The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-09-07
OUT ON THE MOUNTAINS.
The Traveller Does not Receive a We'll
come at the End of his Journey.

Il
but can recall all sorts Of experiences
from the blood curdling to the in
different. from the sublime to the
ridiculous. Everyone has had en-
perience. and none but the fool dis
regards 1t. Out in densely populated
communities. among the we'll inform
| ed and cultured. in our cities and
towns. in close touch with the world
| people become smooth and easy in
dealing with the problems Of life,
and are more or less polite, affected
as occasion may demand. but in re-
mote communities. far removed from
these things Ii is quite otherwise
This does not argue the absence Of
the good and noble among them. A
diamond in the rough Is diamond
nevertheless. If you are received
| coldly. are watched closely do not be
| uneasy. if you are good stuff. for af-
ter awhile you will get welcome and
Ii will be all the more cordial and
hearty when 1t comes.
My companions in the wagon were
chatty enough with each other but re-
served to me. OF course this was not
pleasant but my determination to
pioneer would bear me through that
and more, but how much more am
unable to say. l could not Danish
Tor moment consciousness, not
altogether disagreeable, that ! was
going out into the great mountains,
tho everlasting hills. the unknown,
which Cor long 1 had viewed from
alar, Iay own eyes would behold their
beauty their glory. their sranderr
/ thcir suhlmiry. The road was about
| IS good as any OK ouIs, tAe b'd in
many places being in the side Of the
mountain. There>was plenty on every
hand to interest, to talk about, the
mountains and hills. the rivers and
creeks. fruits and flowers, bird life,
animal life, churches and schools,
pleasures and pastimes. Here We are
at river with no bridge spanning
and when 1 desired to know how we
would get across, a boat, to me a
clumsy affair, was pointed out. / do
not think / could have managed 1t
with oars. but IL had none. When
expressed q doubt as to my ability
20 pole ii across the young lady took
charge. 1t was o novel experience
that seldom falls to ones lot. Soon
We were at her home where receiv-
ed greeting that added nothing to
my comfort. l tried TO be pleasant
and agreeable. trying in vain TO draw
them out on various subjects. AL
most within stones throw was noun
tain / was eager to explore, but were
they not all of them full of Illicit
distilleries?' So / felt, therefore fore
bore. The children came In from
school and night drew on; as time
sped away my isolation became more
complete. Nothing but fool-hardi-
much l regretted the step taken, il
was not To be helped now. The cows
| had been milked. all the outside work
| done, supper was cooked and
thought, out on that porch alone they
were eating. / was so absorbed with
gloomy forebodings and it was so
Il I ,
of the husband and head of the
| house. but plainly he was on the
ground, and in no pleasant frame. If
expected he would approach with
friendly greeting and welcome / was
disappointed, No attempt was made
To conceal his displeasure. SO in great
uneasiness L feared and waited the
outcome. l determined at all hazards
To stay under that shelter one night
for l could not think Of being turned
out after nightfall, especially among
these mountains. Leave alone tn,
,crrOr of the Illicit distiller there wa,
the bear. the wolf and in rare instan,
ces The panther. Of all OF which
heard from their own mouths. an(
hanishing these there remained tn,
possibility Of death from some crag OF
cliff. When Mr.. Washburn had fin
ished his supper he walked out no
dcigning a glace i'm my direction Ii
desperation | called MIR. Washburn
may 1 speak with YOU" Whether /
was the discovery that | was Masor
or what ] can not say but his coa
version was immediate. Forthwith
he led me back To the house anc
table but my appetite was clean gone