The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-02-05
Alb" BECAME A HERO

tied on his sunburned face, and as he sat
on stump by the bride path he dug his
heels into the stony soil and uttered
naledictions on the world in general.
Abithar Achish Higgins was evidently
waiting for some one who was not on
time. Abithar Achish was the Scriptural
name bestowed upon a tall, ungainly
youth of twenty summers by mother
who was deeply religious, and was taken
haphazard from the good book, just like
all the names for the Higgins progeny.
And Abithar Achish's mother always
called him by his full name. But she
was the only one who did. Everybody
else called him Alb.
CAB Higgins, yer durn fool fer stay
in here" said the youth to himself as his
heels dug very viciously into the soil.
why don't yer get outen hyar an see
Their world? Yer fit fer sumthin better
than Twin an dyin in these mountings
like yer par did, an never a KNOWN
nothin. If yer git outen hyar yer kin
make err fortsn', an thet's sumthin yer
can't make hyar no more'n yer kin keep
outen Their clutches O ther revenoos
when yer make little whisky B'gosh,
Alb, why don't yer start terday?"
Alb answered his own question by as
Stunning standing position and kicking
huge chunks from the decayed stump
that had served him as a seat.
81 reckon Meliss amt COMM" said
Ab, after kicking at the stump for a
time, IAN | reckon I'll go home an tell
nam as how I'm goin ter Saint Looey fer
ter make furtun'."
Alb turned slowly and began walking
up the bride path. He had taken scarce
half dozen steps, when a soft voice
issued from the bushes and hailed him:
"Oh, Alb, what a silly thing yer gittin
ter be!'
Alb stopped and broad smile spread
over his homely face as he turned and
saw girl step into the bride path.
Give been hidin in Their bushes fer a
half'n hour" said the girl, ian l heerd
what yer said about goin ter Saint
Looey an maxim yer FORUM. Air yer
gittin too good fer Barker's Clearin?"
"Wot yer wanter teaze teller fer,
Meliss" said Alb in deprecating tone
as he and the girl sat down in the shade
and clasped hands lovingly.
Melissa Rankin was pretty, despite
the ungainly bonnet that surrounded
her face and homespun dress that lily
fitted her form. Her father was Sin
Jail" at Jefferson City for the crime of
being caught in the act of illicit distill-
ing, and she and her mother lived alone
in cabin that was perched upon the
bank of the rushing mountain brook
that furnished the power for the rude
mill that was the pride Of Barker's
Clearing.
Alb and Melissa had been "sparkin''
for two years, and it was evident to the
whole clearing that there would be a
wedding as soon as Alb was OLD enough
to go to the county seat and blushingly
assert that he was twenty-one.
The leaves of the scrub oaks were fast
turning brown in the autumn winds and
; blowing hither and thither on the
breezes. Melissa had noticed change
in her Alb of late Not that he appeared
less affectionate than of old, but that he
, seemed preoccupied and discontinued
with his surroundings. The change had
begun soon after Mr.. Goss had left Bar
ker's Clearing. Goss was young law
student from st. Louis, and he spent the
summer at the clearing fishing and
, hunting. During his stay Alb was his
] constant companion. AS the two idled
: away many summer afternoon in the
I shade on the mountain side Goss poured
into the ears of the listening Abithar the
S myths and legends of ancient days, and
q told of the great world that lay beyond
G the rugged Ozarks that had heretofore
seemed to Abithar to be the utmost
bounds of the earth.
"Come to st. Louis, Alb, and I'll make
a rich man of you," were Goss' parting
words, as he left the clearing to return
E to his home in the city.
. The words had been spoken in jest
c but Abithar cherished them in his heart
: and as the days passed he became more
and more convinced that out in the
D world was wealth and fame for him az
:, well as for others.
e Alb and Melissa sat and talked as the
? afternoon waned. Melissa strived t.
0 persuade Alb that he would better re
+ main where he was and not attempt t.
+ battle with the great outside world
"Stay right hyar, Ab," said Melissa
IVY can't yer be content like yer pal
wuz? He wuz born right hyar at Bar
$ ker's Clearin, an at Barker's Clearin h,
0 died. Ye amt no better'n yer pap, ali
t YEP
b "What is there hyar fer man to do
S Melissa Eff stay hyar I'll never noun
t ter nothin, but eff ! go out an see tn
= world maybe kin get rich. Maybe
can get ter be what Mr. Gloss said WI,
er hero-one O them fellers like Apoller
8 or like Their man as flung hisself ca then
!, Ostrian spears ter save his country.
9 KANT do ct eff stay hyar. Eff l dom
git out O hyar I'll never be wutl
shucks."
;, "But what'll become of me, Alb, e
a yer go 'way?' asked Melissa in a tearfu
- voice.
when l get ter be one O them ricl