when old killus hurd dismounted from his horse before the hardings' front gate one spring day, it was not to make a neighborly visit. the flash of his eyes, the set of his mouth, boded no good and mild temper. he was a strong, vigorous-looking man for his years, and larger than the average mountaineer. he walked erect, his brown jeans and homespun clothing fitting loosely, his gray hair falling from under a well-worn broad-brimmed hat to his shoulders.
the hardings lived on a settlement road at the foot of bush mountain, in a weather-beaten old log-house, shaded by a fine chestnut-oak, and a towering spruce pine. the widow harding sat out on the low piazza shelling seed corn into a small splint basket, and she stared at the approaching visitor with surprise and displeasure. she was a middle-aged woman, but looked older, with dust-colored hair, sallow, sunken features, and faded blue eyes. mrs. long, a neighbor who had dropped in to borrow some dye-stuff and to beg a few garden seed, sat near her, rubbing snuff, and retailing the latest gossip circulating through the settlement. at the sight of mr. hurd she paused in astonishment.
"lizy ann harding, thar comes killus hurd, ez i live!"
"i'm a-seein' him," said mrs. harding, her fingers trembling over the yellow corn.
"good-mornin', mis' harding; hope you air well as you wanter be, mis' long," he said, walking up to the piazza step.
"will you come in an' take a cheer?" said mrs. harding, the laws of hospitality forcing her to be polite even to her enemy.
"yes, for a minute or two, mis' harding," he replied, and sat down opposite her, resting his hat on his knees.
mrs. long took a fresh dip of snuff, and hitched her chair a little nearer, expectant and curious. a brief silence fell, but it was simply the stillness forerunning a storm. the shrill voices of the boys at work in the field below the house were distinctly audible, and from the kitchen, at the edge of the back yard, sounded the steady click-clack of a loom, plied by a strong, industrious hand.
a bitter feud existed between the hurds and the hardings. it dated back to the days when killus hurd and sam harding were young, and sprang from a dispute over some gold diggings. unfilled trenches marked the spot where they first quarreled, and as the years seemed to wear the earth away into a deeper chasm, so the break between the two families widened until it passed into history in the settlement. the men were members of the same church, their farms adjoined, their homes were not over a mile apart, but they would not be reconciled. at last death claimed sam harding, and a new grave had to be made in the shadow of the "meetin'-house," where the hurds and the hardings of a former generation rested side by side in peace.
he had been dead two years, and all outward signs of hostility had ceased; but the elder members of the families had not forgotten. and when mr. hurd sat down before mrs. harding that morning, her thin cheeks flushed, her faded eyes gathered fire; she had plenty of spirit.
"mis' harding, where is that daughter o' your'n?"
the mode of attack confused her for a moment.
"do you mean sarah betsy?"
"yes, i mean sarah betsy."
"she's in the kitchen a-weavin'."
"yes; but where is she when outen your sight?"
"what's that to you, mister hurd?" straightening up, and looking unflinchingly at him.
"mebby you'll 'low it's a good deal when i tell you she's a-goin' to meetin' with john, an' a-seein' him at singin's an' frolics an' such. it's got to be stopped, mis' harding. god-a-mighty knows john's been raised as he orter be, an' he ain't a-goin' to spile it all by keepin' comp'ny with a harding."
he stamped on the floor in mingled grief and rage, and mrs. long moved her chair back a few inches. the widow harding did not move, but a curious tightness in her throat held her speechless for a moment. could it indeed be true sarah betsy had so deceived her? she would not believe it.
"mister hurd, do you s'pose i'd 'low sarah betsy to keep comp'ny with john?" she said, clearing her throat as she talked. "sez harding to me when he lay a-dyin': 'i'm sorry to leave you, lizy ann, but it ain't to be helped, fer it's the almighty's will. take keer o' the chillun an' do the best you can for 'em;' an' now, ruther than see sarah betsy a-throwin' herself away on a son o' your'n i'd be willin' to lay her down 'longside her pa." her voice trembled and softened. "she's always been a good obejent child, an' i ain't afraid o' trustin' her."
