Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-04-19
NECK OR NOTHING.
BY JEANETTE 4. wALwoRTH.
fCopyright. 1897. by the Author.l
CHAPTER TX.

CHAPTER TX.
"Mid reedy fens widespread" Strong
Martin had established his hermitage.
The river front or bottom lands Of the
Hill Place partook of the character Of
their swamp neighbors over on the
Louisiana side of the ~river-rank vege-
table growth and teeming animal vital.
ity everywhere!
Gloomy Expresses lowered in funereal
grandeur high above the spreading
crowns Of broad branching water oaks.
Vivid green canes grew III serricd ranks
close beside the loose leaved wild cher
ries, that in autumn waved their terra
Gotta fambeaus over the dark bosom Of
stagnaut green pond-"thick and
slab" us a witch's stew. Pallid cypress
knees lifted their blunted cones above
the Opaque waters Of the pond. Offering
coigns Of vantage to countless Shiny
things that undulated sinuously about
their roots or coiled tenaciously about
their crowns. Spanish moss hung in a
melancholy profusion Of gray bannerets
from every branch and twig that showed
the slightest inclination tn separate and
let in stray sunbeams. Frogs croaE-
ed at high noon among the coarse bull
rushes that fripged the oozy banks Of
the pond. The stridnlous note of the
grasshoppcr, punctuating the dreary
quietude. made itself heard between
whiles.
All Of which W cnt toward the giving
of such an evil reputation tn the Black
Moccasin pond that it was considered
the evil ones own dominion 10y the
slaves for miles around a few yards
beyond its somber boundaries rose the
crumbling wooden stile that stood
Strong instead Of front gate. Ii was
not cheerful spot, even under the full
blaze Of the MONDAY sun. In the gloam-
ing it was trying TO the stoutest nerves.
The wooded cliffs that led upward to
the brighter tableland where Sans Souci
reared its stately white and green IA
cade girdlod Neck or Nothing with
verdant palisades that were almost per-
yendicular in places and quite inacces-
sible for ordinary pedestrians
Such as her brothers hermitage was.
Liza got her first glimpse of it on the
morning after her day Of humiliation.
He was sitting before table belittered
with books and newspapers, amid which
was placed AN unappetizing array OF
plates containing his MONDAY meal.
Not reading, not eating-pondering.
with both elbows planted squarely
amOag the newspapers and the books
and his chin resting in his palms. He
lifted his head at sound Of Liza's rus
Ting skirts and looked ut her i'll unwel-
coming surprise as she stepped daintily
over his sunken doorsill and glanced as
wonderingly about her as might wood
nymph who had lost her way aud stray
cd into mortafs habitation entirely
against her own will
Upon my word, Strong, this spot
would have made the reputation OF -
Salem witchr She shivered prcttily
and came farther into the bare room.
al am in delightful state Of goose
flesh and can feel nerves sprouting all
over me. had to skirt that remarkable
sheet Of water out yonder and l actually
feel creepy Please offer me chair. "
Strong rose aud placed his one chair
at her disposal. She settled herself in
to il composedly. A pretty flush from
exercise or nervousness had spread over
her face with enhancing effect. Strong
could feel himself warmed and cheered
by her presence in spite Of himself. 1t
was like letting brilliant ray Of sun
light into long closed closet. He had
showed some books aside and was sitting
on corner Of the table, swinging one
foot a trifie petulantly. After all, even
stray sunbeams would expect some sort
Of entertainment.
He knew that she was taking in every
particular Of his poor surroundings with
bright, alert glances, and never before
had his one unglazed window, with its
clumsy wooden shudder tapping drear-
ily i'm the wind. his sheltiess chimney
jamb, with its dusty litter Of pipes and