The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-06-30

SINNER, OF any Just law or a / never
wronged friend or neighbor of a cent
in my life. But my father and his
father before here stilled their apples
peaches, their corn and rye, IL they.
10, into brandy and whiskey
for their own use and the use of the
country around; and no government O
set OF men shall take away my right
to do as | please with my own goods
The two boys were eating heartily
and listening silently, and they now
paused and looked toward their sister
in triumph. In truth, she was struck
with her fathers rude eloquence, AMI
looked at him a softened expressio1,
Multiplying; but this blockade whis-
key business was the burden, the ser-,
row, Of her youns life, and it would
never do to give up the struggle.
"Ah, father, hat sounds well, and
/ own that you have had hard treat
ment; but, after all, you are a law
breaker, and you are making your cwn'
sons law-breakers. Wasn't this the
grief Of mothers last year? ! have seen
her sit in this kitchen, and rock her.
self, and cry by the hour, because her,
husband was a 'moonshiner.' What,
Olu chC ody " .Ou oh hCI o~1
| was kneeling by it at the time,
pleading with you to give up this mr.,
rid business, and solelmnly warning you
just about TO meet her God as she was.
that if you went on His curse would.
fall on you"
Raynor's face worked convulsivelv,
and he visibly shrank in his chair. lie
had loved his wife with all the depth
of his strong nature, and he, too, knew
how it had afflicted her. The girl, see
ing the effect she had wrought, con-
tinued: Father. | am not supersSi-
tious Though she knew that he was
intensely SO, and counted on it,, but
for weeks | have had a presentiment
that ruin is impending over us all.
Father, | am caring for you and my
brothers, not myself, in this matter;
but what would become Of me, a lone
helpless girl, if you three were ove"-
taken by the law and sent to the penl-
tertiary? Only last night dreamad
that you went up to the big hill, as
yau are going tonight, and as the
hours went by you did not come back
[ sat on the steps of the front door
waiting and watching. And just as
saw the first faint light of day, a WON
an dressed in white came running
down the road-and it was mother!
She stopped at the gate and threw III
her arms, crying: oh, Lizzie, God has
punished them; the cruel mountain has
! opened and swallowed them!' Tner
she faded away as | woke up
Raynor sat, looking at his daughte'
in dismay and stupefaction, his fac'
I@al rol10r Ruf IN
of the boys, oppressed by the solenlhlt'
of the urn given to things, which e
could not understand, though 1T va
disagreeable to him, pushed his cfal
; back and rose from the table, remark
ing disdainfully: Lizzie is ashamed .
her 'moonshine' daddy and big buddies
She forgets that 'moonshine' none,
sent her to the seminary, and tina
.moonshine' money bought all tina
tinery that she sets herself Off witt
and caught Will Burke with
! Lizzie Raynor flashed around, all IN
blood in her face and all the fire il
her eve. Jack, you mean, unmanly-!
But she could go no farther; and, OVER
wrought by her emotions, h sal INT
a chair, and covered her face with ne
hands.
'You great huiking BRUTE" said III
father sternly to Jack, h worth
million of yoa- Get those things an
come on.'-and he strobe from tn
house, but dispiritedly and shaking d
head. Jack. followed sulkily but silent
, ly with his brother, for they were opeo
lent sons, and Howard Raynor wa
master in his own household.
= Lizzie cleared up the kitchen tnlng:
at the same uuae clearing up tears :
her bright eyes and the little storm
her temper, closed up the house, pu'
:. ting q chair against the back door &c
!, her father and brothers, and sat 90"
: in her room to read Dickens Our MI
, tual Friend" Howard Raynor We
T prouder of his, daughter than OF an
thing else on earth, n spared no e.
r pense in her schooling. She mad TAKE
: a high school and seminary cours
, and a in a word, an ordinarily eo'
, Gated. sensible, rather passlonat
warmhearted, handsome young won
an. who would make some man a goC
O wife-and that man, if she knew he
, self, would be Will Burke.
IT was between $3.50 and 10. o'cioe
when she heard a stealthy step on ii
= garden walk outside, followed by
o tapping at the window; a tapping IL
strange to her, as the sweet, mantl1t
r flush and the light in her eyes shove
o To be sure, though, she stepped near
- the window, and softly called, and ";
- answered: Its [ Lizzie" Go arou1
. to the front porch, viii; I'll COME
q a minute" The doc was hardly ope1
= ed before she vas in the arms of
= stalwart young fellow, in the rous
o but decent dress of a farmer, vi
black hair, ruddy complexion, laug
u ing eyes and mouth who pressed l.
IS lips in a hearty kiss. :
III Disengaging herself slowly from G
,r embrace, while still leaning charming
against him, she asked, as her s.
hand stole TO his chin: What bro'lg
% Won here tonight, you bad boy:
h didn't expect to see you" And dill
is expect to come to see you, Lizzie ia
ling, for a wonder, here, III KISS I'll