed the
,ridle rein and sped away up the valley
It slow gallop Just around the first
urn OF the road they heard him begin to
ing in strong mellow voice familiar
Id ballad He left behind him. linger-
ng in the air, . suggestion Of medieval
lays.
CHAPTER IL
LETTER FROM AUNT MARGUERITE.
II