The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1896-04-14

rug, unrepluinB. ouS hou OvhucheoN
scious philosophy, into a single apho-
Frettin' don't do no good, SO whar's
the use Of frettin'?
Under softer conditions che might
have developed into an unconmonly
pretty girl. The first time Bradley
Martin saw her her face was as the lace
Of a guardian angel to him. Their in
PRODUCTION was q strange one.
She lifted her head to consult the
shadows. The familiar landscape must
attain a precise stage OF obscurity be-
fore she called the wanderers home
for the night.
From the stile that crossed the rude
yard fence the mountain footpath
dropped precipitately downward. This
rendered approach to the house pos
sible without any warning view be-
forehand. Standing on this stile,
holding his hat in one hand, while
with the other he dashed great beads
OF sweat from mis- forehead, Sue saw a
man
She leveled her clear, brown eyes on
him in intense surprise. He was q
stranger, and strangers were not COM
mon at 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 change of
posture. She was tall, and just now
she was standing on the defensive.
"Who be you? And what be you
dom standin' stock still on our stile 2"
she asked, in a slow, gentle drawl that
gave no indication of her %perturbed
state.
Her voice was as sweet as q wood
pigeons note. Her eyes were clear,
steadfast, fearless. In spite Of the
shortness of her Oarse cotton gown,
there was a certain air of command
about this mountain girl which i'm
posed upon the stranger. But it was
q face to be trusted, and the man on
the stile stood in sore need of a friend.
He was by her side in a few swift
heave with the breath that came in
pants.
"You are alone ?" he asked.
She trembled at the eager excite
mont OF his voice and manner, but her
fright did not appear in her drawled
answer:
"W,al, what If 1 be ?"
"Hide me, and keep my secret"
What for shall | hide you? Who
be YOU. and what you been up to ?
Moonshinin'T"
He cast about him excitedly with
eyes that looked like a hunted ami
malls.
IF you don't want to have murder
on your soul, hide me. 1 got into
trouble down in Davis's Dell. A man
was killed. Circumstances point to
me. A posse is out looking for me.
I've been running and hiding for two
days. Pm about spent. If they get
me Ill swing. For heaven sake, girl,
hide me quick"
Quick" was q word seldom heard
in that locality, more seldom acted
upon. She released the corners of her
apron and let the shelled corn stream
into a wooden bowl at her feet. She
y never once took her eyes off the travel.
stained garb and the haggard face oil
the man before her. She carefully
busted the loose bran from her work
roughened hands before speaking
again ::
"And be you blood-guilty
; 81 am not"
I "You don't look like Lumley Pass
folks. You be from town somewhere
| reckin. How can L tell whether yor
be lynn to mt or not :"
3 81 swear before heaven l am limo
cent.
She darted away from him, but was
back before he had time to conjecture
She held a tattered, backless book Ii
, her hand.
"This were mammy's Bible. Car
you swear on that ?"
The stranger laid his right hant
sOlemnly on the book:
"Come long, then. Pop and the
boys will be home soon"
She wrapped the book in her apron
!, She turned swiftly and led the way t.
L an old stable, many degrees more
dilapidated than the dwelling house
which is condemning it totally
Slipping through a ~crevice by pre-
ference to wrestling with the huge
, unmanageable doors, she pointed up
!, ward to a loft raggedly filled with hay
[ The man was close behind her.
, Climb up and burrow under the
hay. Quick-I hear a mighty trampin
Of hoofs But don't you be scared
I'll manage EN-. You can trus' me-"
1t took the fugitive but a second t.
vault upon the ramshackle feed trough
, and from that into the hay loft. She
{ standing on the edge of the trough
l scattered hay over him literally. She
was singing Justify, somewhat dis
: ~cordantly, entirely by homemade
methods, while she was about it.
/ The t%ramping of feet had succeeded
to that Of hoofs. Filling her arms
"hoh 10y. DULL oihSiHS dU Iuo LOp vi
her voice, Sue left the barn Just in
time to confront her father, brothers
and half q dozen other mountaincers.
She leaned against the barn door and
stared at them.
sin the name of wonder, folks,
what's up, what's up? A barn. raisin'?'
On the top Of the hay with which
her arms were filled lay her blue
apron folded about the old Bible. She
~speculated vaguely about the probable
fate Of a girl who should tell a lie
with the Bible right under her nose.
Her father was spokesman for the
searching party.
"Jeb Wilson's been done for down
in Davis's Dell by a town chap. Yves
lookin' for him. Seed anybody pass
this way, Sue ?"
She laughed sc%ornfully
.n %iL j y, amt it, SO many folk pass
Her father laid his hand on the
clumsy latch to the sagging barn door.
SIDE Strengthened her back against it
resolutely.
Not in there, pop. I've just found
that old yeller turkey hen we thought
the minks had got. She's settin' up in
the hay loft, and [ wouldn't have her
pestered for forty Jeb Wilson's. No,
| wouldn't. She do look so peaceful
an proudlike. Bud Frank, take the
gentlemen to the springhouse and give
'em q bit er butterrnilk. Fresh churn-