Over yonder, about one mile to the south of him, is a farmhouse; over to
his right, and a little to the northwest, is another cabin. Behind him
looms up the huge mountain, amid whose rugged rocks and green shrubbery
much of his time will be spent. He turns and looks toward the mountain;
there he sees another cabin, or small house. It is the home of a tobacco
planter, who has one son and an only daughter.
Nora Judson has many times looked longingly down the dusty road toward
the cabin of the newcomer and wondered what he was like. Her scheming
brain found a way by which she could tell.
Twilight's shadows are drawing the day to a close. Down the cow-trodden
road can be seen an old brindle cow, coming leisurely, switching her
tail from one side to the other, nibbling the sweet tufts of grass along
the side of the trail. On she comes, until she passes the watcher and
goes out into the woodland just beyond.
Wade watched the cow until she was out of sight, then he sighed.
"It's going to be a fearful job," he said mentally, "but the thing
_shall_ be done. Not one of them shall be left if God spares me long
enough to take them away."
As the last words left his mind he glanced heavenward, as if to implore
the Almighty to aid him in a work which he honestly thought was for the
good of humanity at large and for God Himself. He was honestly convinced
that he was on an errand of great mercy, and the world would be made
better and humanity live more peaceably among themselves, and more godly
by the fulfillment of his plans.
"Not one," he repeated, "not one shall be left to molest the peace of
the innocent ones in this great valley,"--he swept his hand about him
tragically,--"in this wonderful valley."
He sighed again. The gloom of a departing day was gathering about him.
The lonesomeness of a twilight in the valley was making a deep
impression upon his young life and he was beginning to long for
companionship.
The monotony of the hour was broken by the faint sound of a female voice
coming from toward the mountain, calling, "Soo-cow, soo-cow, sook-sook!"
The call came vibrating down through the valley to his listening ears.
Jack Wade's heart gave one joyful bound because a human being, and that
a girl, was near. Nearer and nearer came the call, until through the
gathering darkness could be seen the form of a valley maid. Soon she
hove into full view just up the road. On she came, calling the cow,
until she stood directly opposite Wade.
Apparently she had not before noticed him standing beside the fence.
"Good-evening," said Wade pleasantly. A lovely flush covered her dark
face.
"Howdy?" she replied. Then falteringly, "Seen anything of a old brindle
cow down this away?"
"Yes," said Wade. "She's just yonder in the woodland grazing leisurely.
I'll go fetch her for you."
"Ye needn't be so kind," said the girl. "I kin git her myself. Much
obleeged."
She started on, unmindful of his grateful glance, after the cow.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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