The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-12-30
L SUCCESSFUL LIAR,
BY oPIn READ.

that he might loll along the way ant
breathe the scent of the apple bloom. In
quiry brought him to restful place anon
the Nils, small, hpmelike tavern, al
ancient house built oflogs, and moss GOV
cred on the north side Here he sat dow,
to rest, and it was restful, the soft air, th
mysterious woods and great spring o
white water that burst with passion from
under rock. This was all charming
enough, but to one Of Wilson's sensitive
ness, the people were annoyin The few
ness of strangers rendered the natives in
.,quisitive, and Immediately upon the arri
val Of a visitor they at once set about tt
discover his business and the source of hi
income.
Shortly after his arrival he was sittine
in the "best room," IN the presence of sew
eral mountaineers who hemmed and hawed
at him and glanced at one another. Pres
emily tail, gaunt fellow, with beard
streaked with sunlight and shadow, looked
up and said:
Don't reckon It's much use to ask you
II you are a stranger in these here parts?
mot much" replied Wilson.
"Mout have come from a putty good
distance?"
eyes"
"Well, about how fur?"
"See that blue hill off yonder?"
Eyes; it's plain enough"
"Well, came from further than that"
A silence fell and the hill men chewed
their tobacco and spat into the great fire.
place, and after time another one, hold.
ing the Importance OF reserve force, spoke
up: Il take it that you amt farmer"
Whenever you feel like taking, help
yourself" said Wilson, and the reserve
force cleared his throat. But he knew the
duties of his position and was not ready
to retire.
"Of course" said he, "it is necessary,
or leastwise We think so, for man to have
some sort Of business. Don't you think
so?"
Either that or he ought to be pretty
skllful thief said Wilson.
eyes, that's what we think. And you
have some sort Of business, eh?'
"Yes, very fourshng business"
May ask what It isl"
Certainly. I am-am travelling for fac.
tory that makes cork legs and arms
:, They chewed their tobacco and glanced
at one another, and Wilson, looking around,
saw girl standing near the door. He had
caught sight of her once before, as she
swept like vision from the dairy house
across the yard. She did not shrink as he
looked at her now; her brown eyes met
his, and he felt that his starving nerves
were feasting as he gazed upon her.
"And l reckon You have come here to
take ORDERS" said the reserve force.
eyes, that's my business"
The hill men filed out, leaving Wilson
alone, no, with the girl who still stood
near the door; and when they were gone
she came forward, not timidly but with a
sweep, dart like the strike of black
bass, and she stood at his elbow. my
father lives over on the HILL" she said,
and then halted to gaze into his eyes. He
owns this s-place but let's mother and me
run it, because he can't get about very
well and don't want to be in anybody's
way. He lost leg in the army, and l want
you to have him one made and brought up
here"
She was so earnest that Wilson had not
the heart to tell her that he was liar,
that he had never seen cork leg, so he
replied: "Yes, l will 60 over and see him
with you"
They went over and talked with the old
fellow, and while they were there up
stumped the owner of an orchard whose
fruit brought good income and said that
he wanted leg; and before long man
named Hicks ordered a right arm for him.
self and left argfor his brother
Wilson had now gone too far to retreat.
The girl got into a buggy with him and
drove him into another neighborhood
where he took orders for six legs and four
arms and then they drove down the creek
and took more orders. And he found an
interest in the work. Sometimes his con.
science would reproach him, but the sweet
ness of the girls face and the brightness
of her eyes ma6e him forget his perfidy;
and so the time grew, like the melowing
of an apple, and at last he found that he
must return to the great wilderness called
city. He told her good-by, at night, the
moon in her eyes, and he kissed her and
without word hastened away with sweet
sadness in his heart.
The weeks passed and he sat in an office,
q miserable employment obtained for him
by influential friends, and his hands were
at work but his mind was among the hills,
and down in his heart he saw girl with
the moon in her eyes. But he could not re.
turn to the hlls--he had deceived those
simple people Was there no way to put
himself right? He sprang out of his chair.
Why couldn't he fill those orders? There
must be cork leg factory somewhere in
the city. He would investigate. He found
place, quito large establishment, and
told the manager what he-had done. He
had the orders with him. A liberal com.
mission was allowed him, and filter was
sent with him to try on the arms and legs.
And again Wilson and the girl stood in
the moonlight, and her lips murmuring
sweetness were turned upward. He
thought of the weary hours in his office and
the heavy dullness Of life without her. She
inspired him with rest; she was the spirit
of the wooded hills.
"And will you be gone so long this
time?" she nnocently asked. And with all
her innocence and frankness she some.
times touched him gently with embarrass-
lnent. mot if knew that could sell any
more of my goods about here he replied,
and she sighed softly.
Uncle Matt has begun work at saw
MILL" she said, and he murmured "yes" to
relieve the growing embarrassment, won-
dering what Uncle Matt had to do with his
early return. She sighed again and con.
tinued:
"Uncle Matt isn't a careful man, and
sawmill is dangerous place to work, and
after awhile-a short while, knowing him
as well as I do, he might need an arm.
Don't you think you might come up and
see?"
That was enough, and the smiling moon
yelled her face for moment with float.
ng fleece, and came out to see him driving
with her toward preachers house.
This all took place more than several