Newspaper Page Text
ivcl. xvin.
ATLANTA, GA-, TUESDAY MUJUNIN^ JULY 20 1886
PRICE FIVE CENTS
BET CROW.
A Dialect Story of Georgia
Life.
(Written for "The Buffalo Express" by Material,
AOtflor of stories In “The Century," etc. Copy
right, lsro-1
Mr. Jesse Crow sat on the front fence with hU
feet com fortebly resting on the lower roll,whit,
tlinf a stick. Crape had been “laid by” and ha
felt that he could afford to ait on the fence and
engage i u the pleating recreation of whittling.
But it was not on thin particular occasion en
joyed at heartily aa usual. It teemed to bo a
mere mechanical occupation to aid him In tola
Ing a knotty problem. He waa a small, wiry,
mild-eyed man, with a deeply tanned complex,
ion and a good-humored expreaeion. He wae a
prosperous firmer and highly respected in the
settlement, where he had a good reputation for
fair, ‘honest dealing and clear jodgment,
thoneh often permitting hit love of money to
-overrule the rigid laws of justice.
“Hit ain’t no oao In bein’ hard on enny era.
tar,’’ he would soy mildly. “We ’uns ain’t all
been tried erlike, an* tbar monght be extin
guiihin' sarcumatances ter Jedgo by if we ’ana
could we 'em.”
But this morning hit browa were drawn to*
({Other in a perplexed frown and ha stored at
the slowly sharpening splinter with abetraoted
eyes. The steady, oven fall of hoofs upon the
bard diy road roused him from his reflections,
and gisucing np he oaw Jim Edwards, his
neighbor end crony, approaching on bjseid
gray mare. Ur. Jcsss Crow hailed him with
hearty delight.
“Won't you’nns light an' come in?" he asked
hoepltabljr.
“No, reckon not this mornin’. Nancy’s in or
pow'fol hurry for somo truck,bat I don't know
II I min' a jlntn’ you’nns tbar n little wliilo.”
He dismounted, threw the bridle over a low
projecting limb of the greet chestnut tree
stand lug near the gate, and in a few mlnutee
■at on the fence by the side of hla friend.
“You’una have beam erbont Tom Fannin a
taking that money from Bill Sudors, down
whar they air a workio* on the new railroad?"
ho ■aid’,fumbling for his knlfo from mere force
of habit, and settling himself for a little
gossip.
“Yes,’’ said Mi. Crow, seriously, “an’ I don’t
min’ ssyin' that I never was moro tuk down.”
“Woll. I thought bettor o’ Tom than that
myself, hut yon’uua know what tho scripture
Bey 'bout Satan alius a havin’ work forldle
hands ter do, an’ ltspmty well knoivu
Fannin's as lazy as hfs hido kin hold.”
“Yes, that’s so," asserted his companion.
‘Edwards stole a glanco at him, shifted the
tobacco around in his mouth, and then—
“How does Bet tako hit? 1 ’ ho rather difli.
dently inquired.
“That's what’s pesterin’ me erbont the mat-
ter, Eda’rds,” exclaimed Hr. Crow, dropping
tho lastMirer from hit whittling, and tnrniog
toward hla companion. “Bet 'loin he didn't
do hit, she knows in reassn he didn't, an' ter
that polot she sticks.”
“Bat. men alive, the money waa found in his
pocks t. Hit wus this way, an' I hearn hit frum
W(.i\S
“HOW, BET, YOtr’OKS AIN'T AOOIN’ TElt BE
ONSEASONABLE ’BOUT THIS FANNIN
SCRAFE, AIR YES?"
Bill bItself. Him an' Tom has been n roomin'
together since Tom tnk an’ start to work down
tbar, an’ Bill oao mornin' put SJO in the top tr
bis trunk with nobody Mela’ hit bat Tom. At
dinner time hit true gono. The men, black an'
whit*, wus ill for havin’ thoir pockets searched,
an’ when they coma ter Tom's coat a hingin’ on
er bosh tbar wus the money (tucked down in
tho littlo pocket. Some er tha boys aay he
turned mighty white an’ Towed he didn't
know t'wea that, in’ kept on denyin’ hit, bat
the pint in haw did hit come thsr then?”
"I’ve tolc Bet that tima an’ axin’, bat every
time aba ur, ’Pep, I know he didn’t take hit.’ ”
“How do yon’ona know?" aay I.
“ T'auao beau so,’ as if that kin clar np tha
■natter. Thar aiat no reasonin’with wlmmeu
folks, Ed'arda”
“That's so, Jams. If yeu'una as em why
they ballava aech an’ aech they’ll apt ter aay
Ter, ’cause.’ an’ that’s all Use aauaa yon'ana
kla git oul'er ’em.’’
