Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-10-05
CHAPTER v.


In the lowlands morning announces
itself with the rosy glow of dawn and
upfung shafts of light, but here IN the
hills of Appalachia even tho sun comes
stealing with surreptitious caution and
yelled face. as II fearful of ambuscade.
When Juanita opened her eyes, to
find the tumbled beds empty save for
herself, she told herself with dismal
heart that day of rain and sodden
skies lay ahead Of her.
The dim room reeked with wet
mists, and an inquisitive young roos-
ter stalked jauntily over the puncheon
door, where his footballs sounded 81
tiny clicks It was q few minutes
after five o'clock. and Juanita shivered
little with the clammy chill as she
went over to the door and looked out
Bending over gushing spring at
one corner of the yard in the uncon-
scious grace of perfect naturalness.
her sleeves rolled back and her dark
hair tumbling. knelt the girl Dawn.
Juanita crossed the yard, and as she
came near the younger girl raised a
face still glistening with the cold wa
ter into which it had been plunged and
glowing with shyness.
The older woman nodded with q
smile that had captivated less simple
subjects than Dawn and said: Good
morning. think you and are going
to be great friends. l know we are il
you will try to like me N much as I
do you.'
Then the girl from Philadelphia
plunged her face, too. into the cold,
living water. and raised it again, smil-
ing through wet lashes.
What makes ye like me?" Dawn
suddenly demanded in half-challeng-
ing voice.
you make me like you" laughed
Juanita.
The mountain girl held her eyes still
In the unwavering steadiness of her
race, then she said in q voice that car
ried an undertone Of defiance:
aye hain't nuver seen me afore,
an" she broke of, then doggedly,
IAN besides, l don't know nuthin,."
II mean to see you often after this, .
announced the woman from down be-
low, and the things you don't know
can be learned"
A sudden eagerness came to the
younger face and sudden torrent of
questioning seemed to hover on her
lips, but it did not find utterance. She
only turned and led the way silently
back toward the house. When they
were almost at the door Dawn hest
tated, and Juanita halted with an en-
couraging smile. II was clear thai
the mountain girl found whatever she
meant to say difficult, for she stood
indecisive and her cheeks were holly
suffused with color. 30 that at last
Juanita smilingly prompted: What
is it, dear?"
I'VE said" began Dawn hastily and
awkwardiy. "ye said suthin' bout me
tryin' ter like ye. III don't halter
try-I does hit" Then, having made
. confession as difficult to her shy tact
turnity rs 4 callow boys first declara
ton of love, she fed abruptly around
the corner Of the house.
Juanita stood looking after her with
. puzzled brow. This hard mountain
reserve which 10 20 strong that friends
rarely shake hands, that fathers sci
dom embrace their children, and thai
the kiss is known only to courtship
was new to her.
At breakfast she did not see Dawn
the dryad had vanished!
During the meal no allusion was
made to tho happenings Of last night,
but the girl noticed, that inside the
door leaned the householder's rifle.
gun; ana under young JeD's armpit
bulged the masked shape of q pistol.
butt.
Young Jeb's face yesterday had
been that Of q boy. this morning it was
the sullen face Of . man confronting
grim realities. Had Juanita been
more familiar with the contemporary
affairs Of the community, she might
have known that on many faces along
Tribulation that morning brooded the
same scowl from the same cause. The
McBriar yell had been raised last
! night in the heart of the Havey coun.
try, and this morning brought the
shame Of land Invaded and dishon.
ored.
Dawn did not reappear until Juanita