Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1892-06-25

for It's real owner, ne may have fallen in
defense of the lost cause At all events.
he had never returned to claim it.
In the south the banjo during the days
of slavery was looked upon as rude
and savage instrument, fit only for the
hands and taste of negroes. 1t bore the
brand of everything connected with the
pathetic life Of the slave. The wonder
is that long ago this fascinating Tyre Of
the cabin was not lifted to its proper
place. which was beside the violin. No
doubt the secret of its neglect lay in the
fact that it was treated as a negro in
strument. and regarded as one Of the
symbols Of slave life.
Rosalie Chenier had beautiful hands,
white. slender. perfectly formed. and
the act Of playing upon the banjo dis
closed all their suppeness and grace.
She was not conscious Of her beauty
however, and was as sincere and out
right in her actions as were the birds.
There was something in her attitudes
and movements that would have been
bizarre had the element of utter sim
plicity been wanting She was dressed
in inexpensive white muslin upon
which the -four dust of the mill would
not show, and around her waist was
band of pale blue ribbon.
The pure notes of the banjo made
themselves distinctly heard above the
rumbling of the buhrstones, the creak
ing of gudgeons and the bubbling of the
hume stream.
Colonel Chenier had closed his book
and was gazing at Rosalie with an air of
dreamy interest. as one indulging in pa
thetic fancies
Suddenly the musician ceased her play
ing and said
"Oh. yonder comes Frank Ellis down
the trail.
How do you know It is. Rose? In
quired her father. looking over the VAL
ley to where the red trail zigzagged its
way along the steep slope.
Because it is a white horse; and then
no one else would ride so fast down that
trail 1t is Frank, am sure"
"Oh. quite likely" said Colonel Che
nier. reflling his pipe. Where is he
going so often up the valley of later
He has cattle in the range up there,
or something, hasn't he?" suggested Miss
Adelaide.
"a don't know, I'm sure, said Rosalie,
making whorl of her pretty hand and
looking through it at the far away horse
man
Il hope If it's Frank he'll have some
thing new to tell us. " said A delaide
He'll bring some papers and maga-
zines, dare say" said Rosalie. Il am
real hungry to read a new story She
got up as she spoke and went to a frag-
ment of stone wall upon which she
climbed to get better view of the dis
tant trail Perched up there she sang a
snatch from simple song playing a
low accompaniment the while,
There is a moonshine establishment
up the gulch west somewhere" said
Colonel Chenier. in low voice to Ade-
laide She started little and after a
moments reflection:
Has Frank Ellis anything to do with
It," she asked.
HE may have. don't know. It's
been rumored about, and there are some
detectives lurking around in the neigh
borhood," said the colonel, his voice full
of doubt and caution.
"He is of good family" said Adelaide
thoughtfully, smoothing her work, land
shouldn't think he'd care to engage in
such business. 1t isn't honorable, is itT'
Most of the boys consider it none Of
those northern officers business what is
done down here in the mountains" re-
piled the colonel
But it's against the law, isn't it?"
"Yes, against their law; but our boys
don't mind the Yankee law to any alarm
ing extent"
at would be better to let distilling
alone anyway, think, don't your" ex-
claimed Adelaide, in a tone of such
earnestness that her father could no
longer evade the point.
"Oh, 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-l should think he'd scorn SO
vulgar business"
There's smack Of daring and danger
in it, and then, too, there is great deal
of money to be made," said Colonel Che
nier, putting rapidly at his pipe. ''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 at gallop
and drew rein in front of the mill.
He lifted his broad brimmed 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 well fitting gray clothes, with
heavy top boots, brass spurs and buck
skin gauntlets, to which were added a
leather waist belt and three heavy pis-
l.