The herald., 1917-02-22
ELW OF PIAEY KNOB
BY SYLVIA TURNER.

Deerfoot. The train went on, after
depoSiting her on the lonely, narrow
platform. and slipped away Into the
shadowy mountain distances.
Expecting anybody 70 meet your
She turned with a little start ut the
cheerful voice. and faced Hiram Bot-
fat. general fuctotum around the sta
ton.
NO, hardly" she answered. nerv-
ouSly. u can hire some sort Of CON
veyance. l presume"
We'll. I don't know where, ma'am,
said Hiram genially, if not reassur-
incly. Ben Lathrop keeps horse,
but he lives over the edge of the
mountain. and the next best is old
Jake'S mule. If he's home and sober
like as not he'd take you where you
want TO 20. Going very far?'
II want TO 20 TO Mr.. Fallows' home;
Mr. Jerrold Fallows."
The mule took It's own time, and II
was nearly 80 before Jake pulled up
before q mountain shack, Just as the
morning sun broke in glory over the
! crest of Piney Knob. At the two win
| dows hung white ScriB curtains, with
a glimpse Of Towering geraniums along
| the SILL And from the back came
| full. girliSh contralto voice singing
/ toyOusly.
That's Elvy." said Jake. SCOT nice
singing pipes, amt she?'
Then in the cool mountain morning
air Jerry Fallows' mother and the girl
ne loved. Elvy Of Piney Knob. met for
the first time. She was just girl,
not more than eighteen, but with the
mountain spirit about her.
Wont you step inside and sit by
the fire, where IFS warm?"
Elvy's soft. rich. southern voice was
beautiful. Unconsciously Mrs. Fall
lows breathed q sigh of relief. Jerry
surely had a good excuse for falling
so ridiculOusly in love, at any rate.
"Jerry'll be awfuly glad to see you
when he comes home" Elvy knelt 10
put on some fresh. dry wood under
the big back log. He's Just gone up
TO the wood lot after load"
81 am glad he is not here" Mrs.
Fallows sat upright. 1t was not a
pleasant task that had brought her TO
the mountains. II think you are the
one to decide for him."
~" queried Elvy. sitting dOwL on
the round braided rug in surprise.
"Why?"
You know, Of course, Jerry would
never have remained here in this will
derness If he had not met you. He was
sent down by his uncle's lumber inter
ests to look the ground over and re-
port on conditions. Later, he was put
in charge of the cutting out Of timber
at his own request. The next we
heard was that he was married"
And you never even sent one little
word back to him." said Elyy. softly,
dreamily almost. gazing into the crack
ling fire. II don't see how you could
have done that to him."
Don't your" the older woman's face
hardened. after you had raised q
son. your only one, built all your hopes
and ambitions on his future, and then
at twenty-five, he married IA"
Just a mountain girl like me?'
"Yes. Could you understand and
forgive him?"
II guess when you really love. You
can forgive most anything"
Possibly" with q bitter little laugh
81 could not. You have been married
now for year. came down TO Jerry
with his fathers word Of forgiveness
He is willing to overlook all the past
and take him back, give him an as
sured career, and make up TO him fol
this misspent year. But you must
stay behind him here, and if you really
do love him. you will think Of him
first. Give him a year or two back In
his own world II when he is success
full and really grown man, he
chooses TO return to you, we will con
sent to It."
Elvy rose slowly. Then without 9
word, she went into the next room
Mrs. Fallows waited. II had beer
hard, but not as though Jerry himself
had ben there TO argue with. The cir
was proud. She would surely let hin
60. And then behind her she heard
Elvy's football. and turned her head
Proud and silent she stood there. 6
world Of love In her eyes, and in hel
arms Jerry's frst-born.
Hes only a month Old" she said
gently. But he's the reason why
couldn't ask Jerry to go away and
leave u.s."
II was q little past ten when Jerry
. drove down the road with his load OF
wood. When he entered the kitchen
he stood amazed. With one of Elvy':
big aprons on her. his mother sat be
fore the fire bathing Jerry. Jr., hel
, face radiant with contentment. Sh'
laughed as she put up her face for &
kiss.
"Oh. Jerry" she said, isn't he won
!, derfulT'
Jerry knelt before them both. hi.
!. eyes full Of fun. Was this his con
!, sentative. worldly little mother from
New York?
!. why. mumsie." he said. putting hi'
head on her shoulder. II didn't know
you liked babies. ! thought you'd re
bel II you knew even that you were
| .,dro,bar How did vou even finC