Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1893-01-28

~ - with n C o
mauve. Warm, low gusts of wind
came at intervals from the southwest
and drove loose, crisp brown leaves, that
had chung to the oaks all through the
winter, in gently whirling fight before
them.
Old Ciaybank cropped rumlnatingly
at the messy roots hidden under the last
years leaves. The other two horses
were fain to forego such rofreshm cut,
since the men standing beside them kept
firm hand on their brides. One OF
these men was quite white under his
tanned skin. He was powerful young
fellow whose straight featured, appar
emily impassive face held latent sugges-
tlous of possible characterization to those
privileged to read character from subtle
indications. His eyebrows were sharply
drawn together now above his uneasy
eyes.
"They hev got TO KEN by this hyar
road" he said, rs if answering some
doubt that had arisen in his companion :
mind. "They amt no other. And it
air powerful quare thing eft they don't
KEN along mighty quick now"
"Wal," drswed the younger he was
scarcely more than boy-lugubriously
81 low that ye know yer own bizness,
Rufe. But don't seem to git my own
consent uohow to this hyar what we'uns
Aev undertook ter do this aft"
"Now, shet up" said the elder
brother, Scowling, ahame with impor-
lance and the imminence of the deed OF
desperate recklessness. "You knows
an knows tibet thar amt hair o the
gals head what's goin' ter be fetched
She'll be ez safe down to Their cabin as
eff she wal with her ma thet's dead. But
s-havin her marry that thar dad-burned
Budd Wayne, all along o the jawin' aud
the compellin o them two brothers o
heru, air what amt a-goiu' to stan
Ef ye want to hoip, ez ye promised, ye'ii
hev yer chance inside mint. An et
yer don't, why, take yer horse and GO!
I'll git shet O. this job without'u no holp
frum nobody"
The younger Person made no reply.
He was destitute OF personal vO!itiou in
momentous affairs and even in minor
ones was wont to defer to his brother.
On the mountain he was considered al.
together ''no count critter." Spite
of his fery temper, his stubbornness and
rashness, the same judgment had never
been passed on Rufus Pierson. People
who had grievance even against him
were apt to let him alone. They found
il more comfortable.
He had scarcely finished speaking
when there came in sight at some dis.
lance along the hard clay road tt at
wound downward from the further
heights team of mules and a long, low
wagon with limp canvas stretched to
form a tent-like cover over successive
hoops of wood The body of the wagon
was painted sickly and dust stained
green, and low in the centre as it was.
and rising up at either end as it did, it
had shape which most strongly sug-
gested boat on wheels. It aud the
"beastises" were not to be mistaken.
Here was what the brothers had been
waiting for.
Slowly this mountain variety OF the
"prairie schooner" came nearer Rlfe
Pierson threw one glance at the clay
bank. Then he vaulted into his saddle.
His brother-still dolorously, unenthus-
iastically acqulesccnt- followed the ex,
ample.
The sun, which hal been sinking uu
noticed, meantime hung above the
Western ridge like a child's very much
inflated crimson balloon. The smoky
mist was deepening uere and there into
violet
A gigantic cfump of rhododendrons, a
congregation of hardy little teuder greel
pine shrubs made sequestering hedge,
together with a few little white barked
beech sapliugs and some young NAPLES
tasseled all with red, behind which the
Persons and their mounts escaped de-
lection. But from his own vantage
point Rule could see clearly through the
low opening Of the approaching wagon
and ms eyes convinced him that he had
not laid bis p.als absottiyely.
ldelia was diving the mules ana cart
slowly homeward alone.
Then there happened that which was
the talk OF the mountain exclusively for
many many day after.
Different accounts Of the occurrence
percolated into the country papers, the
the chief 0, which rea somewhat as
follows:
A ginEo o. Young ruti ms on Clay Noun
tain. Ten aides 40 IS Il yI-sv.lie, com Mite
a deed OF daring lawiessn .ss tla other day.
They ran away with the daughter of
mountaiusl, waon they met driving
teams OF mules alone at nightfall The des-
psraiioes cJnstrainsi tbs young girl To
mount horse they ha kept in ambush for
the purpose, and WITH her rode May miles
into the mountains Tue men have teen
caught aud viii be trie to-day at Hyiss.
vile. The brothers o the CIR, and a youns
moautainesr, whom shs was Co marry. have
been care. uliN wI-c lie =. as tlsy have swora
terri ls vsIs sance on tue miscreants.
he iir- hai bseu eft to go out in the
STAY, uf inc eaurt room hat that nrA.