Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1897-08-31
A MOUNTAIN ROSE.

ST reckon it's true that there is at
least one romance in every life From
personal knowledge 1 can only cite my
own case, but I'll 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 n 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
culver
lyon 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 l should
say that family prejudices were stronger.
We had Il caste as well defined as that
in India. For one to marry in q lower
class was social suicide, and my folks,
being of the so called aristocracy, We're
among the stalwarts of the stalwart in
upholding 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 strong hereditary bias.
ave were fairly well off for those
times, but 1 had an ambition to do
something more than cumber the world
as mere consumer. This inclination
rather troubled the family, but after
numerous consultations it was reluc-
tantly 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.
''I went at the enterprise in earnest,
bringing a lot of men from Pennsylva-
mia that understood the work and found
ing primitive village of log cabins in
a region as desolate as any encountered
by the original pioneers The miners
had their families with them, and all
supplies had to be brought 90 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
to foot and had an innate refinement of
character that no culture can supply.
Her voice was musical, and to me her
simply songs We're more charming than
the usual efforts of a prima donna. Her
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 than
her tact in acquiring information in
others. But 1 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. I
heard stories of gambling, and the men
were not as regular at their work as
they were before these Interruptions. |
Rosger, the foreman, wanted TO adopt
heroic measures for getting rid of these
pests, but L 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 1 brought the money from the near !
AZ
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
circuitous 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 as and at the same
time endanger her informant On the
way in L learned more Of the girl and
her life than had ever known. and she
aroused that interest which is SO likely
to eyentuate i'll love.
''It was month later before we We're
freed from snow blockade, and the next I
time 1 went TO the bank it was for dou-
BILE the usual amount l took more men, /
and we returned without accident Even 1
this did not give me the pleasure afford [
ed by the joyous welcome of the girl
who had so evidently been in dread
while I was gone.
1T was just coming dark when l
tossed the canvas bag containing the
money to the foreman, for he was the
custodian and would pay of 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 1 sent for
him. 1 never thought of the money till
he appeared at my door, shortly before