The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1915-11-19

The long train passed lazily out,
and Lucia picked up her travelling bag
and went into the dingy little room
which served as waiting-room and
general loafing place for the scatter
ed inhabitants of the little mountain
settlements 1t was darker and
smoker and decidedly more uninvlt-
ing than it had appeared on that
morning three years previous, when
she and Dudley had waited there two
hours for the man who had promis-
ed to take them over the Divide to
the lodge, and Lucia wondered now:
as she sat on the one hard bench, II
Yank Handy would be so long this
time in coming. If he was, she de-
cided. he would find her frozen stiff,
for the smoky little stove sent its
heat directly up the chimney, where
it foated out on the chilly noun
tain air.
The girl drew her heavy coat close
w about her and let her thoughts
wander unrestrained through the be-
witching paths of memory. Slowly
wistful little smile curled her lips,
her blue eyes lost some of their sad
ness. 1t was so easy, sitting there
in the familiar waiting room, to be-
lieve that she was starting out on
that wonderful honeymoon with bud
lev; so easy to close her eyes ana
think that he was standing there be-
fore her, laughing down at her from
his great height with world of ten
derness in his voice.
"Maybe this is little discourag-
ing" she seemed to hear him say,
"but You'll forget all about it, sweet
heart, wheif you see the jolly little
lodge and the way I've had it fixed
nm for us. We couldn't have found a
greater place for this honeymoon Of
ours if we had secured the globe. It's
the forest primeval, Lucia, a bit oil
lovely Already"
A shadow fell across the doorway,
and Lucia started up from her day
dream to meet the weather beaten
face of Yank Handy, rudy with well
come.
"You amt real pertic'lar about get,
tin there's right off Mis- Murdoch? ,
he questioned, gripping her hand
heartily. 81 thought as how we q
better wait till the night train and
meet the Mister. l don't reckon
them mules is good fer two trips
Lucia looked away, and sudden col
or dyed her face deep crimson; y
! don't know that Mr.. Murdoch
will be here this evening. He may
not get here at all; he-he's-very
busy, Mr.. Handy"
"Then you'll want Bessie to come
over and stay along with you I'll ne
comes ?" the old man questioned. "She
kin lust as well as not. Mother ana
me kin spare her. We amt forget
tin how good you and the boss was
to us when you come down mere on
YOUR weddin' trip. Wed like real
smart to do you all a favor"
THAT'S lovely of you, Mr.. Handy
and | can't tell you how much ike
it. but this time | want to be alone
for a while. I'm never afraid, you
know, and my heart has been hun
cering to get out here in the hills
It's real frolic, Mr.. Handy.
at is that" the old man agreed. "A
real frolic, but don't you all get too
Lonesome. I'll be stoppin' by every
day or so just to see how you be-. q,
The sure-footed mules climbed
steadily up the rough, winding roac'
and Lucia closed her eyes to shut ont
the familiar grey mountains 1t wa
cruel. she told herself, that they
should look the same as they mad
when she and Dudley had crossed
them together, her hand resting con-
tentedly in his. How grey they were
and how cold and forbidding, how
unspeakably silent and still! If only
the sun would break through the
heavy clouds and waken them to life:
She sighed, and the grizzled old
Imontaineer turned and looked kindly
as her. IT,.
81 toted all them boxes and things
over that you all sent DOWN, Mis-
Murdoch. and | reckon you don't low
you're goin' to starve. l rec lect
what a boss little cook the mister
said YOU was. | found the very dog
YOU needed, too: | found out hunt
! in the day your letter come. Look
up Their, quick, there he is now"
Lucia leaned out of the old dayton
and looked up the high bank to where
the little lodge sat perched on the top
of the mountain. Against the grey
of the winter sky a red-brown setter
stood out in bold relief, and she gave
low cry of pleasure. 1t was so
good to find one welcoming friend
here in the lonely spot which had once
echoed with life and joy. The dog
bounded out as soon as the gate was
opened and Lucia stopped for mo-
ment to pat his silky head, then,
with set lips, she followed the old
man into the cabin
Don't there be nothin' else l can
do?" he questioned when the last box
had been pried open and the contents
unpacked and put in the tiny store
room. "I'd like real well to do some.
thin more for YOU, Mis- Murdoch"
The girl smiled sadly into the kind
old face. There isn't anything else
to do, though you're a dear to take
such an interest. Please take thi:
little package to your wife and tel
her I'll be over to see her very soon
Give her lots of love, too, won't you
Mr. Handy?"
She watched the mules wind dowr
the hill, then she came back into the