Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-03-12
HAMPTON, PF7OEBUS AND Old POINT-C Continued.

picked up OH the ground Above II
wac home made copper kettle of
curious shape. which contained tho
worm aud In which tho whlskey In
gradients were heated. Above tho
Kettle was a wooden vessel. from
which tho distilled liquor was drawn
through bamLoo tube.
IA II happened, the mountnineer
Who owned tho still was there with
his dog. He explained tho making of
moonshlne In detail
II you'd como elk or seven years
ago" he said. you wouldn't have
been able to got UP here. oven with
the colonel FOR guido. This here still
was workin' In them days. and We all
had to be mighty kcerful about strang.
era"
You have como cut OF business Z"
asf"d Tho Tribune man.
"Yes. sir, wo euro have quiz" rs
returned. You sec. most of tho
mountain got religion and got II good
and wc's keeping the laws of the land"
ITS n wonder the revenue officers
have not destroyed tho STILL" obscrv-
cd the Visitor.
We'll. between you and mo, tboy
don't know It's hero. and wc'ro not
telling them. Who knows. We may
want TO uso II again."
| The trio had hardly taken up tho
main trail again when they mot n
mountain woman OF unusual beauty.
Her figure showed striking lines In
spite of q shapcless print wrapper.
Her face was of tho paioncss OF mar
bic. palcness accumulated by inky
black hair.
( DO YOU happen to know Mr..
Thomas who lives along this trall?'
the colonel asked.
81 suro do" she declared. with n
smile that lighted up her face. "He'a
my man. You'll find him working
alongside tho road about IL mile fur.
thor up"
After travelling the mile the party
found n man at work In field lie
was as black as West Indian negro
Whore will | find Mr.. Thomas?"
tho colonel asked
I'm your man. said tho black fol
low.
but Tm looking for a white man."
said tho colonel: II met his wife
down tho mountain q way.
I'm white man. and that waa my
wife. What can do for YOU. sir?"
The colonel did not argue tho ques-
ton of color but mado him an offer
for bit OF land which he owned in
another part OF tho country. When
the riders went on, the Northcrncr nut
this question::
''Why did he say he was n white
man when he Is the blacklist Tye seen
In the South?''
'Ifo considers himself white. and
like AZ not there Is not single drop
OF negro blood in his veins" said the
colonel. "He Is one of tho unfortl.
mates of tho mountains. His forcfath.
ers came here from Portugal when
Virginia was a colony. They did not
get on we'll with tho English colonists
and drifted Into the mountains, where
they intermarred with tho Indians
Tho result iy that one child In every
generation is like to be black
1T has resulted In many n tragedy,
FOR the women of this descent are Of
ten very beautiful and sometimes win
ISoutherncrs for husbands A man
who lives near mo In the valley mar
ricd one of these girls, as beautiful
woman as one could find In days
journey anywhere. Three children
blessed the union and they were very
happy. Then came fourth child a
boy, and he was as black as any nc
gro child. The father disowned the
boy and cast the mother out He
would not believe that 1t was his own
child.
"Thc mohter obtained work as a
cook at the house of doctor. Now,
It is our custom here for all white
servants. whether OF the house or of
: the farm, TO eat at the employers
; table. Tho black folks cat In the
kitchen. This mother lived az one
of the doctors family until the ma
tcrnal yearning for her youngest born
got the better OF her. She sent for
the boy. finally. The doctor told her
the black child must cat In the kit
chen.
"'He's no negro!' the mother pro-
tested.
"'IIc Is black, though tho doctor
declared. and for one will take no
Chances
"Thc mother left her scat at the
DOCTORS table aud for years alto with
her son in tho kitchen. All her iovc
seems to have become centred in that
unfortunate boy. She Is preparing
! him for college now. and he promises
10 make for himself IN spite of tho
:. peculiarly unfortunate handicap OF
: color. The other children live with
: fhclr father, not far away, but the
/, mother takes no interest In them"
Known Only BY Nicknames.
Approaching a mountain hamlet the
! riders began to meet other travellers
e frequently.
Q Tho last four men VIC have passed