New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-13


Irp in the log house Almina had risen to her
feet. She said she had noticed that there was no
lock the door OF her room, the door mat leo
right outside.
Temple recommended that her guest have Yu-
catan with her Miss Drowdy replied that she
didn't know which she'd rather have in her room,
a burglar or that great dog
Temple made no reply she was playing nef
fiddle again and dancing slowly with It's strains:
50 Amna retired, with the feeling that me worId
was much more remarkable place than sne
| had thought il to he: and also with conVlcton
that Temple Crawford was going to middle ana
dance all night Perhaps that was the way girls
did i'm this outlandish country.
Though she went to bed late ii was impossible
for Almina sleep late In the morning. Soon after
sunrise she was peering out Of the llttle windows
! Wreaths OF mists were curling slowly aiohS 'he
sides Of the distant mountains, and the tops Were
| hidden There no live thing IN sgnt. but
| presently rift Of fog opened for a moment and
! disclosed a mule with girl on its back. walking
down the slope 10 the west. 1t was Temple In
! her SLOUGH hat, her old red skirt and the NeVet
| coat that had once been her fathers
| Almina thought she would go ana help ger
| breakfast She was resolved To make hersei
useful She started forth strong in this resolve
| She went through the rooms until she came 10
the one where the supper had been eaten the
| night before
| There was the table half cleared; even the
| chairs had not been set back There was flre
| ON the hearth because the logs put there had not
| burned out. There was no appearance tnat De-
! tokencd that there would ever be breakfast.
| Almina stepped from the door. which was open.
toward saIly's cabin. She found that person
souattlng on her heels in front of an immense IRE
! smoking and contemplating the blaze.
| "Mawnn." said Sally. anaby; "gwine FUR
| walk"
No" replied Almina Then she stood silent
| and helpless
| The yellow woman smoked and looked into the
fire She did not wish this intruder to enter so
! she did not ask her TO do so.
Miss DroNdy was startled to find that she was
| fast becoming ravenousy hungry; she was star
| tied because she feared that II might be all day
| before Sally would decide 10 get breakfast. Ana
! in HOyt had breakfast at b, dinner az - ana
| supper at half-past =.
! ''Wherc's Miss Temple" she asked.
Dunno Reckon she's gone down ter de Broad
, ter meet urp with her young man
| "What2"
Almina's hair began to rise
| Sally repeated her words. with the added IN
| formation that Miss Temples young man was
| I'm the habit of coming down III" river from
Ashcville two or three times week bout dis
| time in dc ma~nin,
| Miss Drowdy could not mistake her duty now
She must follow Temple. Already she had an
interest in the child. And what had she come
10 North Carolina for II not TO watch over the
! girl?
which way IS tho rver?'
Sally rose from her heels. came 10 the door
and pointed
Alrniua hurried into the house and almost I'M
/ modiately emerged from II with shawl ana
her best bonnet on ier 'rmn bor nd ha, honn"t
Sallv now standing at her door ana sun
smoking. saw Almina going toward tne rNc';
/ holding up her skirts with both hands ana
! carefully picking her way over the rough Wet
Laws. Miss. You amt gwine to follow her,
| be- vo'e" sh. asked in EXTREMIST surprise
YES. be- shc answered. Then she went on:
She was thinking that II Temple had oeau
| and he was decent. respectable sort 81 man
| there was no reason why he shouldn't come 10
tho house in a decent. respectable way.
| As she walked Almina found herself tnlhklns
| - ,tsifh hat in1 Of
/ ably go To- the bad. unless. indeed that KIM Vi
/ chin might save her.
Tho sun was coming out; that dense Inc OF
mist over the river was lifting wavering hghty
her and there Between these lines the water
sparklcd quarter ~ a mile away. ANA De
! lonl an. framing IN this little spot I'm me UNI
| verse were the mountains. with Pisgah. king of
In sni,o 81 her anxiety, the scene had its
J feet upon the woman who had passed all h'F
| Ufo on n level biz Of ground In Massachusetts.
She WAS under the innucnc" ~ KIND of OK
! hilaraiIon which she did not understand cam"
. from the air and tn" scenery she recalled rem
. plcs words Of the evening before: that she
! needed religion to help her bear this love ana
delight and awe.
! once as the mists gave a wide upward sweep
and the sun poured light on the peaks of the
Twin Brothers. Almina irvoluntarily paused.
! What was il that she used to read about the
| strength 81 the hills And why did she nave
that strangc desire to -ecite some lofty, wonder
fu poetry? But she knew no poetry OF any
kind She was only poor finite In the presence
! Of infinite only there must be a spark OF glory
/ i'm her somewhere. n spark that was akin To all
this outward glory
| Almina nut her hand over her eyes "a II 10
shield them. though the sun was behind her \
! space on the river suddenly shone and smote
| her gaze. Into that space there came n Small
| white boat. with one figure In H.
| This was the figure of "A man. who was row.
ing with long strokes. and who was AZ the same
time gazing hard AT the banks on the eastern
| side.
Suddenly he drew in his and pulling off
/ his cap. waved 1t eagerly Then ne immediately
/ began rowing again.
Miss Drowdy had now forgotten the scenery.
| and was as resolved as any rigorous old duenha
could BE- To know what was happening
She graspcd her skirts again In her hanuS
| and went trembling down the decline.
! Presently a wandering briar branch grasped
| her by the ankle and made her sit down quickly
Their. was the boat. and there was Temple
| calmly stepping into II. just as If she were Co
ing the most proper thing in the world. And
/ now Almina saw that the girl carried Il green
bag which she held carefully .
Aimina could never tell why. all at once, all
intention to step between Temple and her beau
died out OF her mind.
Pcrhaps it was because the brlar was very
firm and very grasping perhaps 1t was because
of something else. As she sat there: sun heid
tightly the mule. which had on a bride but
no saddle came lcisurcly up from the river
shore. cropping the new springing grass as he
| walked
In the boat the young man carefully put his
guest I'm the stern.
You're awfully late" he said. 1--WE been row.
ing up and down here no end
II reckon you were in despair" remarked the
girl
Yes: I was
Have YOU been swearing like a hend?' asked
Temple. looking snngy up at her companion
Like "A dozen iends.' was the prompt an
swcr: the air has been blue.
The young fellow was leaning on one oar and
gazing down deghtedy at the face below him.
That's right" responded Temple. II don't
care If you have been impatient. I'm glad of It,.
The last time You made me wait an hour Did
you bring anything to eat?
The young man knelt down and pulled a
basket from under the seat and handed II TO
Temple. who opened II quickly. selected n thick
piece of cold roast beef and a biscuit and began
| 10 eat hungrily.
III you had brought chicken l should have
sworn myself" she said in an indistinct voice.