The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1897-05-04
A MOUNTAIN ROSE.

!
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 a
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 1 should
say that family prejudices were stronger.
We had caste as well defined as that
in India For one to marry in lower
class was social suicide, and my folks,
being Of the SO called aristooracy, were
among the stalwarts of the stalwart in
upholding this intolerant creed. be-
came something Of hereto while in
the north completing my education, but
it takes time and experience to get rid
of strong hereditary bias.
We were fairly well off for those
times, but had an ambition to do
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 superintend
the development of some coal and iron
interests that we had in a mountainous
section of the state and still maintain
my social prestige
II went at the enterprise in earnest,
bringing lot of men from Pennsylva-
mia that understood the work and found
ing primitive village of log cabins in
region as desoiate as any encountered
by the original pioneers. The miners
had their families with them, and all
supplies had to be brought so miles
over the mountain roads. The fore
man was big hearted but shrewd and
fearless Scotch Irishman, who was Just
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 and
dainty and graceful Though strong
and 1.-THE, because of the manner of her
life, she looked the patrician from head
10 foot and had an innate refinement of
character that no culture can supply.
Her voice was musical, and to me her
simply songs were more charming than
the usual efforts Of prima DONNA Her
education was Of her own acquiring
and was strangely out of the conven-
ttonal lines. Her knowledge in some d.
rections only surprised you less than
her tact in acquiring information in
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 to
the vicinity. Some men put up shan
ty just off my land and stocked it with
mountain dew Numerous rough look
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 men
were not as regular at their work as
they were before these Interruptions.
Rosser, the foreman, wanted to adopt
heroic measures for getting rid of these
pests, but saw no way but to wait for
some breach of the law and then secure
the intervention of the authorities.
Our pay day came every two weeks,
and brought the money from the near
est bank, in town some distance away,
having two good men go with me as a
guard. On one occasion Nettie, the
foreman's daughter, met us ten miles
from the settlement, guiding us in a
oircuitous route, for she had learned
through wild young girl at the drink
ing den that there was plot to waylay
and rob us. Nettie had promptly pushed
her way through the dangers of the
mountain paths to warn us, fearing that
delay in securing some other messenger
might be fatal to us and at the same
time endanger her informant. On the
way in learned more of the girl and
her life than had ever known, and she
aroused that interest which is SO likely
to eventuate in love.
1T was month later before we were
freed from a snow blockade, and the next
time went to the bank it was for dou-
BILE the usual amount. took more men,
and we returned without accident Even
this did not give me the pleasure afford
ed by the joyous welcome of the girl
who had SO evidently been in dread
while was gone
st was just coming dark when
tossed the canvas bag containing the
money to the foreman, for he was the
custodian and would pay off at the noon
hour next day. Inever felt afraid when
he was on guard. That night the storm
was on us again, and with veiw to
making some arrangements for the bet
ter protection of the mines l sent for
him. never thought of the money till
he appeared at my door, shortly before
II O'Clock, covered with dripping snow.
linen ne assured me that the treasure
was safe with Nettie, as no one would
think of injuring her.
1--WE had been talking nearly an hour
when there was the sound Of a muff1ed
cry and body falling against the door,
Rosser reached 1t with a spring and
threw it open, to find woman stretched
across the step. Quickly he lifted her in
his strong arms and laid her gently on
the rough couch had pulled before the
blazing logs. 1t was Nettie, unconscious
and apparently more dead than alive.
Her long, waving hair was loose, d.
sheveled by the wind and wet with snow
that melted to glittering drops in the
warm glow of the room. Her upturned
face, with its perfectly chiseled features,
had the unattainable beauty of the art
lists dream. Through all that terrible
storm she had made her way for half a
mile without wrap or even the slip
pers in which she sat while awaiting
her fathers return, for they had been
lost in the first few steps. AS 1 grasped
her pretty hands to chafe them they
bosom, and only when the half crazed
Rosser forced some brandy down her
throat did she relinquish her hold.
Trying to rise, she said rapidly:
Hurry, father, hurry. 1t was Black
Joe. He's locked in the strong closet. 1
brought the money. You said you knew
would protect it. There it is. How
Black Joe did curse and swear to kill
us bothl But captured him. And her
unnatural laugh told how intense had
been the strain upon her nerves.
"We found the villain vainly trying
to batter his way out, and in due time
long sentence put him out of the way.
He had stolen in upon Nettie shortly
after her father left. No threats could
induce her to betray the hiding place of
the money till she suddenly devised q