The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1894-12-06
VIRGINIA MOUNTAIN FOLK.

straight for the valley. | had left the
path, and suddenly found myself
breaking through a brush fence and
half way across clearing" The
place was unfamiliar to me. A cabin,
preserving miraculous balance,
tilted forward from the steep side of
the mountain. Its plank roof was
weighted down by rocks, and the log
chimueys leaned out on either side
like ill-set ears.
The door was opened for me by an
old woman, who shut it as soon as l
had entered. She gave me chair,
hoped thatl was ''peart." Plank shut
ters had been put before the windows,
50 the rain might not come in. When
my eyes became accustomed to the dim
light, l saw that q man and girl sat on
a bench in one corner. The girl was
small and slight, and her hair hung
short, like child's, about her throat;
but her eyes were womanly. The man
was Il specimen Of hardy life, with
broad, deep, full chest, great hands,
all Drawn and muscle, and head set
well back, covered with short, crisp
Curls, that in themselves spoke of his
splendid vitality. This couple gazed
curiously at me for time, but they
did not speak.
The old woman began talking in
q cracked, tremulous voice. She had
fine eyes, undimmed, and full of wis
dom. Her head was tied in snuff
colored cloth that disclosed at the
back a hard knot of gray hair She
was so bent that her waist had sunk
out ofsight, and her dress had shortened
at the back, exposing the white knit
stockings. She talked to me about
the folks Whereabouts, and, finding
that many of them were intimates Of
mine, She told me all the gossip of the
mountain.
The rain poured in steady stream,
beating through the chiDks between
the logs, down the chimney, and
against the plank shutters. The old
woman talked or, treating me to sage
advice and sound philosophy. The
two in the other corner sat silent;
neither had spoken since l had come
in. But l noticed that the mans fin
gers moved rapidly all the time and
that the girl kept her eyes on them.
That's the way he talks to her" the
old woman said to me. Hes the I'M
fortunest critter ever was Carn't
speak nor hear. But then Dochy
knows well enough what he means by
them finger tricks. They've been
keepin' comp'ny goin' on four year,
Bulge an Dochy has" she went on
without lowering her voice. She's
my CURL; an Budge's father was my
brother jeff That makes 'em kin
Bulge has stayed long err Dochy an
me ever since her pa been dade.
Seemed kinder likely they'd be carin
for one mother"
| wanted to ask why they had not
been married, but l had discovered
that the old woman was stone deaf.
With quick perception she guessed my
question. Bulge is kinder foolish,
she said, IAN somehow he amt never
made fxin's fer Their gittin' jined.
Cert'ny faint Dochy's business to see
about it,"
A dog whined outside, and, at a mo-
ton from his sweetheart, the man got
up to open the door. l saw then that
he had wooden leg.
Gle fell offer Pixies rock into Har-
ris' Level, an broke his leg " the old
woman said to me. / knew the place.
A bowlder hangs far over, above a
fiat stretch of land that scoops right
into the mountain side. 1T war right
bad broke" she went on, IAN DIR. Joe
had to cut it off-thar, you see, clean
above the knee tint. 1t war bout
then that Bulge an Dochy foun' out
they was liliin' of one 'nother-jest
bout the time when he broke his leg,
and DR.. Joe got him another f.. the
valley. DR.. Joe could ha' got 'em
jined by the preacher, an asked him
to do it. But he said as how Bulge
was simple, and they was too near kin.
Pears to me if they's carin' of one
mother carnt be no harm noway what
sOmcver comes bout"
She paused and reelected, then
turned to her daughter: ITS bout
time you was gettin' supper, she said,
1.-THE suns drappin'; it'll soon be the
edge CIR darkness"
The girl rose and went into the
inner room. A pctulant frown crossed
the mans face, but passed, leaving it
childishly bright, as it had been be-
fore. The old woman sat thinking for
some minutes, then she said to me:
II see how it ken be fixed; I've bin
studin' bout it; you ken see bout the
preacher jinin' them" She looked at
me eagerly You don't see no harm
in their bein kin, do you, nor Bulge
bein' fo'llish nuther?" l shook
my head. She looked pleased and
said: 'Go in thar" pointing to the
inner room, IAN talk to Dochy bout
it."
went into the kitchen. The girl
had lit the fire. and now stood stirring
the contents of big pot. The glow
from the pine wood softened her
pinched features and frightened her
hair. | saw by this better light that
she had an earnest brow and an inno-
cent mouth. When l asked her if she
would like to marry Bulge, she an
swered Yes" quite simply, continu-
ing TO stir the meat and cabbage.