The National tribune., 1903-07-16

Hanna Allen SlODu III thc Ni!iuv"s iS'>
fng wistfully toward old Boar's Back,
roaring grim and black against the sunset
Dead weeds shook and swayed across the
climbing path. She, too, shivered, turn
ing to the warmth within.
barbara is late!' she sighed. Il WISH
she would GOMEZ
shall l go meet her.! Mr.. ha!"eh
asked. ,,e,.,,.
well in whose company yon would h.u
her Why don't you do something TO save
the child? | don't believe you care.
..What can | do to save her? Does she
want to be saved? She knows the man.
Gold gilds. What can l do?
He stood looking down at his hands
not the hands OF a preacher. but of an
athlete. They were like his face. ugly,
rough-hewn. full of strength. 1t seeliieu
the proper thing to lit this caterpillar
from his neighbor's wall, and fling IL
down.
What can do. Anna?'
Marry her yourself, Isn't she sweet
enough. and pretty enough:
Sweet are her lips as new blown roses
l for their smiles all ills would dare.
He quoted showing redeeminG
glilapse of faultleSs teeth.
But well it is not likely j shall
marry anyone. | have no influence win
Your sister-she doesn't even like me. L
think | must-let her alone, Haney;
A tear trembled ON Hanna's lashes.
Poor Barbara-poor Barbara: she
faltCred You will be so wretched II we
let you alone-so helpless with your spoil
ed life to live, ard none to care.
4 w0manS tears were unanSWerapie
TO philin HAYDEN. and this was the dear
est little woman in the world. Probably
had marriage confronted him as duty
he would have said "Haney-of course.
The thought of Barbara stirred his pulses
longings and impulses. She was starlight
moonlight. He was sure he liked the
freight better.
Don't trouble, Hanna" he said gently.
"Don't. Why, there is shaping Hand,
guiding hand. 1t can hold her back
Don't trouble.'
In the graying twilight the truant came
blown by the gale, its sweep and rush in
her spirit, and she broke into extravagant
oIatory.
Upon Mount Sinai it smoked and thun-
dered, | went up to receive the tables
of the law. Do you not know that on the
nights God still talks with man. face to
face? Your four walls, how they stife
me! | can not bear you, you good. com
monpiace peopie-yOu are so satisfied and
so secure! Good evening, Philip did
not see you. Papa, Mr.. Worth is with
me. We apologize for being late for tea.
1t was the glory of the wind up there that
kept me. Why, l saw a young sapling
caught and hurled-it flashed, a streak Of
white-down! Mr.. Worth, papa!'
Mr. Worth bOwed-a SalutatiOn the old
Colonel iciIy returned. He was deeply
indignant at the mans intrusion. This
vulgar upstart, whose sudden riches would
go as suddenly, was not proper company
for the girl at the fire-herself fire,
light toward whom all eyes unconSciously
turned This man was libertine, low
pretender He was TO the old Colonel-his
hour to cry Ichabod had not yet come.
Philip was watching Barbara in his un-
consciously aggressive way. A deep
frown marred his brow. ''If you received
the tables of the law" he said suddenly,
s'you are under the burden of q trust.
Moses threw them Gown-they were brok-
en-. He only looked upon the Promised
Land-as how many Of us must do!''
Poor old Moses" The girls laugh
Forty years in the wilderness-and then
to fail! Why not the fiesh-pots of Egypt"
She turned upon him the perceptble
curve of a graceful shoulder. Papa"
she said. 1--WE are going to dance to-
night. 1t is quite respectable, even for
an Allen! The McDougals are not
new"
The old Colonel bowed gravely. ''The
Aliens have forgotten their birthright,"
he said. go, my dear Stormy winds
and bleak omens are nothing when hearts
are young. Take your way. Your mother
sleeps. thank God! Go, my dear"
when hearts are young-when hearts
are youngw Barbara repeated, alone with
Hanna in their bare little upstair room.
"When the bloom is on the applebough-
when robins sing. She sleeps-thank God.
You will wed, some day, for love. There
only remains Barbara to trouble about
Barbara, who must be beautiful, who must
be happy. The creature below can satisfy
her ambitions. Do not look at me SO,
Haney-you good, good Haney"
Hanna's face paled. Barbara" she
said tenderly. Barbara! A husband is
something more than a stepping stone"
Barbara's color burned feverishly. She
laughed a little, and shuddered. 'If
Philip Hayden were but an old man-an
old, old man! What right has ones min
lister to be young"
was curious subdued tone in Hanna S
voice. Her face was averted as she
stopped above the dress she was brush
ing, fold by fold. "If he had Worth's
money
Barbara's laugh rang out, shril and
fierce. He will never have money. He
will bury his glorious ugliness under
poohs anu cHdT1lIes- nate nlHl-l DatC
everybody! | will be happy"
"You hate the man below-the cheap,
poor man whom fate or fraud has gilded
Leave him to me. Forget Philip is young
since he has no money! Forget he is a
priest. Take him for friend. Don't &c
to the dancen
But Barbara shook her head. "I shall
go with Emmet! / shall 90 my way.
fear nothing but the life l am living-l
must break nv barSr
Dawn. at last, shook at Hanna's win
dow. She arose TO meet it fearlessly. II
had been a long and wakeful night, 6
night of visions. She heard the wind di,
ftfuliy. She heard the sleet against the
glass. She felt the fall Of the snow
Through it all a soul wandered-a sister,
soul. Barbara she sobbed, when tn,
dawn came. Barbara! You shall hav,
all, even to the uttermost. l will leat
your blind feet. l will hold you back.
will save you. And then-and then-nc
matterr'
A long day of storm was outworn
Looking wistfully up the trail which
climbed old BOar's Back, Hanna saw tw,
figures whirl out of the driving snow
pause and separate, the one dissolving tn
other coming on. 1t was Barbara, Bar
bara discouraged and bedragged Sh
tossed her wet cloak aside and went 4
the fire, the light shining on her gloom,
young face.
"How cosy you are"' she glance,
around. Have Wa comnanv2 hon