Crawfordsville Weekly Journal, Crawfordsville, Montgomery County, 11 March 1898 — Page 7

iA SOU «EIN 5T0RY ^^ANTEBELLUM DAY5^

:,i

[Copyrplit1, 1S97, by the Author.]

With an ustinct of self preservation she stoojx.-d uul possessed herself of the heavy whip ?otli had flung from him. Its thong was of plaited rawhide. Its handle a cluosy combination of wood iind lead. Tlei-e was 110 time to jjlai her mode of ittaek. It was reduced to a matter of sieonds, to a question of dealing or rociiving annihilation. Ris ing, the bettei to deal her blow, she grasped the driring whip by its plaited thoug, swung tentatively in both encircling hands uid aimed it with tclling force at tlio broad, shining shoulder of the beautiful brute, who, swerving and snorting as lc readied the barricad ing team, received the full force of the leaded handle bttween his luminous eyes.

A shiver convulsed his noble frame, a moan almost human in its expression of pain, and he suik between the shafts

nowerless evermore for evil or for good. •Liza, having performed Her act ot heroism without the tremor of a nerve Bat down abruptly when there was nothing more to do ind fell to eryin in the most womanly fashion imaginable. It really seemed the most comfortable tiling life could oiler just then She was having a "good cry.

She was vaguely conscious that Setli had come up, limping and panting, in timo to heJp an old gentleman out of the vehicle.

She was vividly conscious of the terrified white (ace and the flowing white hair and beard that had helped to nerve her arm for that death dealing blow.

Its owner had been the sole occupant of the buggy, and a forlornly helpless one he had been while death seemed staring him in the face. From behind her wet pocket handkerchief Liza could hear him now, his quavering voice pass ing rapidly through every gradation of agitation and relief into wordy anger. Ho must be addressing Seth. But what did she care'/ "It was well done, sir well done. The act of a heroine! My life was not worth a pound of cotton ten minutes ago. -No, sir be hanged if it was. But, Randal, what in the devil did you meaJi by putting that brute into the shafts when you asked me to ride with you? And why in the devil did you jump out iuid leave 1110 to my fate? You knew ho never could see a basket of cotton 011 the roadside without going into convulsions. Did you want to mur"dcr me, sir?"

A rich, sonorous, lazy voice here interposed, making a somewhat inconsequent reply to this excited monologue. "The blow of a blacksmith delivered l) a sylph! J.iy Jove, the most astonishing outcome. I ani lost in wonder.

Liza emerged just then from behind her wet handkerchief with crimson checks and sparkling eyes. She had tho rare gift 01 crying without making herself personally obnoxious or temporarily hideous.

Quite a group of men had by this time gathered around the fallen brute. Most of them were field hands. Seth and the men to whom the runaway had -belonged were tho only white" ones among them.

Seth was 011 Ins knees examining the horse. The man who had 311st. spoken of her 111 connection with a blacksmith was standing with his bark to her

In his lett hand ho held his lxr.aod brimmed, wideawake hat. while with ,his right he mopped his damp toreuead delicately with a handkerchief of exquisite fineness which exhaled the merest suggestion ot good coloinio. lie was explaining the beinninnn of the accident to Seth 111 that peculiarly rich, lazy d:awl 'hat had brought Liai from behind her damp handkerchief' some seconds before the tear storm ha quite subsided. There was something eminemly soothing 111 his composure the midst ot the prevailing excitement and confusion. "It i.s largely duo to mv venerable father's youlliful impetuosity. I hoard an infernal lattlmg somewhere undo*the trap and got out to investigate, when lather indiscreetly shook the rein* -about tho brute's ears to frighten off a bottlefly, I imagine. 1 had noticed one howling near. Tho motion alwav* affected poor Emperor unpleasantly, and father's voice did the rest

What a while it took him to snv it' Long enough lor tho girl perched in M10 wagon bed to decido that ho was self poised, well balanced, thorouguly cultured. As ior tho rest of them—"ball!

Just then Seth drew tho coarse cuff .of his shut lee\ 0 aeioss his red, moistforehead. Tne familiar action had never •jarred upon her nerves more disagreev.ably. She sent, her imperious young voice 111 the direction ot the group

Tho man who had been explaining tho accident to Setli turned at ho sound of her voice and lifted his hat in salutation. "I never like to intrude upon a lady's emotion. I am quite suro you enjoyed every 0110 ot those tears. Perhaps now, howo\er, you will let me thank you for my lather's life, Misa Martin—I tak.j it."

