The Washington times., 1903-02-01


streams dip deep into the State when
they leave their mountain sources. and,
after a long southward curve. dow north
ward to join the Ohio. Where they make
The upward bend there are hills between.
full Of the richest Iron ore The eoun-
try is the widest. The nest broken
made up wholly Of ridge and hollow. both
tbfcklv overgrewn. Furnaces dot and
mar the landscape. About them the tim
Der has been cut for charcoal burning.
and in it's stead there has sprung mat
ted jungIy growth-scrub oak, hickory,
hazel. sassafrag. all wreathed and bound
with creepers of various kinds
Only the narrowest. the most winding
paths run through these ''coaIings, as
the natives call them They are ideal
hiding places for anything In need %
shelter. What wonder that the guerrilla
chiefs haunted them? They we're truly
Ravens of refuge to the Irregular sell
sierv that lowered and wavered about
the advancing Federal army, threatening
an outpost. raising a sllirmish. or takins
q shot wherever there was opportunity
Of loot without too great danger. These
gentry made impartial requisition from
citizens Of all opinions who happened 70
live conveniently remote from a Federal
garrison. Yet the furnace people were
left untroubIed-the boldest or most
laundering Of the free companions felt
it well to keep to 9 truce with those who
knew all paths TO his lair
Living in a garrisoEed town where an
unfrfendlv soldier stood on every corner,
q spy under every window. imagine our
happiness. i've young girls, when We
elambered into great springless wagon
and saw the heads of the shaggy mules
set toward the fair hill country. No
conveyance less stout could take US safe
Iy over the rough roads. Alice OveTton,
Marion Ross. Louise Magruder, and
were of for a visit to our friend Helen
Copeland, who lived at Copeland Fur
mace
Copeland Furnace was. as It were. the
capital of a wide, debatabIe land, lying
south Of the Cumberland River and
north Of the Tennessee. Helen's grand
father had built it, coming away from
his Pennsylvania mines TO these lands Of
richer ore Her uneIes and cousins were
fighting for the Confederacy shoulder TO
shoulder with their friends and neigh
bors. whose forebears had crossed the
mountains from Carolina and Virginia.
After reaching the south side of the
wide stream. it was like coming into
Paradise. Spring seemed to blossom
anew. The trees were fresh in tassel and
leaf. Wood vioIets purpIed the roadside,
and IN dusky woodland vistas we caught
the scarlet filter Of mountain pinks and
the perfume Of wild honeysuckIe. Nearly
twelve hours Of slow travel brought US
to the end Of our journey
The first two days OF our stay at the
furnace passed without incident. On
the third evening they we're making
draw from the main stack. We gath
cred al one side. Watching for fifty or
sixty brawny, black fellows. naked to
the waist. darling hitler and yon, guild
ing, directing. controlling the dazzling
stream whose white radiance changed
suddenly to a clear red. then 10 a lurid
duskiness. All day the furnace had
been putting, painting, and snoring.
Nov 1t was as II giant rested from
labor.
We turned to the house just as The
sun was going down What a soing
down it wasI What red wine filed the
clear cup OF the sky! Afar the great
hills swan n pinkish haze. Above
clouds Of scattered fleece were like
the sails Of distant ships slowly drift
ing around the world. Sound seemed to
soften IS the warm light paIed- Motion
took on e hint Of rest Twilight came
tender as the shadow % g ghostly wing.
We we're silent in the blessedness Of
it-when sharp across The suIIing world
came the ring Of iron hoofs falling at
the gaIIop, Louise, her face agIcw With
rosy light. turned.
- visitor-look, Helen"
"oh," said Helen, drawing her breath
quickly. 1T is Captain Pollock I an
glad-no sorry-aImost. her fine brows
narrowing as she spoke.
Not one Of Us echoed her regret. Pol
lock was BIZ this time in sight. A dae.
1.-THE. soIdierly figure. his skin fair. *
ceDt where exposure had dashed it with
rudy bronze. his eyes clear and blue,
his long. light hair falling in struggling
waves under a broad felt hat pushed Ear
back on his handsome head He sas his
clean limbed chestnut neither straight
nor bent, but with a certain grace Of
oneness-Itke a Centaur.
Then fSo no r. Gre fHa rr44zr tE- r--a -