The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1916-09-22

only defense he makes is just one line
or so in-in this" Caleb dropped a
hand upon the half legible pages. He
says that he wasn't going to let civil
zation make of the boys life the wreck
which he, poor, queer, honest soul,
thought it had made of his fathers.
And do you know, Sarah, do you know,
l can't help but believe that this over
Jealous thing which the law would
have prosecuted was the best thing he
could have done? I'll take these things
now and lock them in the safe for the
boy until he comes back home!"
But Sarah Hunter kept the picture
Of Stephen O'Mara's mother separate
from the rest; she took IT upstairs
with her when she went. white and
tired faced, to bed. And it was Sarah's
, faith which outlasted the years which
followed. She never weakened In her
belief that some day the boy would
come back-she and one other whose
faith in his last boyish promise, phras-
ed in bitterness, also endured. For
during the next five years there was
not a summer which brought Allison
into the hills but what the first ques-
ton of his daughter Barbara, mother
less now herself, was Of Steve.
"Has-has Stephen come backT she
asked invariably.
At first the query was marked by
nothing more than child's naive ca
gerness, and later, when 1t was brought
up In a casual, by the way fashion. 1t
was, nevertheless. tinged with hope.
Five years heightened into ten, and
still Steve did not come. But when.
ever Barbara asked that question Ca
leb remembered, as though 1t had hap
pened only yesterday, that morning
when she first appeared to the boy
Then came a morning when Stephen
O'Mara did return. All winter and
throughout the summer, too, the Hun
ter place had been closed until that
day in late october. 1t had been a
warm week-a week Of such unseason-
able humidity for the hills that Caleb,
rising somewhat before his usual hour,
had blamed his sleeplessness, as usual,
upon the weather. He was glad to be
home again that morning. Caleb was
wondering II Barbara would be with
her father on this trip. Barbara had
he knew, been two years on the CONT
nent. finishing" Allison called 1t, al.
ways with a wry face and gesture
toward his wallet pocket. He was
wondering as he came down the stairs
II she would ask him again if-if-and
then at the sight Of seated figure
outside on the top step of the veranda
he pulled up sharp in the doorway.
Caleb didn't have to wonder any
longer.
The attitude of that figure before
him was so like the picture which time
had been unable to erase, so absolute
ly identical in everything save garb
and size alone, that the man, recoiling
little, dragged one hand across MS
forehead as though he doubted his own
eyes. But when he looked again II
was still there, sitting chin in palm,
small head under a rather weather
beaten felt hat thrust slightly forward,
gazing fixedly toward the stucco house
beyond the shrubbery. And before
Caleb could move, before he was more
than half aware Of the painful pulse
in his throat 1t all happened again just
as 1t had happened years and years
before.
Caleb heard voices In the adjoining
grounds. and as he half turned in that
direction Allison's bulky form, vivid in
a far more vivid plaid, appeared in the
hedge gap. While Caleb stared anoth
er figure flashed through ahead Of him
laughter upon her lips. and paused
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