Hero tho rescued old man interposed vivaciously: "It's high time. Yes. 'Pou my word and honor it was superbly done—-id-mirably dono lor a little girl! Now wasn't it, Iian?"

Liza flushed angrily under this patronage. "It is a pity it had to bo dono at all, but I could think of no other way of saving myself. I assure you I was not trying to save any one else."

Tho younger man was composedly scanning her, as she sat there, high perched abo\ 0 them all. Very few men could have divested such scrutiny 01 every vestige of impertinence. He was ono of tho few. 'Pon honor, the wonder grows. Tho

efficacy of tho blow seems so curiously disproporticned to tho arm that dealt it. The blow so accurately planted! Now from a trained athlete one might expect such precision." "The location of the blow was purely accidental. Its efficacy was duo entirely to my brother's heavily loaded whip handle. It was a question of crushing or being crushed. I preferred the first alternative. That is all there is to it. Come, Seth, please, if you can be dispensed with."

Mr. Randal Chambliss stepped backward from tho wagon wheel in defer enco to her evident impatience. "A natural and leminino preference. I imagine you will go through life maintaining that attitude."

Seth was climbing into the wagon in response to an impatient gesture from her. Tho old man lifted an arresting voice. "Yes, but all this timo here tvo stand like dots not a word of thanks to tho heroine of tho occasion. "Thanks are alwaj-s embarrassing, sometimes absurd and on this occasion entirely uncalled for. I acted exclusive! in self protection. Good morning, sir."

She bestowed an imperious little nod on the old man, ignored tho young ono entirely and trod furtively on Seth's foot, by way of setting the clumsy cotton wain once more in motion.

The younger man stood contemplatively chewing the end of his mustache and looked after the moving wagon. One of the field hands had been dispatched to the Strontr stables for afresh horse. There was nothing to do but await its coming. The old man was walking around the buggy examining it for possible fractures. The younger one came out of his reverie with a soft, prolonged whistle and put on his wide awake.

So that i.s Eben Martin's daughter! Pity!" "What is a pity?"

Tho rich, lazy voice drawled mockingly: "That they should have sent her off and educated her above that sphere of lifo in which it has pleased God to place her.'' "Deucedly pious, boy! Here, Ran, look at that king bolt, will you?" "Who are those people, Seth?" Liza asked, when they were safely out of earshot. "Old man Cham bliss and Ran Chambliss. And a upstarter crowd can't bo found. 1 reckon, now that Ran has had a whole year in Europe, he'll bo harder to stan' than over. .... .."But what does ho do, Seth?" "Who? Old man Chambliss?" "No. I know ho does nothing. He is a planter." "Ran Chambliss?" "Yes." "He don't do nothin either. He's a planter's son." "Don't do anything, Seth, dear." said Liza, cooing her correction as caressingly as if Seth's grammar was tho only thing in life of any importance to her at that particular juncture.

But before they reached the overseer's house sho had bestowed one more descriptive adjective on Mr Raudal Chambliss—'and impertinent."

CHAPTER IX.

"Mid reedy fens widespread" Strong Martin had established his hermitage Tho river front or bottom lands ot tho nill PJaco partook of tho character of their swamp neighbors over 011 tho Louisiana side of tho river—rank vegetable growth and teeming animal vitality everywhere!

Gloomy cypresses towered in funereal grandeur high above tho spreading ciowns of broad branching water oaks Vivid green canes grew 111 serried ranks close beside the loose leaved wild cherries, that 111 autumn waved their terra cotta fiambi.aus o\ 01 the dark bosom of a stagnant green pond—"thick and slab" as a witch su-w. Pallnl cypres knees lifted iheir blunted cones above tho opaque waters of the pond, offering coigns of vantage to countless slimy things that undulated sinuously about their roots or coiled tenaciously about their crowns. Spanish moss hung in a melancholy profusion of gray bannerets from every branch and twig that showed tho slightest inclination to separate and let i-iirav sunbeams. Frogs croaked at high noon among the coarse bulrushes that hinged the oozy banks of the pond. 1110 stridulous note of the grasshopper, punctuating tho dreary quietude, made itself heard between whiles.