‘ lilt aint my fault Bat’s been a keepin’
comp'ay long o’ Tom Fannin—hit’s er puzzlin'
thing ter me now aha kin like him, knowin’ he
Is lazy an’ sorter triflin’, bnt Bet’s got or head
o’ her own,” with a sadden touch of pride, and
flawing along the rail for another loom
^TSke'e or likely gal, If I do aay hit Ur
you’una, Jana Crow, an’ I’d a been mighty
vied if aha’d a tnk a likia' Ur Pink. Bhs
knows how ter work an’ abe aint afeard ur
put her n/l in hit,”
“Bor mam haint spilt bar, that’s a fact,’’
mid Mr. Craw, modestly. '-Thar she cornea
now," he continued, railing bis head and
glancing across tha road.
She had been to the spring, and walked
briskly op the peth and across the duty rood,
her eon-bonnet swinging from one hand, n pail
of water poised evenly on her head. Her
black hair knng in a thick braid down her back,
the son had tinned her akiotoolno brown bnt,
n tuddy glow in her cheeks end fall, Ann lips.
Her bright, steady ayes wen dark gray, and
whan aha mailed tiro rows of oven white teeth
were disclosed to view.
“A likely ’ girl indmd, dressed In a neat,
clean cotton gown, IU clumsy folds not nbla to
bide the graceful development of her figure.
She was Jesse Crow's only child, nd ho re-
guded her with o Just feeling of pride, end,
though it hod now token a perplexing tarn,
frit secretly pleased at her disposition and
Ibflily to hsvs karowa way. Edwards nodded
to tor with a friendly amUo.
“Mornin, Bet."
“Hornin’, Hr. Ed’erda. How’s Hiss Ed’ards
and tho chillun?” she inqolred in a pleasant,
soft-toned voice, pausing tt tho gate.
“ 'Boot as common, Bet.”
She looked inquiringly at kirn. Hr. Edwards
cleared bis throat.
“Now, Bet, yon’ana ain't goln’ Ur bo ourea-
sonable ’bout this Fannin scrape, air yer?"
A andden flush passed ever her bee and she
lifted the brimming pail from her head and
placed it on tho fence.
“Depends on what yon’una mean by that,
Hr. Ed'ards, hopin' you’ll Uke no offense o
talkin’ so plain.”
“I mean yon’ana ain’t egoln’ Ur hold np for
him ogln everybody else on’ pester yer mam
»«s trembled; ahe looked at her father.
"Pap knows I ain’t a moanin’ ter neater him.”
“Yes, honey, we’nos know that,’*he said, her
appealing glance malting hla heart to Under-
nets at once. When had ha over tailed to re
spond U her Joy or sorrow?"
“Now, thar’a Fink, an’ Silo Jill, an’ BUI
8andera, an’—
“Don’t bo a namin' BUI Sandora Ur me, Ur.
Ed’arda, if yer pinnae,” oho exclaimed quick
ly-
“But hit ain’t fair ter bo a blamin' him for
Tom Fannin’s fault, Betsy,’’ shaking hla head
reprovingly.
"How kin I help it, Mr. Ed’ards, whan I feel
an’ know that in some ‘ ’
cause o’ hit,” she cried,
mor In hor voice. “Hit
fer me ter b'lieve in Tom, apito o' everything,
an’please don’t ax mo not to, for I most; I
can’t help it.
She opened the gate, and took np the poU of
waUr and went on inU tho honae, and a few
minutes later the men beard the steady click
clack of the loom.
All day ahe sat on tho high beneh, weaving
steadily a etripo cf Una and a stripe of brown,
counting the threads carefully; but her heart
-lay heavy In hor bosom and her ayu ware i
She had been deeply shocked at tho el
against Tom Fannin, bnt her faith in hia hon
;ty remained unshaken. Sho understood hla
nil
p is, nr. na-araa, wood i zoci
somo way or other ha’s tho
cried, with a passionate tre-
“Hit ain’t a hurlin' nobody
looking or oo prosperous aa others, Pink Ed
wards and Bill Sanders, ahe loved him. Tho
heart of woman is post finding out. Bet Crow
might have bad pick sod choice among tho
heart of the acttlcment, and 1 attend of favor
ing tho salt of one of her smart, industrious
lovers ahe choae Tom Fannin, tho poorest,
le ut foitonate young man in the county. Ho
had a farm, hat it did not prosper, sod his
stock were neglected end shabby,
“He's shiftless,” laid hla neighbors, and Bet
knew it to he me, though too loyal even to
acknowledge It to any one bnt herself.
The ahadowa were growing long acroea the
yard, azd the soft lowing of the cows wending
their way home could be heard, when a atop
aoonded in the entry, and Tom Fannin hlmaelf
walked into tho room where Bet ut weaving.
