Birmingham age-herald., 1895-04-14
A HOMELY HEROINE.
A Love Tale of the Cumberland Mountains.

called "Mel' for the same reason that her brothers, Christopher Columbus and Alexander Hamilton, were known re- spectively as Lum and Ellick
 Rosie was older than Mel, and, oh, so different. Her features were hard and unlovely, her hair a sandy mop, that she invariably screwed into a belligerent knot at the back of her head. She was awkward and hard, taking, by right of plainness, the control of the rude kitchen. being the slave of the two brothers and the bondswoman of Mel. There was only one person in the wide world who cared for Rosie-Ham Bro demand she was to marry him in three months.
 I wonder if you know what marriage means in the mountains of Kentucky? To the class to which Rosie belongs 1t means a changing from one house to another, perhaps ruder one. It means toll from morning till night-if. one is tidy housekeeper, or the living in pow erty most grinding and dirt most re- volting if one is not. It means, too the rearing of children that come so fast there is little hope of their great enlight- enment on any subject.
 Yes, Rosie was to be married in three months. There was only one bright streak across her sombre life-her love for Ham. He was a great, hulking fel- low, a country gawk. perhaps, but Rosie asked nothing better than to be his wife
 Mel was as different from Rosie as night from day Her face was flower like in it's delicacy, the blue veins show ing fine and clear beneath the tranSpar- ent skin, hinted of some far-off trace of kinship to the gods. Her eyes were gray and large, jet-fringed and whiteslided, and some kindly Midas had laid his hand upon her hair, turning its strands to dead and furnished gold. She was hi fnf 6atr oh ina f~ni o nd tiful a thing made for smiles, to be killed by a frown She had had two years of school-life, and it had taken her completely out of the humble way that must be Rosie's. It was during her ab- sence that Rosie met and loved Ham better for her that Mel had never come home!
 It was nearing the wedding day, and RoSie's spare moments were spent in fashioning a white dress-poor enough. God knows, but miracle of beauty in Rosie's eyes. She had never before had a white dress, and this one was to be trimmed with lace and she was to have a ribbon for her waist She sewed in some busy, womanly little thoughts, and once or twice she startled herself by humming a tune she had heard Mel sing.
 It was the close of a droning autumn day; across the stretch of rocky field the butterflies swung lazily over few strag- gling weeds in flower. The Cumberland could be heard as its waves Tapped fret fully the rocky banks, and just beyond the blue mountains rose, sleepy and si- lent cased in a drowsy haze and well nigh yielding to the August sultrinesS. Rosie was in the kitchen getting ready for the homely supper. She was tired, for 1t had been hard day and the sewing had gone wrong. She gave sigh of half fret ful weariness as she moved about, clang- ing the few pots and pans, and a little frown came upon her face as a shadow lay on the floor and Ellick lounged in.
 He was great strapping fellow. strong as most Kentucktans are, with a sort Of native grace that showed itself in the way he pulled off his immense straw fiat" barring his sunburned temples.
 Supper ready?" he interrogated.
 twill be in al minute; whar's Mel?"
 Ellick shifted his quid of tobacco to the other side of his not unhandsome mouth and glanced at her uneasily.
 'Ain't she here ?"
 "No, nor she ain't been here sence din- ner; but she's all right. fur Hams with her-they lef' here erbout haf after twelve"
 Ellick looked at her curiously. Do you and Ham still low to marry on the first?"
 "Ef nuthin' comes ter keep us-en tn ain't nuthin' lakly ter happen, fer'-with a short laugh-"th' ain't nobody biddin' fur me but Ham. What d ye ax fur?" '"Lowed ye might changed yer mind; that's all. Here's Lum''
 Rosie looked up at the new conner. He was strangely like his brother, but cast in ruder mold. He lounged 1aZi1y against the door post and amused himself by squirting tobacco juice through his teeth over some sickly phlox that Rosie had planted. He did not speak to either of the occupants of the room, but waited silently for his super By and by Rosie turned to him.
 .'Whar's Mel?" she asked
 "Out cross Bonds Gap -settin' up ter Ham Broden," Lum answered, with a half malicious smile "Lol< out ol' gal. CT she'll cut ye out
 Ellick sent his brother half Appealing look, but he could not or Would not see Rosie turned upon him ard for a moment her hard features were set and white He laughed tantalizing1y and she turned back to her worlSx
 Tn ain't no gan fur foolin', Lum," she said shortly. sT ain't afeard O Ham, en 1T l wuz Mel Wouldn't have him-he ain't her sort"
 L'lm laYghed again and El1ick scowIed at him Seross the room. Heres both of 'eH nov" Lum said meaningly; I've kin aF ~ whar they ben"
 E came in blithely, swinging her hat n her arm. She was dressed in a sim .ple pTlHt, not over new, put MelS way or wearing it made it pleasing. Ham lounged clumsily after her, the very pie turf of a clodhopper-a clown.
 Supper ready. Rosie?" Mel asked lightly. seating herself upon the hair trunk in the corner.
 We wuz only waitin' fur you all; whard ye go? Ham come in an stay ter supper"
 Gross Bonds Gap; 'tain't fur when ye start. but when you air comin' back" Mel sighed.
 "No, thanky, Rosie" Ham said as he rsoved off; reckon mothr'n be looxin' fur me home."
 T thought we could talk over the mar