The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-08-28
, WAS WINTER IN THE MOUNT.

ne oky above looked oOmo:e, sAlthOugh
he slops OF the mountain was edged by 4
inc Of light whore the sun hung far bslox
q the valley like = suspended ball 81 Ars,
till 70 the solitary horssman moving slowly
- the mountain trail the night had closed
u. The tall pines and dense laurel, with
heir dark green foliage, excluded the last
thinner Of the day.
Not Q house or sign of habitation Was in
light. Not = sound could BE- heard saws the
oar Of the Tallulah river. which, though
narrow and far from deep. WAS rushing
long ito rocky bed and dashihe over bowl.
Asrs and gorQsa with I loud. continuous
nurmur that in this rarsted air swslled
INTO . roar. Altogether IL was a scene a.
Wild and deserted a. Ions traveller could
wish TO be stranded in.
The horseman struck . match and oon-
bultsd his watch.
"HaIf after four" he murmured, ''and
hieht! Shall 1 never reach Cofee's? Is it
possible that ! I'm lost in this God-forsaken
wilderness? He lit a cigar and after a few
OUTS and some silent meditation his dis
kust aud sense of injury again found vent
n words.
"What did those three wretohes mean by
giving me tho directions they did7" he de-
handed. apparently add ressing his horses
bars, but that intelligent animal merely
Tapped the aforesaid members and main
aimed . discreet silence. II know they
we're all lies. for svery = was different,
ind none of them the least like what ! was
old in the valley. All! there IL aliaht now!
ri mako for II. II may be Cofee's and it
may not. Anything il preferable TO freez-
Eng to death In these woods and being de-
Eoured by the Wildcats"
In The distance and far above him the
kaint glimmsr Of . light danced. now lost
Ind shut out by the dense growth of noun
lain laurel that rose in many places above
his head, and anon shining ont brighter for
" temporary eclipse. a. n1ekerlne ana
He followed its CLEAN steadily, and % he
drew nearer it resolved itself into myriad
smaller onea, which he soon perceived to be
hrelipht streaming through the ohinks OF .
log cabin.
He drew his horse up to the rail fenoe-
khere was no Rate-and hallooed. This
brought from the rear about . half dozen
dogs, all barking and yelping. and TO the
hoo Of the cabin = tall, r~aw-bonsd woman
With a gun In her hand and four children
BIZ different sizes olinRinR to her soant
akirta.
basal drawl. a'Who be You uns?"
'Lueian sHartredge, madam he replied:
unoovering his head. rs this Mr.. Cotfse'sr
'.How many's out thar" she demanded,
ignoring his question, INC still holding the
gun protecting!y, in front OF her.
"Only myself"
'Good heavens, moi" he exclaimed, an
explanation why his fellow travellers had
kried to mislsad him occurring suddenly TO
him. Coffee was . moonshiner, and these
m~ountainesrs tool him, Lucian HartrsdRe,,
TO be . revenue officer. .s
weapon, "'iight an come In. Hyar. you
Jake"-to q boy behind hsr-"eo out thar
|an' ten tor the strangers beast"
Mr.. HartredRe climbed the fence and fol-
lowed the woman into the dimly lighted,
interior. She threw on q pine knot. and as
this blazed up the was flooded with a
bright rudy glow, and he could discern his
hostess and ID s%rpundines very infinitely.
The room was after the pattern Of dozens
|of other mountain homes. loes "chinkee'
with clay mortar. whioh falling out in
places let in cold and lot out the light. and
under foot was a punohson floor. There
n window with wooden
leading to an adjoining bedroom
land tho other two being font and back
doors. A ladder in one corner led to a
sleeping apartment above. The rafters and
sides Of the room were festooned with
strings Of red and green perpers. button
bags Of herbs, hanks of yarn and cooking
utensils. There were two beds. covered
with Qaudy calico quilts; q spinning wheel
was pushed against the logs, on which hung
hanks of yarn. while three of the children
dumped themselves on the floor around the
fire and busted themselves at the task
Hartredae's arrival had interrupted, card
Us this Mr.. Co6se'sp" the young man
asked, holding his bsnumbsd fngers TO the
blake.
hain't hyar." yr
"Isn's' here2 Whore is hs9 I am very
"Wha' fur ?' she demanded, suspiciously.
II am interested in the manufacture of
in Savannah, and I'm looking for
iron pYrites mine which Ia in this neigh
borhood. Twas told that Mr.. Coffee. could
locate it for me-, as it was on his land"
"Waal. l low he could, Of he wuz hyur.
took him off this evenin' jes' bout a hour
10 you uns rid up. Flow he's fur ON his
way ter Atlanty by now. They lowed he
moonshine whisky. but no don't. He
duz." FIT, >e%rl "
..That is a dreadful disappointment" M.
Hartredgs rejoined. II have come q long
way in search Of that mine. and l was told
In the valley that Mr.. Coffee was the only
one who could give mo any definite infor-
nation. How long will he DO gomez"
"Gawd know. He mouRht be gone a week
an he mought be gons a yur. He'll halter
. trial-leas' ways. Of he don't git way
f'um the You uns MouRht bide
fur a spell till We ms kin hyar FUN
you are very kind" he replied POLITELY. !
II will have to take advantage of your hos /
for tonight at any rate" He
Dould not bring himself to accept his rude !
for Any definite period.
won't ys hev q bite O. sump'in?' his /
asked Hospitality. I'VE uns hain't |
got mach, but you uns air free ter what's
hyar."
''Ihank you. I am hungry. I've had
since . seven O'Clock breakfast,
lnd thirty miles in the saddle are inclined |
10 whet ones Appetite"
'Eilly Ann" she said, addressing The
.msllest child at the IRE, Ego toll yo' aunt
Crrissy ter kem an AZ up a bite fur che |
Flow sho be bout done s'milk- |
in by now. Milly Ann" she explained to !
her guest, lair my biggest boys Young un, |
IN her mammy's daid. Tn rest o. the
'hillun air mine. None o. the men folks |
IRE hyar. I've two crowned boys, but they
VIZ tuok long o. the ole man. Air Cprissy |
l-comin'p" she demanded Of che tow
child. who just then re-sntsrsd tho
"Yass-sum. granny; she's . oomi.' ter
In . short time the back door again !