The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-03-07
SHEBA'S CELEBRATION
BY IZOLA FORESTER.

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Sheba's cabin lay on the right shout
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 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,
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
big house, and every Wednesday. to
open it up and air the rooms and see
that it was all ready for "Marse Hal"
1t 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
| Marjorie Atwell taught. Marjorie was
from Philadelphia primarily. Her ia.
Their 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.
| 1t became a regular occurrence
Shebas rest on the stone steps out
| 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 Lincolns
birthday, when Sheba rode up in an
excited and agitated condition.
'Jes' read dat yetter, Mis- Marjorie"
she cried. "Jes' read it. OATS all
All say He's on his way, praise Gord!"
Marjorie read it. 1t was addressed
to Mrs. Lucinda Blaine, Blaine Hail.
Georgia, aad was signed "Halton
Blaine"
But, Sheba, he's an old man now,
remember. Why, he must be awfully
old. if he was twenty-five 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. | 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 80 sorter hasty, but
he's mighty fine man, All know. I'd
wave flag for him any day. but All
wouldn't like to wave 1t 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 1t might hurt his
feelins Anil keep him quiet like
till de 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 to
decorate the schoolroom and see that
Standing under the portrait of the
Great Liberator, with its 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.
Il beg your pardon" he said cor
daily, but am | on the right road to
Blaine HALF"
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 laughed boyishly.
"Oh, | know what 1t looks like. l
could find it with my eyes shut, l
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 shutdown and walked
up to Shebas 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,
Sheba," Hal said, happily. Miss Mar
jories going to help me give home
coming party there. and we'll cele.
brate, if you'll let u.s..
Let you? Do you 'spose. Marse
Hal, de Cunnel or nah mothers gwine
ter rest easy if yo doan't take what
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