"but ain't i been told p'intedly that they are courtin' on the sly, and didn't john 'low to me this mornin' hisself that he'd marry sarah betsy if he lived? call her and we'll hear what she sez."
"to be sure," murmured mrs. long, while mrs. harding raised her voice in a shrill call:
"sarah betsy! sarah bet-see!"
she came quickly from the kitchen and across the yard to the narrow entry leading to the piazza, a rift of wind blowing her short dark hair about her brow and white neck. her face was sunburned and slightly freckled, though smooth and fresh as a nineteen-year-old face should be. some day age, snuff-dipping and bad diet would probably make her as yellow and shriveled as her mother, but now the potent charm of youth gave her comeliness. her brown checked homespun dress was neat, and its primitive fashion but served to show the free grace of all her movements.
"did you call me, ma?" in a soft, slow voice; then she saw mr. hurd and paused.
"sarah betsy, mr. hurd 'lows john an' you has been a-keepin' comp'ny unbeknownst to us," said her mother, looking seriously at her.
sarah betsy cast down her eyes and was silent.
"jest speak out, sarah betsy," said mr. hurd, grimly; "your ma don't 'pear to believe me."
"no; for i 'lowed that you had always been a good child an' wouldn't go ag'in' me."
a quiver of strongly repressed emotion passed over the girl's face.
"oh, ma, it couldn't be helped!"
mrs. harding rose up, then sat down again, scattering the corn right and left in her agitation, while mrs. long shook her head compassionately, and old killus hurd looked sternly triumphant.
"do you mean to tell me sam harding's daughter has plum' forgot all her pa's teachin's?" the widow demanded, sternly.
"ma, it ain't that. i didn't 'low to keer fer john, an' he didn't 'low to keer fer me, but it jest gradually crope up on us," said the girl in a faltering tone, her face deeply red. she looked appealingly from mr. hurd to her mother. "don't turn ag'in' us. we lowed it wusn't right not to tell you, but—"
"it ain't no use to be a-palaverin' with your ma, sarah betsy harding," said killus hurd, standing up to his full height, and eying her sternly. "it's me you've got to listen to, an' if there is a spark o' pride or feelin' in your heart, it's bound to be teched. john's the last child, out'n nine, that's been left to me an' his ma; but i'll turn him out o' doors, i'll drive him plum' from the country before he shall marry you, an' the curse o' the almighty shall foller him."
"it ain't for human creeturs to say who the almighty's wrath must be turned against," said a mild, rebuking voice; and there at the piazza step stood sile ed'ards, the preacher, leaning on his stout stick, his deep-set gray eyes fixed gravely upon the angry neighbors.
a short embarrassed silence followed his unexpected appearance. sarah betsy retreated to the doorway, and mrs. long laughed awkwardly.
"you must 'a' jes' crope up, brother ed'ards," she said, with an attempt at lightness.
"come in an' take a seat, won't you?" said mrs. harding, recovering herself.
"not to-day, sister harding. i'm goin' up on bush mount'in, an' i 'low to salt dave martin's cattle while there."
mr. hurd put on his hat. "i'll jest be goin', mis' harding," he said, coldly.
"won't you stay a minute?" asked the preacher in his mild, slow voice. "if it ain't puttin' nobody out, i'd like to know what's the matter."
the enemies each hastened to give an account of the renewed quarrel, and its cause. sarah betsy hung her head, and uttered not a word, though conscious that more than once sile ed'ards's deep grave eyes turned toward her. the story seemed to agitate him greatly. he grew pale, and gripped his stick with trembling fingers. he sighed deeply.
"it's a serious question; but it 'pears to me love might solve it. if the almighty wants to bring you all together ag'in in peace by unitin' john an' sarah betsy i don't think you ought to rebel against his will. the scripters say—"
"it ain't to be argued out on scripter, sile," interrupted mr. hurd, stubbornly. "i ain't thinkin' hard o' you or blamin' you for feelin' that way; it's nachel, seein' as you've been called to preach; but the scripters don't fit ever' time."
