The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-02-16
WYLIE ADAMS.
Tho Impotuous Nature Of a Child
Of the Woods.

yet with undertones of underlined
sweetness, evidently needing only cul-
tivation to bring it into power
The girl, for it was one, stood Just
on the bank of clear, running
stream, which might have been either a
river or Il creek-it was wide, limpid
and deep.
She was tall and som cwhat angular,
woman in height, but the short cot
ton frocll and short red hair and some
thing in the way she stood, spoke at
once of youthfulnesS, had not her voice
been heard She was in her eighteenth
year.
With one long brown hand shading
her eyes from the glaring autumn sun.
set, she stood apparently awaiting
some one.
All about her were the forest trees
in their richest colorings, and the soft
rustic of the leaves with the ripple of
the water was all that was heard for
moment after the shrill echo of her
voice died away; then the big black
dog lying ut her bare feet growled and
sprang quickly to his own.
Comm at last" the girl said in an
undertone, as the dip of oars, at first
family and then louder, fell upon her
ears.
with slight sneer, as small skiff
containing one occupant, u young fell
low of about twenty three years of age,
rounded the point.
He wore a suit of blue denims, a
rimless straw hat and his feet were
also bare. He was dark almost to
swarthiness. and his black eyes gave a
CLEAN of satisfaction for an instant,
while the rich blood suffused his neck
and face until it was fairly purple
81 amt late" he said slowly, while
wide sweep of the oars with his
strong arms and brawny shoulders
shot the little boat far upon the
pebbly shore, like an arrow from a
catapult.
lawful smart" the girl said, senten-
tiously, giving the huge brute at her
side several sharp cuffs on his ears to
emphasize her words and give vent to
her temper.
81 wouldn't kill the dog cause yer
mad at me, he said.
kill nothin'," she calculated, sullcn-
ly. What time dye reckon it is, Beech
nut Lord?"
Nigh onto six, l guess" he an
swcred, quietly, stepping from the
boat and drawing it still further on
shore. "Um, um, it's after seven"
He fastened the little craft. and then
as she started up the path he followed
her at the heels of the dog, and in
much the same detected way, through
the thick, winding ntcrlacing of leaves
and vines.
The faint tinlllc of bells could be
heard in the distance, as the trio fol-
lowed in the foot tracks of the lowing
kline, and anon the whir of partridges
and twitter of night birds. Darkness
fell as they reached the bars. where the
big eyed cows stood in the fading grass
and weeds, quietly waiting.
Beechnut took down the bars and
drove the cows into the yard, Wylie
following with her pink sun bonnet on
her arm, her sallow face full of discon-
tent He put up the bars again.
Good night" he said, kindly, and
turned away.
"Ain't We comm imp" Wylie turnes
suddenly and scowled.
mot might" and he was gone
Smart, like that" she commented.
nc Oie OOH SIlli SluuK dC ilSr
heels, and skullled after her as she en-
tered the low doorway of an old log
house, and then he crept under
coarse bed that stood in the corner OF
the low-ceilinged room, and lay down
with yawn.
Wylie Adams gave q little start as
she entered the room. A bright fire
burned in the wide fireplace, over
which hung an iron pot, from which
issued savory odors.
tall, middle-aged woman was busy
about the room and a stranger sat be-
fore the fire in one of the few splint-
bottomed chairs the cabin contained.
He did not see Wylie when she entered,
as he sat looking thoughtfully into the
fire, but the tall woman spoke.
wall, ye're cum at last?"
Wylie made no reply, but nod, and
Tor the first time in her life, looked
down with n blush at her bare feet,
which were both soiled and bruised.
1t was evidently something unusual
for stranger to be seen near Silver
creek, and this stranger was certainly
ont of the ordinary. Wylie's daring
spirit quailed.
lie turned and arose as Wylie's moth
er spoke, bowling and Offering his
chair, his eyes resting upon the long,
brown feet the young girl was vainly
endeavoring to conceal with her skirts.
Her face was crimson, The stranger
slightly lifted his eyebrows.
Don't be peacock" exclaimed Mrs.
Adams as she wiped her face with her
bingham apron. 81 rocking this young
fol 81
mout be purifier. Come, take hold and
help git supper on"
The crimson never left the young