The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1893-02-02

mauVe. warm, low gusts OF wind
came at intervals from the southwest
and drove loose, crisp brown leaves, that
had clung to the oaks all through the
winter, in gently whirling flight before
them.
Old Claybank cropped rumlnatingly
at the mossy roots hidden under the last
years leaves. The other two horses
were fain to forego such rcfreshmcnt,
since the men standing beside them kept
a firm hand on their brides. Oue of
these men was quite white under his
tanned skin. lie was powerful young
fellow whose traight-featurei, appar.
emily impassive face held latent sugges-
tions of possible insubordination to those
privileged to read character from subtle
indications. His eyebrows were sharply
drawn together now above his uneasy
eyes.
"Thcy hev got to KEN by this hyar
road" be said, as if ebs 'ring some
doubt that had arisen ia nis companions
mind. "rhey ANT no other. Aud it
air powerful quare thing et they don't
ken along mighty quick now"
"Wal," drawled the younger-he was
scarcely more than boy--lugubriously
"I low that ye know yer own bizness,
Rufe. But | don't seem to git my own
consent nohow to this hyar what we'uns
hev undertook ter do this aft"
"Now, shet up" said the elder
brother, scowling, ahame with impor.
tance and the imminence of the deed of
desperate recklessness. "You knows
an knows thet thar amt hair o. the
gals head what's goin' ter be fetched
She'll be ez safe down to ther cabin as
ef she wal with her ma thet's dead. But
a-havin' her marry that thar dad-burned
Budd Wayne, all along o the jawin' and
the compellin' O them two brothers o.
hern, air what amt a.goin' TO stan
IF ye want to holp, ez ye promised, ye'll
hev yer chance inside mint. An ct
yer don't, why, take yer horse and 60!
I'll git shet O. this job without'n no holp
frum nobody"
The younger Pierson made no reply.
He was destitute of personal voIition 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 fiery temper, his stubbornness and
rashness, the same judgment had never
been passed on Rufus Pierson. People
who had a grievance even against him
were apt to let him alone. They found
it more comfortable.
He had scarcely finished speaking
when there came in sight at some dis.
tance along the hard clay road that
wound downward from the further
heights team of mules aud long, low
wagon with limp canvas stretched 10
form tent.like cover over successive
hoops OF wood. The body Of the wagon
was painted slckly and dust-stained
green, and low in the centre as it was,
and rising up at either end as it did, il
had shape which most strongly sug.
gested boat on wheels. II and the
"beastises" were not 10 be mistaken.
Here was what the brothers had been
waiting for. =
Slowly this mountain variety OF the
"prairie schooner" came nearer. Rufe
Pierson threw one glance at the clay
bank. Then he vaulted into his saddle.
His brother-still dolorously, unenthus.
iastically acqulescent-iollowed the ex-
ample.
The sun, which had been sinking un.
noticed, meantime hung above the
Western ridge like child's very much
inflated crimson balloon. The smoky
mist was deepening here and there into
violet.
A gigantic clump Of rhododendrons, a
congregation Of hardy little tender green
pine shrubs made a sequestering hedge,
together with a few little white -barked
beech saplings and some young naples
tasseled all with red. behind which he
Piesons and their mounts escaped de.
lection. But from his own vantage
point Rufe could see clearly through the
low opening of the approaching wagon
and his eyes convinced him that he had
not Laid bis plans sbsortively.