"they will if we'll only 'low 'm to."
"mis' harding an' sarah betsy know what i've said."
"i ain't apt to forgit some o' the hard things you've said, mister hurd," the widow remarked, in a tone trembling with indignation.
ed'ards continued to argue and plead with them. the woman he might have softened, but he found himself powerless before hard, stern old killus hurd, nursing the concentrated wrath and bitterness of years.
"'tain't no use, sile—'tain't no use," he said, moving away to his horse.
"them that forgives air to be forgiven," said the preacher.
but the old man silently mounted and rode away. mrs. long was also ready to depart, being eager to spread the news of the quarrel throughout the settlement.
ed'ards leaned against the rough sapling post supporting the piazza, with head dejectedly drooped. mrs. harding wiped her eyes, and looked furtively at him. "wouldn't you like to take a cheer an' rest, brother ed'ards?" she said, gently. "i know it's sinful to carry on the way we've been a-doin' this mornin', but them hurds are that mean an' no 'count—" she paused, then hurriedly changed the subject. "i'm most obleeged to take this corn down to the fields."
"don't let me hinder you then, for i must soon be gittin' on my way. i must ask wisdom 'fore i say any more to you an' brother hurd—and i must git strength for myself," he concluded, half under his breath. when left alone, he sat down on the edge of the piazza a few minutes, then walked slowly around the house to the kitchen-door to speak a few words to sarah betsy.
she sat on the bench before the loom, but the shuttles lay idle on the beam, while she leaned forward with her face hidden in her hands. so still and deep seemed her dejection he would not disturb her, but stood gazing on her drooped figure with yearning eyes. he had long secretly loved her, but had scarcely realized that he indulged the hope of winning her until he learned that her heart was given to john hurd. he had been used to self-denial all his life, and after the first confused sensation of misery and loss, strove to put aside his own feelings, and desire only her happiness. he had sought her to speak some comforting words, but finding her in that attitude of silent grief turned away, and left her alone.
he was a slender, undersized man, not more than thirty years old; but mental and physical suffering had drawn deep lines upon his thin, sallow face, and sprinkled threads of gray in his hair. his features would have looked hard and forbidding had they not been softened by the strong, patient endurance religion had brought to him. throughout the length and breadth of laurel cove he was respected and loved. he belonged to the cove; the encircling chain of mountains marked the boundaries of his life; for he was a hopeless cripple, walking ever with slow, halting steps, and with a staff to aid him. he had never been a lusty, vigorous youth, but one of unusual intelligence and ambition. it was a grievous blow to all his plans of life when a falling tree lamed him. it was a long time before he could walk, even with a crutch, and years before he laid the crutch aside for a stick. active labor would never again be possible for him; but not liking to be dependent on his neighbors for charity, he plied the trade of a shoe-mender, and while he worked he read and meditated on the bible—the only book he possessed, except a webster's speller and a small arithmetic. it was no wonder that so much reading and solitary thinking on religious themes should inspire him with the desire to preach. his tongue seemed loosened; he rose in "meetin'," and exhorted the people. his eloquence amazed them; his fervor, his deep sincerity impressed even the callous-hearted.
