The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-07-23
LOVES PR0DIGAL.
4 ROMANCE OF THE MOUNTAINS.
BY Charles Sloan Reid.


BY Charles Sloan Reid.
-pig-pig-oo-ehr'
Nance Hooper was standing at the head
Of a little open ravine which wound away
toward the foot Of the mountain There
was a low rail fence across the head of
the ravine a few yards from the noun
tain highway, ana against this fence
/ Nance was leaning. a great mass Of flow
ing brown hair reached far down below
her waist. about which her homespun
/ frock was tucked into a large roll. thus
/ shortening her skirts, in order that she
might move about more freely. Up to the
right of the ravlne was a little log cabin
where she lived.
It was late in the afternoon; and as
/ Nance called the hogs. great crowd of
/ them came galloping up the hill to scram-
bic over the apronful of vegetables which
| Nance threw over the fence. From far
down the ravine came the roar of the
/ Tuchasiege river, as its waters tumbled
over the ragged bOulders that marked It's
bed. With her elbows on the fence and
her chin resting an her hands Nance ling
cred to listen to the roar of the river
while she dreamed. Small clouds We're
young girls eyes watched them slowly
change from one shape to another, form
ing to her mind the outlines of various
animals and birds.
While Nance was thus lost i'm her
dreaming and picture-making, she sud
denly felt an arm placed about her.
Whirling around she found herself In the
embrace of a toll, young mountaineer who
held her firmly about the waist, and was
looking a world of tenderness down into
her eyes.
"Oh, Zeb, how you scared me! Turn me
loose this minuteP cried Nance, struggling
to free herself. At the same time two
bright tears came into her eyes.
Won't you kiss me, Nance?" asked
the young man. eagerly.
No, won't! You didn't have any bust
ness to scare me, that's what you didn'tr'
Zcb released her, and stood back For
a moment neither of them spoke. Nance
again stood holding the top rail of the
fence, and was gazing away down the
ravine. Zeb stood a few feet away, with
his eyes turned toward the ground. AT
last he spoke.
Nance, I'm powerful sorry I scared
you"
The girl did not reply. There was an
other long pause, after which Zeb spoke
again
Did a big days work yesterday and
another one to-day, Nance. Put forty-five
logs into the river, nearly all big ones"
He waited a moment, during which he
cautiously raised his eyes to a leVil with
the back of Nance's head.
II got that strip of land paid for
last Saturday; and-and I've got enough
left to build a house on 1t, Nance"
Still no reply.
Wages are better than they have been"
he went on, land I thought we might
as well get married now That's what
I've come TO see about Nance. l think
we've waited about long enough"
Silence still Zeb sat down on an Old
stump near by, and waited a long while
Finally he arose again, and gazed up at
the sky all around.
From the looks of the sky the river'H
be high enough to float logs an the morn
ing he said, thrus ing his hands down
into the pockets of his pantaloons. and
striving hard to clear a strange husliness
from his voice.
They're putting in machinery down at
Dillsboro TO start up a locust pin factory
Nance. Reckon 1 could get a good many
locust blocks off of that piece of land
I've bought
Again Zeb's vision wandered toward
Nance; but she stll stood motionless by
rhe fence, her long hair waving gently in
the slight breeze that was stirring And
the longer Zeb gazed upon the woman he
loved the fuller grew his bosom, until he
could no longer Withstand the pressure;
and his words were almost in the tone of
a wall, as he sank back upon the Old
stump.
ION, Nance, amt you ever a goin' to
say anything?"
Nance continued as immovable as before.
AT last Zeb replaced his big hat upon his
head, and arose.
Il know what's the matter, Nance" he
said; Il can see it all now. Pole Dorsey's
been a comm TO see you Of late; and-yes
I can see il now, Nance; you don't love
me any more
Zeb paused to steady his voice which had
grown a little husky.
Nance" he continued, I'D a died for
you any time; and l thought you would
have loved me right on, Nance, right on.
But how'll can't say any more. Good
bye Nance"
He turned and walked toward the road.
But he had gone only a few steps when
he turned and came back again. going
close up to Nance, where he stopped
moment. Then he spoke.
Before l go, Nance, won't you tell me
fair and square, Is it me or Pole?"
There was no answer.
'Never mind then; l know that YOU lust
hate 70 tell me that you don't love me any
more; and I won't make you. Once more,
Nance, good bye"
He stealthiy lifted a wisp of her long
HAIR, ana ferVeuuy pressed it to his lips
then walked rapidly away. Nance heard
the sounds of his footsteps growing fainter
and fainter as he ascended the hard road
bed which turned over the hill just above
the cabin Finally she looked around.
Zeb was just disappearing beyond the
turn in the road; and TO Nance it sudden
ly occurred that he might never return.
A scared look came into her eyes and
for a moment she stood undecided what 10
do. Then she sprang away from the fence
and ran up the road hundred fears tax
/ ing possession Of her bosom. But Zeb was
/ gone. "Oh, why did ne go? Why did he
not wait just a moment longer?" She
/ quickened her pace, and when she reached
! the top of the hill. was almost out Of
/ breath. Zeb had gone out of sight down