The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1897-06-19

one romance in every life. From personal
knowledge l 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 deliverance
sat with his children and his grandchildren
on one OF these great, vine-shaded verandas
that belong to every pretentious country
home in Tennessee. He was 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.
''You look the picture of her," he said to
the little tot on his knees as he stroked her
curls. Then it took request for the story
to recall the old man from his dearest
memory. "In those days" he began,
"there was more family pride than there is
now. Perhaps | should say that family
prejudices were stronger. We had caste
as we'll defined as that in India. For one
to marry in lower class was social sui
eide, and my folks, being of the so called
aristocracy, were among the stalwarts Of
the stalwart in upholding this intolerant
creed. | became something of hereto
while in the north completing my educa-
ton, but it takes time and experience to
get rid of a 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 con-
sumner. This inclination rather troubled
the family, but after numerous consulta-
tions, it was reluctantly admitted that
might superintend the development of some
coal and iron interests that we had in
mountainous section of the state and still
maintain my social prestige.
81 went at the enterprise in earnest
bringing lot of men from Pennsylvania
that understood the work and founding a
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 50 miles over the mountain
roads. The foreman was a big hearted but
Snewd and fearless ch-Irishman who
was just to the men and loyal to my in
terests. His home was looked after by a
daughter who had lost her mother years
before. The men used to call her the
Mountain Rose, for she had all its delicate
colorings and was just as fresh and dainty
'Ihpuul ctr md hn
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 simple songs were
more charming than the usual efforts of a
prima donna. Her education was of her
own acquiring and was strangely out of the
conventional lines. Her knowledge in
some directions only surprised you less
than her tact in acquiring information in
others. But | would never tire of talking
of her.
"After our rough colony had become
settled and was progressing finely, unde
sirable characters were attracted to the
vicinity. Some men put up shanty just
off my land and stocked it with mountain
dew. Numerous rough looking characters
came there for the ostensibe 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 Interrupt
tions. 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
sour pay day came every two weeks,
and | brought the money from the nearest
bank, in town some distance away, hav
ing two good men 20 with me as a guard
On one occasion Nette, the foreman
daughter, met US ten miles from the settle
ment guiding us in circutous route, for
she had learned through a wild young girl
at the drinking den that there was plot
to wayay and rob US. Nettie had promptly
pushed her way thr )ugh the dangers Of the
mountain paths to warn us, fearing that
tCidy III SeChlluS SOllc OlIleI IltSStD8eI
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.
ut was a month later before we were
freed from snow blockade, and the next
time went to the bank it was for double
the usual amount. | took more men, and
we returned without accident Even this
did not give me the pleasure afforded by
TIE joyous welcome of the one 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 oil at the noon hour next day.
1 never felt afraid when he was on guard.
That night the storm was ON us again, and
with view to making some arrangements