Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1914-08-25
PAYING THE PRICE
BY N. X. cRowELL.



doorway and peered anxiously down
the narrow pathway leading into the
depths below. At her knees chung
three tow-headed children - hectic
checked. wild-eyed little girls-and the
sound of halfstiied sobbing told Of
grief ranking in their childish DO.
SONS.
After a careful scrutiny Of the tim
Der far beneath, the woman turned
and patted the girls heads reassur
lngly.
When are we a-goin' to eat, MANI"
inquired the eldest, for perhaps the
tenth time.
when pap comes, child" came the
weak response.
The womans hollow cheeks flushed
as she glanced swiftly toward the lit
tie cupboard in the corner-she knew
its bitter secret Jim, her husband,
also knew It when he descended that
narrow path early in the morning.
From the depths a whistle sounded |
up clear and keen, and the anxious |
face of the woman became pitiful with |
tense. eager hope. Nearer came the |
sound, and presently the crackle of
branches brushed aside could be
heard.
"Lissy?' Twas a mans voice-ex.
pectant-full of cheer
JIM" That word spoke volumes.
The children darted away, and some
where in the dark laughing, scuffling
capture took place. The woman
smiled slightly and turned quickly to
her work-her preparations for a
meal.
Boisterously the four entered the
cabin, the children Juggling at a wealth
Of packages clasped beneath the mans
long arms. One stride took him to the
table and he dropped his burden there
on, hastily, as though glad to have
done with them.
Purity late, Lissy, by Jol" he said.
Thought | never would git up them
rocks beyend Coles fork. I'm clean
tuckered."
JIM" The word trembled pitiful-
7ender, have yuh, Jim?"
No, Lissy, haint."
No money been a-comin' in to yuh s
Nowhere, Jim?"
They raided a wheat this aftuh-
loon, Lissy" he said, awkwardly.
Who got took?" Twas a prompt,
ager, ready query.
"Tunk Sellers. heerd they ketched
I'M"
Shore. Jim?"
Yes, Lissy, I'm shore"
She stopped and busted herself at
he stove-her eyes wide, like those of Z
/ hunted animal. A short time elapsed {
nd the savory odor of frying meat
welt fragrantly upon the air The "A
hildren circled DANGEROUSLY about the
able, eXpectant
Set up, jim" said the woman, pres
ntly
He shook his head slowly.
Il hain't hungry Lissy." o
She did not argue the mattep-her
Dice prevented II. The meal was G
early over when the man arose and II
God before a cracked bit Of looking
lass that hung on the wall Present x
he turned and dropped a small Fl
lcket into the woman's lap.
'Nuh mOught git yuh a better glass, u
Issy. You will-wont yuh, gal?" He Ct
'oke tenderly, yet harshly. b.
She dropped her fingers and they
ct the packet. The fingers instinc- Of
vely closed over il. Her eyes studied u
e faded design in the oilcloth fxedy. ri
Upon a little shelf stood a battered ! -
ock He picked it up and began =,
hiding it. after which he shook it ~
his ear. Replacing #, he stretched bl
mseli lazily-then kissed the little al
r's, beginning az the eldest -
The woman's face was now buried a.
her apron. He put his broad hand ~
.on her gray-decked locks, bent low SO
d whispered: in
Lissy- woman-I-Tm goin'." "a 81
he opened the door and :,
apped out out into the darkness. -
Crack! II came up, clear and crisp u
the sound of a rife. ca
Shifless Jim had taken the price I'll
d a law, as inscrutable as fate. or O.,
ined that he should return to the
nelly mountain home no more for
er,