“ilie'i’rowiaid Jest walk right in," ho said,
-topping tii-.r the doov, holding his hat awk
wardly in his hr.mli.
‘To be shorn, Tom,” ssid tho girl fooling his
new embarrassment acutely and longing to DU t
him at hla sue and make him understand that
story would not change her retard. “Jos
Uko tr cheer.”
She did not stop hor work, and he drew a
chair np near tho bench, laid hla hat on the
floor, and then for tho first time looked
•tralghtly and frankly at hor. His eyes ware
clear and honest if not handoome. Bet frit
hla steady look and flushed, and tho hand
holding the ahuttie trembled slightly.
“ You’una bare beam ha aaid at last, with
a deep, dejected sigh.
“Yes,” suddenly facing him and looking Into
his eyes They did not wavar, thoagh his sun
burnt faca flushed.
“Hit was in my pocket, Bet, but if hit’s tho
las’ word I’m ever ter aay I don't know how
hit got tbar." bo said, solemnly.
“I know'd you'una didn’t do hit," she aaid
with a generous faith. “Bill Handera mot’ bo
at the bottom o’ hit himself.”
“I don’t know. I don’t know nothin’ orbont
tho matter at'al. I can’t aaem ter nnderatan
why ennybody’d wanter spile my
I’ve been ahiftieaa an’ Isay, I’ll Tow that"
humbly, “an’ I don’t know as yon’ana oughter
a put up with me, bnt I navor tak nothin’
that didn't berlong tor me, an' navor lifted cr
or to harm a human creator.”
la voice shook (lightly, and ho loaned hia
head upon the weaving bench, hia free hidden
In o fold of Bet’s dross.
She trembled in a passion of tender sympa
thy, ttaia filled her eyes, ran down hor tut,
Ilt’l never make enny difference with mo,
I don’t cor# what they aay."
“Bnt the whole world *H be turnin' agin mo
now. Bet. I’ve come over to tall you'una I
won’t think hard o’ yer for takfu back yer
promini,’’ be aaid with an effort.
“Promises air promtsas, an' I never make ’em
Tbout wantin’ tar hasp ’am," aho aaid steadily.
Ho raised hia head, ns aaw the tears on her
face, tha trembling of hor lips, and alerting up
threw one arm around her, and pressed her
v —■* ftjpdnit him.
od A’mlgbty bleu yer, Bet.boney.for k ser
in fer aech a poor creator os I, when you’una
‘WT’i. never make aasy difference with
*E, I DON'T CASE WHAT THEY OAT.”
■nought git tho beet. If I don’t make some,
thin' o' myself now trier this, I’ll never ox
yer to ktop yer word," ho whispered, passion
ately pressing hia rough ebook against her
smooth warm oao.
Fora moment the girl did not move,then
the gently removed hie arm, and sitting no.
right began to look confaaedly far her shuttle,
flushing, paling, not daring to moot her lover's
eyes.
“Can’t nothin’ be done to clear np the mat-
lerT' aba said finally in a low tone.
Fannin ohaok bis band aadly.
“Nothin'; hit woo tbar, an’ I kaiat no way
gravin' I didn't pat hit tbar.”
That was tins and gomip was rife through
out the settlement tod the members of Cool
Spring Chorch met fa ulsmn goads veto “dosT
with the erringfyoung man, who penitted in
denying hia guilt, thereby adding the sin of a
lie to the tin of stealing. He lost hla situation
on tha railroad, he lost hla frionda, and seemed
to sink to the lowest ebb of fortune. But hla
trials pat n new spirit Into him, or elsa called
forth a greet deal of latent atreugth, for ha
met the (lights or hla associates end neighbors
with quiet dignity and went to work energet
ically on hit form.
“I Towed yon'ana ’nd be n huntin' a new
homo.” laid one of hla neighbors tc him, oyo-
log him enrioualy.
“No, I’m goto’ tor stay right t'hnm,” he re
plied doggedly.
“He’s er turrlblo (inner,” said the goaaips on
learning hia determination to remain at hu old
home.
Those long summer days were wretchod ones
to Bet Crow. Sho devised a thousand plana for
clearing her lover, but they all came to naught.
She firmly believed BUI Sanders had canoed
the trouble-thouth why or how aho conld not
dot ermine. Ho had been one of h er moot ardent
were workmen from the bridge, and a desper
ate locking gang they were to hor frightened
•yea. Itr a moment her heart quailed. They
1 Bandera He was incapable of offering
any defense Just then, and pity filled hor
heart. Her eyes flashed, hor 11 pa were set In a
determined lino They Humid not got him if
she conld help It.
