Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1897-04-23
A MOUNTAIN ROSE.

81 reckon it's true that there is at
least one romance in every life. From
personal knowledge i can only cite my
own case, but III venture that there
was never good, strong story written
that did not find its inspiration in
truth.
The author of this oracular deliver
ance sat with his children and his
grandchildren on one of those great,
vine shaded verandas that belong to
every pretentious country home in Ten
nessee. He was a giant, slowly going
down under the weight of years, yet to
live in the past was TO recall some OF Its
vigor. Now his eyes Frightened. his
form Strengthened. his broad shoulders
went back, and his voice was without q
culver.
You look the picture of her." he
said to the little tot on his knee as he
stroked her curls. Then it took request
for the story TO recall the old man from
his dearest memory. I'm those days, "
he began, there was more family pride
than there is now. Perhaps should
say that family prejudices were stronger
We had a caste as well defined as that
in India. For one to marry i'll lower
class was social suicide, and my folks,
being Of the so called aristocracy, were
among the stalwarts of the stalwart in
unfolding this intolerant creed. l be-
came something of hereto while in
the north completing my education, but
it takes time and experience to get rid
of Il strong hereditary bias.
1--WE were fairly well off for those
times, but l had an ambition TO dc
something more than cumber the world
as a mere consumer. This inclination
rather troubled the family, but after
numerous consultations it was reluc'
family admitted that might supcrintend
the development of some coal and iron
interests that we had i'll mountainous
section Of the state and still maintain
my social prestige.
II went at the enterprise in earnest,
bringing lot of men from Pennsylya.
mia that understood tAe work and found.
ing a primitive village Of log cabins il
region as dcsolate AS any encountered
by the original pioneers. The miners
had their families with them, and al
supplies had to be brought so miles
over the mountain roads The fore
man was big hearted but shrewd anC
fearless Scotch Irishman, who was jus
to the men and loyal to my interests
His home was looked after by daugh
ter who had lost her mother years be
fore. The men used to call her the
Mountain Rose, for she had all its deli
cate cOlorings and was just as fresh ant
dainty and graceful Though stronf
and 1.-THE, because of the manner of hel
life, she looked the patrician from hea(
to foot and had an innate refinement o.
character that no culture can supply
Her voice was musical, and to me hel
simply songs were more charming thar
the usual efforts of prima donna. HeI
education was Of her own acquiring
and was strangely out Of the conven
tional lines. Her knowledge i'll some di
rections only surprised you less thai
her tact in acquiring information il
others. But would never tire Of talk
ing of her.
AFTER our rough colony had become
settled and was progressing finely un
desirable characters were attracted (,
the vicinity. Some men put up shan
ty just off my land and stocked it witt
dow
ing characters came there for the osten
sible purpose of hunting and fishing
pitching their tents in our vicinity.
heard stories of gambling, and the me
were not as regular at their work q
they were before these interruptions
Rosser, the foreman, wanted to adol
heroic measures for getting rid of thes
pests, but | saw no way but to wait fl
some breach of the law and then secur
the intervention of the authorities.
"Our pay day came every two weeks
and l brought the money from the neal
est bank, i'll town some distance away
having two good men go with me as
guard. On one occasion Nettie, Il,
foreman's daughter, met US ten mile
from the settlement guiding US in
circuitous route, for she had learne
through wild young girl at the drinl
ing den that there was plot to wayla
and rob us. Nettie had promptly pushe
her way through the dangers of ii
= mountain paths to warn US, fearing tn;
, delay in securing some other messeng,
, might be fatal to US and at the san
time endanger her informant. On Il
: way III learned more of the girl al
her life than had ever known. and 81
aroused that interest which is SO like
b, to eventuate in love.
e 1T was month later before we we
l. freed from snow blockade, and the ne
t time went to the bank it was for do
c Bile the usual amount. took more me-
and we returned without accident. Eve
;, this did not give me the pleasure affor
ed by the joyous welcome of the 81
who had 80 evidently been in DIRE,
d while was gone.
II 1t was just coming dark when
d tossed the canvas bag containing II
: money to the foreman, for he was ii
;, custodian AID would pay off at the not
hour next day. Inever felt afraid whc
n he was on guard. That night the stor
was on us again, and with veiw
making some arrangements for the be
N ter protect, Il of the mines l sent f
), him. l never thought of the money Ii
n ae appeared at my door, shortly befo
!. II O'Clock, covered with dripping sno,