Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-03-15
A MOUNTAIN GIRL.

Ills morning. The rising sun Just tops
the crest of that portion of the Appalachian
chain of mountains between the northern
and southern boundaries of the state Of
Kentucky, tinging it's peaks and crags
with a grayish v%agucness. From every
ravine and gorge huge clouds of smokelike
mist arise, assuming wondrously odd and
fantastic forms in the uncertain light.
The stiffness engendered by the natural
environments and time of day is unbroken
save now and then by the faroff bay of a
foxhound floating family from some
mountaineer's cabin or the whistle of a
dove's wing as it flies swiftly by to the
sedge fields.
The sun climbs higher and, conscious
of it's might, drives back to earth the
quenching mists. The rear guard shadows
of the night are mysteriously disappearing,
The smoke Of the numerous cabin chin
neys can now be distinguished rising in
curling columns Of blue. Along the rutty
clay road, or rather mountain path, and
hugging the worm eaten rail fence for
safety, a red fox sinks under cover of the
wv o.s'o'' - n,'Aoio u" orush ui1s-
uilhs WIN pendant drops OF morning dew.
a 'notner quai ana her Drood That nave
peeh piumlng thelr Gathers on a topmost
rail, with an affrighted whir, fly to cover.
Presently a soldier in his uniform comes
galloplng inrlously down the road. lie
passes at full speed. The sound of his
steed's hoof beats grow fainter, and 81
lence lof q lew minute again feiehs' only
" ne broken ny q oozeh or more men IN
uniforms Oh 1he other slue' VINO preak Gov
eF anu ailnos0 come uoWn une ROAD ike
m"u, tneif horses reeklhg WIN sweat ana
niood. me nrst man, iafther down where
lnese oenefs t"ke tne lelO haho oranoh IN
d lew moments shots are hoard, ana pres
eh1iy horse' tne one rloueh o the nrst
man, comes galloplhg pack TO 10 met o
catgnt oy a SIM dark eyed mountain GIRL
VINO comes suddenly ouC ol tne ousnes
from somewhere ohe s,anos .here hola-
1ms vne prlule leins Ia hei llghu manu-
Inc ielc ~ plesseu nara asaihse her heart'
an II " wa!u VI an uhseeh dow lior
eye, stony IN tneir intensity LOOK OH lar
up 'he vaiiey 70 a preak IN the mountains
Miele uou ) goou morning alspiays lts
prl2ho rays uer gaze nnaiiy turns toward
tne p1fsuers' VINO at the sound OF the
shots nave RIDDEN pack TO the forks, and
catchlng slght OF the girl n the horse
come excltedly up the road toward her.
bob Jordan darter,' says II OF
tnem.
'Jes' as l Thought, laoonlcally replies
ne VINO appears TO DC IN M The
pesky critters got Warnin from sum 'ers
OF he'a blhr gone 1awnskln afore now.
Whnt ar your a-doln heah at this time Nv
uays ne demands OF her. for the nrst
uilne the girl seems TO take fuA notice OF
tneir presence.
Dlo you mean whut sed!' ne demands
more oommahdlhgly
"a IKE Ter know Whut consarn that Is
w yournf' she repiles' turning to him
oellantiy.
Amt or body got a good right ter go
whar they please 'thout bein stopped in
ther road an pestered ter death bout hit
oy er lot w pig, cowardly men! I'll you
air erbliged ter know, though, I'm er goin
down TO Bob Blacklnore's ter help his
ahouner. She ar SICK IN bed an helpless.
ZIG you mean ter ride Bob's boss down
tnar! low 81 my eyesight amt er failin
me that that air is his critter. Whar's
BOD nowY' no continued coaxingly.
Il don't know nothin bout him. Fl
you uns want ter ind him, you'd better
look fer him."
Wizard you git his critter then?"
breaks in one impatiently.
II stopped him in Their road, right heah,
es I come down Their path thar. The crit
ter wuz comm lopin up, when ! out
an headed him off,"
After parleying a few moments the
spokesman again turns to her.
we ,uns think thet more'n likely you
wuz tellin Their truth jes' now" he VEN
lures. "Specully .es you air a member Nv
Their church, an your daddy wuz, too, IN er
elder besides. Sissy be insinuates, s'no-
body ever heerd NV your tellin no lie afore.
Which way did you say Their critter wuz
kummin froms' She looks him steadily
IN the face.
THAT way" she says, indicating with
Z wave OF her hand the opposite direction.
"Ther Lord forgive me-" she mentally
pleaded, fer tellin er lie fer him."
Ah.A -. -