Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1896-04-23

ting to be stately, Guinea fowls grown
suddenly gregarious, pigeons swoop-
ing from aloft to share in the liberal
largess, would all come, futtering, fly
ing. scrambling, hurrying, each filed
with genuine human greed, striving to
get ahead of its fellows.
Sue rather liked "feed time" to
come 1t broke up the dreadful mo-
notony of her day, and introduced
cheerful clamor into profound silence.
She was left very much alone during
the day. Her father and her four un-
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 garnering 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 unquestioning, unrepin-
ing. She had condensed the ethics of
the case, with unconscious philosophy,
into a single aphorism
"Frettin' don't do no good, so whar's
the use of frettin?'
Under softer conditions she might
have developed into an uncommonly
pretty girl The first time Bradley
Martin saw her her face was as the
face of guardian angel to him Their
introduction was a strange one.
She, sheling corn for her poultry,
lifted her head to consult the shadows.
The familiar landscape must attain a
precise stage of obscurity before she
called the wanderers home for the
night
From the stile that crossed the rude
yard fence the mountain tootpath
dropped precipitately downward. This
rendered approach to the house possible
without any warning view beforehand.
Standing on this stile, holding his hat
in one hand, while with the other he
dashed great beads of sweat from his
forehead, Sue saw man!
She leveled her clear, brown eyes
on him in intense surprise. He was a
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
doin standin stock still on onr stile?'
she asked, in a slow, gentle drawl that
gave no indication Of her perturbed
state.
Her voice was as sweet as a wood
pigeons note. Her eyes were clear,
steadfast, fearless. In spite of her
coarse cotton gown, there was a 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 stile stood
in sore need of a friend.
He was by her side in few swift
strides. She could see his broad breast
heave with the breath that came in
pants.
You are alone?" he asked
She trembled at the eager excite
ment of his voice and manner but
her fright did not appear in her
drawled answer:
"Waal, what if be?'
Hide me, and keep my secret.
"What for shall l hide you? Who
be you, and what you been up to?
Moonshinin'?'
He cast about him excitedly with
eyes that looked like a haunted ami
mails.
"If you don't want to have murder
on your soul, hide me. l 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. I'm about spent. If they get
me I'll swing. For Heaven sake, ,girl,
hide Inc quick -
"Ouick" was a 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 off the travel
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?'
GT an ,,o+