Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1908-07-04
+ =. GRANNY =. 81
L. By FELIX FELLOWS III
Copyright. by shortstory Pub. Coz
BY FELIX FELLOWS

The rain had come in torrents all
the morning but, by two o'clock in the
afternoon, the hot July sun blazed
upon the dripping slopes of the Ten
nessee mountains, and the handful of
mounted bluecoats that trudged heavi-
ly up the red clay road growled at
the hot vapor rising from the earth
which, with the hot rays from above
falling upon them, and their long ride
of the morning. made further progress
almost torture.
The stick chimney Of a mountain
hut snuggled close against the noun
tain side. almost hidden from the road
by the tall bushes and underground,
broke upon the vision Of the men al
most simultaneously, and smothered
Rh! and speedy Tightening Of reins
Sent the tired horses briskly forward.
A sudden break In the bushes that
bordered the road showed a rugged
path leading up to the hut. With a
quick yank of the bride one Of the
men wheeled his horse into the path,
and then stopped suddenly. There, al
most hidden in the brush beside the
path, on rock that benched out from
its fellows, sat a girl, and the surprise
of the soldiers was reflected on her
face. 1t was plain face-with rather
a large mouth that stood open In con-
sternation, and big blue eyes that
stared in wonder-a face that might
belong to a woman Of anywhere from
II to 81, but a glance down her form
to the skirt that cut of at the ankles,
and the brown bare, feet exposed be-
meath, took you back to the conclusion
Of II.
half-finished yarn stocking, with its
bristling knitting-needles, while the
ball Of yarn lay soaking In little pud-
die farther down the slope, where 1t
had rolled unnoticed.
Here, GIRL" called the leader, have
you seen anything of a man about here
tO-day?"
"M.a-r-n"-she drawled In reply,
"hain't seed m-a-r-n critter terday."
Then, little brighter-"Who be's you
alls a-lookin' fer?"
"A rebel scout-tall fellow, dark
hair and eyes. Been chasing him since
daybreak, and an internal chase he
has given us too, up these slippery
hills of yours"
''Nup, hain't seed no critter terday,"
she reiterated, languidly, STOPPING to
rescue the blue ball, which she pro-
ceeded to cleanse by hopping it up
and down the side of her homespun
gown. Say" she drawled, "be you
alls soldiers?"
Come, girl, who's up yonder at the
house," asked the spokesman, ignoring
her question. where's the men,"
"Gone-ter-the-war," she drawled.
Pap and Dan lef' Almost a yer ago.
Hain't seed nuthin' Nv 'em, have yer?"
and the big eyes took on a wistful ex-
preston.
Come, girl, lead the way. We must
search the house."
"Nobody's thar but granny, and
she's asleep"
We'll, don't stand there. move
along" commanded the man.
"Dasn't." said the girl; Granny,
she's got the asmer, and she's got one
Of her bad spells, and dasn't wake
her"
Come, come, this won't do, move
along there; we can't be detained by
granny or two"
WALL" said the girl, planting one
bare foot on little elevation of clay
and slowly bearing down till the yell
low earth oozed up between the toes,
WALL" repeating the operation on
another little mound of clay, eff you
alls bound ter do 1t, yell have ter
do it alone, tca'se I dasn't. But I
warns yer not to wake granny, for
It's her spell day and she's bad when
yer get her started"
We'll, I guess we can excuse you"
said the leader. Here, John, you hold
the horses and We'll go up-and be
sure to keep your eye on that lovely
specimen of southern beauty"
Say" she drawled, EQUALS go
easy, case IL she wakes up hell'll
be a-poppin', shore 'nuf And when
you-alls come back, jes' turn down
ther path thar, to the lef', to Their
spring, and I'll git you-alls somethin'
ter drink"
A laugh broke from the men, well
accept" the foremost turned to say,
provided your something is not
spring water"
Nav, faint neither. It's good ole
Tennessee corn Juice, as Dad says, as
good as ever pisened a rattlesnake. "
The men were nearing the cabin
door, when they heard the voice of
the girl in sort of a stage whisper.
SAY, you-alls, don't 'sturb ole frog
en- toes, what's bringin' off her second
settin under that ar table, or she'll
raise the roof, and that'll wake Gran
ny, and"
"And we wouldn't be left In peace
to enjoy Dads 'hospertality,' mocking-
lv finished one of the men. "Well T