The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1896-05-09

from aloff 10 share in the liberal iargess,
would all come. huatering, dying.
serambiiag. hur1YiI1g, each filed with
genuine human greed, striving to eat
ahead % is fellows
SIC rather liked .fced time 70 come.
It broke up the dreadful monotony Of
herday. aud introduced cheerful eiamor
into profound silence.
She was left very much alone during
the day fer father aud her four IN
coufl brothers Were always off az soon
as Ire breakfast she got up at dawn 70
prepare was disposed Of
What their business was, beyond the
making and garner'ing 81 the meaRer
crops which seemed never to result N
any beffelment Of her ewn condition.
she did not know Nor did she much
care. She VAS not Of a speculative turn.
She went the dull round Of her sordid
dufies unqaestioning. unnepiniag. She
bad condensed fHe ethics Of the ease.
wffb unconscious philosophy, INTO a sin
gle aphorism:
"ffettin' don't do no good, 50 Rhar's
the use Of frettin2"
Under softer conditions she might
have developed INTO an uncommonlY
pretty girl. The first time Bradley Mar
tn saw her her face was as the face Of
"a guardian angel 10 him. Their intro
duetion was a strange ore.
From The stile that crossed the rude
trssa = Il
dropped preeipitafely downward. This
rendered approach 10 the house possi-
Die without any warning view before
hand. Standing On this stile. holding
his hat IN one hand, while with the
other he dashed great beads Of sweat
from bis forhead. Sue saw the man
SIZE leveiled her clear. brown eyes on
HIM in intense surprise He was a
stranger, aid strangers were not com
mon IN Lumiey's Pass She stood up.
with the corners Of her check apron
gathered together mechanically. with
thrifty thought for her shelled corn
She gained m dignity by change Of POS
ture. She was tail, and inst nov she
was standing on the defensive.
who be your and what be You dom
staadin' stock still on our stile9n she
asked, in slow. gentle drawl thai gave
20 indication Of her perturbed stafe.
Her voice was as sweet as Wool
pieeen's note. Her eyes were clear,
steadfast, fearless. IN spite OF the short
ness Of her coarse cotton gown. there
was certain air Of connand about
this mountain girl which imposed upon
the stranger. Eat II was face To BE-
trusted, aud the young man on the stiie
stood in sore need Of friend.
He WIS by her side in a few swift
strides. She could zee bis broad chest
heage with the breath that cane IN
pants.
"You are e1one2. he asked.
She trembied IL the eager excitement
Of his voice and manner but her fright
did nof appear in her drawled answer:
Veal. Wbsf il be2'
Hide ne. and keep my secret
What fer shall | hide you2 Who
be yon, and y hat you been up tor Moon
shniaf?"
lie cast about him exeitedly with eyes
That looked like hunted animals
"lf you don't want to have murder
on your soul. hide me ] got into trouble
down IN Davis dell. A man was killed.
point to me. A posse is
out looking for me. I've been running
and hiding for two days. I'm about
spent. II they get me I'll swing. For
heaven $ sake. girl, hide me quick
Quick" was 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 never
once took her eyes of the trayel-stained
garb and the haggard face Of the man
before her. She carefully busted the
loose bran from her work roughened |
hands before speaking again:
and be you bloodguilty?'
Tam not"
You don't look like Lumley Pass
'olks. You be from town somewhere, /
'eckin How can tell whether you bc
yin 10 me or not?'
II swear before heaven I am inno-
cent
She darted away from him, but was
back before be had time to conjecture.
Sic held taitcred, backIcss book in her |
hsnd.
This were rammy's Bible. Can you
swear on fhatr"
The stranger Laid his right hand sol |
'umly on the book;
"By your mothers Bible"
"Conc long. then. Popand tho boys /
.e.ll he home soon"
She wrapped the book in her apron.
She turned swiftly and led The way 10 |
nm old stable, many degrees more
than the dwelling house
which IS eonde.oning it totally Slip
ping through y crevice by preference
10 Wrestling with the huge, uumanage~
able doors, she pointed upward to a
loft raggc,1y filed with hay. The man
was close behind her.
"Climb mp and burrow under the hay
Quick hear n mighty trampin' OF |
lsofsl But don't you be scared, III |
EN-. You can trus' me-"
II took the fugitive but a second TO !
.eult upon the rumshnckle feed-troug'h. |
ahd from that into the hay loft. She. |
Standing on the edge Of the trough. |
scattered hay over him literally. She
was sinEing Justify. somewhat dis
'ordantly entirely 10y homemade meth
lds, while she was about IT..
The tramping Of feet had succeeded to
Ilnt Of hoofs. Willing her nrms with |