El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-06-03

"Wb7f''g fSt'>
The old man turned sharply.
and pinned it with red thorns point
over point. like fence row. She combed
at the end of her braids. and then she
went to the river to wash her feet
''Ef did hev shews now, I'd think
a heap O. myself she said with lit
tie sob as she placed her white, shapely
feet upon a rock and waited for them to
dry. Soon the splash of Thaddeus
Green's oars caused her to go down the
sandy path and meet him.
Laney was usually gay and chatty
with the young man, but he soon OBJ
served that something was wrong with
her, and he questioned her as to the
cause. The small boat plowed its way
up the stream. The stars came out, and
the milky way, stretching from one
bristling mountain top to another, shed
a pale light down on the black waters.
By the time they reached the store,
near where they would have to land,
the young logman had discovered the
principal reason for Laney's distress.
He resolved to prove himself worthy of
the trust he had asked her, and when
they walked up the mountain gorge
which led to Mooley's cabin in Shady
Laney wore pair of stiff leather shoes,
and, better still, soft, warm crocheted
shawl, which Thaddeus had generously
purchased at the store. She was never
SO happy in her life. She forgot that her
father had ordered her from his house
She forgot that there was anything in
fo no for chn 1ol
over the stony path triumphantly in
her shoes. When they reached level
on top of the mountain, they passed
through a small wood of belted trees
The mist from the roaring falls below
drifted up, and the full red moon, turn
ing around the cliff, cut long funnel
shaped roads through the mists and the
naked woods with her beams.
Thaddeus guided the girl, and they
came suddenly into clearing, where
the trees had all been cut from the
blackened stumps and rolled down the
mountain, and they were in Shady.
The name was as inappropriate as
possible. 1t was barren hilltop. The
river wound about its base like silvery
snake. Mooley's cabin was before them,
and they soon reached the open door.
What a whirl and cloud were inside
the four walls of the cabin! Girls calico
dresses afiutter, boys cowskin boots
astompi Essence of cinnamon mingled
with the perfume of sweetest wild flow
ers af1oat in the air!
Come right inI'' called Isaac Mooley
as he spied Thaddeus. Come on an
lead out.
Taking Laney's hand, the young fell
low sailed down the puncheon floor be-
tween the rows of girls and boys, and
with many hearty kick of his boots
proceeded to turn partners, while the
crowd sang in lusty tones:
Their boys dig an scratch.
Their gals knit an patch;
Well all live tergether
In Their sweetentater patch,
An We'll chase Their bufferlow-
Yes, we II chase Their bufferlow-
Oh, Well chase-ther-buf-fer-lowi
Gilliad Moon sat ON the river bank
and smoked his cob pipe with as much
as if he expected to have
Laney to quarrel with in the morning.
The muddy waters of the Kanawha
along the rocks, and the moon
lighted up the opposite shore. Neither
nor sunshine ever touched his
CdDlu. TOT GQaG reason ne naQ lacked the
skin of the wildcat on the smooth trunk
of the sycamore tree, where the sun
could shine upon it through a rift in
the mountains.
Gilliad was as comfortable as he had
ever been while engaged in honest pur-
suits His plug cared bulldog lay by
the side of him and the pup was prowl-
ing about the greasy skillet in the cab
in, while the door stood open and the
fire died away in the ashes.
He had built a fire under the wash
kettle, and the acrid odor which issued
from the bubbling contents stamped
them at once to the knowing mountain
eer as wildcat Old Gilliad would I'M
doubtedly have told prying stranger
that he was boiling it for his dog 1t
smelled good. He held his nose away
from his cob pipe to get full Whit of
the savory steam.
The fire blazed fitfully. The kettle
sizzled and boiled low.
Gilliad took up burning torch and