The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1898-06-24
A MOUNTAIN GIRL.

the crest of that portion of the Appalachian
chain of mountains between the northern
and southern boundaries of the state of
Kentucky, tinging its peaks and crags
with a grayish vagueness. 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
foxhound floating family from some
mountaineer's cabin or the whistle of
doves 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 msts 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
alder bushes, his whiskers and brush bris-
Ting with pendant drops of morning dew.
A mother quail and her brood that have
been Pluming their feathers on topmost
rail, with an affrighted whir, fly to cover
Presently soldier in his uniform comes
galloping furiously down the road. He
passes at full speed The sound of his
steed's hoof beats grow fainter, and 81
lence for few minutes again reigns, only
to be broken by dozen or more men in
uniforms of the other side, who break COW
er and almost come down the road like
mad, their horses reeking with sweat and
blood. The first man, farther down where
the road forks, has turned to the right.
These others take the left hand branch. In
few moments shots are heard, and pres
emily horse, the one ridden by the first
man, comes galloping back to be met and
caught by slim, dark eyed mountain girl,
who comes suddenly out of the bushes
from somewhere. She stands there hold
ing the bride reins in her right hand.
The left is pressed hard against her heart,
as if to ward off an unseen blow. Her
eyes, stony in their intensity, look off far
up the valley to break in the mountains
where Gods good morning displays its
bright rays. Her gaze finally turns toward
the pursuers, who at the sound of the
shots have ridden back to the forks, and
catching sight of the girl and the horse
come excitedly up the road toward her.
" Bob Jordan's darter," says one Of
them.
'Jes' as l thought" laconically replies
he who appears to be in command. 1.-The
| pesky critters got warnin from sum 'ers
or he'd bin'r gone fawnskin afore now
Whut air your a-doin heah at this time NV
| day." he demands of her. For the first
time the girl seems to take full notice of
their presence
" Did you heah whut l sed?' he demands
more commandingly.
I'D like ter know whut consarn that is
nv your mp" she replies, turning to him
defiantly.
Amt err body got good right ter 90
whar they please 'thout bein stopped in
ther road an pestered ter death bout hit
by er lot Nv big, oowardly men? Eff you
air erbliged ter know though, I'm er goin
down to Bob Blackmore's ter help his
mother. She air sick in bed an helpless. "
Ibid you mean ter ride Bob's boss down
tharY low eff my eyesight amt er failin
me that that air is his cTitter. Whar g
Bob nowY" he continued coaxingly.
81 don't know nothin bout him Ell
you uns want ter find him, you'd better
look fer him."
Wizard you git his critter then9''
breaks in one impatiently.
Il stopped him in Their road, right heah,
es come down Their path thar. The crit
ter wuz comm lopin up, when l run out
an headed him off "
After parleying few moments the
spokesman again turns to her.
1--WE uns think thet more'n likely you
wuz tellin Their truth jes' now" he ven
lures. Speedily es you air a member Nv
ther church, an your daddy wuz, too, an er
elder besides. Sissy" he insinuates, mo
body ever heerd NV your tellin no lie afore.
Which way did you say Their critter wuz
kummin froInY" She looks him steadily
in the face
THAT way" she says, indicating with
a wave of her hand the opposite direction.
"Ther Lord forgive me-" she mentally
pleaded, fer tellin er lie fer him"
THAT won t do Sissy. We uns jes' kun
that air way ourselves, right after him.
We uns had better look fer him right
around heah, reckon. l hear tell, he
said for the girls benefit that wha1
thar's emmy petticoats GROUND Bob Black.
more amt iur erway."
You better look out fer yerself, she
scornfully replies. He un is mighty
handy with his weepins an with his fists
too. l reckin you know that too, don't
you, Jim WootenY hev heerd tell that
you an him had er fight ter wunce, an Bot
didn't kun out no little end Nv ther horn,
neither"
1--WE uns will fix all that thar eff we evel
get our hands on Their on 'ry, good fer moth
in scoundrel ergin. He uns amt fit tel
live nOways."
He's er sight mo- f1tten than you air, u
she breaks in holly. Hes allus bin Ell
hardworkin, sober man, an taken keel
Nv his mammy sumpin you never done
Sides that, he's er gentleman, an allui
, minded his own business. Do you uns cal
this wahy" she demands, with rising We
Lon. ence. TOO cowardly ter 20 away
1rum home an fight yerselves, but lay
round heah an take everything emmy body'i
, got left An soon's somebody-that's Bot
: Blackmore - who's flghtin fer his side
heahs his maw's sick an slips off ter kun
, an see Ter, ter houn him like err dog al
| try ter kill him. Hits jos cause he's bet
ter n you air.
The faint winding of horn down thu
| road arrests their attention, and hurried!
mounting their horses they ride off, calling
r back to her: