The age-herald., 1897-09-05
CHAPTER ".

DElt1 leftOuS Qf lulnliDlSHF, Wnen nSdfb and soul revel in tic joy of earthly fru-. itioD, come to many like drops of WA ter upon tongue parched by an unk quenchable thirst. gYst it is the self de- nials of cur lives that chiefly render cur place in the world ondurahle to others.
 The sun did net cease to shine because of Jim Cheeks af1iction. As soon as he realized that the earth remained un- changed the isolationof his own change inspired him to work and toil on and give no sign. s45a
 So the seasons oape and weat, and as his little girl grew hi5. heart expanded. She had been called Darthuly Ann. Jim quietly dfoBped tho former name, and in time little Ann Cheek became known all round Hiawassee gap as ''jist the sweetes5 and puGtiest. young un in the esettlement. She had rqguish brown eyes and brown hairs with an added tinge of gold, ass though. tho last faint flush of dying 9lpaet had found refuge there.
 The olink, elink of the blacksmith's hammer rose over tho roar of tho river winter and summer. People crossing the ferry at night saw the light of his cabin fire, far up the okscdre mountain wall, flashing down upon them liisethe twinkle of m inaccessible atafs The inscrutable frown of the cliffs lowered oyer them, garb of the seasons.
 The child developed like the unfold ing of double rose, and Jim found the many quirks and oddities of the juvenile mind never failing source of wonder. Though his understanding was limited, his faith in tho feminine capacity for surprise was unbounded. Little Ann's brisk, yiyacious prattle and cunningly unique ways became to him the most deliciously incomprehensible muddle in the world. s.4 .,.,. $. .ss.ys :, l
 At 10 years of age she had assumed such charge of his fngainly person and simple habits taat, in his own mind, he hardly knew where. bis own obedience began or her playfully precocious au- thority ended. There was such har- monious reversal of their mental rela- tions toward each other that Jim often averred that ''ef that thar young un didn't shoe the hosses and pint the blows hit weren't bekase she couldn't or dassn't. !"
 Phe vulgar associations connected with the stillhouse shrank from her ap- proach as the foul exhalations of a dungeon yield to tho pure influx of the outer air. As years advanced Jim him. self became oharier of their evil infu- ence, feeling instinctively the unsullied guardianship of his child lowering around him. ,o. ~ !
 In summer time, when he went to the railroad towns or to tic great hotel at White Cliff with butter, eggs and gar den truck, she always ysaccompanied him. A sultry day ill August found them at tho latter place. f
 Having disposed of their produce, Jim was talking to group of sports men who desired guide to some hunt ing grounds in the Tellico mountains when waiter called him to one side and said'that lady guest of the hotel wished to sec him.
 "Whar's little Ann?',. quoth Jim, not seeing his child around.
 ''She's with the lady, sah," said the waiter. "Las' door at the far end of this long piazza. Bettah hurry, sah. Lady pow 'ful anxahus to see you"
 "Wants ter see me bad, does she?'' muttered Jim, slouohing along toward the door in question: "'Tain't offen that these yer big folks gifts in thatway about Jim Cheek { am erbIeeged ter think she'll flrd she's barkin up tho wrong tree alter all.''
 The door stood open. Jim cleared his throat, pulled off his ragged hat and en- tered tho room, saying:
 "Yer be, na'am. WhNt kin I do fer ye''-
 He paused, open motithet, for seated on sofa in the richly furnished room was a fashionably dressed lady with her arms around Ann--his little Amin sn attitude of undisguised emotion and endearment, to which the child Nubmit- ted with evident wonder and reluctance. She now broke loose from the woman and ran to Jim, exclaiming:
 "Papl Oh, papl She called me in, and she says she knows we uns. She says she's my mammy. But I jest know she ain't, for I ain't got nary nanny, have I, pap?"
 The lady rose hurriedly. In her man. ner embarrassment and wistful eager ness strongly contended. Her dark, splendid, mature beauty shone out from the quiet elegance of her attire like ruby above it's golden setting. Jewels sparkled on her. fingers and her dress was of Parisian origin. From beneath hat that was a trophy of the milliner's art rich dresses of wavy black hair es- capped in that charmingly disordered profusion which is now the type of the highest art.
 Jim dropped his hat and stood, the embodiment of awkward stupefaction, with little Ann clinging to his legs and looking round at the strange lady, who, quickly recovering herself, passed be- hind them and closed the door. Jim picked mp his hat.
 Then the lady placed one hand on Jifn's ragged shoulder as he rubbed his head helplessly and gazed upon his weather beaten features long and ear