The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-06-14

hound could hardly scent 'em. An n !
very good business 1t is, an the hogs |
live on the mash"
"Do you know of any such stills, my |
little darlin'?"
But she drew back little EFF |
do know of any," she said, "Pve prom
lsed not to tell of EN-"
"Not to the man as is goin' to be
your huSbandW
"Not to him until he is my husband"
And blushing, but resoute. Eliza filed
her pail and started for the house.
Under the water .Janey cinched her
hands. "Dick was right" she thought;
''and | see his game. He's q spy, and
Eliza's fool"
She knew that she had heard enough
to Justify her lover in his suspicious
enough to put them all on their guard.
A passionate eXultation fired her blood
as she thought of the service she
should render Dick Oscar. his praise,
the reward of his rude kisses.
But. alas for Janey! Something had
ruflied her sweetheart's temper when
they next met Before she could APP
proach the subject of which she was
full, singing words had passed be-
tween them.
"Dick." said Janey hoarsely, dye
mean that you're going back from
your wOrd-that you amt a-goin to
marry meW
"Marry hell" said Mr. Oscar, and he
walked off.
Morning came AS the stars were
drowsily getting out of the suns way
Jancy and the pedler met by the
spring.
"You needn't lie to me-" said she,
~
up the Cumberland Spyn' for wildcat
stills I'll take YOU to one"
Put, my dear. is this trap? I'm
nothin but a poor. harmless pedler"
come then, my harmless pcdler"
said the girl, with a sheer. "an' I'll
show you somethin' t make your
mouth water"
She struck through the woods. and
he followed, alternately blessing and
wondering at his luck. And, finally.
girdled and guarded by trees and
rocks there was the hidden STILL where
the corn was changed into the flowing
moonShine.
"R'long f your follls?" he said.
~ b'longs to Dick Oscar. an you
know it, said the girl fiercely "Now
I'm going back home"
"You don't know of any more such"
said the insatiate pvdler, 'lyn' round
loose up hereW
owe done enough. An. look here;
keep your tongue between yo' teeth.
Tell that | fetched you here, an you
won't see many more sunups with
them spyin' eyes"
Mr.. Pond was tolerable woodsman,
an. he led Captain Peters and his
scouts to the mountain still without
trouble. They were all there-the
Bleylock boys, the father and young
Oscar. They were hard at work. and
surprised. were handcuffed without
the firing of a gun.
Mrs. Bleylock and Eliza wept and
moaned their fate; hut Ianey was STILL
her brown lids yelling the dull fire of
/ her eyes.
clancy, my girl said Oscar, draw
ing her apart, 81 spoke up rough to
you t'other day. But don't you mind
1t. 'Twarn't nothin' but jealousy"
Perhaps I'll never come back" said
/ he.
She seized him by the arm.
"Dick, what can they do t you"
Dunno. Most likely I'll kill some
body tryin' to cit away, and be
strung"
.Iancy burst into tears.
one o. the Jareds." he said, piling on
the gloom
"Dicl oscar. | promised to marry
you. an | don't go back from my
word"
mo. an | don't" cried Dick. "There
ain as pretty shaped girl as you on
the Cumberland; an if ever I do git
back
ne whispered the rest in Janey's
ear, and She chung to him. bluShing
a deep deep rose.
- Jest one thing ! want to know"
said old Bleylock. as they tramped to
Nashville; "how'd you find u.s.
The captain laughed
Been entertainin' pedler. haven't
you? Which one o your gals d he
make up to-"
Father and brothers swore, Dick
Oscar nodded nj his diSccrnment with
human triumph
A few days later n young girl walk
ed into Nashville, who had never been
in city before. She asked but one
question-the way to the Governor s
house That accessible mansion was
readily found: doors We're swinging
open: and announced by sleepy
darky. Janet Bleylock stood in the
Governors presence.
With a fine and courteous manner
that man listened. struck by her figure,
her full voice and passionate eyes.
He promised to use his influence with
the President to procure pardon for
Dick Oscar and the Bleylocks, and
Janey was allowed to go to the prison
with the cheering news.
And Janey Went home wife. as If
the stars had been diamonds, and
strung like a larkspur chain for her
neck fathers, brothers, husbands,
sheltering her In their love.
Mrs. Blcylock and Eliza ran to meet
them. Eliza thought perhaps some
one else would come with them. Had
not her lover left her with kiss and
n promise to come back?
The pink ribbon was around her
neck. Her lips weis parted in hap
by, vacant smile.
The old father wBS in advance. He
thrust out his arm as Eliza drew near.
"Don't you speak to me-
"Pappy"
damn your tattling tongue! Keep
away from my hands,
you ought to be whipped like Il