The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1898-02-11

reckon Latimer lows we done forgot
81 reckon julie wouldn't let nobody
forgit; she does hate the Latimers
right; but then she'd ought to-she
was big enough to ric'lect when daddy
was killed." Jed Bynum was the
youngest of the three brothers, and he
had never quite shared the bitter ami.
mostly of the others.
81 can ric'lect on my own account
l reckon" rejoined jeff, sullenly, dull
flush reddening his sallow cheeks. 81
amt likely to forgit the day when Lat
inner put the cowhide on to me, an |
low he remembers bout the broken
arm, too. | new could tell what made
my han shake that thar time. Ididn't
aim to break his arm"
81 s'pect hits sort O lucky We didn't
aim no better" replied Jed. "Thar was
q heap o talk about gettin' ye for what
we did do"
The talk was interrupted by their
arrival at the farmhouse in the cove,
but it was resumed again at the supper
table when julie and Bud were told of
the threatened resumption of work in
the McNabb tunnel.
That's some more o. Latimer's do
ms, ye can jest chalk that up on the
dol" exclaimed the woman, vindictive-
ly. "Thar'll new be no peace for we
all s long as thar's ary one of 'em left!"
"Thar's like to be one more of 'em
fore they's any less, l reckon" said
jeff, making u harpoon of his fork and
spearing another corn pone from the
dish on the other side of the table.
"How dye make that out 2" inquired
Bud.
Il done saw a young feller a-ridin'
round with the colonel this evenin',
an when asked Jim Dobles bout him
he said he was mighty thick with the
Latimers-'lowed maybe he's a-shinin'
up to the gall"
Il didn't see him. said Jed. What
for kind O. lookin' feller was hep
Sort O. biggity-lookin', like he
mought We jest got out of q ban'-box;
has middlin' heavy musstache, an
wears his beard whitfield down to a
pint. That's about all notice, 'ceptin'
that he looks at ye mighty hard, sort O
like catfish. Seem like done met up
with him somewhars afore, but cayn't
ric'lect when r whar."
"City feller, reckon" said Jed, with
contempt in his tone.
"Oh, sure; don't believe he ever did a
lick O. work in his life; don't look as if
he ever did, nohow."
II don't see what q gal like Hester
Latimer lows to find in a feller O. that
Sort" said Jed, passing his cup for more
coffee.
What do you-all know bout Hester
Latlmer's likes an dislikes?" demand
ed his sister, pausing with the cup and
coffee-pot suspended.
"a good deal less n nothin', 1 s'pose;
but I've got eyes, an reckon can use
'em same's anybody"
Swell, don't ye go an forgit that they
amt no sleeps eyes" retorted julie, an
grily. "You amt got no call to be th'ow.
in 'em round at anybody that's kin to
the Latimer tribe
A ravenous silence followed this re-
mark, and when Bud left the table he
said to jeff: Want to see ye bime-by;
come outside when ye get th'oo."
jeff lighted his pipe a moment later
and followed his younger brother to the
barn. What was ye wantin', Buddy ?''
he asked.
Bout that thar city feller-don't
We reckon we-all could give him a sort
of scare that d run him back whar he
come from?''
Il dunno. Why9"
'Oh, | jest reckoned hit d be better
If we-all ever do what We was talkin'
bout spell back, hit'll be some easier
II they amt so many of EN-"
You're plum right about that; but
then thar amt nothin' shore bout what
Jim Dobles was a-sayin; he only lowed
maybe that's what was a-goin' on"
THAT don't make no difference, no.
how" argued Bud. "If he's got any
fight in him, he'll stand up for his
frien's, an if we can run him out fore
han we're jest that much ahead.
You're plum shore he amt a revenuer?"
"Oh, l reckon not; from what could
pick up down at the settlement. lowed
le's some feller that Tom Ludlow ID
knowed back in the north; he's a-stop-
pin at Ludlow's now Talkin' about
revenuers, though, hit moughtn't be
sich a bad idee to let on like the bows
done took him for one; hit d sort O.
make the scare come more natchel
ike"
The brothers smoked in silence for
lew moments, and then began to dis
'uss plan suggested by the younger.
While they talked the stars came out
'ne by one and the shadows aeepened
n the cove until they lay black and
'rooding over the thickets on the sides
If the mountain. With the drawing
IT the curtain of darkness the noises
IT the light began-the drone of tho
ar fly passing with the fading light
nto the chirping of the cricket and the
thrill song of the tree-toads. Thread
ng the irregular voices of nature with
he measured pulse of human effort,
he rhythmic beat of tine blowing en-,
'ines at the Tregarthen furnace vi
'rated upon the still air; and at inter-
ais a dull red glare appearing above
he shoulder of the mountain an
Iounced the feeding time of the fiery
nonster of the valley.
The brothers talked on in low tones,
ausipg only once, when shadow
,assed the door-yard and glided toward
he forest,
who's that2" aueried jeff, peering
nteptly into the darkness.
Hits only Jed, | reckon" was the |