Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1902-03-29

Across Fanning's Bridge


side OF a hill overlooking the French |
Bread valley. Far up the valley |
CLEANS the water OF the beautiful |
stream, as il rushes on through
mountain gorges and dales on its
way 20 the Tennessee Beyond the
valley lie the foothills; high above
these rise range after range OF
mountains. Above all towers the top
OF lonely Pisgah.
There has been the usual August
rain. and the river is up and out OF
its banks, covering the fertile valley
and climbing high MP on the stalks
Of corn. Last night the moon was
bright, and I went down 20 the
bridge. which Is hidaen from the
house by high hill crowning the
bend in the river. In the soft light
Of the moon the old wooden bridge
Is very picturesque. but you cannot
help wondering IL it will stand
against that mighty rash OF waters
and all the driftwood which Is swept
against It's supports, Now and then
a big log hits against its wooden
pier and you feel the jar and tremblc
of an its timbers.
stood near the center Of the
| bridge as In n dream. watching tho
| eddying Of the waters and the play
Of the moonlight on iis surface.
Suddenly was startled by the sound
80 a buggy, or some kind OF vehicle
Gathering on the bridge. I turned
/ in astonishmeut 20 see who could be
| going at such gait at that time of
] ~ .rIf
upon seeing nothing-not a human
being in sight, not buggy or even a
horse.
al must surely have been dream
ing" I said and turned again 20
watch the water and the moonlight.
In moment the same sound dis
| turbed my reverie. I turned once
more in wonderment; the same re-
suit. Not soul. nothing broke the
/ quiet OF the beautiful scene. must
confess it was becoming somewhat
uncanny; and when a third time this
startling noise was heard the bright.
CHEEKY lights Of home rose in allur-
ing colors before me. and started in
that direction.
was just nearing the end OF the
bridge when I saw my old friend BY
Golly-Jim, as he was Familiarity
known. / knew ne was the bridge
watcher, and ne had probably come
down TO remove the driftwood from
the pier. This was his mission. !
greeted him and led him 10 the cen
ter of the bridge under pretense If
looking at the drift Again the clat-
tering OF wheels and horses hOofs
were heard. / turned 90 him in ques-
tioning astonishment. His face wore
a curious kind of satisfied expires,
sion.
You heerd it. TOO. did YEP" n,
said. at bothered me lots at first
but / done got plum used 20 IL now
They say that's Dick Lorick driving
He comes every fun moon ever sine,
IL happened. an that's nigh on Il
five years Whoopi thar comes a bis
'un. sho'." With this the old mar
climbed out on the pier and with
long pole pushed the log away frou
the pier. IL seemed 20 me perilou
operation. hut he appeared tQ be- per
fectly unconcerned aud fearless
about hanging over the angry water
] moved 20 the end OF the bridg
and sat down. being very anxious 1,
hear the account of Dick Loriclx. bu
knew it was better TO let Jim tax
his own time in the telling OF il.
After awhile he came and sat dow
!. by me, saying: "Yes, on this kind Z
night I don't mind having eompan
On this bridge, not In the leas
= particle. You know amt scarce
but IL makes me feel kind OF slxittisi
sho'. TO hear that horse and bugg
come clatterin' over the bridge an
not see durn soul"
"No," | said, " OF course YOU don
believe in that fooliShness; hut VIII
was Dick Lorick and what happene
70 himY"
"WhO he was and whar he com
from nobody round in these part
can tell ye; but what happened I
him seed myself. IL was this wa,
You see that little cabin over tina
on the side of that hill--xou can jus
see the roof of it fram hero. n,
body lives thar now, and don
Feckin' they ever Will.
"Well, old man Joe Skinner use
- TO live thar. and a rneaner man nev,
walked Gods ground lie was
mean 70 his wife they say sho W.
glad 70 die and get rid of him; bl
she left darter behind. and if ev,
;, ] was sorry for anybody il was r.
.e that ar Trpthy skinner. Aud pre-
:. tyl There wasn't any likelier 2
u In all these mountains. As old as
d Is, used TO plum love TO look at he
=. but alters looked out the corner
my eve when my old woman ".