Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1916-01-13
THE RED Chimney
BY KEITH KENYON.

In the full flush of summertime
foliage you could not see 1t from.
Burton's camp, but when the Septem.
Der winds began to send the leaves
dancing it stood out plainly, one red
chimney far up the valley Of Little
Creek.
The house of the red chimney had
been untenanted for many years, he
had been told at the local country
store.
1t was the only other house in the
valley besides his own rough lodge.
and he had not resented sharing the
solitude until the morning when
smoke rose leisurely into the air
from the red chimney.
Burton watched it with unbelieving
eyes. He waited until afternoon and
then whistled his horse up from the
lower meadow where 1t grazed and
saddled it grimly. II any tramps or
loiterers had taken up their abode
there he made up his mind to oust
them with short shift.
1t was gallOp OF three miles around
the bend of the river road AS he
drew near, he caught tiutter OF
white from clothesline in the yard.
So the occupant was evidently femi.
nine, which deprived him of some OF
the Joy of retaliation. Still he looked
decidedly stern and aggressive as he
mounted the wide stone steps and
knocked on the front door.
There was no answer, and after the
second knock the very prettiest face
he had ever looked upon appeared at
the window beside him.
I'm awfully sorry, but we haven't
found the key to the front door yet.
Won't you come around the side
way?"
He strobe through the grass doubt
fully. On the side porch. in an old
split.bottom rocker, he found another
tenant, a little older than the first,
but very nearly as distractingly
pretty, and this one was pairing po.
tatoes.
How do you do?" she said cheer
fully. Are you one of our neigh
bors?"
II rather think l am your only
neighbor in the valley" answered Bur.
ton gravely. Il have lived here three
years in the summertime. Burton is
my name"
ours is Colby. am Beatrice Col
by. This is my sister Man."
Nan smiled at him and handed out
another chair. Before he knew it,
Burton was thawing and telling them
all about the valley and of his coming
to It when his own health had broken
down back In New York. He had OBJ
tanned tenting rights first from the
trustee of the land. Probably they
had rented from the same person.
NO." Nan told him quite frankly,
I'VE Just drove over and stayed here"
Squatter rights evidently, thought
Burton, and he made up his mind to
speak to old Newton about it. Yet
the days passed and he permitted the
interlopers to remain undisturbed.
1t was rather pleasant to see smoke
coming from the red chimney. Every
other day he rode over to be sure his
neighbors were getting along we'll.
Nan, he found out, was the housekeep.
er. Beatrice was the provider for
the family. They confided to him
that she collected antiques for New
York dealer, and that they jaunted
around to all kinds of out-of-the-way
places.
It was at the end Of the fourth
week that Burton, looking at himself
in the glass hung on his tent pole,
told himself that he was in love. He
looked over at the red chimney and
accused it in his mind. Then he looked
again and saw something that made
him hold his breath. Up from the red
chimney came masses of sulphurous
smoke that stained the deep blue Of
the morning sky.
When he dropped from his saddle
later the white froth clung to his
horses tanks and breast, but he ran
on up to the old house and found the
two girls fighting a chimney fire.
Nan had taken q ladder and leaned
it against the house and tried to
reach the chimney with salt bags,
but had missed her footing.
IT'S only a sprain," she called to
him from the grass. go and help
Beatrice. Mr.. Newton came over,
too"
Il don't care II the whole thing
goes up in smoke" he said huskily,
kneeling beside her. Are you badly
hurt. Tell me the truth, Man."
I'm all right, truly, truly" She
tried to draw away from him, but
Burton possessed her hands.
i've loved you ever since saw you
at the window, Nan. You know 1t,
too. Don't laugh at me-"
"Shall I cry?' she asked whimsi-
cally. you can't, you know. You've
Just hated us for spelling your val
ley"
ITS our valley now," he said, when
Beatrice and Mr.. Newton came around
the corner of the house bearing mops
ana pals.
well, it's out" said the old man.
How do you like your two landlords,
Mr.. Burton?"
Burton looked nonplused.
"You know this whole valley is the
old Colby estate I'm mighty glad
two of them cared enough about 1t
to come home"
And he regarded them as invaders.
He turned to Nan appealingly.
Shall ever be forgiven?"
She laughed and held out her hand.
do you think we would have put
I'D with you so long, Jack, II we