Metropolis weekly gazette. (Metropolis, Ill.) 1???-19??, 1915-12-03
MANDY ALI. OVER
BY lola FORESTER.

I
| He had been dweller in Tula for
three weeks, and the silence of the
mountains almost hurt. So far he
had seen just four human beings-old
Jed Morse and his daughter, Mandy;
the trayeler-preacher. Harley Robert
son, and young Gabe Williams. who
ran the cider mill.
Gabe and he were friends at least.
1t was Gabc who found out he was
interested in geology.
Thought you was a perfesser or
something of the sort when / saw you
snoopin' round like. Mandy, said you
was IN artist count OF the way you
| look, and the old man suspicioned you
was from the government. We don't
| notice him. He used ter get into all
kinds OF trouble with the government
back In the old days. but that's done
away with now. since the railroad
come through. Mandy went to school
three winters"
Like her. don't you Gabe?" Tay-
Tor had asked. by way OF conversation.
But Gabe'a face had darkened. He
t
pup that wandered within range.
"Yes. I like her. but | don't stand
no sort of show. Ought TO see, the
look In her eyes when the preacher
comes around"
The preacher came riding down the
mountain the next week and stopped
TO speak TO Taylor. working along a
ledge of rock.
Won't find any gold or silver there.
young man." he called up genially.
Taylor turned and saw a youthful
prophet typo, hair that hung short
cropped below his ears. eyes wide and
dark. face thin and fine featured. the
face OF the enthusiast and dreamer.
Later on the preacher would drop
in at his cabin II IL was late and talk
awhile with him over the fire. He
was a university man from Tonnes
see. eager TO hear OF the North and
OF life In the great centers.
I'm going there some day" he said.
staring into the open FIRE. Fishers OF
men. II Is a promise. am going
some day. Here the seed fails on
stony soil"
Taylor went to one OF his meetings
ut night down in the valley. Mandy
stood on a soapbox and sang In a
timid. high mezzo. slip OF girlhood.
with the torchlIght fiickering on her
pretty face and blue eyes that sought
the face OF the young preacher. while
Gabe hung around the shadows and
giowered.
Then came the last week In Tuia.
Taylor never forgot II all his life, the
place where be had complained OF
ennui and loneliness. With Gabe's
help he struck lead and followed Il
MP through the ledge. Gabo told OF
caves farther up In the mountains.
caves that glistened inside. and not
with stalactItea. either. Taylor went
with him and found mica. tracts OF
mica that lay Ia great, unbroken
sheets. and he knew fortune lay
close to Gabe's door. Whom he told
the big mountalneer, he put back his
head and laughed.
Guess that1l get her. won't It?
Womenfolks like money and pretty
things. don't they? You 20 ahead and
tix mp the deal ard get yours out Of
II. I'm going courtin'.''
And tho next night Harley stopped
on the way down toward Jed's. and
said he was going away. God had
heard his prayers and listened TO the
cry of hts soul. He was going north
10 preach the word In the great
cities. While no talked Mandy came
up with Taylor's milk and bread and
stood listening with wide eyes that
held fear and a woman's secret in
their depths. But Harley rambled on
enthusiastically. and Taylor wanted TO
grip hir and make him turn and see
the gift that lay for him in the girls
tender eyes.
Cabe came back along the road late
that night and he pounded on the
cabin door.
HAS the preacher gone up by here
yetg' he called. Taylor said no. he
had not seen him.
I'm going ter get him. said Gabe
grimly, and passed on.
Taylor rose and opened the door. A
full moon rode high above the dark
mountains. He dressed and went out
side. listening. And nearly an hour
later he heard Harley coming up the
road. singing In his full baritone one
OF the hymns he loved. He had meant
to warn him, but the singing stopped;
and. after while. he Judged he had
taken another road around the lower
bend. But he could not sleep. and
went down to meet Mandy at five on
her way up with the milk and fresh
eggs for his breakfast. She looked
radiant and shy. Standing In her little
pink cotton dress. barefooted and
tanned, she looked like some Wild
flower of her own mountain land. he
thought.
Pops awful mad" she said softly.
He's going to turn me away. Count
OF Gabe. Gabe asked him for me and
Pop gave me TO him. but promised
the preacher. and he's coming for me
today Vyasra oofpu dnwn fn Tula and