The Little River news., 1916-11-18
SHEBA'S CELEBRATION By lzOLA FORESTER.

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 Shebas cabin lay on the right shoul- der of Windy mountain.
 Ever since she could remember. Sheba, one child left of Cindy's brood, had. been told that her sole mission in life was to hold the Blaine mansion in readiness and ill 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, Cord, chile, when he laugh, seems like all de sunshine comes rippling 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 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 ill trust.
 And on the way she had to pass the little mountain schoolhouse where Marjorie Atwell taught. Marjorie was from Philadelphia primarily. Her ia. ther had come South for his health and had bought up a 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 regular occurrence Shebas rest on the stone steps out side the schoolhOuse at the close ot 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 birthday, when Sheba rode up in an excited and agitated condition.
 ''Jes read dat yetter, Mis- Marjorie" she cried. 'Jes read it. Oats all
 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 Stanton the next day, and hoped he could find her. You might bring him over to our exercises. 1 think he'd like them, don't you?"
 An 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 SC sorter nasty, but he's mighty fine man, An know. I'd wave a flag for him any day, but An wouldn't like to wave it right under young Marse Halls nose. Yo' see, de Cunnel ne died, and Marse George and Marse Philip and Marse Francis Marion, allus called Francis Marion, dey use ter. And it might hurt his feelins. Ah'll keep him quiet like till de celebration's all over'
 Marjorie hardly knew whether to laugh or feel nonplused as sine watched the old gray mule climb tie 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 young man, with curly brown hair and blue eyes, carrying suitcase.
 q beg your pardon he said cor dially, but am I 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 read until you come to it, she said. There's a high stone wall around it and big entrance posts"
 He laughed boyishly.
 Oh, l know what it looks like. could find it with my eyes shut, guess, from all my fathers told me. I'm HaltOn Blaine. Is old Aunt Cindy there?"
 Just how it all happened even Mar jorie never could have told, but the stranger fingered at the little wayside 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 Shebas cabin, half mile from the hall.
 Praise de Lord, oh, nah soul!" she exclaimed. It'll jes' take me a min ute to run along and light de fires"
 Save them for tomorrow night, Sheba," Hal said, happily. Miss Mar. jories going to help me give a home