Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1907-05-10
ROCKVILLE. MARYLAND FRIDAY MORNING, MAY TO- 1907
BY c. 3. LEWIS.

They came face to face as they turn
ed bend in the rough and narrow
trail leading up the Cumberland noun
taips to Laurel Cove, and both stopped
and stared for half a minute before
the young man raised his hat and ex-
cused his observation-disclosures. The
young woman blushed, stammered
reply and passed on. and in a minute
the trees and bushes hid them from
each other. a aa asis.5l
The one everybody for Ave miles
around knew as Abe Goodman'e daugh-
ter Tilda. The other had Just ap-
peared In the nelghborhood, claiming
to be botanist and naturalist, and
had secured temporary home at the
cabin of Saul Markham. For the last
two years Tllda had been down to
Nashville, "beln' eddicated," as bar
father and mother put 1t, and was now
teaching the dozen children of the
mountaineers In the log schoolhouse
which the young man had passed forty
rods before meeting her
Tilda had come from mountaineer
stock. Her father was rough, uncouth
and ignorant. Her mother was I'M
educated and plain. The girl had
lived in poverty, surrounded by pov-
erty, and yet she was like none OF the
rest. Nature had given her a good
figure and handsome face, and the
time spent In the city had made, what
the natives called. lady Of her. The
astonishment Of the young man, who
had given his name as Arthur Griggs,
was but natural,
The stranger who goes among the
people of the southern mountains is
from the outset suspected man, and
the first suspicion which rests on him
Is that he must be revenue spy.
Revenue men have raided and de-
stroyed scores of stills in the cOves
and ravlnes and sent scores and scores
of moonshiners to the penitentiary, but
other stills are brought In, and other
men take the places OF those who have
fallen under the ban of the law. 1t
was so thirty years ago; 1t Ia 80 today;
1t will be 80 thirty years hence. Tho
mountaineer argues that he Is a law
unto himself. He argues that he has a
right to live. He argues that where
he has no market for his corn as corn
he has a right to turn It into whisky
to make a market. The government
does not argue with him. 1t sends
men into the mountains to break up
his business and imprfson him. The
moonshiner works in secret. 30 does
the government He depends upon the
honor Of his neighbors not to give
him away. The revenue men coax,
threaten, bribe and work In every un-
derhand way to get an advantage.
The enmity ls more bitter than In the
personal feuds. When the mountaineer
goes down to the towns, he is trailed
about, cross questioned. made drunk,
II possible and his wife or his children
are offered money to betray him.
When the revenue men send a SPY
up the mountains to nose out and re-
port on stills, he takes his life in his
hands. He may go as buyer Of tim
Der or coal or iron lands, as a traveller,
peddler or artist, as q fur buyer,
preacher or newspaper man, but the
shadow of death walks by his side I'M
til he has proved himself all right. In
that case he is heard of again down in
the lowlands. In the other case he ID
reported as missing.
A botanist and a naturalist from
Harvard was what Griggs claimed to
be, and he was taken into the cabin
OF the mountaineer without question
There was no undue curiosity about
him. He was free to come and free to
go. As the nelghbors were introduced
to him they seemed to accept him as
Saul Markham had done He walked
about In contentment and slept In
peace He did not know that he never
moved hundred feet from the cabin
door without being under surveillance;
that every action was watched; that
men whom he had never seen looked In
on him when he slept that other men
gathered together In the laurel thick
cts and reported on him and discussed
him.
Young Grlggs shot squirrels and
hares and gathered flowers and plants
and sought to make friends with all.
Among those plain and hospitabIe poo
pie 1t was an easy matter for him to
bring about an acquaintanceship with
Tilda. Two days after meeting her on
the trail they knew each other. The
girl was pleased when she saw ad-
miration In the young mans eyes. HhO
was pleased when he dared to fiatter
and to compliment. She knew little Of
the world and Its hollowness. If the
monntaineer said this or that. he meant
1t. She had to Judge others by this
standard
1t was only after the newcomer and
Tilda were being talked about as lovers
He had set no time for departing, but
after month It 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 dis
trustful as the mountainous were,
they had been fooled. The newcomer
was a revenue spy, working with tho
promise Of great reward. He had re-
bearsed his part for months before
playing II. He had counted ON every
thing but meeting Tilda. There had
been admiration from the first, and
love had soon followed. Within two
weeks there had sprung up In his
breast a conflict 'twixt love and duty,
and II was for this reason he fingered.