She air a
cur'us critter," he concluded emphatically, " shy as a deer till she
air stirred up, and then she air a caution; mighty gentle sometimes,
and ag'in stubborn as a mule."
A shrill, infantile scream came from within, and the old man
paused a moment to listen.
"Ye didn't know I had a great-grandchild, did ye? That's it
a-hollerin'. Talk about Easter bein' too young to merry! Why hit's
mother air two year younger'n Easter. Jes come in hyeh a minit."
The old mountaineer rose and led the way into the cabin. Clayton
was embarrassed at first. On one bed lay a rather comely young
woman with a child by her side; on a chest close by sat another
with her lover, courting in the most open and primitive manner. In
the corner an old grandam dozed with her pipe, her withered face
just touched by the rim of the firelight. Near a rectangular hole in
the wall which served the purpose of a window, stood a girl whose
face, silhouetted against the darkness, had in it a curious mixture
of childishness and maturity.
"Whar's the baby? " asked Uncle Tommy.
Somebody outside was admiring it, and the young girl leaned
through the window and lifted the infant within.
Thar's a baby fer ye! " exclaimed the old mountaineer, proudly,
lifting it in the air and turning its face to the light.
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