“Quick, mam, blow the born for pap," sho
aaid, then sprang np on a chair and took down
her father's ahot-gun from over the door, n
trusty weapon ho lorod next to hla wife and
danghtcr.
't yoo’ona coma enny nlgher till yon
at you want,” ahe said clearly, railing
tho gnn in hor none too ateady hands as they
mmbled ovar tho fonoe. For a moment they
woo nonplussed, and stared at har with a mix-
tare of aarpriaa and uncertainty.
“We want the nun thet’a hid in thore,” acid
Me lowering follow fiercely.
•What fort"
“To hang to tha nearoat tree.”
“DON’T YOU’UNS COME ENNY NICHES Tilt YOU TELE WHAT YOU WANT,”
admirers, and botrayod as much anger as dis
appointment when sho refused to “keep
curop’ny” with him, hut sho did not connect
that with Tom’ii disgrace. After that one af
ternoon visit hei lo.er did not come again to
see her, and if they met accidently at church
or elsewhere they only exchanged the briefest
and quietest greeting, bnl eye* may apeak aa
well as lips, and there were glances eloquent
and sweet to both.
Bet did cot parado her feelings and poopla
laid she had come to her senses at leak and hal
sect “shat triflin’ Tom Fannin erdrlft."
One day Bill Handera stepped boldly op and
atked permission to walk home from masting
with her. She curtly refried.
• What’s the matter, Bert It’s onjoit to treat
me in eecb er way 'thont er cause,” he said in
wounded tones#
* You’una know I can't baa wantin' enny o’
yer comp’uy," abe said, and before tho rlgh-
tcona anger of bar eyes ho shrank back
abuhed.
The rammer passed slowly, dowey downs,
languid ranlit noons and dusky evanloga.
The corn ripened, and tho cotton field! prom
ised a fair yield. Tom Fannin worked steadi
ly early and late, aa though finding In con-
aunt occupation a panacea for hla trouble!.
“He'll toon git tlrtd o’ that; min' what I
ray,” laid one prophet, “an’ go tor idlin’ round
! But ha did not, growing thin and brawn with
constant toil. But tho change had coma too
late. The charge of theft could neither bo
forgiven nor forgotten in that community.
Ear mar Crow carafolly refrained from men
tioning Tom Fannin’t name to his daughter
since Ike morning bo aat on the foooe and
talked with Hr. JTm Edwards But bis shrewd,
kindly eyes observed the young maa'a de
meanor with approval.
“Ha’s got moro grit than we'nns calkerlated
Honey,
mighty
At last ha broaeltad tha subject to Bet.
“Hit's a pity Torn Fannin sp'Ut his fortune
o tekln’ that money; he’s a doin’ so mighty
well now.”
Bet looked reproachfully at him. “How do
vn’nti. hnOW ha took hit, p*p?”
do wa'nns know he didn’t, Bert
don't be a deceivin’ yerself. I’m
_ . proud you’una have dropped kla
tomp’ny.”
“1 baint dropped bit, pan. We'nns arc jeat
a waitin.” *
U sighed.
'Yon’ana air pow'fnlly lot In yer ways, Bet,
for er young creator."
“Pap, I monght as woll give op livin’ as tor
give np Tom. Yon’nna know bow ’tie,” har
ayaa traveling to tho round, placid face of hor
mother sitting oat la the entry knitting.
Hor fother’s face softened.
•Well, well, honey, don’t do nothin’ you’una
T1 be sorry for, that’s all I ax. Waitin' la
sometimes a mighty tryin’ thing.”
“Bnt hit mu’ bobettar'n not hivin’toy-
thing for wait for,” aha aaid, solemnly.
Bat os time earned monotonously without
bringing any vindication of hor luvar'a nemo,
and hops died slowly and painfolly, aha
learned tho bitterness of wittier.
- • » • ■ e 0
“fodder.puUlna" tfme.and tho formers
were oat from dawn nntil evening stripping tha
yellowing bladas from tha com, tying it, and
stacking it in tho wldehot fields. Tha now rail
road skirted tho western bounds of Hr. Jsssa
Crow’s farm and through the almost brestblsaa
stillness coold bo heard tha ring of hammer
and atoal from tho bridge building over Cool
Spring Crock. Home of the strange workmen
bad a reputation for lawlessness quite shock
ing to tha simple, peaceable country poopla.
It was about tha middle of the afternoon,
end Bet Crow wu spinning listlessly, while
her mother corded the rolls for her. They
were not d reaming of any danger, when a man,
costless, batlaaa, covered with dost, ood pout
ing heavily, leaped tha fence and ran acroag
the yard. It wu Bill Bandars.
““MU’ Grow, for tiro loro of Ood let mo hide
in hero,” ha giaped hoarsely, atambliag over
the door-step, and than staggering into tho
—an.