his physical infirmity also appealed to them, and it was not long before he became the pastor of the church in laurel cove. he had no more education than his parishioners, so far as text-books were concerned: but his spiritual discernment gave him a power marvelous to them. he did a great deal of good, but one thing he had set his heart on he failed to do; he could not make peace between the hurds and the hardings. both men sat under his teachings in church and listened to his exhortations outside, and both loved him; but they would not be friends with each other. when sam harding died sile tried to influence old killus hurd to extend the hand of peace to the widow; but he stubbornly refused, and the preacher gave it up. now that a fresh quarrel had come he knew not what to say or do, particularly as his own feelings were so deeply involved. he had watched sarah betsy bloom into womanhood, delighting in her beauty and even admiring the girlish coquetry of her ways. he had never cherished any definite hopes of marrying her; what woman would like a cripple for a husband? but as long as she did not show any preference among her beaux he was satisfied. now he knew why she smiled on all alike. it was because she secretly loved john hurd, and not because she was heart-free. a cruel, jealous pang pierced the heart of the preacher, and a wave of rebellion, savage in its fierceness, swept over him. why could he not have the love of this girl? it would be only a just compensation for the loss of his physical strength, and with it all he had hoped to be. for a moment he loathed his own body: his spirit panted to rush forth upon the air, freed from all its trammels of flesh. he was not conscious of a temptation to commit suicide; but for an instant the vistas of heaven seemed to open on his longing eyes, the perplexities and sorrows of life to roll away. death would be a sweet, a lovely friend to him, not the grisly terror that so many shrank from. he knew every nook and fastness of bush mountain, having spent many of the idle days of his boyhood in roaming over it, and now it was a favorite refuge when he wished to think out his sermons, or to wrestle in prayer over some wayward soul gone astray. it was a fair sight to look down on laurel cove from the heights, and see its freshly plowed fields and blossoming orchards. the settlers in that fertile region were more industrious and thrifty than their neighbors over the mountains, and they were unusually quiet and law-abiding. very few moonshiners were to be found in laurel cove, and not a distillery. those were hidden in remote and secret places on the mountains. let it be said to the enlightenment of sile ed'ards, that he was bold enough to preach against the making of illicit whiskey, as against all manner of evil, and many listened and heeded his words. but while he climbed the heights that day, seeking solitude and god, in laurel cove things were going very wrong.
it was past the noon hour, and at the hardings all evidences of the midday meal had been cleaned away. the boys had gone back to the fields, mrs. harding raked the garden beds preparatory to seed sowing, and sarah betsy had returned to her weaving. she had been through a trying interview with her mother, listening to scolding and reproaches in silence, and promising only one thing; to wait awhile before seeing john hurd again.
"i can't promise never to see him ag'in," she said, half in tears.
"i don't, fer the life o' me, understan' how you could 'a' tuk such a fancy to him, when there's plenty o' better-lookin', pearter boys for you to 'a' liked," exclaimed mrs. harding, despairingly.
"i've never seen the man he couldn't equal," sarah betsy murmured; and with a shake of her head mrs. harding went away.
sarah betsy was thinking it all over as she stood by the loom, putting a quill of thread in the shuttle, when a shadow fell athwart the door and a man's voice, softened and eager, exclaimed:
"sarah betsy, sarah betsy!"
she turned quickly, troubled joy breaking through the enforced stillness of her face; but she did not speak. the young man boldly entered.
"i 'lowed i must come to see you before i left the cove," he said, in explanation and apology for his untimely visit.
"air you goin' away, john?" sarah betsy asked, and laid the shuttle down for fear it would slip through her trembling fingers.
"yes."
"why? where do you think o' goin'?"
"over on bush mountain, to work in aaron brown's 'stillery," he said, answering her last question first.
"don't do that!" the girl cried, in dismay. "oh, please don't do that! think how the revenue men has watched it; an' once, don't you know? they tuk the brown boys off to jail."
"i don't keer," he muttered, sullenly. "pa an' me's had a fallin' out. he lows we'll never marry if he can help it, an' i 'low we will." he crossed the floor and laid his hands gently on her shoulders. "let 'em do an' say what they will, they can't come between us, honey, can they?" his voice sinking to a softer, tenderer key.
"i didn't 'low they'd keer so much," sarah betsy faltered, with downcast eyes, in which hot tears were swimming.
"you er not thinkin' o' goin' back on yer word to me, air you?" hurd exclaimed, his face darkening.
"we must wait, john—we must wait."
"yes, tel i can git a start," in a relieved tone.
"tel my ma an' your pa air willin'," she said, taking up the shuttle.
"i care more for you th'n for what they may say, an' i 'lowed you did the same, or you wouldn't 'a' promised to marry me. i s'pose you didn't mean it."
"i did mean it; but it's more'n i can do to go ag'in' 'em so p'intedly all at once," she said, and turned from him to lean against the loom, love and duty struggling mightily together in her heart.
