Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1895-08-11
BARKING UP THE WRONG TREE.


and wild country, diversified with hill
and valley, forest and prairie, with
fields and patches of cultivated land
here and there, and farm-houses at
| long intervals. At the edge of a clear
| ing, which stretched out into broad
cOrn-6eld, an ant;quated building. or
collection Of buildings, originally plain
! log houses, afterward weather. boarded,
and afterward increased by additions
| Of different styles and periods, until the
whole presented a struggling and he
| terogeneous appearance. The abode,
apparently, of well-tO-do, but very old
fashioned farming people.
A young man-perhaps l ought TO
say a young gentleman-came down
the road, riding a fine horse, and SEEM
! ing 10 be better satisfied with himself
than with his surroundings. He was
fine-looking young gentleman-just a
little too fine-well-dressed. and wear
ing q city costume that was quite out
of keeping with that latitude.
He rained up MS horse al a r!ckety
gate in front of the house, where a girl
not yet out Of her teens was standing,
idly looking up and down the road, ana
no. forgetting to gaze inquisitiyely at
the stranger. She was plainly dressed,
and her straw hat was somewhat tat
tered. and her brown treSses tioated as
they pleased down her shoulders, and
there was decided tinge Of sunburn IN
her healthy cheeks; but she was pretty
enough in face and form, and her large
hazel ewes were full of intelligence,
when one could get Q square look into
their depths
As the gentleman stopped at the gate
he raised his hat and bowed low, with
a suspicion of mock courtesy that was
not lost upon the girl. His style OF adj
dress. also. was high-fown, with
touch of polished irony, as If he had
found a rustic maiden upon whom ne
meant 10 practice some city airs ana
graces.
Fair damsel, if you are the presiding
divinity of this establishment, Will you
condescend to inform me whether l can
obtain refreshment for myself and my
| steed during brief period at TINS pre-
sumably hospitable mansion?
The hazel eyes glittered as II the girl
fully comprehended the drift OF this
| uuizzical samtat.On: then the pretty
! face settled into an expression OF blank
stupidity and wonderment, and she
made answer IN broad and drawing
speech: $780,.
wal. now. stranger. l do declar' that
YOU drummers alters hev seen queer
| talk that it kinder gifts me.
Pardon me. fair maiden, but l am
NOT one of those individuals or eXtraor-
/ binary facial develOpmnt who yeN the
resonant tympanum in the interests OF
| extensive mercantile establishments. l
am an humble denizen Of the future
great city, which is known to the world
/ as ST. Louis. Seeking the abode OF
| Judge Burrell, l have lost my way
and ask you whether l may rest here
for a while. and have something to eat
for myself and horse.
The girl shot a quick glance at him
| from under her straw hat and tumbled
/ hair
why didn't you say so afore? We
uns ant apt to turn hungry folks
away
Il am willing and able to pay for ac-
| accommodation. ne suggested.
You don't say! We amt keepin' no
tavern. stranger. and We don't know
how 10 charge; but l reckon you kin git
what you want here, if you are any
ways reasonable. Pap's out to the
corn-feld. but he will be along directly,
and Will see about some corn and fod-
der for your boss
The young gentleman alighted and
| followed the girl to the house, entering
by one of the many side doors, and wal
ushered into an apartment which SEEM
ed 10 be the general sitting and work
| ing room Of the family, 10 Judge by tho
condition of the furniture, and the lit
ter of sewing and scraps OF cloth and
other odds and ends that incumbered
| IT,
Take a cheer. stranger" said the
girl. rs she empt;ed one Of its contents,
land don't mind the looks of the room.
You see that pap and I are keeping
| house here all alone, with nobody but
the niggers, and We ant no great hands
10 take keer of things nohow. Pears
/ Ike l didn't ketch your name
Ny name is George Henry Wexford,
and l am from ST. Louis, as informed
YOU And now, if you please, l would
be glad to know your name
MY name is Tilda.'
But tina, is only one name"
"TNdy Burrell, then
Indeed, l am looking for Judge
Burrell to whom / have letter of IN
PRODUCTION Il is possible that you are
related TO him.
We mought be, and then, ag'in, we
mought not. Pap and l ant botherin'
| ourselves about relationships. 1t is as
much as we kin do to look arter the
crops and the critters
But YOU have heard of him, have
you not?'
Pears like I have heern tell of sech
q man. Blu, he has only come into
these parts lately and Pap and | don't
talk much to strangers"
Conversation Jagged after while. 1t
seemed that these two had but little in
I common TO talk about. and the young
gentleman began TO consider the inter
view a bore But he could not help
thinking that Tilda Burrell was a very
pretty girl. in spite of her awkward at
tire. her uncouth manner. and her
coarse style Of speech. II she were
properly dressed, and possessed the adj
vantages of education and training, he
thought that she would shine among
the bellies tina, promenade Fourth
street.
There were books on a table at his
hand. and more in bookcase against
the wall. None Of them were costly in
appearance: but he could see that they
were solid and valuable works. suited TO
student of enlarged education and