Evening star., 1914-09-27

brOnzed, hardy, Dut DOy1Snly handsome
face face touched about the full lips with faint lines
that limited at too great hexibiity of purpose. Her
gaze left him to rest the girl The mother went on
steadily: .-<---. g
Il understand now, Hester, jest why you've played
with him long. Inch by inch you've brought him to
where you could set this choice before him. He must
take you fer good and DESERT lose fer good and
go with his comp'n ny termorrow.
-. The girl made answer Inwardly she ragged
against herself for not choosing time when Mrs.
Mathis away.
In the tense silence little yellow kitten wandered
into the naively used parlor in spite of the
bed with its hand-woven hand-frnged counterpane.
That hand-fringe tempted the kitten nightly 1t
stole glance at its mistress then jumped at the fringe
and swung joyously. But it watched for trouble out
of eye not understanding that those tense three
were not even aware of its existence.
The boy still khaki clad, his well drilled figure held
erect protested sullenly at amt ree1y desertin
I'm jest going to quit
But the mothers eyes remained on the girl. 1t was
the girl she again addressed. II amt denyin' yore
beauty Hester. Yore eyes is brightern winter stars.
Amt no chestnut a SINNER brown than yore hair.
Yore cheeks is smoother an pinker than the musk
roses my grandmom loved.
In the lampight the girl blushed with pleasure.
But the dark blue eyes watched the elder woman
easily. The latter went on:
II amt denyin' yore power. There's somp'n about
you-wel, it's the somp'n 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 mother!'
Her voice, middle-aged and little husky from over
work, faltered slightly The boy moved restessly.
He burst out:
4What's the good of talkn' over this thing now?
Hester an me has it all fixed Mother. The preacher
will marry tonight. He'll be here by ten. Then
we're gon' to pull out for Uncle Jacks up in them
Breathitt County Mountains where them Sargeants
can't never find Later I'll send fer you, Mother.
I've got my notion of home up there all in my mind S
eye. The sweetest little old cabin, good cool spring
closet to it, little bit of garden-an' mizzb usic
howlin in my for reveille Jest an Hester an"
@An happiness!" finished the girl nodding brightly.
He gave her an answering nod and turned away,
crossing the well scrubbed floor of the scrim-
curtained windows.
AN happiness" the mother said slowly. 3Ah, Hester.
wouldn't it be happiness to to know he was
safe? Fer do believe they'd never ketch him up there.
Jacks folks makes most of the settlement They'd
tell on him. There's another deserter safe from
the law there right now-if that's safety. An as to
happiness-but as to that is happiness the biggest
thing in life, Hester?'
@It's all keer anything about the girl fared pas
sonately. Her eyes flashed toward the clock on
the mantel These fatefu hours it measured out
tonight But between her and Love nothing should
come Her gaze returned to pass like challenging
sword into the deep, dark eyes of the elder woman,
to rest little contemptuously on the worn, plain
face. She listened impatiently Mrs. Mathis said
steadily:
@But Hester, he's done give his promise. Not jest
to man, Hester. He's give it to the flag. Do you
wanter fix things so he can't look them stars on it
ever in the face again?"
@What do care for the old rag?" the younger woman
cried angriy. Il reckon where uns goin' We'll
see it."
ayes, you will it. An he will too. It'll alters be
a loatin' between you. His word, Hester-do you
know what mans word is?"
3Hot air, said the girl insoently; @hot air out of
his lungs; air that don't count for nothing against the
chanst to he hapDyn