"well, it ain't more'n i can do," he replied, grimly; "an' when i get settled i'm jest bound to keep you to yer promise."
he drew nearer to her, hesitated, then kissed her cheek.
"i love you sarah betsy—i love you, honey," he whispered, then turned quickly away.
she followed him to the door, and when he had disappeared from her sight she looked long and gravely at bush mountain, a vast pile rising against the sky, its rugged slopes softened by a hazy veil. it had been invested with new interest for her as the temporary home and refuge of her lover.
the outbreak of the old feud between the hurds and the hardings was soon known throughout the cove, and discussed at every fireside. bitter feelings were engendered between sympathizing friends of the two families, and the peaceful settlement was divided into factions. the harding boys were too young to take much part in the wordy war, but mrs. harding did not lack chivalrous support from some of her neighbors, who loudly declared that no lone woman should be trampled upon. the women, at least the younger women, and those inclined to sentiment, expressed great sympathy for sarah betsy and john. it seemed hard that the lovers should be divided by a quarrel between the elder members of the families.
"it's best for 'em if they only knowed it," said one brown, withered old woman, shaking her head grimly and cynically over her pipe. "neither life nor men air what we 'low they air, when we er young. these young fo'ks air separated while their love is warm an' frush, an' without discoverin' that it ain't goin' to last ferever, an' that no human creetur is without a mighty load o' faults. i can recollect more'n one couple that 'peared lack they'd die broken-hearted if they didn't git married, an' then in a little while, 'peared lack they'd die because they wus married. there ain't no countin' on human natur, i can tell you. it's about the oncertaintest thing in this world 'ceptin' death."
sile ed'ards had to learn a new lesson in this uncertain human nature that summer, when those who in former times seemed to care most for his counsel turned impatiently away from his entreaties for peace. his words fell to the ground, and he carried a sorely troubled and heavy heart about with him, and spent more time than ever in the solitude of bush mountain, fasting and praying for his erring flock, who seemed to enjoy the excitement of a quarrel far more than they did the peaceable worship of the lord; who brought sounds of strife to the very altar rails, more than one meeting having ended in bitter words.
the material prosperity of laurel cove was not in the least affected by the evil spirit apparently ruling the people. the corn-fields promised an abundant harvest, and the orchards were rich in fruits.
mrs. harding was an industrious woman, toiling early and late, and her hours of repose were, in the main, peaceful, though she rose sometimes in the middle of the night and crept softly to sarah betsy's bed to see that she also slept; for her heart yearned secretly over this disobedient daughter who had lost her bright, cheerful ways since john hurd went away from the cove. she suffered almost as much as the girl, though they said little to each other about it. once mrs. harding did attempt to reason with sarah betsy, but she turned and said:
"didn't you love pa?"
"didn't i? there wusn't many men to equal your pa."
"in your eyes, ma, but maybe not in the eyes o' them what didn't love him. love makes a mighty difference in the way we look at fo'ks. i 'low ever' woman thinks the man she loves is the best in the world."
her mother said no more; but she ceased not to muse on the mystery and power of love. one morning she had started to the cow lot with a milk pail on her arm, when she saw a woman coming slowly through the sparse timber in the rear of the barn, a sunbonnet pulled closely over her head and face. it was very early. deep cimmerian shadows still obscured the low country, though the crimson light of dawn was spreading upward from the east, and a fading spectral moon sank slowly behind the western mountains. the morning star hung over the crest of bush mountain, heralding the day, and fine elusive mists rolled away from the cove into the hollows and ravines of the guarding ranges.
a ghostly stillness seemed to hang over the world, and mrs. harding could hear the dry twigs crackling sharply under the feet of the slowly approaching woman. she went on into the lot and poured some bran and peas into the feeding-trough, and softly called the cow, standing in a distant corner. the stranger walked timidly up to the bars, and pushed back her sunbonnet. she was a small, meek-faced old woman, withered and gray.
"good-mornin', mis' harding."
mrs. harding stiffened rigidly, and stared coldly at her, not recognizing her until she had spoken.
"you air out early, mis' hurd."