All of which went toward tho giving of such an evil reputation to the Ulack Moccasin pond that it was considered the evil ore own dominion by the slaves tor miles around. A few "yards beyond its somber boundaries rose the crumbling wooden stile that stood Strong instead ot a front gate. It was not a cheer! ul spot, oven under the lull blaze ot the noonday sun. In tho gloammg it was trv mg to the stoutest nerves

The wooded cliff* that led upward to the bi-ighter tableland where Sans Souci reared its stately white, and green facade gndlvd Neck or Nothing with verdant palisades that were almost perpendicular 111 places and quite inaccessible for ordinary pedestrians

Such her brother hernnfngo was, Liza got her first glimpse of it. 011 the 11101 mug after her day ot humiliation. He was sitting before a table belittered

with books and newspapers, amid which I °"LS

was placed an uiiannotizim* ...rmv nf' ?ai°

was placed an unappetizing array ot plates continuing his noonday meal Not reading, not eating—pondering with both elbows planted squarely among tho newspapers aud the books and his chin resting 111 his palms. He litted Jus head at sound ot Liza's rustling sLnts and looked at her 111 unwel-

coming surprise as she stopped daintily v°U

over his sunk-en doorsill and glanced as

ed into a mortal's habitation entirely

against her own wilL "Upon my wTord, Strong, this spot would lia"\ made the reputation ot a Salem witch 1" Slio shiverco. prettily and caino farther into tho ba-o room

wonderingly about her as might a wood strong and heo. Think ot it, Slronp, nymph who had lost her way aud stray-1 -,0.'

1

"I am in a delightful stato of gooseflesh and can l'eel nerves sprouting all over mo. 1 had to skirt that remarkable sheet of water out yonder and I actually feel creepy. Pleaso offer me a chair.''

Strong rose and placed his ono chair at her disposal. Sho settled herself into it composedly. A pretty flush from exerciso or nervousness had spread over her faco with enhancing effect. Strong could feel himself warmed and cheered by her presence in spite of himself. It was like letting a brilliant ray of sunlight into a long closed closet. Ho had shoved some books aside and was sitting 011 a corner of tho table, swinging one foot a trifle petulantly. After all, even stray sunbeams wrould expect some sort of entertainment.

He knew that she was taking in every particular of his poor surroundings with bright, alert glances, and never before had his one unglazed window7, with its clumsy wooden shudder Happing drearily in the wind, his shelfless chimney jamb, with its dusty litter of pipes and

IHicrof What did he look like?" shot pouches and powder flasks, his ascetic iron lounge, with its knobby mattress, intrusively displaying its mievenness beneath the coarse honeycomb spread, impressed him so disagreeably. It must have been Liza's own exquisite personality that stamped the contrast so sharply. Ho attempted a colloquial diversion:

Y7on say you skirted the pond! Why, what road did you come?" "None. I walked." "Walked?" "More accurately speaking, I slid, stumbled, coasted, tumbled clown an excessively twiggy precipice. Fancy is tethered to a sapling somewhere above in the aerial regions from which I descended. "You came down above the pond?" "Yes." "There are steps cut in tho cliff lower down. Seth ought to have told you about them. It would have been easier on you.'' "I ran off from Seth. I was afraid he would want to come with me and I wanted to come alone. What do you do •with yourself here, Strong?" "I keep a woodyard for the steamboats aud I crop. I thought you knew"— "Yes, I do know what you pretend to be about, but in your off hours how do you amuse yourself? Looking for fillet of 'fenny snake, wool of bat otoe of frog?' That pond, you know, is Bo suggestive." "Only a degree less unprofitahly, but

I think details of my daily routine conld scarcely interest you, ho said frigidly He moved restlessly away from his perch on the table. She was scrutinivmg him mercilessly, taking note ot the vigorous, lithe body, so young, so capable, so listless in its attitude ot wearv mdiffeience to all things, as he moved er to the dusty chimney jamb and rested one elbow upon it, looking down at her with growing impatience.

Three fuiiows had already plowed their way across his smooth, broad forehead. telling oi solitary and meditative horns. A. look of perpetual revolt was becoming fixed his eves. Upon the entire man was stampe the aspect of one waolly 111 protest against the world as he found it.

