Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1912-08-15

top was already bathed in a flood n
white light.
They arrived in the village long ate,
all It's inhabitants. save ore. had retired
t. peaceful dreams FOR the piyht. Inn.
the widows OF every Guiding tb,v
peereu, hoping for "a glimpse of SONS
t7iendly light, bu, none were visible.
50 not being acquainted with any one
save Randolph, tde grocery aan. and
not knowing where he lived. the pre-
pared 10 spend the night sleeping on
the leaves.
! DO you feel any safer here than IN
yonder among those thieves?" asked
Reuben, as he threw himself on the
ground.
Yes, indeed returned Jim. "a lot
safer. l know we air in great danger
even here, but up yonder on the mount
ain bit has jist bin the mercy of God
that kept the eyes Of them villains from
seem US. Dang r. l know'd all the
time we'd have 70 encounter lots o. it.
ouf we don't care fur it. Nothin' kin
Keep me from foller'H that devil cent
death i'self. No, tell We. Ruhe. hell
ner high water kin keep ING Z u-n :, in
art,r HIM "
Inc mountaine~rs now lay down on
their bed of leaves and despite the dan
ger OF their situation and the Increasing
cooiness Of the night, were soon fast
asleep. Once in the progress of the
night Reuben awoke to hear Jim talk
ing in his sleep-talking in broken SEN
fences of his murdered wife.
Peggy, my own little Peggy" said
the sleeper, Peggy, air We never
comm back?" Then with a heavy sigh
he turned himself on the ground and be-
gan to breathe with more ease.
The face of the mountaineer's wife
was constantly before him, and frequent
were his dreams Of her.
Reuben lay awake for some time lis
tening to the noisy hooting of some
owls on the mountain side, and wonder
ing what disaster another day would
bring forth.
"Ah," thought he, this is a dresrv
wilderness. The very owls seem TO be
tryio' ter keep me awake. l wonder if
old julie is list'nin' to EN-, too. Some
now fear he is, and again am afeerd
he amt. | am kinder of two minds TO-
night Wv course I've follered him fer
long time and mean ter foller him till
ne Is no more, ur I'm no more. don't
know how that will be, but some how
dread the battle which 1 know is to
come. l am afeerd that many pore
mortals will bite the dust afore the set
TN OF another sun, for this thievino
oaoo are worse than savages. Much is
the sorrow the fiends have caused. Hit
occurs ter me that revenge belongs ter
the Almighty alone and that we should
not seek it, but when l think Nv all the !
de'llment that gang has done. l believe
1t the duty Nv everyone to try ter rid |
these mountains NV every one Nv them.
and | sometimes think that we should |
be Gods instrument in destrovio !
them"
Reuben then lay for some time in
deep thought, the owls suddenly ceased |
their hooting and seemed to have silent |
~ flown from the hills; the moon had |
gone down and the most intense dark
ness prevailed despite The millions If /
twlnkling stars overhead The wind |
mad ceased its moaning and perfect
quiet reigned again. Once or twice /
Reuben thought he heard the outlaws
signaling again, but he soon came to
the coaclGslon that his ears had de.
ceived him. He was thus lying and
pondering when the keen shrietinc
whistle OF the saw-mill sounded on the
morning air. 1t was the waking whis-
tie, and Reuben was delighted to know
that dawn was approaching. He thought
of waking his companion, but when he
saw how peacefully he was sleeping he
decided 20 leave him unmolested. and
becoming drowsy himself dropped into
heavy slumber. Both slept soundlv
until daybreak when they were awaken
ed by the Growing of the chickens. Jim
sat upright, yawning, and seemed at a
loss to know where he was. When en-
iirely awake ne jumped to his feet and
threw his rifle across his shoulder. Reu-
ben had by this tine raised himself to
bis feet and picking up his rife the two
started out in quest of breakfast.
(To Be Continued.)
New Laws Govern SubScTIpIlOnS