Bill Handera, what on the face o' theyethl”
cried the frightened woman, har fraah-eolored
face growin pula.
“They air arter me, they mean to kill me,”
be (sated, crouching under the loom, quiver-
ing with exhaustion, wild-eyed wito tear.
"Bet, Bet! whatdoat hit manur* exclaimed
her me thsr appealingly.
Bet ran to tho door, end (hiding her oyea
with har hand looked out. Four or In cue
were running along the road toward tha hossa,
searching sad cursing fiercely. Hie hod no
idea what had happened, bnt aha know they
J hat's ho been ndolu’y”
llling a friend of our’n down on tho rail-
h
,’Jac honor cf It almost took borbroath.bat
sbe maintained l,er ilcfcnsfvo attiiudo bravely.
“That’s cr turrihlo thing,’’ she aaid, praying
that every blast of tho horn would bring hor
father.
“See hero, young woman, you’d hotter got
onter that ana let ua have him. Wo don’t moan
no harm to yon, but wo aint got Umo to argon
with yon.”
“I'm pinm sorry for yon’ons, but I’m bound
ter do what 1 kin for tho law. We'oaa air
peaceable folks hero, an’ lika ter be punished
cordin’ ter law. If you'nna’U git the Jaatieo
o’ tho peace an’ have Mr. Handers tnk ter Jail
1 ain't no objcctiona.”
Their wroth waa Evidently cooling some-
what, and they were forced to a reluctant ad
miration of her(dock.
If they hod known that aho was trembling
like a leaf, that har arms wore fooling nerve-
leas and weak, hor eyes dim! Hha knew that
ahe;coold not hold oat much longer la that
threatening attitude. A moment of dead ai
lence fell while tbs men conralted in whispers,
and Bet could bear the deep, hurried breath-
log of tha hidden un and the horrified
uioana and ejaculations of hor mother with a
distinctness absolutely painful to har, Bat
help bad come. Her strained eyas wandered
despairingly from those dark, angry ftoaa con
fronting her, and aha aaw hor father and two
<r thru other mou com lug through the lot.
Matters ware at last peaceably adjusted. Ur.
Crow argued so mildly and rsaaenably with
the avtualuy party that they contented—the
farmers bearing them company—to take their
prisoner and allow the law to deal with him.
“But I’U tell you what, Bandars, yon owa
your life to that girl. Wo would a killed yon
aura if ah# hadn't a stood up In your dsfanaa
like abe did. Wc didn’t wont to hart hor,”
■aid ooo of the men grimly, and Bandars
groanrd heavily. Ha pave Bet one humbly
grateful glance as they led him away.
The whole occurrence occupied bnt a brief
•pace of time io tbe bright summer day. Tbs
dust settled softly open tbe road bound tho
retreating footsteps of tha self-appointed
porae and their prisoner, and ths cricket!
shrilling in the grass seemed tho only living
thing left. Bet sank down on the doorstep,
and hid her face In her hands, faint and weak
from tbe strain upon hor norvee.
“Drink this, honey, htt'H do yon'ana good"
tha details of the trial held at tha September
term of tho county court. It la enough to soy
tbe young man was acquitted sod walked out
of the court-room pore, bat mhdned and quiet.
He went direct io Fanner Crow's, and walked
into tha room where Bet aat with ha r patch
work. Sbe greeted him with gram kindness,
end asked him to sit down, but ho declined,
preferring to stand. He twisted the doxible
willow awiteb ho carried nervously around in
hia bands and smllowed audibly aa though
aomrtblng chokod him.
my lift
in'tat ,
he said finally with an effort. “I don't know
what to aay, I ain't much far word, but"—
‘Tleaae don’t aay nothin' 'boot hit, Bill,’’
aho pleaded In greet embarrassment. Folks
air a puttin' what I done up too high. If I
helped you'una hit wasn't nothin’ more’u do
ty, Main’ aa yer wu plom tuckored out with
rannln’. I'd a done hit for enaybody.
"Don’t I know that botter’n you’uns, Bat,"
he exclaimed bitterly. “Don’t 1 know
you'uns can’t bear the sight o' me, but I'm
•goto’to show yar that I ain’t ungretful for
what yon’uns dona for me.”
Ha (used his hands over his eyas. “Bat, I
dona somethin'for you'una that for yer uke
I'm now sgoin’ ter undo. Next Sunday la
mettle' day at Cool Spring an’ I’m ngoln' tor
make public acknowledgments o’ my tempta
tions, so' the dolus' o' Satan In my hurt. I've
kecrcd for you’una mighty nigh to the ruina
tion o'my hopes for a better world. But if
Cod A’ralghty kin forgtvo me, then yaa'una
kin to, Bet. Good evenin’.”