Earnest, loving sympathy welled liom L-/.-a heart to her lips and froze there. it was not easy to proffer it in view of -"Strong dumb protest against her mtn.-"ion. Sho took temporary reiugo 111 le\ity to gam breathing time. "How luxuriously you live. Strong! Ono quo.ns\are plate, chipped one cup and can-er, 110 handle 011 cup bono knife, might be a utensil or a weapon, ff-eel i-n-k. two pronged two German sil\er tablespoons. Superfluous elegance! Nothing spoonable is visible. Salt in empty sardine box sugar ditto Viands are corn bread, fried bacon, casliaw cooked 111 molasses, baked sweet potatoes cookery—dubious napery— none.

Strong's faco darkened visibly under this any impertinence. He stood gnawing the ends of his long mustache in impotent wrath. Slowly Liza turned toward luni and lifted her lovely eves to his face. There was no mirth them now instead, a biting scorn a flashing indignation, a resolute daring She was there to save, not to scoff. She must not flinch. "Do you like it, Strong?" she asked 111 a cool, high voice. "Do I liko what?"

She waved her hands comprehensively. "This—all of this, this shocking uncoiled cabin, with its smoke black lafters overhead this worn, sunken

tlns

with the mirthless sound, but sho put out an imperious little hand and went on with increasing vehemenco: "I know. I know what you are going to say. It is uphill work for a man to mako headway hero unless ho is born in tho slave owner's purple. But why stay hero? It is such a great, big, roomy world—a place in it for all sorts, Strong places where no credentials but a spotless name and a strong will are needed." "And I have neither." The gloom in his face darkened into hopelessness. "Neither? Do you intend that tho stigma, ol' our father's vocation shall wrap you, too, in a pall? With 1110 it must. For mo there is nothing but acceptance, but I tell you. Strong, woman as I am, if it were not for tho tender, loving hearts at homo that would throb with pain if I forsook them, 1 would go awav from hero tomorrow. I would say to you, 'Come, anil let us make a home together,-where tho lines are not so sharply drawn, nor tho path to honorable distinctiein so steep and narrow.' Strong Strong! Strong How can you stand still and see tho great race of life run and you not in it? Why stand ye hero idle, inert, supine?''

Sho stopped in maiden confusion. His eyes were mocking her. "I was right in telling Seth to keep you away from 1110. I could seo how unpleasantly full you wero of crude enthusiasms. Then, more justly "Child, do you suppose you aro presenting any new ideas for 1113* consideration this morning? Do you suppose that when I was weirking liko a Turk at Shingleton to keep abreast with tho fellows who had an earlier start of 1110 I did not dream the regulation dreams, about doing and daring and achieving? Do you suppose I have seen all my fair castles topple to tho ground without one pang? Rather, with such pangs as tho very devils in hell might pity!"

There was no supiueness about him now. He was standing erect, his broad chest heaving with tho intensity of his emotion, his sad eyes glowing feverishly. Liza could sco his hand tremble as he passed his handkerchief slowly across his forehead. Sho went nearer to him and laid her clasped hands on his bosom. There was an inexpressible tenderness in her sweet face and in her clear young voice when she spoke: "What has changed tho faco of tho world so completely for you, brother Strong? ou used not to be a cynic, Seth says." "Lies!" "A woman.""No. A man." "One man: One solitary man? One single lie?" "Ono solitary man. But—I loved him. A single lie—but—a potent one. "And you could not stamp it out?" "Stamp out a lie! It is liko a prairie fire. You stamp it out in one place and while you aro panting over its harmless dead ashes it leaps venomously into fresh activity just across tho pathway you have to travel. Perhaps if I had seen the spark when it first fell—but— one never does until it is too late—too late for everything but resignation.

Liza stamped her foot passionately. "You talk like an old erono of SO! And se you aro going to sit down ia this loathsome spot, this brain paralyzing sol Undo aud throw away ail your God given talents and your four years of barrl study.' Aro vou going through life whimpering because one man has played you false!" 1 "Not quite such an idiot! lam trying to mako a lawyer of myself. I have taken t.m.-s nlaco on a three years' leaue from Setli and hope, with '.ho woodvani and the crop combined, to mako enough to eair\ mvsell through a trour.se of lectures. "I thought they w\ere:, going to make doctor of you?" %... "That was the. plan when the Strongs were running the Martin family."

There was a revealing bitterness in his tone.*5. Li/.a pressed her hands more tightly against his breast. "I know- now mat, man, that Adiiiu ftiv'Ug was the ono and Other, is it not so?"

