New-York tribune., 1913-11-23

possible that she remembered the old days when they
had gathered laurel bloom together Il hadn't
thought very much about il, and he began to loosen
the collar Of his blue shirt though the ar had become
strangely hard breathe. Then he got 10 his feet,
told the widow goodby and walked of down the noun.
tain in dazc He regretted his abrupt lcayc-takng;
but he Just had to get away And then, he wanted
10 have heart % heart talk with his giant before
he did anything else.
He didn't know that She who had been his Sarah
Mcbride looked after his -quarcly built swinging figure
with longing in her eyes He didn't know that the days
when they had gathered laurel bloom together were even
rcshcr in her memory than in his own For no woman,
no matter what her fortunes later IN c, ever entirely
forgc,s her first sweetheart.
AFTER the two men had eaten a supper OF their own
cooking that evening, the father rose from the
table as though ne had been stung With one foot he
pushed his chair back He put both hands behind him,
and began 10 stare the little oil lamp ut the strong,
sunburncd face Of his SON Fora moment the two looked
closely at each other. Philip went trliic PALE and rosc
and pushed his chair back ncrvously.
"Wcn Pap, what is it," he inquired, in his voice
note that sounded strange to his fathers ears.
"Ivc got 10 have little tall, with you, my boy, an
nouncci Nathan Ills face was very grave. II looked
almost haggard with the hmplight coming from be
Meath it.
pbiIip', big hands unconsciousy became two quiv
crjng brown fists on the red ocloh that covered the
table There was a moment OF utter silence, during
which the ewes Of the one left those Of the other
"You needn't to mind, replied Philip, his voice tense
and filled with IN unusual emotion 81 know what
YOU re gon' to say and 50 thar haint no use III
savin it. / think, Pap that me and you hadn't better
talk none tonight Les wut-and while were a
waitin les DO little thnkin' and rcaSonln about the
matter I'm right about it, Pap.
Nathan remained silent. So his son knew OF his visit
to the house Of an Enscy and Of his looking forward to
bringing home a woman to set up in the place OF the
dead heart that slept high up in the old mountains
breast under the whitc-barlcd beech. Nathan well
knew that news Travelled in the hill country with aston
ishinp rlpidtv; therefore he did not wonder that
Philip was already aware Of his calling on the widow
He turned toward the doorway, and there was iron
in his soul Something had come between him and his
bov. his boy and poor Mans and-oh, it was bitter,
bitter to have anything like this They had always
been such fine friends Never before had they cX-
changed any words but the very kindcst He stepped
to the ground and started across the clearing, going
little bindlv because Of the darkness Of the mountain
night and because of the darkness in the pathway OF
his life.
The shaft Of light that the lamp threw down the yard
from the doorway was suddenly cut of by the Stalwart
figure OF Philip
"Pap. whar are you goin' to-" he cried. Ills voice
rang out with some element Of piteousness.
If Nathan Towers heard the voice OF his son. Philip
the beloved he gave no sign OF it. He turned his foot