The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1907-03-21

not do it. He loved, and yet he Ii
tated to 60 further. More educa:. T.:
and refinement, more contact with l.
world, and she would be woman l..
be proud of, and yet there was her ..'
cestry-the impossible in the enrir@..
ments that had surrounded her for -
many years and must have their d.r
effects.
When q man trusts woman, he has
limits. When q woman trusts man,
she has none. She is ready to give
her whole life to him. Arthur Grigss
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 e1-
listed and take away mountain bride
and the good will of the lowly people?
Love carried the day. 1t was to the
credit of human sentiment that it was
so. But before this determination was
reached the young man walked alone
on the mountains. No one followed
him this day. 1t was Sunday, and the
mountaineers were smoking their pipes
as they rested. Their. suspicious had
been lulled. They had kept their eyes
open and whispered among themselves
Whispered and smiled. On this day,
as he walked under the giant chest
nuts and made his way through the
laurels, young Griggs came upon
man. The revenue force had grown
impatient 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 thicket.
When they separated, the revenue man
knew that nothing further could be ex-
pected 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, but had sold
the government out.
After the talk Griggs walked away a
few rods and sat down on rock from
which he could see far down the side
Of the grim old mountain. He could
count the cabins of the mountaineers
scattered about, and he could look
down into Beaver Cove and Halfway
Cove and Halpin's Hamlet. It was
day Of peace, with the smoke ascend
ing as straight as an arrow and the
birds singing and the squirrels chatter
ing about him. He felt good. There
was q burden of his mind and Joy In
his heart now that he had made his de-
cision. In the evening he would see
Tilda 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
landscape beneath him when step
caused him to turn his head.
'Tilda, you herev' he cried as he
sprang to his feet with the light Of
love in his eyes and his arms out
stretched.
She drew herself up and waved him
away,
But, Tilda, what is it?''
She was pale, and hard lines had
come into her face. The girl look was
searched for in vain. There was suf-
fering in her eyes, but determination
in the compressed lips.
II was in the thieket when you talk
ed with that man-dad and ]" she said
at last. Dad has gone for his rifle to
shoot you like a dog. am here to tell
you to CO."
But if you heard US talking yon
know that would not agree to what
the man wanted"
"You came her as spy. II you
hadn't fallen in love with me you
would have betrayed my own father.
In love with me! in love with
revenue spy! Go"
But listen, Iilda. II came here
under false pretenses r.
I'VE are poor and humble" she i'll
terrupted as she drew her skirts away
from him. I'VE are plain and unedu-
Gated. We have nothing before US
nothing but this to look forward TO.
You are learned, and you may be rich.
You have the whole world before you,
and you know how to be happy, but
the meanest, lowest one among our
men is a king beside you! Co."
He paused for ten seconds in hopes
to see her face soften, but it was like
stone. She motioned again, and he
went. In five minutes he was out of
sight down the side of the mountain,
and rough old Abe Goodman was
standing over his weeping daughter
and saying to her in sympathetic tones:
'Thar, thar, little one, don't cry.
The Lawd made women to bar crosses
and to stand trubble, and If you'll jest
look up to him he'll bring you into
smooth waters and send along feller
Of a husband wuth forty hosses and
kerridges."