Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-03-11
A MOUNTAIN GIRL.

IT'S 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 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 a
foxhound floating family from some
mountaineer's cabin or the whistle of q
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 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
alder bushes, his whiskers and brush bris-
thing with pendant drops of morning dew.
A mother quail and her brood that have
been pluming their feathers on a topnost
rail, with an affrighted whir, fly to cover.
Presently a soldier In his uniform ONT
~galloping ~furiously down the road. He
passes at full speed. The sound of his
steed's hoof beats grow fainter, and ST.
lence for a few minutes again reigns, only
to be broken by a dozen or more men in
uniforms of the other side, who break Gov
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
a few moments shots are heard, and pres
emily a horse, the one ridden by the first
man, comes galloping back to be met and
caught by a 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 a break in the mountains,
where Gods good morning displays it's
bright rays. Her gaze finally turns toward
Une pur6uerS, WHO Ht tNe SOunu u inc
shots have ridden back to the forks, and
catching sight Of the girl and the horse
come excitedly up the road toward her.
dob Jordan's darter," says II Of
them. IN.
"Jes' as l thought" laoonically replies
he who appears to be in command. "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
dayp' he demands of her. For the first
time the girl seems to take full notice OF
their presence.
"Did you heah whut l scd?" he demands
more commandingly.
"I'd like ter know whut consarn that Is
Nv your'n?'' she replies, turning to him
deflantly.
"Ain't er body got a good right ter go
whar they please 'thout bein stopped in
ther road All pestered ter death bout hit
by er lot Nv big, oowardly men? Ef 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"
"Did you mean ter ride Bob's boss down
thar? ! low Of my eyesight amt er failin
me that that air Is his critter. Whar's
Bob now?" be continued coaxingly.
II don't know nothin bout him. Ef
you want ter find him, you'd better
look fer him."
Wizard you git his critter them"
breaks in one impatiently.
II stopped him In ther road, right heah,
es I come down Their path thar. The crit
ter wuz comm lopin up, when I run out
an headed him of"
After parleying a few moments the
spokesman again turns to her.
1--WE uns think tibet 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, an er
elder besides. Sissy" he insinuates, sno-
body ever heerd Nv POUR tellin no lie afore.
Which way did you say Their critter wux
kummin fro,nS" She looks him steadily
In the face.
"That way" she SAYS, indicating with
I wave Of her hand the opposite direction.
ether Lord forgive me, she mentally
pleaded, "fcr teliin or lie fer him."
ssIhQG WOnv6 60. SfGsV. We ms ipas kum