Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1892-09-20


I asked her II she was not lonely out
here In the mountains. and her Response.
made without looking up from her work,
was q slight shake Of the head.
"Arc you the only childy' I asked after
schilling pause.
"So. thar's Hen she said.
"Is he In tlo army
"No-
"Not old enoughY
"So-
"Your father ever in the army
"No."
"IIes our side. amt he.-
whats thatY' Now sho did look M,
and before could collect my thoughts
she added In . whisper. "You uns Is
Yank., 20 shuah."
"who told you
"lknow hit" This was aid with an
emphasis that no denial could change.
Itcok from my pocket more Confesier-
ate money than had given her father.
and placing II before her isaidi
"Min. that Is for you. Now ! want
you 10 le my friend. You are right
We arc Yanks whatis Ia your father
"IIo's q Confed." she said. as she con.
cealed tho money In her breast, ''and
you unsll have 10 watch him." she went
on. "rm 10 tho Union. | am. and
that's why be hates me like pirsn.-
by Joye. Min. ! exclaimed. as !
spnng over and seirei her hand. "you
are trick. and like you
"And like you uns. che replied She
reached her face up 10 mine, and II IL
was not an invitation 10 b. kissed. am
sure she was not displeascd at the salu.
tation gave her.
Whether 10 was the money or the kiss
that thawed her re,iccnce and loOsencd
her tongue I cannot pretend 10 say. but
perhaps 10 was both. know, however.
that she started In to talk NJ II we had
becn together since childhood. stopping
now and then % 20 30 the door. where
she pccred ont and listened. with her
hand ~ her ear.
u course cannot recall the exact
words Of any Of the narratives recorded
In my sketches u the mountaincers. but
what the girl said while she was cover.
ing the pones with ashes and live Goals
aud watching the baking did not vary
In thought or phraseology materially
from this;
"Yaas. hits NOS powahful lonely out
har In these hills. and sometimes when
dad and Hens away 20 . long time. and
don't see no one, gets out and hollers,
jest 10 heah the echo a-comin back. And
ca no one heahs me. no one knows what
hollers-but hits Lin Moore's name
oh, you uns needn't 81 look s'prised.
Don't know whar he was Yesterday
20 shuah does. Ye-. mebb. he'll come
bsck when the wahs oyah. Il 80 h. he
hain't dead. Hes man. 1. Lin Moore.
AMI be don't lie % man. woman nor
chile, and he don't skecr 20 cent: 81
you uns think he does-try him. that's
all. but dad. waal mebbo bit don't
seem nat'ral 90 me 20 talk % him, but
haint blind, and when ! haint blind
how can help a-seein Jet what he Is
and what's into himi n ~ h. 4, hadn't
"a been e. dads drinking an hghtin. an
a-kyarin on. Jasper way. afoah Hen was
lawn. Hend "a been like We uns, In.
stead O. bein a nat'ral. Then dad Amt
sluah. Hes got hit into his head iha,
every,hin he ken tote oa without beip
seed l. his'n. Then he's got a lot noah
Of the ole stay-at-homes into the same
way Of thinkin. and them uns Is even
a.tsachin pore Hen. "a wouldn't commit
q sin Il ~ bo he was 10 do murdah.
10 steal.
l thought % my glasses a. she aid
this. and wa. about 10 tell her u them.
when. without any knock, a lank man
clad Ia butternut and with his trousers
inside a pair % wrinklcd. rusty boots.
came in. with the Inevitable squirrel
rife In his lean. cinnamon colOred hands.
Tho mans thin bcarl and long hair
were a rusty black. and there was GER
tain sneaking expression In the face that
was not at all progressing. Giving
mo nOi. tlio man said
"Eyenin, Min. Howdeey-
"IIowdce. Peety' she responded
Hugh homer
"No."
"Back soony'
Reckon 81"
"You uns peah 90 30 have compny."
"Yaas. Peet, strangers a-restin and
pas,erin their critters"
"Sojersy" This was addressed TO the
by the man Peet.
"Yes. my friend. trying 10 bel re-
piled with affected heartine-s.
"IIit's doggone hard life"
80 Il is, air. and hope u Will soon 10
over
Thar. some ex thinks hit won't nevah
stop. but ~ all hal a-keeri a. little 10
fightin ex the. hit wouldn't a neyah BE-
gun" Then with change Of manner
and addressing me. "Come from up
Chatt'nooga wayr
"Yes."
"Bound 10 bridgeport. reckonr
"No; Stevenson"
Not caring 20 talk with this man. for
I could see he was trying 20 act, went
down 90 the creek where the horses
were grazing and the men were sitting
In group with their carbines IN ther
laps had Just explained 10 them that
after we had had something 10 eat we
should push on and try 20 ge' % eeus
Hugh Mcneil came 20 say that he had
p'uSu'e, p'.ou s,.. anu .o'n ao.,nn % a. -
Dor, anu that MIN was cvokihs tho ioi-