New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-27

that limited at too great fcxbiity OF purpose iicr
gaze left him to rest on the girl The mother went OH
steadily: ,
al understand now Hester, jest why you've played
with him 50 long Inch by inch you've brought him TO
where YOU could set this choice before him. lie must
take you fer good and DESERT lose you ter good and
90 with his Comp'ny Tomorrow.
The girl made no answer. Inwardly she ragged
against herself for not choosing a time whcn MrS'
Mathis away.
In the tense silence a little yellow kitten wandered
into the room navcy used parlor in spite OF the
bed with its hand-wovcn, hand-fringcd countcrpanc
That hand-frnpc tempted the kitten nightly. IL
stole glance its Mistress then jumped at the fringe
and swung ioyouSly But it watched for trouble out
of one eve not understanding that those tense three
were not even aware of its existence.
The boz, still khaki clad his well drilled figure held
erect, protested Sullcnly III am rcc'y e''lh :
I'm Jest going to quit
Rnt the mothers ewes remained the girl. 1t was
the girl she again addressed. Il amt dcnyin' yorc
beauty. Hester Yorc eyes is brighter winter stars
Amt no chestnut SINNER brown than yorc hmr.
Yorc cheeks is smoother an pinkcr than the musk
roses my grandrom loved.
In the lampliGht the girl bluShcd with pleasure
But the dark blue eyes watched the elder woman I'M
easily The latter went on:
81 amt dcnyin' wore power. There's Sompn about
vou-wcll it's the Sompn that acts on man like one
of them store magnet hammers does on tack You re
stronger with him than am, Hester sight stronger.
I'm only his mothcr|
Her voice, middc-agcd and little husky from over
work, faltcrcd slightly. The boy moved rcstlcssIy.
He burst out:
whats the good of takin' over this thing now
Hester an me has it all fixed, Mother. The preacher
will marry us tonight He'll be here by ten. Then
we're goin' to pull out for Uncle Jacks up IN them
Brcathitt County Mountains, where them SargcantS
can't never find us Later III send fer you, Mother
I've got my notion of home up there, all III my nina
eve The sweetest little old cabin, good cool spring
closet to it, little bit of garden no mzzbc music
hown in nv cars for rcvcilc. Jest me an Hester an
AN happiness" finished the girl, noddlng brightly
He gave her an answering nod and turned away
crossing the well scrubbed floor to one OF the Scrim
curtaincd windows
AN happiness the mother said slowly "Ah, Hester.
n wouldn't it be happiness to me to know ne was
safe? Fer do believe they'd never kctch him up there
lacks folks makes most Of the settlement. They'd
never tell on him There's another dcscrtcr, safe from
the law there right now-if that's safety. An as to
happincss-but as to that, is happiness the biggest
thing in life, HcStcr?
IT'S all kccr anything about the girl farcd pas
sonatcly Her eyes flashed over toward the clock on
the mantc These fatctul hours It measured out
tonight. But between her and Love nothing should
come! Her gaze returned to pass like a challenging
sword into the deep dark eyes OF the elder woman,
to rest little contcmptuously on the worn plain
face She listened impatcntly as Mrs. Mathis said
steadily:
But, Hester he's done give his promise. Not jest
to a man. Hester. He's give it to the flag. DO you
wantcr fix things 50 he can't look them stars on it
ever in the face again
"What do care for the old rag" the younger woman
cried angrly. 81 reckon where 'uns are goin' we'll
never see it.
ayes, you will see it, An he will too. It'll alters be
a foatin between you. His word, HcStcr-do YOU
know what mans word ISL
"Hot air" said the girl insolenty; "hot air out Of