111

worn-

fioor that

cauuwt 1,a r0,1(1

suilkci

noxious pond out yon

der, with its blood chilling air this horrible isolation this dreadful loneliness day and night, uiglit and day. Oh, it is horrible, Strong, horrible 1" "It is not so bad when one is in unison with it." "But you aro not unison with it.

i^olt

01 y0l!

111

1 facQ-

e\ery

You aroso

lre® u\

8°

out

tomorrow, it you

"Will, ancl take your place anions tho

men who aro doing and daring and achieving free to measure your brain with their brains, your brawn against theirs. It. means so much, just to be a man, Strong."

Ho laughed almost viciously, and was about to say something in keeping

an sho her

•^t him, trembling

of heaven, what

He )/.c-d h'-r hands and drew them away hem «n:r lace. It was whito to the ve ry lips. Her eyes, still wide and dark with 1rmi.it, turned timidly toward the indow. "I.loiribi-! A human face, with the gaunt, wollish stare ot a starved wild beast! Oh, Strong, look for him Pity him!"' "\N here.- hat did he look like? Do compose joui.-elt, Li/a. 'J here i.s nothing to be nervous about. V\ as it a man or a boy." "A boy perhaps only starved into the likeness of an old man. Such a fatten d, foiloin pan ot shoulders under the yellow, haggard laco!"

Stiong was hastily turning over a pile of newsnapers on the table. "Does this lit."' \ellow, dul you ay' Listen: "Him uwuy from the I.aurot Oell pl.intution, twiy, 18 years of age—small for hid years—griff

color. Ans.ser.-s to thenanuiot ITench Abe f-nuiulilei reward ior Ir.s detention or his

turn to Laurel Dell.

10

S.

Ti.

Foiji.ks, Munui^or.

"Does the description fit?" Strong asked, laying the paper down. "I diii't know, said Liza, gazing absently toward tho window "Do be .sensible, Liza. You certainly saw the scamp." "Only a pair of hungry eyes and ragged shoulders nothing more." "Which way did he gov" "I don't know. "Confound it! I wish you had not screamed. 1 have promised FouJks to keep a lookout lor lum. It it is Ran Cham bliss' Abe, I could have given I him a word ol conn art. Ran wants it given out that he shan't be touched.

He is a sort ot pet of Chambliss', and FoulLs is aiiAioiis to get lum back, it you ei not here, I would rule over to Laurel Dell and tell Fonlks. I promised,

1

if I heard anything of him. "Go. I am not afraid. "I had best make sure first. Foulks says he could wear lean's shoe."

He passed out- turough the front door and around to tho one window. Liza, leaning over its ledge, saw tho small bare tracks left in the damp soil by the fugitive. Strong was laying a brass bound foot role in them. "lie would wear about, a No 5. 1 reckon it was Abe.

Whatdiil he run away for, Strong?" "Nothing, aceordfng to Foulks. Tho boy is a fancy darky Ran Chambliss picked up in New Orleans one winter and generally Lakes traveling with him, but tho boy had tho measles when Chambliss started 011 tho last trip and was left, behind. Mrs. Chambliss told Foulks to put liim to work—to keep liim out of mischief—in the field until Ran came back, and tho spoiled cub took to the cane, lie has been out over two nrqnths." "He did not look like a 'fancy darky' nor liko anybody's 'pet.'

Strong was sending a searching glanco up and dowa tho faco of the cliffs. "I should liko te lot Foulks know, as I promised. The scamp i.s not likely to come back again. I imagine he thought I had gone out to the river. I generally am there this time of day and ho hoped to cajole Viney out, of a dinner. "Is Viney here?" ''Viney? W by, sho runs this establishment, with me thrown in. Sho is out yonder in tho shed room. Sho is as autocratic as over." "Then I am afraid to stay here whilo you aro gone. See!" She held up the second finger of her right hand. It was capped with a golden thimble. "I told mother 1 was going to overhaul your entire wardrobe this morning. Pleaso go, Strong. Don't mind my nonsense about Aunt Viney.'' "And you will stay until I come back?" "I will bo hero when you como back, if Viney has not devoured mo in tho meantime."

Ho was out or tno room try tins time, and a very little whilo later sho could hear the soft thud of his horse's feet on tho dirt road, carrying him away at a olattering pace-

He was going around by tho wagon road. She got up and walked to tho door. If only sho could see that gaunt faco once again! She would liko to give its owner that comforting assurance about his returning without fear to his homo.

