The Opelousas courier., 1897-05-15
TAe rain began to pour down will

: Dlackest darkness relgned without
But the weird shadows which danceI
J around the walls in the freight wer
old acquaintance Of the two men in
side, who took no notice of their gro
tesque pan.omime.
Finally the rain ceased, but tn,
utter blackness still reigned without,
for the clouds hung low down over tn,
cliffs and the tree tops. For NOR,
than half an hour neither of the me1
had spoken. ALT had made a Gisco7
cry, and had been thinking about it.
Bob was in love with Sarey Mauldin,
and Alf loved her himself. 1t seemed
that all three of the partners loved
the same girl. But ALT and Bob had
seen that Sarey preferred Tom Drake,
and both had secretly resolved not to
come between them, each one ignor.
ant of the fact that the other was max
Ing the same sacrifice. New hope had
sprung up in All's bosom since Sary
had told him Of Toms treachery. Now
he had discovered hat Bob loved her.
he resolved to keep the secret Of his
own love, for Bob's sake; and again
the hope passed from his heart.
When the rain ceased, the two men
arose; and, while n OF them dragged
the, fire from under the furnace, the
other removed the cap from the still,
and then placed a corncob in the
bungho!e of the keg that held the
product of d%istillation.
"Bob, l guess we better move the
still to a safer place this very night"
suggested ALT.
"Nary a move, ALI This still has
been here nigh on to seven years, and
here she's agwine to stay"
"All right, if You say so; I'm not
the man to step off aad leave you"
CALI, you can tote the key down to
the burnt poplar as you go home, and.
I'll stay here till she cools off and
kinder s%traighten things up aforeI GO.
III meet you at the burnt poplar sgin
dayhreak in the mornin'."
ALT shouldered the heavy pine key,
and, passing through the doorway, was
lost to view in the darkness.
Bob again seated himself on the
bench, with his chin in his hands, and
gave himself up to melancholy reaec.
Alf had been gone some time, and
the embers that had been raked from
the furnace gave out only a faint glow
to light the interior OF the still house,
when a dark form appeared in the
doorway. Bob heard the step, and
instantly sprang to his feet with a re-
volver in his hand, but as suddenly
dropped the weapon and stood back
when he recognized the visitor.
"fou. Sarey!" ne exclaimed. 'tVhat
brung you here at this timeo } night?"
"I've come to ginyou warnin', Bob,"
ssid the girl, as she threw a light shawl
from round her head and advanced
the earthen floor. The smooth,
round cheeks were glowing from the
exertion of her walk, her eyes shone
brightly in the dim light, and her long,
black hair hung in charming disorder
about her pretty shoulders.
"Warnin' for what?" asked Bob.
"Warnin' agin Tom Drake. Has ALI
been here tonight"
"Yes; he's been gone about a half
"And didn'th tell you about Tom?"
Eyes; but, Sarey, somehow I
couldn't more'n half believe it."
"But hits so, Bob; he told me so
and he's gwine to git you and
Alf fust. couldn't sleep tonight for
linking about it, SO I jest got up and
'ome over here to beg you and ALI to
your still somewhere else this
'ery night"
"But I can't do it, sarey; she's been
lere a long whet. and here she's a.
wine to stay"
sob, Bob, jest to think O. Tom a
urnin' agin' all you uns, and I been
thinkin' O. him as a Teller what
7ould stick by a body forever; and
!ow ats gone and upset it all. told
i'm ! nsaoGS would speak to him no
s i oaugStsp her apron, pressed
! to her face, f,nd began to cry. Bob
ooked at haf, and choking back a
reat lump from his throat, turned
way a step oil, two, then came back
nd laid his big brown hand gently on
he girls arm. t
"Don't. Sarey, don'ti" he said, ''for {
ON amt with no tears O. y~ourn."
[e led her to the bench, where she
IT down, and in a few moments had I
ried her eyes. q
"Sarey." continued Bob, after a +
ause, "Tom amt wuth nary 'nuther g
O. yourn, and I wouldn't t
aste 'em on i'm. Thar's a plenty on
lett yit that's a sight better n q
om." 8
Il know it; I only wish I'd a f
moved it sooner" n
"Sarey, won't you answer me one a
nestion? B'case I think a power O. t
and | want to know"
"Of curse I'll answer any question a
ou ax,Bob, b'caseyou've alters been SO n
,od to me, Jest like a brott err"
"Well, Sarey, tell me which one of Il
% boys you liked the best arter 81
:,
"Why, 7 alters did like ALI Jest as
as Tom, but ALI never 'peared to b
&c me, and Tom did," fl
Again Bob swallowed a great lump s,
at had gathered in his throat. a,
sAlf is o good Teller; he'd never go n
ok on us," he managed to say as he Il
ose from the bench, ard began to u
# things TO rights about thu distii,
II, lis fssk completed, ba tusnsa Il
aFey, WHO .a.aaa IN l:s aaas sfEs II
" SsEk hama With y0a,H BIZ esf 4, n