The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-05-21
PART w.

mountain got wind of some strange
news. The word was that conscript
officers were coming up after some
of the men, both old and young, who
were OF the lawful age. The news was
brought by "A son of Widow Puryis, Jerd
Pruett's sister, who lived within mile
of Clarksville She had gone TO town
with butter and eggs 10 exchange for
some factory thread-"spun trrck,'
Mrs. Pruett called it--and she hes ID it
from old man Hathaway. who w s n
particular friend of Jerd Pruett's.
Word reached the mountain just in
time, too, for within thirtysiX hours
four horsemen came riding along the
road and stopped at Mrs. Pruett's. And
who should be leading them, hut Hil-
dreth, of HALT Mrs. Pruett saw this
much when she peeped through crack
IN the door, and she was so taken abaclS
that YOU might have knocked her down
with a feather. But in all instant sh'
was as mad as fire.
''Hello, Mrs. Pruett!' says Hildreth
~ Hall. "Where's Jerd?"
"And who may Jerd be?" inquired
Hrs. Pruett, placidly.
The young mans lace fell at this, bu
ne said with bold voice:
"Why, don't you know me, Mrs. Pru
ett?"
II mought "a seed you before, bu
folks is constant a-comin' an a-gwine
They pass up the road an down tn,
road an then they pass out'n my mind
swell, you haven't forgotten me, J
- rs A. tI.D
.'Is that so, now?" remarked Mrs
Pruett, with just the faintcst show oi
interest. 1T pears to me we hyearl
you was dead. What's your will ano
pleasure wi me, Mister Hall?"
The unconscious air with which Mrs
Pruett miscalled the young mans name
was as effectual as blow. He lost his
composure, and turned almost help
lessly TO his companions. IL he ex
pected sympathy he missed IL. One OF
them laughed loudly and cried out tc
the others: "We'll have to call him
Blowhard. Why. he declared by every
thing good and bad that he was just as
chummy with these folks as their owD
kin. Aud now, right at the beginning
they don't even know his name"
"Where's your husband?" inquired
Hildreth of Hall. "If he don't know
me he will before the days over"
"ITe may know you better'n / do
,aid Mrs. Pruett. "but / hardly reckon
ne does, bekaze I'd mos likely "a
hyearn on it,"
'Where Is hep" insisted the young
man.
"Who? my oil man? Oh, him an
whole passel of the boys took their
guns an went off to'ards Hillman's spur
bright an early this mornin'. They
said signs of bar had been seed thar,
but allowed to myself that they was
thess a-gwine on'n frolic."
Mrs. Pruett took off her specIacles,
wiped them on her apron and rcadjust-
oil the while.
.'We may as we'll go to the Millirons',"
rcmarled Hildrcth of Hall.
II don't care where you go. so you
don't lead ms into trap" remarked
one of The men.
They turned away from Mrs. Pruett's
and rode farther into the settlement.
But they soon discovered that Tray
mountain had practically closed it's
gates against them. The women they
saw were as grim and as silent MS the
mountain. Hildreth of Hall had been
telling his companions what lively
place considering all the circum-
stances) Hatch's Clearing was, and this
uddcd 10 his embarrassment and IN
creased his irritation. So that you may
well believe he was neither gay nor
good humored when, after passing sew
eral houses, he came TO Millirons',
where he had beer in the habit OF mall,
ing himself free and familiar.
Everything was rs grim and silent
as the grave, and John Wesley sat on
the fence as grim and rs silent as any
of the surroundings.
There's one man, anyway" re-
marked one of IIildreth's companions.
"Be blanlxed IL don't feel like going up
and shaking hands with him-that is,
IL he's alive" For John Wesley neither
turned his head nor stirred.
slow are you, Millirons?" said Hill
dreth of Hall, curtly.
"Purty WELL" replied John Wesley,
without moving.
"We are going to put our horses under
the shed yonder and give them hand
ful of fodder" Hildreth of Hall de-
clared. John Wesley made no reply TO
this. ''Did you hear what l said ?" asked
the young man, somewhat petulantly.
II hyearn you," answered John
Wesley.
Whereupon Hildreth OF Hail spurred
his horse through the open lot gate,
followed by his companions. They took
off saddles and brides, made some halt
crs out OF plow lines, and gave their
horses heavy feed OF fodder. Then
they returned to the house, ard found
John Wesley sitting where they had
left him, aud in precisely the same
position.
''can we get dinner?" asked Hildreth
of Hall