He turned to go. She sprang np Mattering
her qnllt pieces right and left.
“lull!" aha gufmd, but he strode hMtlly out
of the room, mounted hia horse, and rods away.
daiaatood up. and eleartng hla throat looked
around on the people. As he met theourfow
expectant area fixed upon him, he aeemed to
waver, to flinch from hla purpose.
“Jee' apeak out, Brotbor Sanders," uid tha
putor encouragingly, and tho kindly voice of
the old men gave him fresh strength.
“Brother'll on’ aUtrin, hit becomes my duty
ter tell yon'na o’ the temptations I’ve been a
foilin’ under this year, an' ter ax yer forgive-
ness an’ yer prayers. I’ve been a wandorin’
for from she right any. I dose er tnrrtble
thing ter brother Tom Fannin, took away hla
toed name, an’made him a byword an’ en
example o' ovil among yer. For do uke a’ ono
who hit ain't bocomln’to run tor name here,
an' who a!n,t ter blame any more'u a Innocent
child, I’lowed myself ter hate him, ter wanter
cut disfavor ’pon him.”
lie paused, and a-plnfall might have been
heard in that church, ao intensely quiet, ao
breathless wore the excited people. He look
ed at Tom Fannin loaning forward eagerly on
hla seat, then bis cyca rested fer a moment on
Hot Crow'a drooping fsre, and ho could almost
fcrl thoqnlck flutter of thopiilso In hor round
nnft throat. Ills oyea sank to tho lloor, hedrat.'
a long briath.
“Jlrotbr’n, tbls Is cr public acknowledge
ment; an' tho solemn, blndln* truth; I put that
money in Tom Fannin's pocket with my own
hands.”
He said no moro, but sat down ond hid his
Aice in hla bands, and a stir and murmur
seemed to sweep over the church like a wave.
The agitation, excltcmaut, aeemed about to
brisk dignified Christian bounds, whan Mr.
-rose Crow roan and aolamoly said:
''Brother'll, wo'nna bava all burn tha pub
lic acknowledgements o’ Brother Handers'
wrongdoin’. Ha bu tol* hit ’thout bein'
aud an’ o' hla own ft»o will an’ inolarnatlon.
In dralin' with thiserrln brotbor wa’uns mu'
bear In min’ tbar air altua extingulabln’ ur-
cumatancea surroundin' ovar’ deed done by
weak mortal crutur hn'a oonfomion o’guilt
is er long way to'arda complete repentance.”
. Well, that public confession was tha climax
of that year of events In tha Cool Spriugaat-
Cement, if I except the wedding at Hr. Jam*
Crow'e later in- the aesaon, when hoaro end
yard overflowed with aueots, and all united
in giving a kindly hand and a hearty word to
tbe bridegroom. Bill Sander* wu not pres
ent. He had gons out wut to look a now
home, indict ua hope that ha was in Umo as
happy si Toni Fannin ond hla wife, ones tha
balls of Cool Spring settlement—Bet Crow.
the riiiNT anor or tuk war.
they'd a Tt'E my un SUCRE or thax
MAT MAD NT IV HIT HADN’T A BEEN
FEE YOE’ENl, BET.”
aaid her mother, boldinE a brimming gourd o*
water to har pala lips, and aha drank a little
am’ >1 re ared that aha Alt hotter.
“Do y< u’uoa epooe they'll bang him, Bart”
in a fearful whisper.
-I don’t know, mom, if he’s tnk human
life”—aha paused with a abnddtr.
A cow (enaction had been furnished the aet-
item eat, ond a for greater oao than tho mar*
theft of * iittio money. Tho men met to din.
cue* the crime, tad the woman spoke of it In
low, awestruck tones. Then it wu discovered
that the man had mot been kilted, bat badly
wonnded and atoanad. A quieter spirit
vailed, and whoa Itc
r apb
that tha atrau-
ger had (track tha first blow ond that 8andtra
bad only acted on tha defensive tho tide of
poblle sympathy In tied In his flavor.
It dceo not belong to this etoiy to go In to all
An Interotllng Iiemlnlarcnre of tho Attack
on Fort flumter-
Charleston. 8. C.. July 13.—In view of tha
contradictory statements which coatinna to bo
made concerning tho firing of tho lint goo at
Sumtor. the Newt and Courier naked Colonel
Alfred Bhottio give hla recollections on tha
subject, and those, It will bo mod, do away
with moat of tho difficulty u mark lug tho dis
tinction! between tbs obeli fired u a signal
and Ibo first hostile shot. Colonel Bbstt asya:
on the morning of the nth of April. MSI. at
(bout 4S0 am., the battertes unrounding Fort
.-Ulster opened fire ou mat fitft. then held by a
pair lion of L'nlled flutes troops. From 4A0 o’etooe
o. nt.,|of the Utb until 1:43 o’clock on U» 13th ■
steady lire of shot and shell fell upon flumter.
