The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1895-02-15
VIRGINIA MOUNTAIN FOLK.


] stumbled down the mountain amid
a whrl of leaves and twigs. making
straight for the valley. | had left the
path, and suddenly found myself
breaking through a brush fence and
half way across a clearing" The
place was unfamiliar to me. cabin,
preserving a 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 ili-Set ears.
The door was opened for me by an
old woman, who shut it as soon as |
had entered She gave me a chair,
hoped that was ''peart-" Plank shut
tiers had been put before the windows,
SO the rain might not come in. When
my eyes became accustomed to the dim
light, ! saw that Il man and girl sat on
Il 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 a specimen of hardy life, with a
broad, deep, full chest, great hands,
all Drawn and muscle, and a 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
n cracked, tremulous voice. She had
fine eyes. undimmed, and full of wis
dom. Her head was tied in a snuff
cOlorcd cloth that disclosed at the
back a hard knot of gray hair. She
was so bent that her waist had sunk
out sight and her dress had shortened
at the back, exposing the white knit
stockings. She talked to me about
the folks thereabouts, and. finding
that many of them were intimates of
mine. she told me all the gossip of the
mountain
The rain poured in a steady stream,
beating through the chipks between
the logs, down the chimney. and
against the plank shutters. The old
woman talked on, treating me to sage
advice and sound philosophy. The
two in the other corner sat silent;
neither had spoken since / 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 wa he talks to her, the
old woman said II me. Hes the un-
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
llccpiu' comp'ny goin' on four year,
Bulge an Dochy has" she went ON
without lowering her voice Shes
my gurl; an Budge's father was my
brother Jeff That makes EN- kin.
bulge has stayed long er Dochy an
me ever since her pa been dade.
Seemed kinder likely they'd be carin'
for one mother"
l wanted to ask why they had not
been married, but | had discovered
that the old woman was stone deaf.
With quick perception she guessed my
question. ''Budge is kinder foolish
she said, an somehow he amt never
made fiXins fer ther gittin' jined.
Cert'ny faint Dochy's business to see
abont it."
a dog whined outside, and, at a mo-
tion from his sweetheart, the man got
up to open the door. l saw then that
he had wooden leg.
He fell offer Pixies rock into Har-
ris' Level. an broke his leg" the old
woman said to me. l knew the place.
A bowlder hangs far over, above Il
into the mountain side. lit war right
bad broke" She went on, an DIR. Joe
had to cut it olf-thar, you see, clear.
above the knee j'int. 1t war bout
then that Bulge an Dochy foun' out
they was likin' of one 'nother-jest
bout the time when he broke his leg,
and DR.. Joe got him another from the
valley. DIR. Joe could ha' got EN-
jined by the preacher. an l asked him
to do it. But he said as how Budge
was simple. and they was too near kin.
Pears to me if theys carin' of one
mother carIIt be no harm noway what
somever comes bout"
She paused and reflected, then
turned to her daughter: Its bout
time you was gettiu' supper" she said.
1.-THE suns drappin'; it'll soon be the
edge er darkness"
The girl rose and went into the
inner room. \ petulant frown crossed
the mans face. but passed, leaving it
childishly bright, as it had been be
fore. The old woman sat thinking Tor
some minutes, then she said to me:
Il see how it ken be fixed; I've bin
studin' bout it; you ken see bout the
pI eacher jinin' them She looked at
ne eagerly. You don't see no harm
in their bein' kin, do you, nor Budge
bein' fo'llish, nuther?" l shook
my head. She looked pleased and
said: Go in thar" pointing to the
inner room, AN talk to Dochy bout
it,
went into the kitchen. The girl
had lit the fire. and now stood stirring
the contents of a 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 | asked her if she
would like to marry Budge, she an
swered Yes" quite simply, continu-
to stir.the meat and ca bbage.
Presently Bulge came into the
kitchen. When Dochy explained to
him what l had proposed in regard
to their union he laughed delighted
ly, showing his strong teeth and two
dimpIcs. He nodded his head many
times to tell me of his Willingness, and
finished by kissing his sweetheart on
the cheek Before | left the cabin we
had arranged plan by which the two