The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1893-08-15

lSfactlon that CASTOR Williams saw before
him a rude house perched on the rocky hill
side so completely screened by the surround
ing trees that he had not seen it until a
sudden bend in the road brought him i'll
full view. He stopped his horse in front of
the tall rail fence and uttered 4 loud ''hel-
lo!' For moment all was silent save Tor
the echo of his own voice that still lin
gcred Ill the hills around, then girl III Il
faded calico dress, a gingham sun bonnet
shading her face. appeared in the doorway.
She looked at the stranger suspiclousiy-
strangers were rare III that section of the
country-and nodded Il careless 'howdy.
Il have lost my way he said politely.
and L have stopped to ask if you could give
me lodging for the night -
Il don't know as We have any room,
she answered cautiously. after Il momepts
hesitation, THE men folks went to town
today an amt got back yit. an you'd have
to see them bout it anyhow"
Is there any place near here where
they would take me!' he questioned.
"Oh, yes, she said quickly there's
Ebernezer Milligan's, that's lessern six miles
from here. l reckon you could git thar
afOre dark, an i mos knows he'd take
you"
He did not seem to notice her appa-
rent eagerness 10 get rid of him, for. not
ut all daunted. he commenced again in an
even more affable tone than he had hereto
employed:
Il have had long ride today and my
horse IS about played out. ] don't think
he can so much further. You scp,'
he added contidentialy, I'm
selling fruit trees through this part of the
country and I'd like to show you my cata-
logue, as have some very fine varieties ~
The gri looked relieved at the mention
OF his business and said more cordially
.Alebbe pap I'd like to sec EN-. Can't you
light and come III awhiIc?" With that he
dismounted, tied his horse TO the fence
and taking his saddle bags on his arm he
entered the yard. He was soon seated on
the porch buSily explaining the merits of
various highly colored plates, showing trees
bearing fruit of such enormous size and
beauty as was never seen outside the gar
den of Eden. So quickly did the time fly
that the sun was almost gone when the
girl said abruptly:
Il reckon We kin keep you fur the night
as its gettin late. now. Jes' take your
boss 10 the barn. right down thare across
the road. and put i'm up, pointing to roof
that could be seen in Il cump Of trees
You'll find feed a plenty in the crib :
, s'-s-.~f, returned to TIC = age lIatf az
hour afterwards he found the girl in earn
est conversation with two men, one a stur-
dy mountaneer of some fifty years, the
other tall, sullen-looking youth. who ex-
postulated;
Look Il heer, Matt, you must be mighty
keerfui. and she looked apprehensively
at the older man, and said
81 think he's Squar. pap"
That night Castor Williams fell asleep
with triumphant smile on his lips he
muttered 70 himself: Thanks to slick
tongue. old boy. you are at last in the
cabin of Lou Higgins. moonShner." The
next morning he breakfastcd alone with
Matt and as soon as he was seated, she
announced
IKE says rs how sunthn's the matter
with your hosss foot this mornn,' an he
ain able To travel
Indeed" he replied. as if rather pleased
with the news. Then I'm afraid I'll have
to ask you to let me stay here today, rs
/ see no way of continuing my journey
'''Taint 10 trouble she answered pleas
antly. fur don often have anybody
passin' up heer. an, its kinder nice to see
new face raSionally."
Something in her voice and note of
loneliness OF feeling perhaps. caused him
to look at her with sudden interest She
was rot pretty; he had decided that the
night before. and with mans disregard
for details, he had not noticed anything
further about her appearance. But now,
as he scrutnized her more closely, he de-
cded there was something attractive about
her face, with its heavy black hair cOlled
low on her neck and her eyes brown and
appealing, a certain tirmncss about the
lines of her mouth with lis full sensitive
lips. n face that would have been full OF
passion and feeling had not its expression
been one of constant repression.
She did not seem communicating, and
finding that his efforts at conversation did
NOT meet with any encouragement. ne also
reiapsed into silence, which lasted until
they had completed the morning meal
After ne had gone out and examined his
horse he sat for Il long time on the front
porch watching Il daring red bird that fit
ted in and out among the trees, turning TO
lCs,k at him with a cOquettiSh turn OF the
head, and then flying far away until 1t
faded Il crimson spark i'll the distance.
Finally he thought Of Matt. and the thought
of her brought with it little thrill OF sym.
patbv SO pcrcepthie that he soon found
himself seated on the kitchen doorstep
watching her AZ she moved quickly about
in her preparations for dinner.
Don't you get lonely here" he ven
tured. after he had watched her in silence
potatoes. apparently unconscious of his
can't say as / do" she replied
Guess I'm use to it. Mas been gone nigh
onto FIVE year now, ali / We live heer look
i'm after pap an Ike with no women folks
bout till / kinder like bein' by myself. :"
III seems To me terribly monOt0nous
life for yOu, he persisted. Just one
woman living up here in The mountains
apart from ali her sex .,
oh I'm Il Georgy cracker by perfeSson.'
she said. with slight touch of bitterness
in her voice. AN | amt never knowcG
ANYTHING outside o that. Don't know how
Id feel Of III been born in town WHARF folks
don see none Nv bois maxim round
'enI. nothin' but what the've done them
selves. les houses an scch like tell You
mos forgit God knows how to do anything.
You don't like the city then: he ques-
toned, with some amuSerncna
NO" she replied, shaking her head a
once. aim never been thare sence, an
don want to go no more. Folks wuz all
SO busy they didn't seem to have no time to
Ecnr fur nobody. an l never WIZ 50 glad
as when L got back hcer WHARF thare wuzl
nlenty Nv sky over me. an the hills an
treps hadn't never looked so nice rs they did
after | got way from thai cramped UP
city WHARF thare did'nt, seem hardly ,'nouah
breath fur all them folks. But mebbe YOU
like 10" she said. looking at him nquiringly.
.Oh, yes" he answered carelessly. I've
always lived there
II 'spose YOU can git Use to anything
she said plrlosophcaly. but it nd go
mighty hard with me to n have to ,o live thare
thing ND heer ies' like it belonged to me;
them thare hills that alus looks like they
wuz wrapped up in a piece Nv blue sky,