The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-20
EVENING STORY
EIvy of Piney Knob.

distances. 1t was after Z, an early
winter morning, sharp with frost and
a still, settled cold.
Expecting anybody to meet you?"
She turned with little start at the
cheerful voice, and faced Hiram Bof-
fat general factotum around the sta
ton, and authority on local topics at
Deerfoot. He eyed the strange woman
passenger with shrewd interest. she
was about SO, Hiram judged, but toll
have said, and very well dressed. She
seemed anxious, too, and a little lost
on her bearings.
mo, hardly" she answered, nerv-
ously. 81 can hire some sort of con-
veyance, I presume"
well, don't know where, ma am,
said Hiram genially, if not reassuring-
ly. Its sort of a forsaken place, up
here in the mountain this time of year,
but real slightly along in summer and
fall. l live about mile up the road,
but 1 don't keep any HOSES or creeturs.
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 go.
Going very far:''
81 want to go to Mr.. FalloWS'S
home; Mr.. Jerrold Fallows."
why, Jerry was here yesterday aft
ernoon after some things at the store,
and he's got a good blackboard and
horse. Amt that a shame, now? It's
about five miles over to his place. He
amt been down before in a week"
Hiram paused, and checked what he
had been about to say. 1t vas just
possible that this was some of Jerry's
folks that didn't know the news, and
Jerry'd probably relish imparting it
himself.
81 wish you would see this person
who owns the mule and arrange for
him to drive over with me at once. I
am very tired. 1 have been on the
train all night" Her voice faltered
slightly, and Hiram hustled into his
little hencoop of an office and re-
turned with the only chair. 1t was
just as cold inside as out, and he left
her sitting there while he went after
Jake and the mule.
The mule took it's own time, and it
was nearly $50 before Jake pulled up
before a mountain shack, just the
morning sun broke in glory over the
crest of Piney Knob. The sheep dog
came around the corner of the shack
wagging his tail in friendly greeting.
At the two windows hung white scrim
curtains, with glimpse of Towering
geraniums along the sill And from
the back came full girliSh contralto
voice singing joyously,
"Oh, Beulah Land, sweet Beulah Land.
AS on thy highest rock I stand
That's Elgy,' said Jake, as he
fished in his jean pocket after change
for the two dollars she had handed
him. Got nice singing pipes, amt
she?''
Mrs. Fallows did not reply Her
cheeks held delicate flush in them
as she went up to the door and
knocked with gloved hand.
Then in the cool mountain morning
air Jerry Fallows's mother and the
girl he loved, Elvy of Piney Knob, met
for the first time. Elvy had been
| drawing water from the well, her
skirts tucked up around her, a red
knitted scarf wrapped around her
throat, her long, brown hair hanging
in two braids, one over each shoulder.
She was just girl, not more than IS,
but with the mountain spirit about her
She knew this was Jerry'S mother, and
an odd wave of tenderness went over
her at sight of the delicately nurtured,
tired little city woman who had trav-
eled 20 far.
/ Wont you step inside and sit by
the fire where it's warm?"
Elvy's soft, rich, southern voice was
beautiful. Unconsciously Mrs. Fall
lows breathed a sigh of relief. Jerry
surely had a good excuse for falling
so ridiculously in love, at any rate. She
went into the low, cheerful kitchen,
and took the rocker by the big open
fireplace, while Elvy set the pals of
water on the bench by the window.
'Jerry'll be awfully glad to see you
when he comes home" Elvy knelt to
put on some fresh, dry wood under the
big back log. He's just gone up to
the wood lot after a 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 Il think you are the
one to decide for him.
'I?'' queried Elvy, sitting down 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
interests to look the ground over and
report 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..
Her voice trern bled here with emotion.
HE did not see fit to ask my consent
nor his fathers. We simply received
word that he was married.
And you never even sent one little
dreamily almost, gazing into the
cracking fire. Il don't see how you
could have done that to him"
Don't you?" the older woman's
face hardened. after you had raised
son. your only one, built all your
then at %, he married IA"
Just a mountain girl like me?"
Yes Could you understand and
forgive him 2'
81 guess when you really love, you
can forgive most anything"
Possibly with bitter little laugh.
ct could not. You have been married
now for year. 1 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 for
this misspent year. Bat you must
stay behind him here, and if you really
do love him you will think of him
first. Give him year or two back in
his own world. If when he is success