The Newtown bee., 1901-12-06

borne on babbling breezes or sent mys- teriously by some unknown process of wireless telegraphy (called in those days the grape vine telegraph.
 Several States had united them 'elves into confederacy at Montgom- cry: Fort Sumter at Charleston was besieged; and had been bombarded and had Surrended. Outside of these quiet valleys the country was aflame with rumOrS of civil war.
 Andy Frazier was very pacific and conservative; he dreaded strife; his mind now conjured up fears and fore bodings: he was much agitated by the intelligence conveyed by the narra- tive of his young man, Nose. The youth wound up his narrowing story by saying he had heard that about hundred Confederate cavalrymen were riding through the country the day before heading for Cade's Cove, across the Tennessee, and searching the peo- ple's pockets, corn-cribs and houses wherever they went.
 "Mercful Heavens! l shall be ruin ed, lock stock and barrel; there won't be left smidgin to eat, a-nubbin' O. corn, nor flick O bacon! We must git Ole Becky's mare and her colt and the mule and steers out into safe place SOmehOw.'
 Andy dropped his hammer and held up his hands in horror.
 "Which way was they comin', did you say:'
 And Nose repeated his alarming story. He threw in an imaginative touch or two about the fine animals, the handsome uniforms. the splendid appearance of the mounted men.
 "Yes, l reckon youll be 'jinin' the cavalry yourself. May be you think it's nice and brave to be ea-slaughterin' soldier, killin' of your own flesh and blood"
 Andy was getting irritated; his ap- prentice seemed to be Southern sym pathizer. Nose looked shame faced enough. f the inner husk of his thought could have been turned out ward it would have shown precisely the complexion which Andy suggested. He, indeed, desired ardently to mount the three-year-old, and be enrolled as a soldier in the cavalry service.
 If the glittering moon or the fam ing forge might have flashed into his heart that instant and rendered de- cipherable the palimpsest of it's in most core, it would have found the thought, "Lord, lead us not into temptation"
 One thing alone enabled him to sup press his military ardOr and Squclch his resolution to desert hIs master blacksmith: and that thing just then smiths shop. It illumined the htful- ly lighted interior with the radiance of a star.
 Andy's daughter, Annie Frazier pushed open the rude battered door, and Said
 "Pap, it's time to quit and come for supper
 "Indeed, I must; Annie, have you heard the news:''
 And he imparted to her what he had just heard, while all three hastily made preparations of closing for the night.
 Anne Frazier was in the simple house dress of the mountaineer, but the cut, the fit, the trimming trans formed a peasant material into cos tune worthy to set off her rounded figure, her well carried person. her neatly attired head and her air of dainty gracefulness. For young Nose Martin a subtle perfume stole into the air. and somehow, he felt as if he were striding through clover or brushing among viOletS.
 
 This was a fatcful night for Nose Martin. After their frugal supper he found opportunity, as often before, to chat with Annie out in the moonlight. swinging her in the swing from the large oak off from the end of the porch. Gradually the talk grew fer vid. and he would sometimes forget to give the swing push: the girl would be sitting at his side as he stood, and her lips were so much like trcmulO1lS rose-petals, and her eyes were so ten der and her mouth was SO prOvnkingly near SO his, that it was indeed. hard not to kiss her.
 The winds of lOYerS' niphtS are reti-