Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1916-02-25

her hand caressingly upon her fore
head. The woman reminded her odd
ly of Philip. That was the night his
mother died.
The valley thrived. New settlers
rushed in. Her father died, and she
was offered big sums for the land, but
she clung to it, working it single-hand.
ed. Some day this is to be Philips"
she said to herself. For his sake, she
studied; the uncouth little girl had
| become a woman fairly well educated,
and yersed in the ways oil life. All
this was to be Philips.
She told herself that on her twenty
eighth birthday, when she stood be-
fore her mirror and saw that youth
was gone. And then for the first
time she yielded to fear, and that
growing sense of desolation that was
| always with her now.
If he does not arrive when | am
thirty l shall go to him. she said to
her reflection. Then, very softly, 1
shall go to see what sort Of woman he
mas married.
Two years later woman, well
dressed, yet with ar air OF strange
ness. stood in the Office OF the III
surance company and asked for Mr..
Halsey.
The manager looked at her strange
". He has gone; he left us last
year." he tod her.
Where can find him. asked the
woman.
The manager parted her question.
Are you a friend OF his?' he asked.
An old friend said Lily OF the
Valley.
The manager looked at her in sur
prise. Halsey's friends had not been
OF this kind, for the most part.
Lily looked at him with an in
tensity that disconnected him. IF he
is dead" she whispered, tell ne So.
Don't keep me in uncertainty out OF
kindness. If he is dead it is better
that | should know"
He is not dead said the mana
ger.
You know where he isl" asked
Lily.
He could not lie to eyes like those.
Yes, | know where he is he an
swered.
Tell me, then. Never mind what
the truth. is-tell me. Is he ill?'
He is in the penitentiary for forg-
ing a check" said the manager. He
was sentenced to serve five years. 1t
will be at least three before he is
set free. But perhaps you will be
able to get a permit to see him. he
added kindly.
Lily Of the Valley went back to her
farm. There she worked three years
longer. At thirty-thcee she had streaks
of gray in her hair; her beauty lin
gered, but it was no longer the wild
and elusive beauty of her youth. Life
had come home to her at last.
On the day Of the expiration Of Hal
sey's sentence the warden informed
him that a woman was waiting to see
him.
Halsey, a man Of thirty-eight, shifty
eyed, gray-haired, bearing not only the
prison stamp, but also the indeNble
stamp of the life that he had previ'
ously led, looked at the warden in
horror.
No. Tell her l won't see her!" ne
cried. None of them stood by me
when I was in the tolls. None of
those on whom l had lavished money
: came forward with cent to aid
me-"
This woman looks different" said
the warden compassionately.
Il won't see her." said Halsey.
He strobe out into the free air
in his cheap suit of blue, prison-made,
like himself. In his pocket was $50.
He had long ago made up his mind
what he was going to do when he
came out. He was going to pull Off a
job with Slim Joe, prison pal, who
had been released a week before. 1t
was a daring forger's game. Joe was
to meet him at little stopping place
20 miles out along the line.
Haisey was utterly unconscious OF
the woman who, having followed him,
not daring to speak, but watching over
him like his good angel. She stepped
aboard the car that carried him to
tho place.
She got out when he did. The lit
tie settlement had become a village.
There were plenty Of passengers.
There was so much change that it
was a shock as Halsey looked up and
saw the mountain down which he had
fallen, now dotted with vineyards and
fertile fields.
Then his friend came forward and
took his arm. Phil, old boy!" he said
softly.
Halsey stretched out his hand to
clasp his friends. At that moment
the woman was quite near him. She
looked into Slim Joes eyes and saw
reflected in those shifty mirrors all
that life had taught her to fear.
It was her hand that fell between
theirs. Ha!sey spun round and stared
at her. He staggered back incredu-
lousy. "You!" he gasped. You!
Lily"
81 have come to take you home.