"yes. i don't know what hurd would do or say, if he knowed it; but he started to mill 'fore daylight, an' i crope out, 'lowin' it 'ud be a good time fer seein' you." she paused, absently untied her bonnet-strings, passed a trembling hand over her gray hair, then looked wistfully at mrs. harding.
"mis' harding, has sarah betsy heard anything from john lately?"
"heard from john!" with a flash of indignation. "didn't i tell mister hurd you needn't be a pest'rin' 'bout sarah betsy? it 'pears to me—"
"it's all 'long o' me bein' so troubled about him that i asked," said the old woman, hastily. "one o' the brown boys wus down in the cove t'other day an' he 'lowed john was sick, an' yesterday i begged his pa to go over there an' see 'bout him, but he 'lowed it wusn't no use; if john thought he could take keer o' hisself, let him do it. men fo'ks, mis' harding, hain't got the feelin's o' women. there is such a weight here," laying one hard, withered hand on her breast, "that sometimes it 'pears to me i can't git my breath. if he hadn't a-gone off to the 'stillery. them revenue officers will git him, shore, an' he'll die in jail; for he never could bear to be shut up. why, he always sleeps with the door o' his room open. i hain't got nothin' ag'in' sarah betsy, mis' harding. i'd much ruther john an' her would marry th'n fer him to go off."
her shrunken lips trembled piteously; some large tears rolled down her face. the frigidness of mrs. harding's attitude relaxed. she moved nearer the bars.
"i hain't nothin' ag'in' john, either, but mister hurd—"
"is terribly sot in his ways, i know; but he don't mean to do wrong. he jest thinks he knows what is best for ever'body," said mrs. hurd, loyally. "john was always the sweetest, lovin'est child," returning to the subject absorbing her, "an' he never wus one to stay away from home much, even when he'd growed up. i never keered fer no better comp'ny than his'n; an' if a good son makes a good husband, then any girl might be proud to git him. it's turrible lonesome 'thout him ever comin' in or goin' out. hurd says nothin' 'bout it, an' 'pears to sleep like a log; but i'm pestered at all hours o' the night, an' git up to look in john's room, an' when i see the bed all white an' smooth i feel like he's dead."
the cow ate up her food and went browsing along the fence corners again. mrs. harding's heart waxed soft within her. what religion failed to do, human sympathy accomplished. by her own experiences of motherhood she could understand the yearning and heartache of this other woman. it created a bond between them far easier of comprehension to her than the spiritual tie the preacher talked about. that seemed a mere cold abstraction—this a warm, living thing.
"i'm real sorry sarah betsy hain't heard nothin' from him," she said softly.
"i 'lowed maybe she would. well, well, i won't pester you any longer."
involuntarily their hands met through the bars in a quick close grip.
"i'm in hopes there ain't no bad news a-waitin' fer you, mis' hurd."
"i hope so; but a scritch owl lit nigh the door last night an' wouldn't hardly be driv' off, an' that's a bad sign, you know," she said mournfully, and turned to retrace her steps along the path through the woods, the dawn shining fair upon her bent gray head and slight figure. mrs. harding stood by the bars and watched her with a mingling of perplexity and compassion. she heard the voices of her own sons at the house, and sighed.
"it 'ud go mighty hard with me if they wus tuk away. i hain't nothin' ag'in' mis' hurd nor john, but old killus would rile the angel gabr'el hisself." she finally stooped and picked up her milk pail. "it ain't fer me to fergit my pride an' be crowed over by him."
mrs. hurd went on her way home. as she passed through a laurel brake, absorbed in her sad thoughts, she came face to face with sile ed'ards. he looked worn and hollow-eyed, as though he, too, had passed through sleepless nights and troubled days; but she was too preoccupied to be very observant. a minister must ever be ready to comfort and counsel his flock, no matter what his own feelings may be, so mrs. hurd poured out the story of her anxiety, and ed'ards said what he could to reassure her.
