The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-01-29

| seatuIdlly she turned dSdinSAe tu9 pSC
dler, and from this time set herself t
| watch him
| That harmless young man, in tbs
mean time, was doing what he could
He wandered about the country, selling
such little things as the people could
| buy, pumping the Bleylock boys
and making love to the Bleylock girls
The pumping process was rewarded
with about as much success as woult
attend fishing for a soul through the ey:
OF skeleton. In the love- making there
was more hope.
I fancy was accessible to fattery. ani
encouraged him with little looks of fire
But there was something in her eyes
he did not trust, and he was a wary
man, the peddler. Besides, she slapped
his face When he tried to kiss her. Blu
he soon grew to believe that Eliza-sim
pie, unsuspicious, serious-would be a.
clay in his hands.
| Chance favored Miss Janey. She was
bathing, one warm day, in the creel
that ram out from the spring, when she
saw Eliza and the peddler coming, hk'
Jack and Jill, to fetch a pail of water
| Being naked, Janey could not get away
but She slid along to cool inlet over
hung with tree branches, and, so hid
den, waited for them to do their errand
| OF course they stopped to talk.
THAT pink ribbon becomes your blaci
hair nightly said the peddler.
Eliza blushed. Were just country
girls, you know, Mr.. Pond; we dom
have many pretty things. Seems S il
the boys don't have any money lef
lcf+ o,,f a n
mclasses an things"
Meat, I s'pose." said the practica
peddler
| NO; we raise our own meat. Pa. has
a powerful lot O. hogs"
"Soi''
But I expect you don't take much in.
tcrest in country life, Mr.. Pond?"
why, my dear''-and Mr.. POND
! slipped his arm around Eliza-"Pd like
the best in the world to settle down il
a country just like this. A fellow gets
tired trampin' around. But I'd want
two things to make me happy"
| Eliza looked at him with happy conf
deDce.
First, little wife at was gentle in
her ways, and a good, religious girl, an
| one with black hair to set off the pink
ribbons I'd buy for her, an fleet foot
an red mouth.
Here Mr. Pond came to a full stor
with a kiss.
"And the other thing?" with a bright
blush.
The peddler grew practical again
well, it's nothin' more n some way tt
make livin'. Now. say 1 married d
sweet girl up the Cumberland, and
| made a little crop. It's too far to git
whisky, but lately Comments turned
nieddler, an is breakin' stills right an
left through the country"
''They do hide 'em sometimes said
Eliza, in a half-whisper, $50 t blood
hound could hardly scent 'em. An a
very good business it is, an the hogs
Tvs on the FASH
DO you know of any such stills, my
little darlin?''
But she drew back little. EFF I do
knew of any, she said, I've promised
not tc tell of EN-
Not 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 clinehed her
hands. tDick was right she thought;
and I see his game. He's spy, and
Eliza's a fool~.-
She knew that she had heard enough
to justify her lover in his suspicions-
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 re-
ward of his rude kisses.
But alas for Janeyi Something had
ruffied her sweetheart's temper when
they next mete Before she could APP
rroach the subject of which she was
full, singing words had passed between
them.
Dick said Janey, hoarsely, dye
mean that you're going back from your
word-that you amt goin' to marry
nie?"
Marry hell.'' said Dick Oscar, and he
walked off.
81 want to speak t you,' said Janey
that night to. the peddler. Can you git
up in tn mornin' befo' tn folks is stir
rin'?'
"Of course I cam when it's to meet
gal like YOU
Privately he wondered at her pallor
ard lurid eyes.
Morning came. AS the stars were
drowsily getting out of the suns way
aJney and the pedler 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
rothin' but poor harmless pedler.'
Come, then, my harmless peddler,"
said the girl, with a sheer, IAN 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. What thread
led her he knew not. Fallen logs lay
in the way, thickets opposed. dense foil
age hid all signs of paths, but on she
went, above, around amidst. athwart
obstacles of every kind And finally,
girdled and guarded by trees and rocks,
there was the hidden still, where the
corn was changed into the flowing
moonshine that maketh glad the heart
of man.
The peddler could hardly keep back a
shout. He had won his spurs. 1t
was a much larger concern than he
had expected Some hogs were roofing
about the sodden earth. The monoto-
nous dripping of water mingled with
the grunts of these poetic animals.
Janey leaned against a rock, breath
ing heavily. The peddler thought he
would about as soon touch wildcat as
sneak to her Nevertheless he did.