The Louisiana populist., 1896-11-06
RAID ON THE STILL.

"Just thought would stop by a min
ute, Miranda. If to say nothing more
than / hoped you were all WELL" said
Mrs. Jonathan Jackson to her friend
Mrs. Samuel Pearl
Take 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 window of
the little sitting-room that commanded
general view of the mountain road
that skirted past her home like the trail
of serpent and was lost in the gloom
of the cedar trees that, mingling with
the dense underbrush, caught the eve
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 l thought great deal of
the boy; more so than 1 ever let on to
Jonathan. But Jonathan was down on
the lad, and what's a weak woman 60
Ing to do against strong mans opposi-
sighed" And M-a, Jonathan Jackson
sighed.
Been Eve years row, 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 don't
talk about other 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 visit to Nash |
vile and thought nothing would be bet |
ter than to bring the lad here. Twas a |
little before Alice was born, and the |
boy, 1t 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 great deal. You know how
Ike grew up to manhood, and how 1t was
'aid that In these parts there wasn't one
who could stand up and fight the reven-
ne officers like Ike?
There's many distillery which the
ad saved by warning the owners, and
Jonathan himself is under obligation
% the boy on that score. But the day
'ame when l saw that Ike thought a
yreat deal Of my girl, and that she
wasn't at all displeased with his atten-
ions. But Jonathan was blind-neyer
'eemed to see that the two were forever
n each others company. One day Ike.
tells Jonathan he wished to
marry the girl. But Jonathan became
urious. and told him he wasn't any,
hing buta miserable outcast-an object
u charity. He went further-he struck
he lad terrible blow. That was his
Inswer. Ike did not strike back. III
leard him mutter something for Alice's
axe But the lad raised his hand and
wore that he would even up things
WITH Jonathan If 1t took until judgment
lay. Then he went away. and no one
las ever heard OF him since"
Mrs. Jackson sighed softly to herself.
drs. Pearls eyes were wide open with
urprise, and she wondered how the
rue story Of Ike's disappearance had
secret so long.
Getting dark, Miranda, and guess I
ad better be going up the road" and
irs. Pearl bade her friend good-by..
The November sun was gradually dis
ppearing behind the mountains and
y long shadows Of the fading sunlight