Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1917-05-12
IN SMOKY MOUNTAINS
By SUSAN E. CLAGETT.

less curlOSlLy iS ne sat upon LNe putt form of the South Carolina station. He was sick, therefore miserable in mind and body, and he had come South be- cause it seemed the only thing to do. Now he was waiting for the team that would carry him into the pines on the slope of Old Smoky.
 He raised him head. A mule stood near by, Hopping his ears and lazily twitching bushy tail. In front of him was a young girl, very little girl, who said:
 Guess came for you, but I thought you was to be lady,"
 "Why?" Marshall asked. q don't know, 'cept that Julie guessed it from your. letter, you wrote so ladylike. don't believe she'd have taken you if she'd known you was man."
 Any special reason why she shouldn't2',' he asked.
 Maybe" was tt1s nopcommittal an swer, 'but now you're here we'd better start" She looked about with keen eyes. "I wonder where that station mans gone an put your. trunk?" F , "I'm sitting on it.. But how are we Ito get it into the wagon. The agents gone and haven't the strength of kitten."l :.
 She looked. at him reflectively. "You are kinder peaked, but you jes' leave things to me. II can manage, by pushing it toward the edge an backin' Bet to the platform. Youf jes' git in an sit down an you needn't feel skeered of the mule. Bet knows when to be- have herself" :, r Two weeks later, with Mollie's help, he walked to a bench in the shade of a big oak and there faced dilemma. He had sensed something wrong as he Hay in bed during those first days, but had been too listless to ask questions. Now Mollie told him that their granny had died in the spring and with her death the little pension she had re- ceived had ceased. Julie had seen his advertisement, in an old newspaper and thought they might as we'll take q boarder, as they needed money. "But," Mollie ended, simply, i've thought you was lady, and now all the folks is talkin'." ..sef
 "What can I do, Mollie7' Tom asked, desperately. 'Im not well enough to go away"
 "Me an Julie's been talkin' an we thought you might go up the noun tain to Jim Hawn's old cabin. He's gone, but there's bed, an me an Julie can fill bag with pine needles for a mattress, an Julie can cook you something to eat an can tote it to lyou. You can be real comftble up there, an we don't neither of us want you to go," she finished, wistfully.
 "And I don't want to go," Marshall answered. If you and Julie can fix 1t that way I'm satisfied. But will tell you what to do. Get someone to bring nae chair or two and some other things from the village, if am to set 1up housekeeping. And there is some- thing else." He drew the child close to him. T heard you say you felt real bad because you couldn't go to the district school. Wouldn't you like me to teach you? It would be something for me to do. and you could come to me in your spare time. I'm pretty sure you will learn more with me than in that schoolhouse two miles away. What. do you say to my plant"
 Breathless, but with shining eyes. Mollie looked at him, yet all she said was: '"Won't Julie be glad? She cried because couldn't go."
 It was settled after Marshall had his talk with the older sister, and that same night, after ride up the mountain upon the bare back .ofa old Bet, he slept upon a bed of fragrant pine needles in the forsaken cabin.
 Ten days later in the comforting knowledge of returning strength he found work ready, at his hand. !,
 Julie was the last to- come. She was an entirely .unknown quantity, al- though for month. or more she had cured for his material needs. Mollte had always been the go-between, but one evening Julie climbed the path to his cabin, an ofi1cial-looking paper in her hand. This she handed him; ask. ing if he could tell her what was writ ten upon the yellowing sheets. His first glance, told him the writing was French. N.e.. :5:.
 ""Have you any Idea what is written here who your parents were" he asked, touching the paper. ]
 She shook her head. Granny told me to keep it.; that might need 1t some day" T4: ''.s
 q will write this out in English" he said. After moments thought he asked: "Do you know anything of French history?" -.-. ..H I .ai"A little," she told him."
 Then you will understand when I tell you your people were among the Huguenots that were driven out. of France years ago. Many of them set tied in the Carolinas, but as time passed there was no one to teach them,