The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1897-04-28

that did not find Its inspiration III
truth"
The author of this oracular deliver
ance sat with his children and his
grandchildren on one of those great,
vine-shaded verandhs that belong to
every pretentious country home in
Tennessee. He was ginnt 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 quiver.
"You look the picture of her." he
said to the little tot on his knee us he
stroked her curls. Then it took n re-
quest for the story to recall the old
man from his denrest memory. 'In
those days" ho began, 'there was
more family pride than there is now.
Perhaps l should say that family
preiudices were stronger. We had II
caste as well defined rs that in Indiu.
For one to marry in 'lower' class
was social suicide, and my folks, being
of the so-called nristocracy, were
among the stalwarts of the stalwnrt III
upholding this intolerant creed. l
became something of a hereto while
completing my education, but it takes
time and experience to get rid of ii
strong hereditary bias.
"We we're fairly we'll Off for those
times, but had an ambition to do
something more than cumber the
world as u mere consumer. This in
clination rather troubled the family,
but after numerous consultations it
was reluctantly admitted that might
superintend the development of some
coal and iron interests that we had in
q mountainous section of the state,
and still maintain my social prestige.
81 went at the enterprise in earnest,
bringing lot of men from Pennsyl-
vania that understood tho work and
founding primitive village of log
cabins in region as desolate as any
encountered by the original pioneers.
The miners had their families with
them aud all supplies had to he
brought fifty miles through the noun
tain roads. The foreman 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 daughter
who had lost her mother years be-
fore. The men used to call her the
Mountain Rose, for she had all its
delicate colorings aud was just as
fresh and dainty and graceful.
Though strong and 1.-the because oi
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 simple song'
were more charming than the usua
efforts OF prima donna. Her educa
tion was OF her own acquiring and wa,
strangely out OF the conventional
lines. Her knowledge in some direc-
tions only surprised you less than her
tact in acquiring information il
others. But would never tire o
talking of her.
"After our rough colony had be
come settled and was progressing fine
ly, undesirable characters were at
tracted to the vicinity. Some mel
put up shanty just off my land and
stocked it with mountain dew. Mum
erous rough looking characters cam,
there for the ostensible purpose o
hunting and fishing. pitching thei
tents in our vicinity. heard storic,
OF moling aud the men were not q
regular at their work as they were be-
fore these interruptions. Rosser, tn,
foreman, wanted to adopt heroi.
measures for getting rid of thes
pests, but I saw no way but to wal
for some breach OF tho law and thel
secure tho Intervention Of the author
itiea
"Our pay day came every 'tw,
weeks and brought the money fro1
the nearest bank, in town some dis
tance away, having two good men q
with me as guard. On one occasion
Nsttie. the foreman's daughter. me