The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-01-14
A TRAGEDY AVERTED
BY CoRDIA GREER PETRIE.

BY CORDIA GREER PETRIE. fCopyright, 1905. by Daily Story Puohsnlns
 Company)
 The path which penetrated the mountain fastness was steep and perilous and flanked by dense undergrowth. Far below-hke an exquisite picture in miniature-lay the valley through which the river wound US sinuous way like a silveF. thread on bed of emerald.
 little woman in a smart white linen gown pressed her way onward and upward pausing ever and anon to gaze with manifest interest upon the marvellous scenery.
 At the summit of the mountain was hut "a typical mountain home, rudely con structed of poles of miscellaneous sizes and lengths with a badly warped roof and a dilapiJated stick and mud chimney. At the approach of the woman, two lank, hungry looking hounds bounded out and resented her encroachment with a series of formid- able barks. Terrified. the woman struck at them with her chiffon parasol. which served to infuriate the beasts the more. At this moment there appeared in the cabin doorway a large. masculine woman, un- kempt ragged and barefooted. Removing the pipe from her mouth. she yelled:
 Be gone Kinley. You, Yerks. Git un- der the house yer onery CUTS. body cant sot foot on the place 'thout you-uns air plum ready to take 'em." The dogs slunk away and the visitor came nearer.
 '"Yer ain't used to climbing" she queried as she noted the weary, tired expression of the woman before her.
 She was such a frai. tender little thing. this visitor almost dol-like in her refined ioyeliness and beside the coarse featured woman of the mountain she seemed bit Of fine Dresden spot of vivid crimson burned her cheeks and her eyes shone with the bright. glassy sparkle characteristic of the consumptive.
 'I have been very i'll for six weeks. and during all that time I watched your little house from my window at the hotel and fin lieu of other diversion found myself weaving all sorts of dream pictures about It. Somehow. I formed attachment for the place. and resolved that so soon my strength permitted I'd pay it my respects My husband is most solicitous and guards me as carefully a mother does her child Business called him to town today and well, you know the old adage, when the cats away I afraid, however, shall pay dearly for my outing, as I'm tired to ex- haustion.">
 The mountaineer rose hastily.
 'Let me fix you dram" she said, po- litely. 'Tve got a full pint that hain't never been teched. and it's fine. too. Noth- in is more peartenin' than a little Ticker" Her guest smilngly declined the generous offer. and the hostess went on:
 'Yer orter take 1t regular-yer puny looking and yaller. Elf yer'd stay out here in the mountings and take off them tight 1ixings. yerd soon git stout like me-"
 70, do you think SOP" the visitor inter posed My husband thoroughly dislikes tho country--the mountains being his pet aver sion--but he'd gladly sacrifice business, so- cIety, everything to have my health re- stored. The thought Of having to leave John, of the probability of another being enshrined in his heart is unspeakably mad dening. I can't bear 1t"
 She covered her face with her small. jeV- eled hands and wept softly. The mountain woman went over and laid a rough hand on the golden hair.
 Thar now." she said, gently. Don't take on so. bekase that won't hep 1t none. plenty of feed fur our nags this winter Fur that matter, you may outlive all of us yit. 'Tain't the puniest that dies fust- that's a sot fact"
 The mountaineer resumed her seat by the fireplace and relighted her pipe in silence.
 Honey" she said. after putting at the pipe till it drawing satisfactorily 'yer don't know what trouble is Death is bad, I'll allow. but thar's things a sight wuss"
 Her guest looked up inquiringIy.
 'Ts 1t possible that trouble penetrates even here?" she asked.
 Lord childl I haln't never know'd nothing elseT' was the answer "You-uns who live in cities and dress in yer silks and satins hain't no idly how us mounting folks has to shift to keep soul and body together. It's work, work from sun m to sun down. from 'arly morning tell late at night, ard then we never have nothing but air injinerally in debt We wimmen not only does the cooking. washing. orninp ana raise regular herds of children. but vera expected to gether brash fur fire wood cut sprouts, and work fin the fields between times. No wonder we git old afore our times and go all hunlzered over and don't look like nothing when we do try to fix mn which ain't often, the Lord knows, | never got no schooling, fur I wuz sent to the fields afore wuz hardly big enough to tote a hoe, and thar l stayed tili wIiz fourteen. when I run off and married If 'uz like jumping from the frying pan into the fire. fur my man wuz puny ana afors . wuz eighteen he Eix RlsSN NaRN raA. 1l