Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1917-08-24

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The enclrcllng hills, came more clearly
into sight with every backward glance.
Louise paused at last GREATNESS.
SIS Il the home of the fairies you
are taking me TOT" she asked. IF you
have discovered that, no wonder you
find us ordinary women outside your
lives
He laughed.
"There are no fairies where we are
going he assured her.
They We're on Il roughly made road
now, which turned abruptly to the
right Il few yards ahead sklrting the
side Of deep gorge. They took few
steps further, and Louise stopped short
with n cry of wonder.
Around the abrupt corner an entirely
new perspective was revealed--a little
hamlet built on shoulder Of the
mountain; and on the right, below
steep descent, wide and sunny valley.
1t was like tiny world of Its own,
hidden in the bosom of the hills. There
was long line Of farm buildings, built
Of gray stone and rooted with red tiles
there We're fifteen or twenty stacks; a
quaint whltcwashed house Of consld-
cradle size, almost covered on the
southwark side with creepers; row
Of cottages, and II gray-walled inclo-
stretching with its white tomb
stones to the very brink Of the descent
lin the midst of which was an ancient
church, in ruins at the farther end,
partly rebuilt with the stones of the
hillside.
Louise looked around her, silent with
wonder. at isn't real, Is itY she
asked, cllnglng for Il moment to John
Strangewcy's arm.
'Why not? You asked where the land
was that we tiled. Now look down
Hold my arm If you feel glddy."
She followed the wave Of his ash
stick. The valley sheer below them.
and the lower hills on both sides, were
pnrceled out into fields, inclosed within
stone walls, reminding her from the
height nj which they stood, Of nothing
so much MS the quilt upon her bed.
Her eyes swept this strange tract Of
country backward and forward. She
saw Che men like specks in the fields,
the cows grazing In the pasture like
toy animals. Then she turned and
looked at the neat row Of stacks and
the square Of farm buildings.
II am trying hard to realize that
you are farmer and that this is
your life" she said.
lie swung open the wooden gate Of
the churchyard, by which they we're
standing There was row of graves
on either side Of the prim path.
Suppose" he suggested, you tell
me about yourself now-about your
own life"
my life, and the world in which I
live, seem far away just now" she
said quietly. 81 think that II is doing
me good TO have rest from them.
Talk TO me about yourself please"
He smiled. He was just little dis
appointed.
1--WE shall very soon reach the end
of all that have 10 tell YOU" he re-
marked. "Still If there is anything
you would like to know
"Who We're these men and women
who have lived and died here?" she
interrupted, with a little wave of her
hand toward the graves.
"All our own people" he told her.
She studied the names upon the
spelling them out slowly.
THE married people, he went on,
ARE buried on the south side; the
single ones and children are nearer
the wall. Tell me-" he asked. after n
hesitation, "are you married
Or slngle"
She gave little start. The abrupt
ness Of the question, the keen, stead
fast gaze of his compelling eyes,
seemed for n moment to paralyze both
her nerves and her voice II was as If
someone had suddenly drawn away one
If the stones from the foundation Of
Ter life. She found herself repeating
he words on the tombstone facing
Ter:
"And Of Elizabeth, for sixty-one
ears the faithful Wife and helpmate
# Ezra Cummings, mother Of his chill
lren, and his partner In the life ever
astihg"
Her knees began TO shake There
vas momentary darkness before her
yes She felt for the tombstone and
at down.