The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1899-01-13


Janey sprang up. Her face Redeemed.
In an instant she had torn off the rib
bon and stamped her foot on it..
That's how much | care for him an
his ribbons!" she cried.
Don't fly quite off the handle" said
Mr.. Oscar, coolly.
Poor Janey. She had hoped to please
her lover by her scorn of the peddler's
gift, but she was coming to the conclu-
sion that he was hard man to please.
She was passionate young animal,
| and she had thrown herself into his
arms with readiness that robbed her
self of her graces. He liked to sting
| and stroke her alternately, and was
about as unsatisfactory lover as
Janey could have found on the Cumber-
land. But she liked him. saw with his
eyes, thought with his thoughts. Nat
urally she turned against the peddler,
and from this time set herself to watch
him.
Chance favored Miss Janey. She was
bathing. one warm day, in the creek
that ran out from the spring. when she
saw Eliza and the pcddier coming, like
Jack and Jill, to fetch u pail of water
Being naked, Janey could not get
away; but she slid along to a cool inlet
overhung with tree branches, and, so
hidden. waited for them to do their
errand. OF course they stopped to talk.
That pink ribbon becomes your
black hair nightly" said the peddler.
Eliza bushed. We're just country
girls. you know, Mr.. Pond; we don't
have many pretty things. Seems IS if
the boys don't have any money left
after buyin' the sugar, an -four an mo-
lasses, an, things"
"Meat. L s'pose." said the practical
peddler.
"No; we raise our own meat. Pa has
a powerful Let O hogs"
"So!"
"Eut l expect you don't take L.uch in
terest in country life. Mr.. Pond?"
why, my dear"-and Mr.. Pond
slipped his arm around EliZa-"I'd Like
the best in the world to settle down in
country just like this. A fellow gets
tired trampin' around. Eut I'd want
two things to make me happy"
Eliza looked at him with happy conf
dence.
First little wife at was gentle in
her ways, and good religious girl, an
one with black hair to set off the pinl;
ribbins I'd buy for her, an a fleet foot,
an red mouth"
Here Mr.. Pond came to a full stop
with a kiss.
And the other thing?" with bright
blush.
The peddler grew practical again.
"Wel1, it's nothin' more'n some way to
make livin'. Now. say l married
sweet girl up the Cum berland, and
made little crop. It's too far to get it
to market. might turn it into whisky,
but lately gov'ment's turned meddler,
ar is breakin' stills right an left
through the country"
"They do hide 'em sometimes" said
Eliza, in half-whisper, "so't blood
hound could hardly scent 'em. An
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, "I've promised
not to tell of EN-"
mot to the man as is goin' to be your
husband?"
Not to him until he is my husband"
And blushing, but resolute, Eliza filled
her pail and started for the house.
Under the water Janey clinched her
hands. "Dick was right" she thought;
"and 1 see his game. He's spy. and
Eliza's a 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
render Dick Oscar, his praise, the re-
ward of his rude kisses.
But, alas for Janey! Something had
ruffled her sweetheart's temper when
they next met. Before she could ap-
proach the subject of which she was
full, stinging words had passed be-
tween them.
"Dick," said Jancy, hoarsely, dye
mean that you're going back from your
Npiu, 'Hae you oin 5oiA ~ 'A's''' ,
me?"
Marry, mol" said Mr.. Oscar, and he
walked off.
II want to speak t you," said Janey
that night to the peddler. "Can you git
up in TIL mornin' befo' tn folks is stir
rin'?"
"Of course l can. when it's to meet
gal like you"
Privately he wondered at her pallor
and lurid eyes.
Morning came. AS the stars were
drowsily getting out of the suns way,
Janey and the peddler met by the
| spring.
"You needn't lie to me-" said she,
harshly, "I've found you out. You're
up the Cumberland spyin' for wildcat
stills. I'll take you to one."
But, my dear, is this trap? I'm
nothin' but poor, harmless peddler."
"Come, then, my harmless peddler."
said the girl. with a sneer, IAN III
show you somethin' t make your mouth
water"
She struck through the woods, and he
| followed, alternately blessing and won
| dering at his luck. What thread led her
he knew not. Fallen logs lay in the
way. thickets opposed, dense foliage hid
all signs of paths, but on she went,
above, around, amidst, athwart OBJ
stacles of every kind. And finally, gir-
died and guided by trees and rocks, was
| the hidden still where the corn was