Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-08-21
SWANLEE'S GIRL.

~ w ANlllIlI ~ N1lOAs
Two men were riding tired horses
down an ill defined trail through North
Carolina woods. The one was New
Yorker-keen, alert, dark haired and
chronically one day behind with his
shaving. His companion, who rode with
difficulty his rough gated Kentucky
mare, was obtrusively British. Every
thing, from his deer stalker cap to his
yellow pigskin CATERS, with their but
tons down the shin, betrayed him for
recent importation from the islands be-
yond the sea. They were not friends
scarcely acquaintance. They had fore
gathered some few miles back at cross
roads, and finding that they were head
ing in the same direction had logged
along in company.
For the past hour the multitude Of
trails had bothered them much, and
there had been a good deal Of toss up in
their choice, and at last neither had any
further ideas to offer about the route, and
there was no question but that they
were most satisfactorily lost. The last
blue of the sky was turning to a cooler
purple, and couple of tree toads were
already commencing the overture to
their nightly opera.
s.Say,'' remarked the American,
have yvsr srNxia6en down a strange
trail of this sort after nighriffs iia'''
Cant say that I have. -
"Then, sir, you've an experience in
store which won't be all molasses. You
wait till the trees begin to sneak up and
hit you on the kneecap. Then you'll
Great Co. -Iumbus! See that?''
"What-these green shrubs?"
"Corn, stree. Indian corn, you call it
way back in the old country. And here
we are. Anigger cabin, guess. 'Tain't
good enough for Tar Heeler's shanty." +"
They wheeled round the edge Of the
corn patch, their horses picking way
cautiously over the outshooting roots Of
the timber, and pulled up before
small frame house. AS though their ar
rival had been expected, the rough door
swung open and man stepped out and
faced them. He was an old man and
heavily bearded. He stood quite four
inches above the fathom in his boots,
and in the hollow of his left arm he car
ried weapon, single barreled and ham
merless.
He pointed to this and introduced it.
Gentlemen, he said, "this is about
the elatest-Rawnsley' ten fire repeat
ing shotgun. The first of you that lifts
a hand toward the sly pocket Of his
pants will get hole let into him that
yoke of steers could drive through If
you want to stay, you've got to fight it
out. -
He of the yellow CATERS laughed.
"What quaint people you Americans
are,' he said "Why the devil you
should threaten war i'll this unexpected
fashion can't imagine.
rHo! You're Britisher?'
"English-quite English"
"And your companion, isn't he an
exciseman either?"
The Englishman shrugged his shoul-
ders, and the New Yorker answered for
himself.
rs. T. Vanrennan, real estate agent.
Irving place, Moo York city. Stick to
my own trade, colonel, and shouldn't
know what blockade still was if was
shown one. "
For a moment the old man seemed
inclined to resent this last remark, but
only for moment Then southern hos
pitality asserted itself.
"Well, gentlemen" he said, chow
can I serve you?'
"By putting us Oh the road for Ashe-
Vile
IT could not do it. Asheville's good
80 miles beyond this, and the trails far
too bad for strangers to follow in the
dark. You must bunk with me, gentle
men, this night
There was little more talk, and then
the horses were led round to barn at
the back, unsaddled, rubbed down
roughly and presented with six corncobs
apiece, after which the two adjourned
to the cabin, supped off heavy corn
bread, strong favored bacon and raw,
biting, smoky corn whisky. After the
meal the Yankee, pleading tiredness,
retired to the far room and slept. The
Briton, who was travelling in the noun
tains to pick up character, was glad
enough to sit up with his host and talk
beside the smelly kerosene lamp over
granulated tobacco and corncob pipes.
Their conversation was, on the whole,
desultory. Only twice was it interrupt
ed. On these occasions footsteps made
themselves heard on the hard, red ground
outside, and then, after a pause, sill
yer half dollar rolled in under the door,
The old man pocketed the coin, Lifted
the latch, and, reaching a hand out into
the darkness, brought in a quart bottle,
which he proceeded to fill from keg
that waited through the hut strong
smell of smoky spirit. Afterward he
thrust out the bottle into the night, and
the heavy footsteps recommended and
died out in diminuendo.
On the first occasion the old man COM
mented to his guest: "Say, sir, you're
what they call in the mountains ten
derfoot; but, from the face of you, you
seem straight. Please remember you've
seen nothing. :"
"Im under the tie Of bread and salt, ?"
said the Englishman. "You needn It fear
me- And he fell to talking about the
game in the woods.
When the Englishman awoke next
morning, he found that his travelling
companion had already departed.
81 didn't press him to stay" :" said the
old man, "but Ihope you will honor me
with longer visit. My name is Colonel
Swanlee, which you may have seen
mentioned in accounts Of the war, and
once had q 40 room house here and
close on 200 niggers working On fna