The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1896-05-26

the day. Her father and her four I'M
couth brothers were always off as soon
as the breakfast of black coffee and
greasy bacon she got up at dawn to
prepare was disposed of.
What their business was, beyond the
making and garncring of the meagre
crops, which seemed never to result in
any betterment of her own condition,
she did not know. Nor did she much
care. She WAS not of speculative
turn. She went the dull round Of her
sordid duties uuquestioninR, unrepin-
ing. She had condensed the ethics OF
the case, with unconscious philosophy,
into single aphorism:
''Frettin' don't do no good, go
whar's the use of frettin'?"
Under softer conditions she might
have developed into nu uncommonly
pretty girl. The first time Bradley
Martin saw her her face was as the
face of n guardian angel to him. Their
introduction was II strange one
She, Smelling corn for her poultry,
/ lifted her head to consult the sha lows.
The familiar landscape must attain Il
precise stage of obscurity before she
called the wanderers home for the
night.
From the stile that crossed the rude
yard fence the mountain footpath
dropped precipitntely downward This
rendered approach to the house posi- BILE
without any warning view beforehand.
Standing on this stilc, holding his hat
in one hand, while with the other he
dashed great beads of sweat from his
forehead, Sue saw mani
She levelcd her clear. brown ewes
on him In intense surprise. He was II
stranger, and stranE ers were not COM
mon Mt Lumley's Pass. She stood up,
with the corners of her check apron
gathered together mechanically with
thrifty thought for her shelled corn.
She gained in dignity by chlnge of
posture. She was tall, and just now
she was standing on the defensive.
''Who be you? And what he Won
dom standin' stock still on our stiie ?"
she asked, in slow, gentle drawl that
! gave no indication of her perturbed
state.
Her voice was rs sweet rs n wood.
pigeons note. Her eyes were clear,
steadinst, fearless In spite OF her
coarse cotton gown, there was GER
tain air of command about this noun
tain girl which imposed upon the
stranger. But it was face to be
trusted, and the man on the stilc stood
in sore need of friend.
He was by her side in few swift
strides. She could see his broad breast
heayo with the breath that came in
pants.
"You are alouo?" lie asked.
She trembled Mt the eager excite
ment of his voice ard manner, but
her fright did not ap2car III her
drawled answer: W
"Waal, what if 1 be?"
Glide me, aud keep my secret"
"Yhat for shall / hide you? Who
be yon, and what you been up to?
Moonshinin' p
He cast about him oxcitodly with
eyes that looked like hunted ami
mails.
elf you don't want to have murder
on your soul. hide me. l got into
| trouble down in Daviss Dell. A man
was killed. Circumstances point to
mo. A posse is out looking for me.
I've been running and hiding for two
days. I'm about spent. Ii they get
mo III! swing. For Heavens sake, girl,
hide me quick :"
Quick" was n word seldom heard i'm
that locality, more seldom acted upon.
She released tho corners of her apron
and lot the shellcd corn stream into n
wooden bowl ut her feet. She never
once took her eyes of tho travel
stained garb and the haggnrd face of
| the man before her. Sho carefully
busted the loose bran from her work
roughened hands before speaking
again
"And be you boodguilty?"
81 am not"
"You don't talk like Lumley Pass
folks. You be from town somewhere,
! j reckin. How can tell whether YOU
be lyin' to me or not?'
81 swear before Heaven ] am limo.
cent"
She darted away from him, but was
back before he had time to conjecture.
She held tattcrcd, backless book in
her hand
This were mnmmy's Bible. Can you
| swear on that?"
Tho stranger laid his right hand
solemnly on the book
by your mothers Biblcw
Come long thon. Pop and the
| boys will DO home soon
She wrapped tho book in her apron.
She turned swiftly and led the way TO
an old stable, many degrees more de-
lapidated than the dwelling. house
which is conforming IT totally. Slip.
| ping through crcvico by preference
TO wrestling with tho huge, unmanagc.
able doors, she pointed upward to
loft raggedly filed with hay. Tho
man was close behind her
"Climn up and burrow under the
hay. Quick hear mighty tramp.
lin OF hoofal But don't you BE
scared, I'll manage 'em, You can trus'
! ne.