The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-06-20
A MOUNTAIN DAISY.

1t was in corner of the conservatory
behind the palms during one of the
most fashionable functions of the sea-
son. This seems fnvorito situation
with fate while weaving the web of
human destiny. Fred Trevor, tnll, dark,
self contained, with power apparent in
every look, movement and feature, stood
with hands crossed behind him before
the magnificent woman he had just
seated.
you know, Miss Alden" as he
leaned toward her, "that my knowledge
OF tho social tenets is not profound. %
"You have only to follow your in
stincts. Mr.. Trevor
And you are the gentle mentor who
warned me against the sin of fiattcry:'
"1f have paid an undcserved COM
pliment, it is to society in assuming
that it has attained to your standard. -
YOU'RE incorrigible, but I'll accept
the verdict and carry out the thought l
had i'll bringing you here"
She made 10 answer, save to withdraw
her eyes from his and gather in tho
folds of her dress to make room for
him to sit down.
Il want TO tell you something Of nv
life and then ask your advice. l am not
assuming that the story has any special
interest for you, but have u selfish de-
sire for your opinion after 1 have told
it,
But don't You know, as n general
truth that, with tho average woman,
the man who is rich, famous and hon
ored glorifies his antccedents, no matter
what they may bc?''
IF you Were the average woman,
would never have sought this opportu-
nifty. When I first faced the world
alone, was little, i'll fed, sallow,
ragged and half dressed boy in the Cum
berland mountains. l did not know that
there was such thing as railroad,
steamboat, book, IA hereafter, music,
culture or anything different from the
detestable surroundings from which l
longed to escape. My father had been
killed i'll defending an illicit still, and
mother just seemed to go with the
mountain flowers which had gathered
for her till they ceased to bloom that
fall. During the winter 1 was kept
alive despite kicks and bruises by
family that had me as their sole reli-
ance ill 'toting' water and gathering
wood.
"In tho spring went away; made
up a little bundle and stole Off i'll the
night. Till the evening of tho next day
l hurried over the red clay roads and
paths, terror of being caught and taken
back crowding out every other thought
and feeling. But hunger and exhaustion
are not to be denied, and mt last l went
stealthily to little cabin where girl
of my own ago was keepin' house III Il
hollow stump. just outside. She put
her TROUBLED head over the wall of her
primitive abode to conduct all exam
ination Who is you uns, boy?' 'Whar's
You par?' 'Whar's you mar?' 'Whar
mout you be a-goin?' were questions
that answered as well as l could.
Then she said wisely, Il lows tibet you
is ruined away.
This would have put mo to fight,
but she sprang out, told me to take her
place, and while l sat in the cramped
quarters she brought me all that could
cat and paper of food to carry with
me. After assuring mo that she would
have her par shoot any one who might
be trying to recaptnro me. she pointed
tho nearest way 10 il town, walked q
way with me and said as we parted, i
reckon you uns i'll hev ter kim back
some time All marry mo fur all them
whites an fur tellin folks we uns haven t
vn, &. 4
promised her, of course. "
But you never told MS that you were
engaged" laughed his brilliant listener.
"Where can we find your mountain
daisy?"
Il wish l could tell you The Incl
dent was one of the events of my life.
For the first time knew the sweetness
of sympathy. I have grown to almost
detest the people from whom sprang
because Of their ignorance and lack of
ambition, but the little girl of tho hol-
low stump has always had a warm
place in my memory. You know most
of my experience in the far west.
Before had been there six months
found the old man known rs Hermit
Ben lying unconscious and apparently
| dying i'll one of the mountain gorges. /
brought the aid that carried him to his
shanty, procured doctor and was his
nurse till he recovered. He felt toward
me as did toward the ignorant little
girl back in Tennessee. had been good
to him without any selfish motive, and
he no sooner was well than he an
nounced that was his boy jim This
was my protection, for, despite the fact
that ne was a reclusc, Ben was known
us q ba;! man when intcrfercd with and