"i'm goin' up to bush mountain, an' i'll see if i can hear anything o' john for you," he said kindly.
he did not tell her that he would see the young man and talk with him, but that was what he purposed doing as he slowly climbed the great mountain. he spent the morning in visiting one or two of his parishioners who lived on the mountain, then went on his way to aaron brown's house, a low cabin near the summit of the peak. there he learned that john hurd had returned to work again, but mrs. brown shook her head over the state of his health.
"he's peaked, an' ain't got no appetite, an' i tell brown it's all 'long o' his frettin' 'bout the quarrel with his pa an' the fo'ks in the cove. he ain't fittin' fer the 'stillery work, nuther. it don't agree with him to al'ays have to be on the watch an' ready to run if a twig snaps, or a breath rustles the leaves." she sighed. "my old man an' the boys don't keer. brown is as cunnin' as the fox that's had experience hidin' from the hounds, an' he's brought up the boys to be like him. come back an' spend the night," she called after the preacher when he started on. "you ain't fittin' to be takin' such walks as this, nohow."
he winced, her blunt speech, the pitying glance she gave him, touching his pride. nevertheless he accepted her invitation, then pressed onward toward the still, following a narrow trail down into a wild ravine. night had fallen, and the deepest solitude surrounded ed'ards, but he felt no fear. now and then a gleam of starlight shone across his way, or rustling leaves betrayed the presence of animals abroad for prey. the distillery was located in an excavation under a ledge of rock, the upper entrance only a hole an ordinary sized man could crawl through, and cunningly concealed by a network of laurel, the lower one away down where a little stream trickled out between the roots of a gnarled old tree. nature had helped the mountaineer to evade the law in giving him such places of concealment.
ed'ards approached the spot with that caution inherent in almost all the people of that region, no matter what their calling may be. he was within a few yards of the opening of the still when he ran into the very arms of a man, and felt himself surrounded by a party, although it was too dark to see anything distinctly. he could not tell whether they were friends or foes in that first moment, but instinct warned him to still be cautious.
"ha! we have caught one of them," muttered a voice, and then he knew that he was in the hands of the revenue officers.
who shall say what thoughts passed through his mind in that moment? he could proclaim his vocation, purchase his own release by pointing out the hiding-place of the moonshiners, could send john hurd away to prison. he stood still and speechless in the midst of the party.
"the 'stillery is not far away," said one.
"hush," said another, warningly; "perhaps this fellow's friends are lurking near."
"they are," cried ed'ards, and broke through the group so swiftly, so unexpectedly that he fairly slipped from their hands, free.
he stumbled pantingly over stones and underbrush, lost his stick, and then crawled along the ground, shouting at the top of his voice to those in the underground workroom. the officers came thrashing through the brush after him, and he felt the sting of a bullet as it entered his side. they had fired several shots, and one had been correctly aimed in spite of the darkness. he fell across the mouth of the cave just as those within fled down the passageway and out into the woods beyond.
laurel cove was shaken from center to circumference by the tragical death of the preacher. that he, the most innocent and god-fearing man in the community, should die like a common outlaw, seemed the crudest, unjustest trick of fate. but deep in the consciousness of the sober-minded lurked the thought that he had been sacrificed by his own people; that the revenue officers were less to blame than his parishioners. it was old killus hurd who had the courage to acknowledge this feeling the day sile ed'ards was buried. it transpired that he had also gone to the 'stillery that day; that he fled with his son and the others when that warning cry, those pistol shots, came. he assumed all the blame, for had he not quarreled with the hardings and then with his son?—but it was over. peace should henceforth reign in his own household and in the household of his neighbor. he said this holding out his hand to mrs. harding, and weepingly she took it, for she also felt conscience-smitten for what had happened. the younger people were happier, for youth cannot feel as the sober middle-aged, and they were once more together. sarah betsy never knew that ed'ards had loved her, but secretly cherished his memory with tender gratitude for being the means of giving back her lover to her.
but while they extolled his virtues and grieved for his sad fate, making peace with each other as they heaped the moist earth upon his grave, who shall say that his glad spirit was not soaring away to realms where neither infirmity of body nor sorrow of heart dwells?