She pierced the gloomy environment with anxious eyes. Concealment was so easy among tho thick undergrowth of the cliffs, the serried cane, or tho brainbly banks of Klack Moccasin pond. She ventured as far as the stile, mounted to its highest crumbling step, sent futile glances in every direction and retraced her steps to tho cabin with sudden resolution.

A newspaper, a sweeping motion of an eager hand, and sho was ready for her mission, leaving the table behini her as bare of edibles as Mother Hub bard's famous cupboard. "I suppose Strong would call this giving aid and coinfi it to tho enemy," sho said, laughing hysterically as she Ightene the paper about ts bulging contents, "b\t 1 just don't care. I could never sleep again with those wolfish eyes haunting me."

Once more 011 tho top of the stile she poised liei. self lightly, scanned the somber vicinage with fruitless earnestness!, and then sent a clear, kindly call afloat on the air: "Abe! Flench Abe! Abram! If you hear my voice, come to me!"

But 110 one caiiio to her. Tho frogs held their hoarse notes 111 brief abeyance to that bell-like sound. The shrill thienodies ol the cicadas th more tiees ere (uiddeiilv hushed. do human voice answered her call would

"Abe! Mr food tor you! I"—

lie! the

He wa.s spar, the necessity lor swering. With a scream of terror fcuddenl\ clasped her hands ovt r:se.s aud leaned agan violently. "Liza In the1 iiann ails you:"

sveal.j at Sho

iiakc one? more effort Randal's Abe! I No one shall harm

She had meant to tell him that. Randal t,1.1,1111 bh.-,n was come liaek aud that his escapade would be forgiven him if he went home, but her good intention1)

A clidrintnij diwirmy 0/ inoint broun utirts. came, to naught. With tho spring of a panther the boy had bounded near enough to seize the parcel 111 hT hands and ith halt ado/en backward leaps had disappeared absolutely from view, somehow, somewhere! Liza followed

the miracle of his vanishment with wondering eyes, then sighed con tent dly and brushed some crumbs from her skirt, front,. "At least he will not go hungry for the next '24 hours."

A chuckling laugh close al her elbows made her turn quickly in its direction. A withered erono was standing at tho foot of the stilo leaning heavily on a single crutch. "Wat. yo' stealin my boy's vittle.q fur to gi'o to that ash cat? Ain't yo' learn no better'n to steal, wid all yo' schoolgoin? liar yo' comme.n'niiuts?" "Aunt Viney! What a fright yon gave me. 1 don't caro if you do tell Strong. 1 would do it right over again. "Sassy 11s over!. Who say I gvvino tc tell on you?" "You always used to. You never did treat 1110 as well as you did Strong. You were always ready to scold me for him. "Strong is my boy. I missed him in dose ve'y arms. I suckled him 'long iel my own Suzanne. 'Cose I gwino stan up to' him, an look arter his purvishr.ua too. 1 is dat. Yher, yon git, down off'n dat stilo an go in dat house Don' von know do rain's a-comin up? We gwino have a l'usclass tluin'erstawui in less'n a hour. "A thunderstorm! And my poor lift lo pony is tied to a tree up yonder! Oh, Aunt Viney, my poor littlo Fancy!" "Up whar? I ain't 'sponsible fur do stawm. Whar yo' pony?" "At tho top of the cliff. "Who is yo' po' lectio Fancy?" "My pony—my dear little pony that Setli gavo me, aud my new embroidered saddlecloth out for tho first, time!" "Yo' pony ain't gwino to melt Yo' git inter that houso.

Liza stretched out her hands, palmn upward, to feel for the threatened rain. Tho clouds wero mustering overhead, but tho downpour might not como for hours. Could anything be more horriblo than to bo penned up with old Viney in that cabin during a thunderstorm? She would rather risk everything. And then Fancy sho must bo rescued. Sho was anxiously drawing on her gloves and securing her hat with long pins. "Aunt Viney, wliero are tlio steps that Strong tolls me are cut in tho side of tlio cliff?" "Wat yo' want wid them steps?" "1 want to go up them, of course. I am going homo. Yon aro entirely mistaKen aoout tno storm, it won no hero for an hour yet.

