The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-07-31
LOVE ON A MOUNTAIN
By ELSA DORIAN.

Jul hcu the cpdTSe grass dTOuuu tue
old farmhouse, but Amos Beptly shiv'
cred and moved his chair out of the
shade Of the apple tree.
Seems like the winds in the east
honey" he said to Priscilla.
| The girl looked down and a wistful
smile curved her lips. She was pale
with the intense heat, but she knew
that the old mans sluggish blood was
chilled.
Priscilla stood on the doorstone
looking on at the hills which beloved
away into a dim blue haze.
The thought that was ever present
smote her sharply now. II anything
happened to grandfather what should
she do? What could she do?
Teach school, of course, and there
were her domestic talents. Was she
not even now supporting herself and
her grandfather by the sale of her
pickles and preserves, her canned
fruit, her potted mincemeat?
She could continue to do that, but
1t would be horribly lonesome on the
mountain top-and unsafe to stay
there alone. Priscilla was young.
She longed for pleasure. for love.
She blushed at the thought, and
smiled as she remembered her moth
er's oft-repeated advice. do your
duty, my dear. and Love will find you
out-no matter where you hide!"
Fancy Love finding me atop of
Rattlem mountain" laughed Priscilla,
as she took down shining tin pail.
In the meantime, while Pm waiting
for him, III pick those blackberries be-
fore the birds eat them up"
The farther side of the field Dor
dered th9 woods, and the blackberry
thfcket between was laden with fruit.
In the deep shadow of her pink sun
bonnet, Pricilla did not see the dark
I clouds piing up in the southwest.
Suddenly came the avalanche Of great,
warm drops that soon became heavy
downpour.
Priscilla turned to fee.
A blackberry vine caught her foot
and she fell full length on the ground
Horrible pains darted through her
ankle as she tried to wriggle to her
feet. Her elbows were deep in the
crushed blackberries from her over
turned pail.
Wait moment called a man 8
voice, and a pair of strong hands
gently lifted Priscilla from her igno-
BILE position and set her upon her feet.
She WINGED, screamed and tainted
In her rescuer's arms.
The-dickens!" whistled the young
man as he staggered across the field
with his burden, for he was small and
slender and, although muscular for
one of his build, he found Priscilla
, no light matter.
He reached the little farmhouse,
and, as he almost fell up the steps,
the kitchen door opened and grand.
fathers worried face appeared.
What's happened to Prissy?" the
old man quavered.
"Sprained ankle, l think" painted
Priscilla's deliverer as he laid her
down on the sofa in the sitting room
Got any smelling salts?"
But Priscilla was recovering rap
idly, Her eyes opened and met q
pair Of very blue eyes in q thin,
brown face-a strong face, but q win
ming one.
Yes, sir" he was saying to grand.
father in the most respectful voice,
here's my card. represent the
Pepperton Pickle and Preserve com.
pany."
Priscilla sat up on the couch and
discovered that grandfather had re.
moved her shoe and stocking, and.
with the aid of her rescuer, was en-
gagged in putting a cold compress on
the damaged ankle AS in a dream
she saw the young man go out and
return with q pail of icy water from
the deep well.
He was painting as though the ex.
ertion Of pulling up the we'll bucket
was too much for his puny strength.
Most of the story book heroes would
have brought in the we'll sweep It.
self on one shoulder!
At that whimsical thought Priscilla
laughed outright.
There! knew you were all right"
cried grandfather, tucking a shawl
around her injured foot. "Mr. Con.
wells going to send the doctor up
the mountain" He leaned over and
kissed his granddaughter.
Before leaving Mr.. Conwell dis.
closed the fact that he had been
sent by the Pepperton Pickle and Pre-
serve company to see Miss Bently
with view to obtaining her services
as chief of their homemade" preserve
department
Long after he had gone down the
mountain. Priscilla lay on the sofa
looking out at the sun blazing over
the new-washed world.
He had promised to come back
again and his eyes betrayed an inten.
ton to return again and yet again
until Priscilla babe him stay beside
her always.
Grandfather sat nodding and dream.
ing about coming days of affiuence
when Priscilla should have her own
pickle factory.
Then Priscilla remembered her
mothers saying: DO your duty-and
Love will find you, no matter where
you hide"
Copyright. 1915. by the Mcclure Newspa
per Syndicate)