On themornlni of the IJtb o fleeter United
States vessels appeared off ths her. After consul-
tationiiwu decided to bring matters'to a short
conclusion. Two .'U-poonders from tho flumter
battery of jfttn Monllri. opened with hot,shot.
walls of Ft
rest part oi
been a
of tho An
from the
in tbe war that roll
lives, sad desolated t
ran continent. It _ _ ,
Inquiry, who tired toe Aral (hot in ao (rare
a mailer. On account of wld* separal
tbe batteries surrounding flumter, —
island, James Wand, Mount riassai...
Island, It waa necomrjr to arrange aoxatghal lor
Oiesteral Are to be opened on flumter In ease of
“an ie’iith affairs wen ao strained that we ex-
peeled tocorder to openflr* at enymoment. It was
than decided tost, as Fort Johnson waa ao much
nearer to Charleston toon Fort Moultrie, a mprur
■hell fired from Fort Jobnsoo sronkfba the Mrall
2™TSfSthl? l 2i™ tK raSSAtS!?™ ‘*” rt
Moultrie—mat Mini to# fenenu uiniu
Weeks bad been prsplfed ln driti and prapar-
attests, rad oo to* evening of toe donate, as Fort
Moultrie, the ran (quads wen told od-tb
Inslrueted to St at their posts at a ntomeal’i
—rad tt
cles will
midnight,
when tbe mortar shell was
sod, tea men were Instantly at l.
lantern was run up. Onr inns h
loaded, and everything was read;
not ordered nnui tie lloee bed bt
tbls bad been doae, afunw
SING DIGGERS.
8TBANO DOINGS OP A STRANGS
AND PBCULtAR PEOPL.K.
Onwiea# Ut$ of tb« (Java Dweller* of W«at Tlr# (ala
-Olta. tha Terror, and B«r Wondartat Toto#
-XZc r Oh oat Btoga Wild. W«trd Son#* to
Boat tha Brida who 8uoo««d*d Har.
CuAELtaTON, \V. Vn, July 17.—Thore la a
wild country In ths roar of Cannetton moun
tain, In tha wsatern part nf Kanawha connty.
Strange peoples, masy of whom are notnadlo
In habit, strange customs and strange habita
tions may be found for tho looking. Horn the
"aing-diggera," or cave-dwellers, thrive la
wild InxnrlaDce; here the “Brotherhood of
Prayer" and church of Ood sects, whose curl-
out rites of humility and penance recall tha
history of Diuidinal worship. On the tooth-
arn slope of a mountain, shoot five miles be
yond “tho acttlcment,'' aa them primitive
mannered poopla still call the villages, Edom
Smith, a Free Will Baptist, (track his tent
about ten yean ago. Ills claims for preferment
were speedily recognised and a following ob
tained. Tbn morn mtaty hla eloquence, the
greater honors were heaped upon him. A
rude hut wu hia dwelling place, In a dense
wood, never touched by aiinshlno, and hard
by n little atroam, spring fed, and a twinkling
water fall. Here tbo
OWL HOOTED OEEWoOUELV
in the nigbttlmo. Deacon Brnlth was pale,
cadaveroue aud solemn. Hia wife waa of the
Gypsy type-dark, of stormy mein, alert and
active. That ahe ruled tho doacou with un
gentle rod noone had reason to doubt. SUa
bold hennlf aloof from “hfs people,” thoagh
taking part In the Saturday night services,
lie never preached savo at night, and then
only In the light of the moon. For thin he
geva reasons founded on Blblo teachings and
utlilkctorr to tho flock.
The dark woman waa held In venorallon by
tbe “alng-dlggera," for she sang as nouo oth
ers canid, and gam them hOtllng potions and
charms against the power of tho evil one. Ouco
it in laid that when Edom Hntith spoke of
death and tbe grave In his discourse, she
shrieked aloud and rebuked her husband with
angry words. It was known that
urn terror or death
amounted to madness, and sho had extorted an
oath from him nnver to consign hor body to
ton ground, but to encloso it tu an oaken box
to be deposited on a certain stump near the
house, l-’nr want of sunlight she fell ill of
rheumatism in one autumn, and dlod whou
tho lenves were comiug out again In tha tsuglu
of vines on the tent. Kdom Hmith remem
bered bis vow and respected It. Within
sight of tbo bridle path that led to
the highway u few miles beyond, on tbeatump
that Olga h.ul selected, tbe rutiu oak bos, con
taining her body, waa placed. Tbo people be
sought bint to bury the remaius, but he aaid
bo durst not break bM word, for sho had
iromiaed to haunt him fer this, aud always
promised I
kept her«
and toe fire became general.
captain — James, formerly of the rolled
Mates army, afterwards killed in Virginia at. colo
nel of the regiment, flm] tbe matter shall
■roan Part Johnson—tha Older being carried from
Gen-ral hsanreiatd by a staff officer In a small
FUteen People Killed by a Shall.
