The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1910-07-01
cnApTER IX.-lContInnedl

lltlt WIS an emu OF the pay tlifANf N''N
Tom helped industriously with the per-
ry-piokng, wondering the while why
she kept her face turned from him, ana
why his brain was in such turmoil
and why his hands shook so II they
happened to touch hers in reaching Tor
the plggln.
But this new mood OF hers was more
unapproaehable than the other; and II
was not until the piggin was filled, ana
they had begun to retrace their steps
together through the fragrant wood
that she let him see her eyes again.
and told him soberly OF her troubles:
how she was 10 and could neither iead
nor write; how the worl<men's children
in Gordonia hooted at her and called
her a mountain cracker when she went
down TO buy meal or TO tlll the molas-
ses jug; and lastly, how since her
mother had died. her father had work.
ed little and drunk much, till at times
there was nothing TO eat save the po-
tatoes she raised in the little patch
back OF the cabin, and the berries she
picked on the mountain side.
Il hain't never told anybody afore,
and you mustn't tell, Tom. But times
I'm scared paw II up and kin me when
when he amt feelin' just right. He's
some good to me when he ain't red
eyed; but that amt very often, nova
days"
Toms heart swelled within him; and
this time II was not the heart Of the
Pharisee. There is no lure known TO
the man part of the race that is half
so potent as the tale Of a woman IN
trouble.
"Does-does he beat you, Nan?" he
asked; and there was wrathful horror
in his voice.
For answer she bent her head and
parted the thick black locks over
long scar.
That's where he give me one with
the skillet, a year come Christmas.
And this"-opening her frock to show
him a black-and- blue bruise on her
breast-"it what I got only day afore
yesterday"
Tom was burning with indignant
compassion, and bursting because he
could think Of no adequate way of ex-
pressing it. In all his fifteen years no
one had ever leaned on his before and
the sense of protectorship over this
abused one budded and bloomed like
jugglers rose.
Il wish / could take you home with
me, Man." he said, simply
mo, you don't" she said, firmly.
your nanny would call me a little
heather, same as she used to; and
reckon that's what AMI hain't had
no chanst to be anything else. And
you're goin' to be a preacher, Tom"
Why did it rouse a duh anger in his
heart to be thus reminded of his own
scarce cooled pledge made on his knees
under the shadowing cedars? He could
not tell; but the fact remained.
"You hear me, Nan; I'm going to
take care Of you when I'm able No
matter what happens, I'm going to take
care Of you" was what he said and
a low rumbling of thunder and a spat-
tering of rain on the leaves punctuated
the promise.
She looked away and was silent.
Then, when the rain began to come
faster: Lets run, Tom. l don't mind
gettin' wet; but you mustn't"
They reached the great rock shelter
ing the offspring before the shower
broke in earnest, and Tom led the way
to the right Halfway up it's southern
face the big boulder held a water-worn
H.
carpeted with cedar needles. Tom
climbed in first and gave her a hand
from the mouth of the little cavern.
When she was up and in, there was
room in the nest-like hollow, but none
to spare. And on the instant the sum-
mer shower shut down upon the noun
tain side and closed the cave mouth us
with a thick curtain.
There was no speech in that little II. -.
terval Of cloud-lowering and cloud
lifting. The boy tried for 1t, would
have taken up the condolences where
the storm coming had broken them off;
but 1t was blankly impossible. All the
curious thrills foregone seemed to cul-
inmate now in a single burning desire:
to have it rain for ever that he might
nestle there in the hollow Of the great
rock with Nan so close to him that he
could feel the warmth of her body and
the quick beating of her heart against
his arm.
Yet the sleeping conscience did not
stir The moment of recognition was
withheld even when the cloud curtain
began to lift and he could see the long
Iashes dropped over the dark eyes, and
the flush in the brown cheek matching
his own.
oNanl" he whispered, catching his
breath; "youre-you're the"
she slipped away from him before
ba could find the word, and moment
later she was calling to him from be-
lou that the rain was over and she
must hurry.
He walked beside her to the door of
the miserable log shack under the sec
ond cliff, still strangely shaken, but
striving manfully to be himself again.
The needed FLIP came when the noun
tainear staggered to the threshold. In
times past, Tom would quickly have
nut distance between himself and Tiko
Bryerson in the squirrel stage Of
intoxication. But now his promise to
Nan was behind him, and the Gordon
blood was to- the fore.
ut was my fault that Nan stayed so
long" he said, bravely; and he was
immensely relieved when Bryerson,
making quite sure of his identity, De-
came effusively hospitable.
"Cap'n Gordon's boy-'f cou'se;
didn't make out to know We, t frs.
Come avn in the house an sit a spell
come in, I say!"
Again, for Mans sake, Tom could do
no less 1t was the final plunge. The
boy was come Of abstinent stock, which
was possibly the reason why the smell
Of the raw corn liquor with which the
cabin reeked gripped him so fercely.
Be that as 1t may, he could make but
a feeble resistance when the tipsy
mountaineer pressed him to drink; and
the slight barrier went down altogether
hD IN