Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1900-10-31
A MOUNTAIN GIRL.

just tops the crest of that por-
ton Of the Appalachian chain
Of mountains between the northern and
southern boundaries Of the State OF
Kentucky. tingtng Its peaks and crags
with graytsh vagueness. From every
ravine and gorge huge clouds Of smoke.
like mist arise, assuming wondrously
odd and fantastic forms in the uncer.
tain light. The stiffness engendered by
the natural environments and the time
Of day Is unbroken save now and then
by the far-off bay Of a foxhound float.
Ing family from some mountaineer's
cabin, or the whistle Of a doves wings
as 1t flies swiftly by to the sedge fields
The sun climbs higher, and conscious
Of its might, drives back TO earth the
quenching mists. The rear guard
shadows Of the night are mysteriously
disappearing The smoke Of numerous
cabin chlmneys can now be distin-
guished rising in curling columns of
blue. Along the rutty clay road, or
rather mountain path, and hugging the
wormeaten rail fence for safety red
fox sinks under cover of the alder
bushes. his whiskers and brush brist-
ling with pendant drops of e9rly morn
Ing dew. A mother quail and her
brood, that have been pluming their
feathers on topmost rail. with an
affrighted whirr fly to cover.
Presently a soldier in his uniform
comes galloping furiously down the
road; he passes at full speed; the sound
Of his steeds hoof beats grow fainter
and silence for a few minutes again
reigns, only to be broken by a dozen or
more men In uniforms of the other side.
who break cover and also come down
the road like mad; their horses reeking
with sweat and blood. The first man.
farther down where the road forks. has
turned to the right; these others take
the left-hand branch. In a few mo-
ments shots are heard, and presently
q horse, the one ridden by the first
man. comes galloping back to be met
and caught by slim, dark-eyed noun
tain girl, who comes suddenly out of
the bushes from somewhere She
stands there holding the bride reins in
her right hand; the left is pressed hard
against her heart as If to ward off an
unseen blow. Her eyes stony IN their
intensity, look of far up the valley to
q break In the mountains. where Gods
good morning displays its brightest
rays. Her gaze finally turns slowly to
the pursuers, who at sound of the shots
have ridden back to the forks, and
catching sight Of the girl and the horse
comes excitedly up the road toward
her.
Bob Jordan's darter," says one of
them.
"Jes' es thought" laconically replies
he, who appears to be in command.
"The pesky critter s got warnin' frum
sum'ers, or he'd bin'r gone fawu skin
afore now. Whut air you adoin' heah
at this time O. day." he demands of her.
For the first time the girl seems to take
full notice Of their presence.
Did ye heah whut 1 sed?" he de-
mands more commandingly.
I'D like to know whut consarn that
u Nv your'n?" she replies, turning to
him defiantly.
Amt er body got a good right ter 90
whar they please 'thout bein' stopped
n ther road and pestered ter death
bout hit by er lot ov big, cowardly
men? Eff you air erbliged ter know
tho, I'm er going down to Bob Black
nore's TO hep his mother. She air sick
b bed, an helpless"
did We mean ter ride Bob's boss
lown thar? l low eff my eyesight
amt er failin' me, that that air is his
critter. Whar's Bob now?" he con.
dnued coaxingly.
81 don't know nuthin' bout him. Eff
you'uns want ter find him, you'd bet
ter look fer him."
Wizard you git his critter, them"
breaks in one impatiently.
IL stopped him in ther road, right
heah, es l come from down ther path
thar. The critter wuz comm lopin'
up, when 1 run out an headed him Off"
After parleying a few moments, the
spokesman again turns to her.
"We'uns think tibet more'n likely We
wuz tellin' ther truth jest now," he
ventures. "Spechully es ye air men,
ber NV ther church, and your daddy
wuz, too, an er elder besides. Sissy"
he insinuates, nobody ever heerd tell
Nv your tellin' no lie afore. Which way
did We say ther critter wuz kummin
frum? She looks him steadily in the
face.
THAT way" she says, indicating with
I wave of her hand the opposite direc-
ton. .Ther Lord fergive me-" she
mentally pleaded, "fer tellin' ur lie fer
him.
Tibet won't do, Sissy. We'uns jes
KUN thet air way ourselves, right after
him We'uns had better look fer him
right er-round heah, l reckin. l hear
tell" he said for the girls benefit. tibet
whar thar's emmy petticoats er-round
Bob Blackmore amt fur er-way."
You better look out fer yerself," she
scornfully replies. "He'un is mighty
handy with his weepins. and with his
asts, too. l reckin you know thet, too, |
don't you, Jim Wooten? l hav heerd
tell thet you an him had er fight ter
wunce, an Bob didn't kun out no little
end Nv ther horn, neither"
"We'uns will fix all thet thar eff we
ever git our hans on ther On'ry, good
fer-nuthin' scoundrel ergin. He'uns
amt fitten ter live noways."
Hes er sight mo- fitten than yon
air." she breaks in hotly Hes allus
bin er hard-w -workin', sober man, an
taken keer Nv his nanny; sumpin you
never done. Sides thet, he's er gentle
man. an allus minded his own bust
ness. Do yOu'uns call this wahT she
demands with rising vehemence. Too
.owardly ter go way frum home an
light yerselves, but lay round heah an
Jake everything ennybody's got left.
An sOOn's somebody-thats Bob
Bla .kmore-who's fightin' fer his side
heahs his maw's sick, an slips off ter
krr, m, Sao bar for houn' him like er