The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1917-05-24
REBECCA and AL
BY OLIVER GRAY.

| 'HdI uuI>c SAe ncaTd down the road be-
low the house? She pushed the ket-
lie back on the stove where il couldn't
burn and went To the window.
Get up" man yelled 10 a horse
stuck knee-deep in a mudhole. What
do you s'pose I'm fcedin' You for, 10
get NE into Il mess Ike this:"
h"hccca's lips Straigh,,urd IS they
always did when Al Barker was in
/ sight, and LITTLE spot of rcd >praus
/ INTO each check. She opened the
screen door, went down the l.c.. >r,r,s.
and strobe down The hill t. ia. fence.
/ what do You mean by aIu>lu' that
/ creature. Al Barker"
/ I'm not Ubusln him."
/ well, You quit hirtin' him. I'd
/ like 70 know who's The Tool dgiyin'
along 81 road Ike this when the new
state highways open up Wonder. 1t
! wouldn't Il taken YOU fifteen minutes
| more 10 go round. No one comes
this way any more. What brought
youf"
We'll, don't think l drove around
this way to see you" he returned.
Rebecca did not reply, but turned
and went up the hill. holding her
skirts away from the grass still satu-
rated with dew.
She went back to stirring the meal
and when it was cooked poured the
steaming mass into "a crock and set
the pan in the sink.
"Tll declare. if he isn't there vet!
Why doesn't he get out. / wonder?
That poor creature might be able to
move the buggy without him in it,"
Rohocca went about her work. and
the morning Wore away, with Al Bark
or. buggy. horse and al, still stuck in
the mudhOle.
Years ago they had been sweet
hearts. Bur the whole countryside had
predicted disaster. knowing the tenn
peraments Of the two quick tempers
and stubborn unwillinCness TO &C.
knowledge wrong. They were alike 10
a IT SO when the break did come
neither would admit there had been
one.
The years rolled by slowly. Al and
Rehecca had ceased ignoring each |
other. 1t was perhaps the better way /
Tor when they did have occasion 10
talk To each other, it was always Il
wranCIe.
Noon approached. "T wish Bon were
home today. LIS tuSr lgc,: that he .
had /" - ard take p" along. a.l .
Loot a soul hu-" - help. There's one .
thing surc-Ae can't starvc."
Contrary % her intontionOcf eating
4 piece herself AMI taking Tie extra
time - arrau@fr" The bureau draw
orS preliminary to houSe-cleaning. She
opened hoy host spiced pears and Lur- .
rieIly naked UP some raiSln cakes.
al used TO Ike spicel pears and
ratsin cakes better than anything. and .
he gave ne credit for making the
best omelet III Beacon county"
Then she made another trip down
the hill.
What are you waitin' fOr?" she de-
manded. There won't be a rig come
along this way to help you out. They
all go by the highway now"
I'm not bOtherin' you now, am II
I've been sittin' here all mornin' askin'
the horses pardOn!"
while he's thinkin' about it. you
can't starve, an I've dinner ready.
You'd better come up an eat
Il don't want anything. thanks"
1--WE raiSln cakes and spiced pears"
"NO, thanks"
Look here, Al, what's wrong with
you? You're actin like a crazy man."
And then she saw his feet as her eyes
travelled appraiSingly over him. One
was incased in q loose slipper, and
above it his ankle was knohby and
ridged with bandages under the sock.
"Why-why, you've hurt your foot
and can't get out. Why didn't you say
so?"
Il don't want sympathy"
well, you want your dinner, or !
miss my guess, and you're going to
have it."
Back up the hill she went, regardless
Of his protests that he wouldn't eat
f she did bring it,"
In a few minutes she returned.
bringing q basket and tray laid for
I meal.
al Barker. look here. Down in the
bottom of my heart I've always known
rOu weren't a fool, and l think you
nave the same idea about me. But f !
'Ou don't take this meal I've cooked
or you I will think you're the biggest
DOL that ever was born"
He reached out grudgingly. well,
'ince you've gone to all that trouble"
A really happy flush stole into Re
,ecca'S cheeks. Al watched her side
Ways as she stopped to arrange
he cakes on 4 plate. Rebecca was
till pretty.
Say, Rebecca," he said awkwarCily.
you asked me why I was fool enough
o drive around this way in the mud.
ust the same reason I've been drivin'
y here Tor five years. Thought I'd
ee you"
"Al" Her hands closed hard and
he leaned half eagerly, half dubious
=, toward him.
That's right. Reba. I've been sittin'
ere all morning trying to convince >
1ycalf thor 7 uocu't a ponSarpa6 oSo