Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-09-30
THE ARKANSAS GIRL.

~ ulNh'h rNohN NAaN ~ cNlllhVu w Nilt
orark foothills-tho sponccrs lived.
They live there yet, for all know, but
It has been 80 long since heard any.
thing OF them that | assume, ostrich.
like, that thoy aro not there now. II
WINS before the railroad ran cata corner
ncross the northern part OF Arkansas
that I knew thom-a simple sort Of
people, very like all tie Ozark natives,
three boys and girl, the old folks and
an ancient aunt or 80. The boys were
common types, constantly In fear Of
revenue oiilccrS
Tho spcnccrs made whiskcy-of TINT
thoy made no secret save conyicting
facts The boys wero watched by OH.
rors half tho time, but no evidence was
ever secured against them until ten
years OF successful evasion Of the law
had elapsed. Tho rirl--llonnio Spence
was her namo-had pretty face aud
willowy form, mud, what Is moro and
bofter. she did not have tho loathsomv
habit Of chewing snu1 or dipping" Il,
10 use genuine Arkansas idiom. Sew.
.rnl Of the native sous Of lard, Stone
and Fulton counties had cast shoops
eyes at Ilcnnlo moro than once, but
never did they receive any encourage.
mcnt
''rhey nccdnt como round me, " fho
would say doggedly. ~ wouldn't hcv
tho best innn alive"
Hennic was smarter than tho average
Arkansas backwoods girl, not alone IN
the expressed determination not 10 get
married, but IN business matters tho
cvlnccd decided aptitude Her broth.
cp intrustod her with tho secrets Of
their business Hcnnlo knew every
stillhouss within all tho border coun.
ties; she knew tho names OF the men
operating them; she knew their records,
their haunts and their plans Of Guiding
the revenue laws Of the land. Iicnnio
kept the crude accounts Of the Spencer
illl. by which she was enabled Ia few
moments TO give n detailed statement
Of the Indebtedness Of any ono Of tho
patrons VI the law violating establish.
ment.
It was one OF those chilly days that
sometimes come In July, oven rs far
south as tho Ozarks. a still breeze
blew along tho Spring river valley,
while clouds mounted In tho southwest
aad threatened rain. IL seemed too
chilly for that, 20 the old natives said.
but n newcomer would only look at tho
clouds and then look for a heavy down.
fall lIennle Spencer was walking
along tho country road--morc Ike n
path than q road-whon she met tho
newcomer. Ho was riding There was
n sha p turn In tho narrow highway,
and 10 stranger burst into view before
tho native girl knew OF tho presence Of
any ono but herself Hc sat straight
In his saddle. Ills hat, n wide brimmcd
SLOUGH, shaded his eyes, but did no.
hide n smoothly shayen face, a good,
clear mouth. strong chin and the every
trace Of determination that marked
each line OF the coun,enhncc. A Win.
chester was strapped across hls back.
llennio stepped TO ono side, not In
fear, but with something OF curiosity.
Sho at overwhelmingly, perhaps
thought that tho stranger was rovo-
nus officer.
Good morning. falutod tho rider
ten seconds later. In case OF rain,
where could got sheltcrl"
In spite Of hor surmise, tho Spencer
gill gave a respectful and truthful an.
swer
why, over at our house. reckon"
she said. "'Taln't very iar-right over
yandor.'
MAY go over there with you nowr
quoriod the young man, allghting.
why, In course; on'y--on'y-who
aro you, anywayr
well, my name Is Jimpson-Wood
Jimpson, OF St. Louis live up there
buy sone cotton sometimes, you
know, and was down south of Little
Rock on business Thought IA ride
back TO Poplar Blun. over'n Missouri,
where III get n trim back home"
"Oh," said Hcnnlo, $50 you live up
IN Mlssoumh. ehl Wen, como on. How
big Is your town. sho went on. "Any'
thing like as big as Little Roekr
Ever 80 much larger" said limp.
son. ITS n great big town. Why, We
have u brewery there most as big ~
all OF Little Rock, you know"
"oh, said Hennlc again. She was
Interested IN the newcomer. She didn't
know just how, but she felt kindly to-
ward him. llo was the ilrst man that
shc ever saw that she thought she could
marry. OF course she thought of all
these things as they walked through the
woods, he leading his horse and ellat.
ting as they proceeded. Girls think
lots OF things that they don't put In
words
II suppose you people down here
think that every man with gun is q
revenue officer. don't your Jimpson
asked, looking ut Honnlc with laughing
eyes, "for Of course know" he went
on with smile, "that you all make
whisky down here"
How do you known Hsnnie asked
"a lttle bird told me, that's all, "
mid Jlmpson ~ man wouldn't DO
much OF "a man In these mountains II
he didn't dish up u little moonshine,
don't You know"
IL didn't rain that day. When che
Young Girl mud Ittuuson rDneltpd fba