The Little River news., 1916-10-07
SHEBA'S CELEBRATION
By lZOLA FORESTER.

Sheba, one child left of Cindy's brood, had been told that her sole mission i in life was to hold the Blaine mansion l in readiness and in sacred trust for the homecoming of young "Marse Hal"
 "Yo' gwine ter know him the min- ute yo' set yo eyes on him, chile. He got de curliest brown hair you eber see and eyes like pools of water in de shadder. An when he laugh, l Cord, chile, when he laugh, seems like all de sunshine comes ripping down in a waterfall
 But Cindy had been laid away, and Sheba was over forty, and still every Saturday she went riding over to the l big house, and every Wednesday, to open it up and air the rooms and see that it was all ready for "Marse Hal.' It was hers by law, but she never con. sidered it so. She was only holding it in trust.
 And On the way she had to pass the little mountain schoolhouse where l Marjorie Atwell taught. Marjorie was from Philadelphia primarily. Her fa' ther had come South for his health and had bought Up peach farm in northern Georgia, and Marjorie took up the little. mountain school just as she had her settlement work in the North.
 It became a regular occurrence Sbeha'c rAct nn tho Ctnpn stems Ollt. side the schoolhouse at the close of the afternoon, and so it happened that Marjorie became familiar with all the intimate history of the Blaines. Then came one day, the day before Lincoln's 8 birthday, when Sheba rode up in an ; excited and agitated condition.
 'Jes' read dat yetter, Mis- Marjorie, ' she cried. "Jes' read it. Oats all Ah say. He's on his way, praise Coral" Marjorie read it. It was addressed to Mrs. Lucinda Blaine, Blaine Hall, Georgia, and was signed "Halton Blaine'
 But, Sheba, he's an old man now. remember. Why, he must be awfully old, if he was twenty-two when the war closed. You must prepare to make him very comfortable. The let ter merely stated he would arrive in could find her. You might bring him ever to our exercises. I think he'd like them, don't you?'
 ''Ah doan't know" said Sheba du- biously. ''Yo know, Mis- Marjorie, us Blaines we nevah had no complaints like, and we'd jus as soon Marse Lin. coin hadn't been 50 sorter hasty, but he's mighty fine man, An know. I'd wave flag for him any day, but An wouldn't like to wave it right under young Marse Halls nose. Yo' see, de Cunnel he died, and Marse George and Marse Philip and Marse Francis Marion, allus called Francis Marion. dey use ter. And it might hurt his feelins'. Ahll keep him Guiot Ike til d3 celebrations all over"
 Marjorie hardly knew whether to laugh or feel nonplused as she watched the old gray mule climb the mountain road. She stayed late tc decorate the schoolroom and see that the flag halyards worked all right. Standing under the portrait of the Great Liberator, with it's wreath of southern smilax, she tried to gain in- spiration from it's quiet smile And the voice behind her made her start. Standing in the little low doorway was a young man, with curly brown hair and blue eyes, carrying a suitcase.
 T beg your pardon he said cor dially, but am l on the right road to Blaine Hall?"
 Marjorie descended from her step ladder, the long strands of smilax hanging around her neck, her fair hair all rumpled from her work. And she stared at the apparition in wonder. Just follow the road until you come to it. she said. There's high stone wall around it and big entrance posts"
 He laugEcd boyishly.
 "Oh, know what it looks like. could find it with my eyes shut. guess, from all my fathers told mo. I'm Halton Blaine. Is old Aunt Cindy | there?"
 Just how it all happened even Mar 1 jorie never could have told, but the stranger fingered at the little wayside l school until dusk, helping her dec crate the room, and she told him all | that Sheba had told to her of the old stories about the Blaines. He had been born out West, in Oregon, he told her. And out of all the family there he had seemed to feel the old pull | back to the South. Together they took the road at sundown and walked | up to Sheba's cabin, half a mile from the hall.
 Praise de Lord. oh, nah soul!" she | exclaimed. It'll jes' take me min.
 ute to run along and light de fires Save them for tomorrow night, l Sheba,' Hal said, happily Miss Mar. l jorie's going to help me give home
 coming party there, and we'll cele
 brate, if you'll let us.
 Let you? Do you 'spose, Marss ] Hal, de Cunnel or nah mothers gWine ter rest easy if yo' doan't take what belongs ter yo'? What An been keep