Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1896-09-09
RAID ON THE STILL

Just thought l would stop by min
ute. Miranda, II to say nothing more
than / hoped you were all WELL" said
Mrs. Jonathan Jackson to her friend
Mrs. Samuel Pearl.
Take a seat, Elizabeth, and make
yourself at home. It's precious little
conversation, 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 wind; \ OF
the little sitting room that commaLN ID
Q general view of the mountain road
that skirted past her home like the trail
of q serpent and was lost In the gloom
OF the cedar trees that, mingling with
the dense underbrush, caught the eye
on all sides.
"How's Alice? asked Mrs. Pearl
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 / thought a great deal of
the boy; more 80 than l ever let on tc
Jonathan. But Jonathan was down Oh
the lad, and what's a weak woman GO
Ing to do against n strong mans opposi-
sighed?" And Mrs. Jonathan jackson
sighed.
Been FIVE years now. Miranda. since
Ike went away. l always wondered
why he left here. but folks can't be per-
sOnal, you know, and ask questions that
don't concern them," Mrs. Pearl said in
Quisitively, drawing her chair a few
inches nearer to Mrs. Jonathan Jack
son.
well, Elizabeth, knowing you DOM
talk about 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 on a visit to Nash
Vile and thought nothing would be bet
ter than TO bring the lad here. Twas
little before Alice was born, and the
boy, II 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-
ne officers Ike Ike?
There'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 l saw that Ike thought a
great deal Of my girl, and that she
wasn't Al all displeassd with his atten-
tions. But Jonathan was blind-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 but miserable outcast-an object
Of charity. He went further-he struck
the had 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 IL il took until Judgment
day Then he went away, and no one
has ever heard of him since"
Mrs. Jackson sighed softly to herself
Mzs- Pearls eyes were wide open with
surprise. and she wondered how tn,
trve story Of Ike's disappearance had
remained a secret so long.
Getting dark, Miranda, and guess
had better be going up the road" ans
Mrs. Pearl bade her friend goOd-by.
The November sun was gradually Ills
appearing behind the mountains ent
he long shadows of the fading sunligh.
cast spectral figures here and there
among the trees.
Mrs. Jackson then lighted the oil lamI
and made ready for the evening supper
Presently the sound of a conveyance
was heacd IN the roadway, and Jona
than Jackson and his daughter Alice
alighted. They had been down to the
village, ride OF twenty miles over ths
mountain roads, to provide themselves
with some necessary supplies.
Whats the news in the village, iona
than?' inquired his wife.
Nothing much; some reports about
the revenue orf1cers, though l didn':
take much stock in the stories" Ano
Jonathan relapsed into a moody silence
The rest Of The meal was eaten Il
quiet, and after the dishes were cleare' |
away Jonathan sat comfortably by tn, |
fire and smoked his pipe, as the NOven |
ber evenings were becoming chilly ans |
unpleasant.
After an hour had passed there Wa.
the sound OF a horseman approaching: |
near to the house, and a moment late!
.omeone knocked at the door.
Does Jonathan Jackson live here:
inquired the newcomer.
MY name Is Jonathan Jackson" nj
{wered the master Of the hou2e. 'Wha.'