Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-03-27

-N 3LA South Carolina.
6: !: g.: 6: !: ! !: !: !: !: !
50 Il The sky was
4NE = heavy with black
-I " low mutterings
- M MA OF thunder which
~ seemed to issue
from the ravines aud gorgee, and the
zigzag flashes of lightning which
darted away from the hill tops, all
foretold the coming storm.
Down over the rocks and among
the shrubs a young mountaineer was
making his way. He seemed to know
his ground, and moved onward with
unhesitating step until he reached a
point overlooking deep, " lid, gorge,
where, far down through the darkness,
shone the faint glow of light. The
young woodsman stopped n moment
then muttered:
"He's thar already. Pears to me
that fire makes too much light, though.
Wonder what Bob's gwine to say
when tell him! This is about the
safest pocket in the hull ridge, and
now l guess we'll have to move"
He turned away and passed around
to the side of the gorge, where he
made his way down by circuitous
path to the bed OF the ravine below.
When he came within the glow OF the
light, he entered the doorway OF
small log house built up from the
ground. In one end OF the place was
q rock furnace, and on it was a large
copper kettle with cap and stem. A
fire was burning under the kettle, and
near the furnace, seated upon u rough
bench, was a young nan with light
reddish hair, sandy mustache, and
blue eyes. His trousers were stuffed
down into his boot legs, and by his
side on the bench lay large, wide.
brimmed white hat, the brim turned
up in front and pinned to the crown
with q large thorn. In belt about
his waist wore two shining revolvera
The young man who entered the place
WAS dressed and accoutered very much
like the young man on the bench, and
in his face was blood resemblance,
for they were cousins-Bob and All
Rankin.
ALI entered through the doorway OF
tho cabin and crossed the earthen
floor to the furnace, where he stirred
and replenished the fire. The place
was a blockade distillery owned by the
two cousins, and operated by them,
with the assistance of Tom Drake, who
worked on a profit sharing basic.
Along one side of tbs shanty was a
high platform on which rested two
large vats. These were the mash tubs,
and entering through the end of the
house was little trough which sup.
piled the cool water barrel, in which
the "worm" was coiled, with The
waters of bright little stream near
by.
When Alf had "chunked" the fire,
he sat down by the other man on the
bench. After little pause, Boil
asked:
"Where is Tom?"
"What dye reckon?" answered ALI.
"About Tom? Dunno"
"Well, you moughtn't think it,
Bob; but he's jined the revenuers."
"You don't mean to tell !"
"Yes, but | do, though. He went
down to Walhalla to-day to take the
oath; and he's promised to gin us al
away"
After long pause, during which
Bob sat with his chin in his hands, ht
spoke.
"Alf, I never 'spected it, I revel
did"
"No more did l.; but hits fact
for Sarey told me no more'n houl
ago."
"Sarey told you herselff"
"Yes. and she's powerful cut NJ
about it,"
We've worked together right here
Tom and me, for nigh on to sever
year, and never had airy shootin' ol
cuttin' scrspe a.ween us-not airy
one. ALI, l don't hardly believe it.
Bob shook his head slowly mt
dropped his chin into his hands again
"Well," said ALI, "I guess you'll
have to arter while. l seed SareJ
jest about hour ago, and che told M,
all about it; and, Bob, she actually
shed tears, she was so cut up, che was.
"What did she say, Alf?"
''She said as how Tom had jined til,
revenuers, and turned agin us; and a
how we'd all better keep sharp lool
out, b'case Tom knows every smok
on the ridge"
"Poor Sarey," said Bob, half to him
self. "She sot sich q powerful sigh
by Tom. and she was gwine to mar
~ him this fall. And l loved he
enough more'n Tom did; but see,
she loved him, so didn't try to com
atween 'em-didn't ever try to. AL'
now he's gone and disgraced hi,self
and maybe broke Sarey's heart. ALI
we'll meet. HIM and me, and faint
gwine to be long off. And when W
do, Alf-well, it's him or me, him O
me, that's ALL" and the young block
ader tapped one of the revolvers il
his belt significantly. "Iloved Sarey
and Tom we'll. I'd hato tc do it. Alf
but it's hun or me thar amt no othe
way. as | can see.
Bob arose and "chunked" the fir
under the kettle. thep walked around T.
the side Of the furnace, where q littl
white stream OF spirits was pourin
from the end Of the protuding "worm
into long keg.
"How Is it?" asked All.
"Good enough that mash will tur
out all right" said Bob, returnin
and seating himself on the bench
where he again dropped his chin int
his hands. and lspsed into silence.