The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1911-11-23
IN THE TRACK OF
THE STORM
BY EMMA BELL MILES


heavily az the old couple IN the cove
There we're intervals in the rash OF
repairing fences roonns barns, And
replantlns the washediout fields.
wherein still the nsishbors part
might be crediDly done. The women
came 10 sit with old Verona. obsers-
Ing all too readily her aversion 10 her
daushterin.law, judging promptly that
II applied 10 Jensys child as well
One morning such neishbor sat
with Verona when the little fellow
strayed tottering into the bedroom.
His hands were outstretched, his feet
eager to run forth across the world,
the light OF life's dawn was in hii
eyes, Al sight OF the worldold mir
acle--his likeness 10 what she loved
most and had clung TO eiosest---a
brightness like the twinkllue OF split
quicksilver ran over the grandmothers
face. The likeness. All other inher-
itance must he but passing clouds 10
| the blue depths OF his perfection
| Again she was "A young mother with
| Il babe on her arm the little Haryeys
| clear eyes looked up from his son =
| face. When the neighbor rose and
hurried the baby out With shrill re
proof. Verona saw with q sort OF ter
for that those who build a house OF
hate are sometimes forced IL live
therein
All day. after the marplot nsishbor
| had gone verona watched the door
way for the moth Hitting Of a llttls
| figure Ia white, crowned with folly
| OF curls Every echo of lisp and bab
ble aud crow that reached The dim
| room Clipped her lonely heart, aud
summoned the unreaAonins tears.
The afternoon brought no other Wis
| itor. Shadews stole oarsssinsly
acrosa the pasture slopes; II grew
| later aud later, and Atill no one came.
| After dinner Aaron had hobbled down
| 10 the cove where rebuilding OF the
I old home went forward, When that
home Was ready she must leave this
one whose roof covered the baby. This
! baby All, Jenay In the other
| room. thinking Verona asleep. rocked
| the child and sang softly Then she
| began 10 be worried she must go to
| the spring or the men would pres
| emily come In tired and find no supper
| ready and here waa no one 10 leave
Twin MA" and the child. She atood
| Tor some time hesltatins outside thi
room door. her brows drawn hiki
| above her pleasant eyes.
Ihe weatering sun opeued sat,
into an enchanted land cloud-can
you, dim la maize oolored air. Win
cliffs Of cloud soaring on either side,
beyond Vista Of thousand palaces
ana temples. rajah'a dream, domed
la goldenrtinted alabaster. II was II
the old woman vision OF the Prom
ised Land Gazing al II from hei
window, she found herself In hum
bier frame OF mind toward life, even
the little green points that sprnng be
tween the clods-toward the fno FERNS
uneurling, reaching up TO grasp al ex'
istence like the babys hands. The
baby's hands
The gentle radiance OF the west
flied ali the room as Jensy at last
came softly in. her face expressing
still some perturbation OF mind, the
sleeping child In her arms.
Yeronas lids were closed; Il WAS
the usual defense In Jensys presence;
but they quiyered as the young mother
bent and made as II to lay the child
lin the place she knew to be safest.
next the footboard Of the fourposter
bed.
Let not the sun 20 down"--mur-
| INJURED the grandmother. Suddenly
| her eyes opened aud rested full on
| Jensyg face "lIiCs about Bundown,
Amt hit--Jensy?' she inquired gently.
The young woman stopped, wistfully
regarding the wrinkled face on the
pillow, and then glsncing down at the
| fsxen halo OF curls against her
| shoulder.
I'm sorry" Jensy said, In evident
allusion to having walked her mother
in.law 81 was lookin for somewhars
| | could leave the baby that he'd be
safe want 10 get YOU fresh drink
from the spring"
SAFE" echoed the deep old tones
Lay him up here aide o me so as
can see him, Won't you--daughtery'
Jensy did az she Was bid, stooping
toward the pillows TO hide her aston
ishment, and settling the warm littie
body. heavy with sleep. into the No"
nest with croonings and pattings such
~ mothers use. She was tucking the
coyerlets round both helpless forms
when she stole a glance al Verona
! face and found that II was trembling
| into smiles, and all OF that deep. DAD
mother heart OF hers Was in The smile
There came sound OF footsteps out.
side. Jensy lifted a warning hand.
| Their two men, refreshed and cooled.
after the days work. by washof IN
Harricane's waters. stood Ia the door.
way. The plangent slories OF sunset
| beat into the dusk OF the room. We
ronas gaze passed child aud grand
ehild TO look into Aaron'a tiTsd, hon
est blue eyes
why. Mother" the old man spoke
Ia that hdEhed voice which Is our trib-
ute to a holy presence o. the sleep OF
. little child, yet there vas sn awaken
ing ring or surprise and giadness 10
his tones. you're fsslin' psSrt. afn't
your
Yes, Pap" murmursd Verona,
catching AZ the hand that miDistered
to her; Daughter Jensy, she's got
both her babies In one bed now. whaf
aha can tend on EN-, Amt you,