Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1910-12-16

SaH let you go 10 the stables" he
objected. The horse boys sleep there.
But I'll put roof over you, some way.
wait here minute till come back"
his thought was to go to his mother
and ask her help; but halfway to tho
mouse his courage failed him. Since
the breach In spiritual confidence he
mad been better able to see the lovable
side OF his mothers faith; but he could
not be blind to that quality of hardness
in 1t which, even in such chastenad
souls as Martha Gordon's, finds express
sion In woman's inhumanity to woman.
Besides, Ardea and her cousin were
still In the way.
He swung on his heel undecided. On
the hillside back of the new foundry
tnere was one-roomed cabin built on
the Gordon land years before by a her
NIT watchman Of the Chiawassee plant
1t was vacant. and Tom remembered
that the few bits Of furniture had not
been removed when the old watchman
died. Would the miserable shack do
for a temporary refuge for the outcast?
He concluded 1t would have to do and
making wide circuit of the house, 10
went around to the stables to harne1
Longfellow to the buggy. Luckily, thl
negroes were all in the detached kitch-
en-. eating their supper, so he was able
to go and come undetected.
When he drove down to the gate he
found Nan waiting where he had left
her; but now she had bundle in her
arms. AS he got out to swing the
driveway grille. the house door opened;
flood Of light from the hall lamp
banded the lawn, and there were voices
and footsteps on the veranda He flung
q nervous glance over his shoulder; Ar
dea and her cousin were returning
down the foot-path. Wherefore he
made haste, meaning not to be caught
again, If he could help it, But the fates
were against him. Longfellow, snatch
ed ruthlessly from his half emptied oat
box, made equine protest, yawing and
veering and earning himself savage
cut Of the whip before he consented to
place the buggy at the stone mounting
step.
Quick" said Tom, flinging the reins
on the dashboard. Chuck your bum
die under the seat and climb in!"
But Nan was provokingly slow, and
when she tried to get in with the bum
die still in her arms, the buggy
hood was in the way. Tom had to help
her, was in the act of lifting her to the
step, when the wicket latch clicked and
Ardea and Miss Euphrasia came out.
They passed on without comment, but
Tom could feel the electric shock Of
righteous scorn through the back of his
head. That was why he drove half
way to the lower end of the pike before
he turned on Nan to say:
Whats In that bundle you're so
careful Of? Why don't you put 1t un-
der the seat?"
Il reckon you wouldn't want me 10
do that, Tom jeff" she answered, SIM
ply. Hits my baby-my little Tom"
He was struck dumb. 1t often hap
pens that in the fiercest storm of gos-
sip the one most nearly concerned goes
his way without so much as suspect
ing that the sun Is hidden. But Tom
had not been exposed to the violence
of the storm. Mans shame was old,
and the gossip tongues had wagged
themselves weary two years before,
when the child was born. So Tom was
quite free to think only of his compan-
ion. A great anger rose and swelled
in his heart. What scoundrel had
taken advantage of an ignorance SO
profound as to be the blood sister of
innocence? He would have given much
to know; and yet the true delicacy of
a manly soul made him hold his peace.
Thus 1t befell that they drove in 81
lence to the deserted cabin on the hill
side; and Tom went down to the foun-
dry office and brought lamp for light.
The cabin was mere shelter; but
when he would have made excuses.
Nan stopped him.
Hits as good as been usen to. as
you know mighty well, Tom-Jeff. 1 on'y
wisht@"
He was on his knees at the hearth
kindling a fire, and he looked up to
see why she did not finish She was
sitting on the edge Of the old watch
mans rude bed bowed low over the
sleeping child, and again sobs were
shaking her like an ague fit. There
was something heartrending in this 81
ltlll, WOlultS dis ulSll, Dul I0ere
nothing to be said, and Tom went IN
making the fire. After a little she ga I
up and continued monotonously:
"He was liken to me thataway. too.
the Man at l heard your Uncle Silas
tellin' about one night when l sot on
the doorstep at Little Zoar-He hadn't
no place to lay Hisn head; not so
much as the red foxes r the birds
and haint."
The blaze was racing up the Chin
ney now with cheerful roar, and Tom
rose to his feet, every good emotion in
him stirring to its awakening.
Such as it is, Nan, this place Is
yours, for as long as you want to STAY"
he said, soberly. And then: You
straighten things around here to suit
you, and I'll be back in little while"
He was gone less than half an hour
but in that shore interval he lighted
another fire: blaze of curiosity and
to tingle the ears and loosen |
the tongues Of the circle of loungers in |