The Dolores star., 1916-12-22
CHAPTER v.


In the lowlands morning announces
itself with the rosy glow OF dawn and
upfiung shafts Of light, but here In the
hills OF Appalachia even the sun comes
stealing with surreptitious caution and
yelled face. as II fearful of ambuscade.
When Juanita opened her eyes, to
find the tumbled beds empty save for
herself. she told herself with dismal
heart that a day OF rain and sodden
skies lay ahead OF her.
The dim room reeked with wet
mists. and an inquisitive young roos-
ter stalked jauntily over the puncheon
floor. where his footballs sounded In
tiny clicks. 1t was a few minutes
after Ave o'clock. and Juanita shivered
little with the clammy chill as she
went over to the door and looked out
Bending over q gushing spring as
one corner OF the yard in the uncon.
scious grace Of perfect naturalness,
her sleeves rolled back and her dark
hair tumbling. knelt the girl Dawn.
| Juanita crossed the yard. and As she
came near the younger girl raised .
face still glistening with the cold Wa
ter into which II had been plunged and
glowing with shyness.
The older woman nodded with .
smile that had captivated less simple
subjects than Dawn and said: Good
morning. think you and l are going
to be great friends. l know we are
you will try to like me as much a. ]
do you
| Then the girl from Philadelphia
plunged her face. too. into the cold.
living water. and raised 1t again. smil
ing through wet lashes.
| What makes ye like met" Dawn
suddenly demanded in q half-challeng.
ing voice.
You make me like you." laughed
Juanita.
The mountain girl held her eyes still
In the unwavering steadiness Of her
race. then she said in voice that car
ried an undertone of defiance:
"Ye hain't nuver seen me aforo,
an" she broke on. then doggedly.
AN besides. don't know nuthin'."
Il mean to see you often after this"
announced the woman from down be.
low. and the things you don't know
can be learned"
| A sudden eaSerness came to the
younger face and q sudden torrent of
questioning seemed to hover on her
lips, but 1t did not find utterance. She
only turned and led the way silently
back toward the house. When they
were almost at the door Dawn hest.
tated. and Juanita halted with an en-
| rnurQ OfnO Sh.A
the mountain girl found whatever she
meant to say difficult. for she stood
indecisive and her cheeks were hotly
suffused with color. 80 that at last
Juanita smilingly prompted: What
Ii 1t, dear?" --- .-, .-... 49,
Eye said" began Dawn hastily and
awkwardly. "ye said suthin' bout mo
. tryin' ter like ye. IL don't halter
try does hit" Then, having made
q confession as difficult to her shy tact.
turnity as callow boys first declara-
ton Of love. she fed abruptly around
the corner Of the house..
Juanita stood looking after her with
q puzzled brow. This hard mountain
reserve which is so strong that friends
rarely shake hands. that fathers sell
dom embrace theil children. and that
the kiss is known only to courtship,
was new to her. ..-.s.,
At breakfast she did not see Dawn
the dryad had vanished!
During the meal no allusion was
made to the happenings Of last night.
but the girl noticed that inside the
door leaned the householder's rifle
gun" and under young jobs armpit
bulged the masked shape Of q pistol
butt.
Young Jeb's face yesterday had
been that OF boy. this morning It was
the sullen face of . man confronting
grim realities. Had Juanita been
more familiar with the contemporary
affairs Of the community. she might
have known that on many faces along
Tribulation that morning brooded the
same scowl from the same cause. The
McBriar yell had been raised last
night in the heart Of the Havey coun-
try. and this morning brought the
shame of a land invaded and dishon.
ored.
Dawn did not reappear until Juanita
had mounted and turned her mules
head forward. Then, as she was pass
ing the dilapidated barn. the slim. cal
ico-clad figure slipped from its door
and intercepted her In the road. hold
ing up a handful OF queer-shaped
roots.
Il lowed ye mought need these
hyar." said the girl difhdently.
Juanita smiled as she bent in her
saddle to take the gift.
Thank you. dear; what are theyf'
Hits ginseng" Dawn assured her.
Hit grows back thar In Their woods
an hits got . powerful heap Of viz.
tue. Hit frisks Their speret an drives
away torment. Ell yer starts ter
swoon agin, Jest chaw hit"