By. I’ETEuaBVto, July IS.—White aa Iron
dreter wu unloading a wagon Iliad srllh aid
artillery material yesterday, which had beau
purchased from the government, a ulna inch
•hell, supposed to nave been property on-
loaded, *xp!oded among n groan of workmen
and others. Bixteen persons, Winding four
children, were kilted, and several more in
jured.
tn the river that they might avoid
THE AWFUL SPECTACLE
of that dliooTored box, where the figure In
white came every twilight and waudorod to
tha waterfall. Thla weird vision was a com
mon light, it sru laid, and they porilstonlly
prayed the detnon to put tho eolliu under
giwud where tbe deed belon/. Kuhn acroims
were heard iu the midnight hour, It w.ts told,
and wild wags, each as Olga used to slug as
the ut tnr the cabin door.
AII knew that strong, atrangaly aweet voice,
and shuddered when they heard ita colmra
among the treea. But no one complained to
the authorltln of the honor, aud the box re
mained through that rammer and one winter
nudlatorbtd. It finally disappeared, no one
knew why, aud were afraid to atk concerning
it. But the myatery wae explained whi
was put away,.
But the songs west on aa of old, and tho
awful erica In tbn gloaming, till they called It
the haunted glen, through which belated trsv-'
rllcn harried to the nearest babltstian. It
wu found that Edom Smith had carried the
box to a cavern, almost at the mountain toil,
on tbn other aide. How ho sinr-eedwi iu
reaching tiro place without aiilstancn was
mom than any could understand, but no one
questioned about the awful matter. There,
on a ledga of rock, in the cave, may yet bo
■ecn tiro oaken box, over which tbn mame*
grow, and tbe ancient form, and where the
dolraimro ulghtbawks scream a mournful
threnody. Tiro
EATTEEtNANE* HIM
■bout the phut*, and a fantastic vino drape*
th* toouthof the tomb wllhecnrlot blossoms.
Tha tale ie told that Deacon Hmith hail never
pence In the but with hia new wife fer tha
' and that bis
throughout,
(■lug no one
iving everything as thoagh
they would return; hut they nnver did, uono
hearing from them, or tbo cause of thalr
begin. Perhaps they ware murdered, aay tha
”re»g people.” Who ran tell? Butthofarni-
torn dlsapirared from ton hut months later,
and than a fire destroyed the house—by what
means no maa cnuld (ay. Thi-jr still sag the
tongs may yet be beard iu the. twilight and
the awful ahrirka In the mldalght hour. And
they will tell this tale to succeeding genera-
Gone, and warn them of tiro haunted cave
near tbs mountain top and the ghost of the
loBtlygien.
FOUR SUICIDES.
An Uid Couple Blow Their llrallts Out-Two .
Unknown Men Take Their Lives.
Xaw Yoax, July 1*.—Avarlan Cruch and
hie wife, Lucy, aged fifty years each, were
found dead In their bedroom at 00 Lexington
avenue, this afternoon, both having committed
anleide by shooting themselves through tha
bead. They committed the act between 9
o'clock list night, when they were lost
seen alive, end 1 o'clock this
afternoon, when their dead bodies were
discovered. The husband bad lent a bullet
Ihnwb hie head behind the left ear, and hia
wlfehadahttherielfthroughthe right tem
ple. Freeh was a merchant doing buslooae
at 1.5 Beaver street.
A man about thirty yearn aid. of ordinary
helgm, fair freed, sad with light hair, stop
ped Iu front of a tenement house. No. ,) K’
East 47th atrect, at half part one this morning,
and shot himself through the forehead. He
was nuronaeioni when picked ur> and died to
Bcllevua hsapltei, anon after bekg admitted.
No CBS knew him. He ware dark clothes
and a ehaek Jomper, and waa evidently a la-
after 8 o'clock a foil bearded man
about flfty-flvn yeare old, dnased in
#n old dI»gon*l milt and coarae shoe#, without
itockint* or hat. ut down on & tow wall at
Twelfth arena* and Ono Hundrod ond Third
itrret ond fired ft bullet through hia mouth.
11# died instantly. Both bodie# were Mai to
the morgue. Destitution ond *«n*r*l wretch-
tdneas seemo to h»ro drhrcu both uiou to mu
tcfttxuctioo.
INDISTINCT HUNT