The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-10-28
IKE HOLLANDS BALD.

= ~
"Just thought would stop by min
ute, Miranda, If to say nothing more than
l hoped you were all well,'' said Mrs
Jonathan jackson to her friend, Mrs
Samuel Pearl
"Take seat, Elizabeth, and make
yourself at home. It's precious little con-
versation, though, one can have with ones
neighbor about what's going on in the
mountains with the men folks talking
nothing all the time except them revenue
sharks And Mrs. Pearl looked uneasily
through the window of the little sitting
room that commanded general view Of
the mountain road that skirted past her
home like the trail of a serpent and was
lost in the gloom of the cedar trees that,
mingling with the dense underbrush,
caught the eye on all Sides
CLOVIS Alices" asked Mrs. Pearl rather
abruptly.
Fair as can be expected, Elizabeth.
The girl don't seem to be the same creature
since Ike went away, though the Lord
knows thought a great deal of the boy,
more SO than / ever let on to Jonathan
But Jonathan was down on the lad, and
what's weak woman going to do against
a strong mans opposition" And Mrs
Jonathan jackson sighed.
"Been five years now, Miranda, since
Ike went away. I always wondered why
he left hsfe, but folks can't be personal,
you know and ask questions that don't
concern them,'' Mrs. Pearl said inquisi-
lively, drawing her chair few inches
nearer to Mrs Jonathan jackson.
f'Well, Elizabeth, knowing you don't
talk about other peoples business and
here Mrs. jackson looked suspiciously at
her guest-"I don't mind telling you of
the affair. Ike Holland, you see, Jonathan
took out of an orphan asylum when the
boy was about . years old and brought
him home to raise. Jonathan had been on
a visit to Nashville and thought nothing
would be better than to bring the lad here.
Twas little before Alice was born, and
the boy, it seems, became attached to the
girl from her birth.
sBut Jonathan was proud, and he used
TO tell Ike how he came to be in the family
and that he owed him q great deal. You
know how Ike grew up to manhood and
how it was said that in these parts there
wasn't one who could stand up and fight
the revenue officers like him. There many
a distillery which the led saved by warn
ing the owners and Jonathan himself ID
under obligation to the boy on that score.
But the day came when I saw that Ike
thought great deal of my girl and that
she wasn't at all displeased with his at
tentions. But Jonathan was blind-never
seemed to see that the two were forever in
each others company.
lone day Ike, man Ike tells Jonathan
he wished to marry the girl But iona
than became furious and told him he
wasn't anything but miserable outcast-
an object Of charity. He went further; he
struck the lad terrible blow. That was
his answer. Ike did not strike back
heard him mutter something, for Alice's
sake But the lad raised his hand and
swore that he would even up things with
Jonathan II 1T took until Judgment day.
Then he went away and no one has ever
heard Of him sinoe.''
Mrs. jackson sighed softly to herself.
Mrs. PEARLS eyes were wide open with sur
prise, and she wondered how the true story
of Ike's disappearance had remained Sc
cret SO long.
Getting dark, Miranda, and guess
jackson babe her friend goodby.
appearing behind the mountains and the
spectral figures here and there among the
trees
Mrs. jackson then lighted the oil la1ap
and made ready for the evening supper
Presently the sound of conveyance was
heard in the roadway, and Jonathan Jack
son and his daughter Alice alighted. They
Io1 b. 10 H. -
miles over the mountain roads, to provide
themselves with some necessary supplies
whats the news in the village, Jona-
THANH" inquired his wife.
Nothing much. Some reports out
about the revenue officers, though don't
take much stock in the stories.'' And
Jonathan relapsed into a moody silence.
The rest Of the meal was eaten in quiet,
and after the dishes were cleared away
Jonathan sat comfortably by the fire and
smoked his pipe, as the November evenings
were becoming chilly and unpleasant
! After an hour had passed there was the
sound of horsaman approaching near to
the house, and 9 moment later some one
knocked at the door.
Jonathan rose, surprised. from his seat
and opened the door.
"Does Jonathan jackson live herep' in
quired the newcomer
my name is Jonathan Jackson" an
swered the master Of the house. "What is
your business9' And Jonathan looked at
the stranger with suspicion.
II am making a journey over the noun
tains, and would like to stay here tonight
at least"
For moment Jonathan jackson looked