Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1917-12-04
REDEcCA AND AL
BY OLIVER GRAY.


that noise she heard down the road be-
low the house? She pushed the ket-
tie back on the stove where it couldn't
burn and went to the window.
Get upi" man yelled to a horse
stuck knee-deep in mudhole. what
do you s'pose I'm feedin' you for, to
get me into a mess like this?"
Rebecca's lips Strengthened as they
always did when Al Barker was in
sight, and little spot of red sprang
into each cheek. She opened the
screen door, went down the back steps,
and strobe down the hill to the fence.
what do you mean by abusin' that
creature, Al Barker?'
SIN not abusin' him."
"Well, you quit hittin' him. I'd
like to know who's the fool drivin'
along a road like this when the new
state highways open up yonder. 1t
wouldn't a taken you fifteen minutes
more to go round. No one comes
this way any more. What brought
your"
swell, don't think I 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 1t was cooked poured the
steaming mass into a crock and set
the pan in the sink.
"Tll declare, If he isn't there yeti
Why doesn't he get out, / wonder?
That poor creature might be able to
move the buggy without him in it."
Rebecca went about her work, and
the morning wore away, with Al Bark
er. buggy, horse and all, still stuck in
the mudhole.
Years ago they had been sweet
hearts. But the whole countryside had
predicted disaster, knowing the tenn
peraments of the two quick tempers
and stubborn unwillingness to &C
knowledge wrong. They were alike to
a CT" So when the break did come
neither would admit there had been
one.
The years rolled by slowly. AL and
Rebecca had ceased ignoring each
other. 1t was perhaps the better way,
for when they did have occasion to
talk to each other, 1t was always
wrangle.
Noon approached. st wish Ben were
home today. It's just luck that he
had to go and take Pete along, and
not a soul here to help. There's one
thing sure-he can't starve !"
Contrary to her intentionsof eating
"piece" herself and taking the extra
time to arranging the bureau draw
ers preliminary to housekeeping, she
opened her best spiced pears and hur-
riedly mixed up some raisin cakes.
"Al used to like spiced pears and
raisin cakes better than anything, and
he gave me credit for making the
best omelet in Beacon county"
Then she made another trip down
the hill.
"What are you waitin' for?" she de-
manded. There won't be rig come
along this way to help you out. They
all go by the highway now"
'Im not botherin' you now, am I?
I've been sittin' here all mornin' askin'
the horses pardonl"
''While he's thinkin' about it, you
can't starve, an I've dinner ready.
You'd better come up an eat"
II don't want anything, thanks"
1--WE raisin cakes and spiced pears"
mo, thanks"
''Look here, AL, what's wrong with
you? You're actin like crazy mani !"
And then she saw his feet as her eyes
Travelled appraisingly over him. One
was incased In loose slipper, and
above 1t his ankle was knobby and
ridged with bandages under the sock.
"Why-why, you've hurt your foot
and can't get out. Why didn't you say
sol"
II don't want sympathy"
swell, 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
If she did bring it,"
In q few minutes she returned,
bringing basket and a tray laid for
a meal.
"Al Barker, look here. Down In the
bottom of my heart I've always known
you weren't a fool, and l think you
have the same idea about me. But IL
you don't take this meal I've cooked
for you / will think you're the biggest
fool that ever was born"
He reached out grudgingly. swell.
since you've gone to all that trouble"
A really happy flush stole into Re-
becca's cheeks. Al watched her side
ways as she stopped to arrange
the cakes on plate. Rebecca was
still pretty.
Say. Rebecca," he said awkwardly.
"you asked me why was fool enough
to drive around this way In the mud.
Just the same reason I've been drivin'
by here for five years. Thought I'd
see your,
"All" Her hands closed hard ana
she leaned half eagerly, half dubious
ly, toward him.
That's right, Reba. I've been sittin'
here all morning trying to convince
myself that / wasn't consumed ass.
But I am, an always was. That's
what. Do you think you could try and
make me over, RebaT
And when he heard her answer, all
the mud and sprained ankles In
Beacon county couldn't have kept him
from getting out of the buggy.
Copyright. 1911, by the Mcclure Neuspa-