The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-12-31
him and discussed him.

him and discussed him.
 Young Griggs shot squirrels and hares and gathered flowers and plants and sought to make friends with all. Among those plain and hospttable peo- pie 1t was an easy matter for him to bring about an acquaintancesnlp with Tilda Two days after meeting her on the trail they knew each other. The girl was pleased when she saw admir- ation in the young mans eyes. She was pleased when he dared to fatter and to compliment. She knew little of the world and it's hollowness. If the mountaineer said this or that he meant it. She had to judge others by thls standard.
 if was only after the newcomer and Tilda were being talked about as lov- CTS that the watch on Griggs was re- faxed He had set no time for depart ing but after & month 1t was seen that his work was finished and that he was staying on account of the girl. Abe Goodman asked no questions of the young man, and the mother asked none of her daughter. Suspicious and distrustful as the mountaineers were, they had been fooled. The newcomer was a revenue spy, working with the promise of d great reward. He had re- hearsed his part for months before playing it. He had counted on every
  been admiration from the first, and love had soon followed. Within two weeks there had sprung up In hls breast a conflict 'twixt love ana duty, and 1t was for this reason he fingered. He was not what he claimed to De. and yet he was the girls superior m all ways. It was her intenuousness and innocence that appealed to him. He had come to betray, and yet he could not do 1t. He loved and yet he hesitated to go further. More educa- tion and rfinement-more intact with the world-and she would be Wo- man to be proud of, and yet here was her ancestry-the impossible in the en- vironments that had surrounded her for so many years and must have their due effects. . ... ..
 When a man trusts woman he has wits When a woman trusts man she has done. She is ready to give her whole life to him. Arthur Griggs knew that he had won the maiden's love. and it was for him to make choice Should he return and betray the stills hidden away in Laurel Cove, and then disappear and be seen no more, or should he report that none existed and take away mountain bride and the good will of the lowly people? Love carried the day. It was to the credit of human sentiment that Il tion was reached the young man walk ed alone on the mountains. No one followed him this day. It was Sunday, and the mountaineers were smoking their pipes a sthey rested. Their sus- picions had been lulled. They had kept their eyes open and whispered among hemselves-whispered and smiled. On this day, as he walked under the giant chestnuts and made his way through the Iaurels, young Griggs came upon man. The revenue force had grown tm- patient with his dilatory tactics and had sent an emissary to see and ques- ton him. The two talked for half an hour as they leaned against the trunk of a great tree at the edge of a thicket When they sepaarted, the revenue man knew that nothing fur ther could be expected from the spy. He had shut his eyes to all but the song of love It had been useless to talk to him of duty. He had come as a spy, btu had sold the government out.
 After the talk, Griggs walked away few rods and sat down on a rock, from which he could see far down the side l of the grim old mountain. ell could cunt the cabins of the mountaineers scattered about, and he could look dwn into Beaver Cove and Haly-Way Cove and Halpins Hamlet. It was a day of peace, with the smoke ascend- ing as straight as an arrow, and the birds singing and tue squirrels chat tering about him. He felt good. Theer was a burden off his mind and joy in his heart now that he had made his decision In the evening he would see TUda and tell her that he loved her. In the evening he would see her father and ask her hand in marriage He was smiling as his eyes roved over the land scape beneath him when step caus-
 
 "Tilda you here" he cried as he sprang to his feet with the light of love in his eys and his arms outstretch- ed.
 She drew herself up and waved him away.
 But, Tilday. what is itT'
 She was pale, and hard lines had come into her face. The girl-look was searched for in vain. There kas suffer- ing in the eyes. but determination in the compressed lips.
 T was in the thicket when you talk ed with that man-Dad and l." she said at last. Dad has gone for his rifle q"