Viney drew away from this arrogant young woman in offended dignity. Her reliability as an oracle had been questioned. "Yo' was born sassy an yo' will dio sassy, Eliza Martin. IJv eoso yo' is right and ole Viney is wrong. Thar am' gwino bo 110 stawm tall. Dar do steps

She pointed one haggish linger vaguer ly at the cliffs and turned toward the house, mumbling and hobbling 111 unison. Evidently Viney was resolved to leave tlio high handed young woman who had dared entertain weather opinions of her own to the worst possible fate that might befall

Liza surveyed tho faco of the cliff anxiously. Sho could seo no sign of steps cut in its stoop sides, but retreat now wus impossible. Vine.-y, at her sereuest, was forbidding Viney 111 lieu wrath was formidable. She, crossed the stilo and walked rapidly in the direction ol that vague hint.

All ol her childish terror of Viney had ie\i\ed at sound of that never forgotten haisli \oi(c,t hers. Once moro sho and Setli aud Charlie wero threo abject littlo wretches, creeping about the houso in aw lul terror ol old inev, who had come up lrom tho stock mind-' er's cabin 111 the Huts to nurse her fosterson through seal let, leve r. (.1 the time when black Su/.auiio anil Strong had drawn then hie nourishment lrom tho*o withered breasts, impartially offered,: she knew 011I3 as a matter ol lamily llistorjf.

1 1

me

111

have you!

Sho p.iu.-ed, leaning eagerly forward over the stile. Something had stirred a mass ot bnlliant, leaves and blackened moss just, at the toot of the cliff. Two gluteimg bead» came cautiouslv into view. The lugitne rose lrom Ins lair and sti.lightened himself up iimidlv Ills wollish eyefi dilated at sight ot the parcel Liza held toward hiAi with both hands. 'It, is lood for \c.11, Abram. Come, take it. Don be airaid "\lttles lor me! Gord-a-mity'" mi lui ii\o ,-ido glances and the alei tne.-s ol a woodland thing he drew nearer cautiously, fleetly, with ravenlllg 111 his be .11 lug. A loot or two lrom tho stile I10 Mopped suddenly "Iron aiu foolm me, little misfis'" "I'ooling miu! There is lood in this paper. '.I ake it. And Abram"—

id lint

I 111 1 il'O

veil lllev 'h

temper 1101 added to her beauty, but if she v,.is gcod to Strong l.iza was quite iead\ lei condone, all personal slights.

All these iv\ iyed reflect ions went wi til as she began tho stoop and steplcss asei nt ol. the, 1117, holding last, by everv blanch and toot that oilered to support her, misting bhimlv to stumble on tho steps Strong had told her of. Hut pros--111.1 time was nothing 111 her mnrd but th.it glein, endless wall sfj'i iching Up, up lieloie llei. lie! ween the wind '"Sseil l.lain lie.-, ol the tii e:s she could ati.li glimpses

id

high piled cumulus

clouds tli.it were pregnant. Willi thunder:, and lam. uiev was right, alter all,: and sho was venturesome! little simpleton.

A sliaip reverberating report, following almost, immediately on a zigzag Imo ot light that seemed"fairly to cleave the hea\en* twain, completed her dismay. 1'lij.deu, bewildered, terrified,•• .he g!.m 1. illy about her and recognized the extri mitv of her foolish daring. Sho was lost 011 the cliffs and knew not which diiection to give heT next sti'ps.

Like a veritable babo in tho woods she sat down on the nearest tree root, lifted up her voice and wept.

10 iik oo.N i.\ui-:n.

I HE NATIONAL G- A. R.

Clieslui Park, im.-iiinuU, S.-lru,,,!

as

tho

ini|liif,- Orouinl.

Cincinnati, March 7.—Tho local comlintiee ou arrangements for the national encampment ot the O. A. R., which meet.-, hero early 111 rtept-eiuber, has selected Chester park itir the tented caiiio and named it "Camp Sherman." Schoolhouses and other nubile buildings will be used tor quarters ior sold tors. Gajeial J. P. S. »bm, couimanfter-in-chifl of the -. A. R., has announced tno Oiand liotul as his headquarters.

FOUR HANDED DUEL.

Coinb.itunls \V«r Farmers intl AH Wero Sll-liOIMly III) 11 It'll. Paducah, Ky,, March 7.— A fcui handed duel took place between 1 arm era losidmg 111 Fulton county. A lawsuit was the cause. Joo Lynch was shot: his son Iliu-r, Lynch was cut Wale Harding^ was shot, aud James Morra was staboed. All are seriously injuivd.