Evening star., 1915-02-28

me?"
"Whv, Pap!7 protested Bucks mother
BE 'shamed!" said Bucks sister Julie.
"Shet up!" snapped old Absalom Led
he had cast out.
Buck took the baby back into his arms,
and his mother let it go very unwillingly.
"Git out O here!' and Absalom Ledworth
went toward Buck with clenched fists.
IF you wasn't my pap Buck declared
hoarsely, his face as white as that of his
father, Il wouldn't leave piece O you as
big as my hand!'
At this Ashburn and John Ledworth rose
were pale and trembling.
Its hard to listen to that, Buck" said
Ashburn jerkilv.
Its da- that is, a sight harder to have
to say it, retorted Buck. He turned to his
mother and Julie. "The latchstring o my
house is always a hangin' on the outside to
you two," he said. "And now goodby to
YOU
Hold on thar!' Mrs. Ledworth put
hand on the nearest shoulder of the out
cast. I'm goin' with you. I'm not a
goin' to live with no sech pack as this.
Will you let me?'
"Shore!' repeated Buck.
The three went out into the night, leav
ing very much surprised masculine THO
staring after them, and started for the little
cabin on the creek. Old Mrs. Ledworth
took her grandchild from her sons arms,
and carried it as though it we're the last,
the very last, baby in the whole world.
When they reached Bucks little home
they found glowing in the dark doorway the
triumphant face Of Sadie the Peaceful. A
4 pair of white arms went toward them-and
it was hard to tell just who those arms were
for. When she closed them they were filled
very full, and old Jane Ledworth kissed her
tenderly on the forehead.
"Buckl' called Sadie joyously, hopefully.
aBuck! Put another wrappin' around the
baby, and take it up to my mother!"
60 Buck found another shawl for Robert
- E. Lee U. S. Grant, and set out for the
home of his mother-in-law. The way was
farther than he had thought perhaps be-
cause the Little Laurel was bigger than the
Big Laurel, and it was the mountaineer's
bedtime when he drew up before Jasper
Dunbar's cabin. He saw with a glad throb
that light still burned within the main
room. As he had done at his fathers home,
he entered without hallooing, for fear of the
barred door. He found Jasper Dunbar, his
wife, and their three grown sons sitting
round an empty fireplace "a habit they had
acquired during the days and nights of the
WlIllel just SOlle i llt lOuI )ulil)dlS lOoheu
sleepily toward him. Then they recognized
him, and the sons and their father went to
their feet angrily.
"Howdy," said Buck, shifting the bundle
in his arms. He went to his mother-in-
laws side-for he knew the heart most
likely to open to his child-and knelt there.
He swept back the shawl, and showed to
old Sallie Dunbar the dimpled, sleeping face
of his baby.
"It's mine and Sadie's," he said his big,
black eyes looking into the old woman's
face with great appeal in them. And
we've named it Robert E. Lee
Sallie Dunbar leaned forward, her eyes
shining so much that they made him think of
his own Sadies eyes. An old and blackened
clay pipe dropped to the floor with loud
clatter The two old hands, mannish and
strong for all their age, took up the price
less bundle, and pressed it against the good
Southern heart.
"B'ess i'm little soul of 'irn!" crooned She
aim shore do look like our Sadie used o
look Buck Ledworth, l wisht may drap
dead right whar I'm settin' at if this here
hain't jest the finest young 'un l ever seem"
His name,7 repeated Buck, glancing
toward Jasper Dunbar, 1is Robert E. Lee.