The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1904-04-14
IN LOVES OWN WAY.

W - 40A|W
again I had been away 50 long that
1 felt myself almost a stranger. even
with father and mother.
The little town had grown almost
m~iraculously. I thought and the dear
old home place had changed. too. and
very much for the better. The lawn.
where there used 10 b so many sand
burrs. was beautiful now. and the trees
had grown so hat the house stood in
a cool. shady grove.
Even aside from the fact that Il was
home. this was an ideal place to rest.
and rest was what I needed. I had
been working very hard and Yves al
most broken down
The family were all sympathetic and
ready TO do anything for me. found
a hammock and cushions placed for
me In a shady place and a pretty room.
my own dear old room. all rented for
my use. The room and the hammock
were very satisfactory. but Il made
me feel a little oddly 4 ind a carriage
awaiting me at the station. with pill
lows in h back seat. The home peo-
pie had got the impression that I Was
really an invalid.
accepted their attentions. however.
as gracefully as possible. and since
out door air was considered best for
me, the hammock became my head
quarters for the summer
l had a dreadful experience there
one evening Father and mother had
gone 10 a neighbours. and my sister
Ria was at the choir rehearsal.
ur.w ..H.nH--
when they went away. and mother
said that a IL was warm I had bet
ter stay out until Ella came home (she
would come hrst), and then she would
carry In the cushions for me SO
after The sun had set and IL was quite
dark under the trees, I lay still there.
thinking about the work I was to take
up in the fall.
Presently / heard the gate shut and
footsteps on the walk. I knew
az once that e was Ella and the bari
tone Mother had said. when I OBJ
Jecied TO the child going alone. that
he would bring her home. .
sat In the hammock. Il was very
thoughtful OF Ella 20 bring him In.
She knew 7 la not seen him since
my return. and Mr.. smith and I had
once been very good friends.
To my establishment. they did not
10 the hammock. but sat down
the bench by the lilac bush. What
could the child be thinking of Had
she forgotten NEE Well. he would
ask for me IN a moment. any way. so
! sat sun and waited.
They HEH w.f mm. -
minutes and then he said. very softly.
Ella I started tn amazemcnt What
him talk In tina tone. and why
aidnt De cali her Miss Westfordg 1
ieit indignant az his im-pcrtinence and
wondered why Ella did not resent H.
There was perfect silence for some
Time Then the baritone said softly
ana gently. Darling NV ewes
flashed Would Ella allow hat M
fellow Go go on7 She surely ought
To- know better. ! was 80 excited thai
! did not hear what she said Al am
ont knew 1t was not what she ought
have said. for when he spoke again
u was IN the same loving tone. though
could not hear his words.
Enthusiastically il was a love affair
ie had evidently talked 500 fo her be-
lore. How perfectly ridiculous. Wbv
Ella Was a mere child. only Is. was
ears Older % no one had ever talked
nat way to me What could mother
le thinking about to allow such
hing, Well ! would see that IL vas
topped az once. That was my duty. of
curse Ella must Doe sent to school
She ought to have been sent before.
The baritone. too, WHY. DC was
.ears Older thar Ella Tie was inst
.nout The right age for-he was older
han J. he was a fine fellow. used
% think Ella. indeed. lie must be
Nruns with her. No. that could not
'e He was too cood FOR that.
My checks burned n my heart
BEAT fast How my head aohedi WHY
mother Gomez ] leaned hack
n the hammock to compose myself
Sit closer. dear. said The baritone.
I want TO talk to you.
Suddenly realized what ] was do
rs T. Elizabeth Jane Westford actin
eavesdroppiug. But what could
10 To ] spoke they would know
been listening an the time II
TO The house. they would hear .
ne buried my head among the
ushions and held my hands over my
airs
had not noticed before how warm
be evening was. Al last / could en- ,
nre the cushions no longer. and sat
@ with nay hands suu over my ears G
he had risen. and I could see
No people coming down the walk Z
hey stopped at our gate Was It, O.
luid 10 be-yes. IL was Ella. Mother {
he called. is that You under the Z
lacs Then. in a lower tone. Yes IL +
Good-nisht. Mr. Smith. thank YOU I
dropped back. dazed. Father and
on The bench by the lilac
ad forgotten that mothers name is
TIA. How iover-like they werei II :
as perfectly charming. wondered
by they we're going in. The moon
sht made the evening p~leasanter than
yer =