The Penn's Grove record., 1896-09-04
RAID ON THE STILL

Just Thought | would stop Dy q Min
ute, Miranda, IL to say nothing more
than | hoped you were all we'll" said
Mrs. jonathan Jackson 10 her friend
Mrs. Samuel Pearl.
take a seat, Elizabeth, and make
yourself at home. It's precious little
conversation, though, n can have,
with ones neiEhbor 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 windy Of
the little sittlng-room that commahs.ad
a gentyal 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.
flows Alice?" asked Mrs. Pear;
rather abruptly.
Fair as can be expected, Elizabeth.
The girl don't seem to be the same crea,
ture since Ike went away, though the
Lord knows l thought Il great deal Of
the boy; More so than ever let on to
Jonathan. But Jonathan was down on
the lad, and what's a weak omu go.
Ing to do against Il strong mans opp0si-
sighed?" And Mrs. Jonathan jackson
sighed.
Been five years now, Miranda, since
Ike went away. | always wondered
why he left here, but folks can't be per
s0nal, you know, and ask questions that
don't concern them" Mrs. Pearl said In
qulsitiyely, drawing her chair a few
inches nearer to Mrs. jonathan Jack.
son.
well Elizabeth, knowing you don't
talk about I Ter peoples business
and here Mrs. Jackson looked suspi-
ciouSly at her guest-"I don't mind tell
ing you of the affair. Ike Holland, you
see, Jonathan took out of an orphan
asylum when the boy was about 2 years
old, and brought him home to raise.
Jonathan had been OF n visit to Nash
Vile and thought nothing would be bet
fer than to bring the lad here. Twas a
little before Alice was born, and the
boy, it seems, became attached to the
girl from her birth, But Jonathan was
proud and he used to tell Ike how he
came to be in the family, and that he
owed him a great deal. You know how
Ike grew up to manhood, and how 1t was
said that in these parts there wasn't one
who could stand up and fight the reven-
ue officers like Ike?
''rhere's many a dlstillery which the
lad saved by warning the owners, and
Jonathan himself Is under obligation
to the boy on that score. But the day
came when ! saw that Ike thought n
great deal Of my girl. and that she
wasn't at all displeased with his atten-
tons. But Jonathan was b~llnd-never
seemed to see that the two were forever
In each others company. One day Ike,
man-like, tells Jonathan he wished to
marry the girl, But Jonathan became
furious, and told him he wasn't any
thing butt miserable outcast-an object
of charity. He went further-he struck
the lad a 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 if 1t took until Judgment
day. Then he went away. and no one
has ever heard Of him since"
Mrs. Jackson sighed softly TO herself
Mrs. PEARLS eyes were wide open with
surprise, and she wondered how thu
true story of lke's disappearance hat
remained a secret so long.
Getting dark. Miranda, and I guess J
had better be going up the road" an
Mrs. Pearl babe her friend g0od-hy,
The November sun was gradually dis
appearing behind the mountains ant
Mo long shadows Of the fading sunligh.
cast spectral figures here and there
among the trees.
Mrs, Jackson then lighted the oil lamp
and made ready for the evening supper
Presently the sound of a conveyance
was heart, in the roadway, and iona
than Jackson aud his daughter Alice
nllghtcd, They had been down to tbs
village, a ride Of twenty miles over thu
mountain roads, to provide themselves
with some necessary supplies.
whats the news in the village, iona
thanE' inquired his wife,
Nothing much; tome reports abon
the revenue officers. though l didn'
take much stock in the Stories" An6
Jonathan relapscd into a moody silence
The rest OF the meal was eaten Il
luiet, and after the dishes were clearet
away Jonathan sat comfortably by tn
fire and smoked his pipe, as the NoycE,
Der evenings were becoming chilly anc
unpleasant.
After m hour had passed there wa
the sound Of Il horsemun a%pproachin
ear to the house, and a moment late
romeone Knocked at the door.
DOCS jonathan Jackson live here?
inquired the newcomer.
My name Is Jonathan Jackson" al
Swered The master Of the house. VIA.