The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-12-03
Tho Moonshincr's wife,


At midnight thore came sudden knocking
at the door Of the M ountaineer's cabin.
WHO'S thar2'
Open the door. Bushl I have FIVE men with
me. and it's no uss Tor YOU to resist. II We have
to fire into the windows. some Of your family
will be killed"
IN come out. What ais yo' all. any way 2"
"lts for moonshinng. Bush"
Hunt I'm not skeart OF that Yo' all would
a-showed moro sense to como BY daylight
Reub Bush hain't been abiding from nobody"
deputy United States marshal and posse
on the one side. and the owner OF a twenty
acre farm ON the other. There's still hidden
away in some gorge OF tho mountain. but the
marshai's men have spent DAYS and days in q
vain search. some one has given in formation
that Reub Bush is moonshiner. however
and he is to be carried OF to Jail in hope that a
case may be worked up against him. In ten
minutes the m ountaineer Is ready to go with
the posse. lie betrays neithe indignation nor
and no tears to shed. His three children ha We
been aroused. but they rub their eyes and
"WhS ali did it, Ecani" the wife Whispers.
Dan Msgchem, | reckon" he replies -" Him
went to town to-day ON his mewl. Him's Jest
They handcufr him and hurry him away.
The children drop back on their pillows and
the candle and seeks her bed. Dan Meachem
is q constable at thu cross roads hamlet. three
miles away The woman could recall two or
three other cases in which he was believed to
be guilty OF giving information. and her
heart hardened she said aloud:
III they all let Reub 20 it will be all right.
shall die"
There was no moro thinking or wondering or
planning She had said she would do thus and
so. Her resolution was interchangeable. She
did not DAYS passed, ana at the end OF a
week a nctEhhpr told her that the Gov
Sod him nor for ra sSs lid nS SuS ned hsfsn
down and weep Her eyes were not even moist
as she ~, turned 70 her children and said
ian tyr a right smart while. aud it's no use to
What's Iail ?" asked one.
Place fur pore folks who try TO make a
liyin. scatter or 10 bed now. cause yor mauI
She sat in front OF the log hre with her elbow
on her knee and her chin on her hand unit
they, wHr. fast asleep. Then she rose up and
resting place on the deer horns IL was Load
ed She drew the charge. wiped the barrel
express ion Of sadness US she sat looking into
The IRE. She had no sooner taken down the
and She shut her teeth SO hard that her breath
They ali ar gwine, to hang, to ,Reub." she
snid as she repla 'sd the gun, and to-morrer
III ambush Dan Mrachen."
That settled n. She was abcd and asleep
band TO the officers. Why not An eve for an
eye had always been her maxim. ~ COURSE.
she would shoot him. Ne no doubt expected
hor to d." SO. She never stcPt more soundly
ing sho said to the children:
Mans gwins To the cross roads. lo' all kin
Keep the cabin while I'm gone"
Dan Aearhem was hoein3 corn In a field half
a mile from his house. A. 10 o'clock. as he
REACHED tho west end IT n row and leaned on
his hoe 10 rest u tongue ~ fame dartcd out Of
The bushes. rifle cra"@cd. und the man fell |
back dead. shot thrnugl tho hpaIt.
- sald would, aud hey whispered Rsuh
Bushs wife ns she stool NJ aud looked over
he hazel bushes AT the man lying OH his back
three rods away bnu we Onery. Him give
AcuO VI. Him deserved it,
. AZ noon sua Was hOWssgila her children.
Ihry were not Oh-prNINg children, or they
wouIl have noticed her pals face and com
pressed llrs Nh' had work TO do. but she laid /
me. She hnd shot a man. She was waiting (
tor men 10 come aud arrest her FOR the crime, !
She had been seer on the highway with the /
rifle, and doubt she would AZ once DO sus-
peeted. Very we'll: Let them come.
An hour before sunset an officer drove up
. lowdy, hIIs. Bush - |
"llOwdy. Tom 2"
=, 90, t. 90 up with mo fur shootin' Dan /
hseqEGhema"
She put on hersunbonnet. reHi ed and lighted I
her Ilpe, ant WAS ready. The children be- .
she iollowe the onlrer she said:
-, O all shet up the cgtin and 20 over 10 /
ncl0 Jim :. They all i gWina TO hang y0'r I
nam fur shpltin' Ian Mearhpm."
She climbed over tho wheel ~ seat on Tho .
wagon ant was driven aYa". n"yer once glluc-
ng hark war; !, not a word 10 the tnau whU was
lrlYInE her T. Eer death