The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-10-05


When the civil war closed the south
had for four years been suffering from
a depletion of everything needful to
human beings. 1t occurred to me that
l might turn an honest penny by load
ing a wagon with household articles,
including provisions, drive 1t through
the country and sell to the inhab-
itants.
| started from Nashville. Tenn, with
a two horse team, proposing to drive
down to Shelbyville, then ascending
the Cumberland plateau and working
toward east Tennessee. Not far from
Shelbyville | overlook n man on horse
back whose mount had gone lame. He
asked me where I>was going, and when
told him he said he believed he
would leave his horse and proceed on
my wagon. To accommodate him and
for company / agreed to take him, ana
at the next farm we came to we stop
ped to leave his horse.
While he was dickering for the AMI
mails keep we heard the tread of lop-
ing horse up the road. and a girl on
Its back came hurrying along. Inc
man who was to join me on seeing
her looked annoyed and went toward
her, evidently with the intention OF
meeting her where they would not be
overheard In what they said. They
talked for some time, the man appar-
emily trying to persuade her to do or
refrain from doing something, He was
evidently not making much Roadway
with her, and finally they came to-
ward me.
This is Nancy Parks" he said. "She
would like to join us, go over the
plateau and take train at Bridge
port for Knoxville"
81 would be very happy to have her"
replied.
The girl dismounted and the man
led her horse away to the barn, where
his own had been put, and left him
there. Miss Parks was an excellent
specimen of the poor white girl of the
south. She wore sunbonnet, cal
leo dress and coarse cowhide shoes.
Nevertheless there was something OF
wild beauty about her. Her cheeks
were a brown and red. her hair and
eyes jet black, the hair being cut
square just above her shoulders. She
climbed up into the rear of the wagon,
mounting by means of the wheel. and
settled herself comfortably among
some bags of coffee. The man got up
beside me.
BY the time we had reached the foot
of the Cumberland plateau he had
told me that his name was Barker and
that he was a northerner looking for
n place in the south on which to set
tie. This was false, as l afterward
learned. He was in quest of something
very different from this. AS for the
girl, he intended to tell me the truth
about her, saying that he had spent
day or two on her fathers farm.
She had taken n sudden fancy to him.
and when he parted with her she had
made n great ado at the separation.
with the result that she had followed
him. He said he didn't know what
to do with her. but thought when
favorable opportunity occurred he
would shake" her. The story about
her taking a train at Bridgeport was
a blind.
did so long as was not mixed up In
their affairs.
Barker whenever we stopped at a
farm or in the road to talk with any
one asked good many questions
about the country, the soil and the
people, bearing so far as could judge,
upon his own settlement among them.
He asked different persons with whom
we chatted about man named Elijah
Hanks. No one seemed to be inclined
to give any definite information about
Mr.. Hanks. some saying they had
very slight acquaintance with him.
others that they didn't wish to know
him at all. Barker seemed to be try.
ing to get description of Hanks by
which he would recognize him. l no
ticed that when Barker inquired Of
one person about Hanks the man gave
him quick, suspicious glance.
Meanwhile Nancy Parks sat In the
back Of the wagon munching some ap-
Piles she found there and of which |
invited her to partake. She seemed to
be satisfied in simply being with Bar
ker. and l could not see that she took
any interest In what was going on.
Soon after we got up on to the plateau
we met man whom Barker stopped
to ask questions about the country
and the people and If he knew of a
good farm for sale. The man replied
In deep sonorous voice. happened
to turn as he did so toward the back
Of the wagon and noticed marked
change in Nancy. The voice of the
man Barker was questioning seemed
to thrill her. She listened intently to
every word he spoke This time Barker
himself to inquiries about gen.
eral matters. not seeking information
as to special persons. Elijah Hanks
was not mentioned.
We drove on, and /, turning for an
other glance at Nancy Parks, saw her
eyes fixed intently upon the man we
were leaving behind. while his face
was turned toward us with an express
sion of wonder. Then she pointed In
the direction opposite to the one VIC
were going, indicating that he was to
M hooH Tho OF od frrocolufo for