The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1915-05-27

II"
For a moment, she only nc ded; but
her eyes we're bent on the road ahead
of her. The man waited In tense
silence. Then, she raised her face, and
it was a face that smiled with the
serenity of one who has wakened out
of troubled dream.
You will always have that. Samson.
dear" she assured him.
Have enough Of it, to ask you to
do for her what you did for meY To
take her and teach her the things she
has the right to know"
'Td love IT," she cried. And then
she smiled, as she added: she Will
be much easier to teach. She won't
be so stupid, and one of the things
shall teach her"-she paused, and
added whimsicaIly-"will be to make
you cut your hair again"
But, Just before they drew up at the
house of old Spicer South, she said:
81 might as well make clean breast
of 1t, Samson, and give my vanity the
punishment it deserves. You had me
in deep doubt"
About what?"
"About-well, about US. l wasn't
quite sure that wanted Sally to have
you-that / didn't need you myself.
| I've been a shameful little cat to Will
fred"
But now" The Kentuckian broke
of.
Now, know that my friendship
for you and my love for him have both
had their acid test-and ! am happier
than I've ever been before. I'm GLAD
we've been through 1t. There are no
doubts ahead. I've got you both
About him." said Samson, thought
fully. May l tell you something
which, although it's thing in your
own heart, you have never quite
known?"
She nodded, and he went on.
1.-THE thing which you call fascina-
ton in me was really just proxy
Drennie. You were liking qualities IN
me that we're really his qualities. Just
because you had known him only IN
gentle guise, his finish blinded you
| to his courage. Because he could turn
to woman the heart of a woman, you
failed to see that under 1t was the
iron and fire. You thought you saw
those qualities in me, because wore
my bark as shaggy as that scaling
hickory over there. When he was get
| ting anonymous threats OF death eV'
cry morning he didn't mention them
to you. He talked Of teas and dances
I know his danger was real, because
they tried to have me kill him-and
| II I'd been the man they took me for
I reckon I'd have done 1t. l was MAD
to my marrow that night-for a min
ute. l don't hold a brief for Wilfred
but / know that you liked me first for
qualities which he has as strongly as
land more strongly. He's drawer
man than I, becuse, though raised TO
gentle things, when you ordered him
into the fight he was there. He never
| turned back or fiickered. was raised
on raw meat and gunpowder, but he
went In without training"
The girls eyes grew grave and
| thoughtful, and for the rest OF the
way she rode in silence.
There were transformations, too, In
the house of Spicer South. Windows
| had been cut, and lamps adopted. II
was no longer so crudely pioneer
| abode. While they waited for dinner
| a girl lightly crossed the stile, and
came up to the house. Adrianne met
her at the door, while Samson and
Horton stood back, waiting Suddenly
| Miss Lescott halted and regarded the
newcomer in surprise. 1t was the
same girl she had seen, yet different
| girl. Her hair no longer fell in tangled
masses. Her feet were no longer bare
| Her dress, though simple, was charm
ing, and, when she spoke, her English
had dropped it's halfilliterate PECULIAR
ties, though the voice still held Its
bird-like melody.
ooh, Samson" cried Adrienne, "you
two have been deceiving me! Sally
you were making up, dressing the part
back there, and letting me patronize
you"
Sally's laughter broke from hel
throat In a musical peal, but 1t still
held the note of shyness, and 1t was
Samson who spoke.
II made the others ride on, and go
Sally to meet you just as she was wher
I left her to go East" He spoke will
a touch of the mountaineer's over-sen
sItive pride. Il wanted you first to see
my people, not as they are going to be
but as they were. | wanted you Il
know how proud / am Of them-jus
that way"
That evening, the four Of then
walked together over to the cabin o.
the Widow Miller. At the stile, Ad
rienne Lescott turned to the girl ant
said:
"I suppose this place Is pre-empted
I'm going to take Wilfred down there
by the creek, and leave you two alone.
Sally protested with mountain hos
pitality, but even under the moon she
once more colored adorably.
Adrienne turned up the collar Of heI
sweater around her throat, and, wheI
she and the man who had waited. stood
leaning on the rail of the footbridge
she laid a hand on his arm.
HAS the water flowed by my mill
Wilfred2" she asked.