The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1916-08-03

nhu peen the OtEer DAYS OF
the week which had preceded
IT, Caleb Hunter, rising from an UNI
easy night, blamed his sleeplessness
upon the weather. II was fully an hour
before his usual not too early hour Of
rising when he slowly descended the
wide stairway. and yet he was but lit
tie surprised TO find the boy already
there before him seated upon the top
step Of the veranda when he strolled
outside.
Chin In palm, elbow upon knee. Steve
was gazing fixedly In the direction Of
Dexter Allison's stucco and timber
summer lodge" and. although Caleb
could not have known Il, there had
been no need for his silence. for the
boys rapt preoccupation was sound
proof. Caleb heard voices coming from
behind the shrubbery. and Just as he, a
little perplexed. turned to follow the d.
rection OF that fascinated gaze Allison
himself squeezed through a narrow
aperture In the box hedge aud hailed
him tovially from the far edge OF the
lawn. And Caleb Hunters brows drew
together in bit Of a frown when a
slender figure In killed black velvet
and bright buckled low shoes, hatless
and with thick. cleaning hair bobbed
short In a style strange TO Morrison in
those days flashed through behind him.
for Caleb heard the short gasp which
came from the boys lips even before
the little girl had paused In her darling
advance on tiptoe like a lowering but
terhy to wave a slim hand at him.
Caleb heard the boys breath suck I'm
between tight teeth; heard Il CULVER
unsteadily as she appeared on swift.
feet-and Caleb understood what had
been holding so closely his attention.
He understood absolutely and yet
strange rs the mood was. at that mo-
ment he couldn't help but feel. too,
somSs-s-x-a~uttie sorry for the boy-he
could net help but think His eyes
went from steve's forward thrust
bead. from the hair. shaggy and I'M
kempt for I'll its fineness and thickness
and wary softness, across to that
dainty vision which. poised I'm her alb
surdly short skirt like point OF flame.
was already gazing back at the boy
upon the steps In open and undisguised
amaze.
All Of that characteristic which had
been most pronounced In Dexter ALI
son the latter had passed down TO this
slender girl who was his daughter,
Barbara. No matter how vivid ALI.
sons raiment had been. Caleb remem-
bered that even when Dexter was a
STRIPPING at school It had always seem
ed more a part OF the man himself
than Just protection for his body.
Caleb had never given 1t a serious
thought up to that moment, but now It
came back TO him with added cumula.
tive force. lie. recollected that he had
often wondered at the child's uncon-
scious adaptation OF mood TO the
clothes she happened to be wearing.
He recalled how he had seen her de-
mure and distant In misty, pastel tint.
ed party frocks or quantity, infantile-
ly dignined I'm soberer Sunday morn
ing garb.
Caleb caught his first illuminating
glimpse OF the woman she was to be-
Of the dainty grace and more than
usual beauty which were there In the
promise Of the years, and he. who was
fond Of insisting TO his sister Sarah
that there was many a boy back In
those hills who. with his chance, might
q ue day achieve greatness. suddenly
Lied how long and weary the road
cBuld be for Just such a one as the
fascinated little figure on the steps
before he could begin to approach that
level which. to q society that Caleb
understood. was typified by this er.
Quisite clfin figure. Dexter Allison's
daughter.
He was no snob, Caleb Hunter, and
yet the little girls bearing at that mo
ment doubly accented for him the
gulf which lay between her and the
she did pause to stare at his white
drill trousers and unbelievable man
sized boots with frankly childish as
constituent. the next instant she had
recovered herself and without another
glance preceded her father across the
grass. Quite as though Steve had not
been there at all. she passed him to
hesitate demurely at Caleb's side.
~Good morning. Uncle CAL" she
greeted him.
And then quite suddenly Caleb didn't
feel so very sorry. after all. for his lit
tie visitor. He stopped plying him
steve's eyes had not wavered once
from the little girls face. from the
time she appeared I'm the hedge gap un-
Ill she mounted the steps. utterly OBJ
tvious to his nearness. But when she
brushed against his elbow the boy
rose and stood. hat In hand. gravely
quiet. gravely possessed and silently
sure OF himself - noe
Even after he had answered Bar
bara Allison's greeting and turned