The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-02-09

fore the arrival of the north-bound
frafn4but almost as It cane into sign
Doctor Cochran crossed the platform
TO her side.
Ella told me you had gone. Why"
he had asked abruptly
She had looked at him cooLly, crit
fcaily. A big, awkward but poWerInl-
II built man, coarsedy clothed with ms
bIue tomespun shirt open at the throat
and sleeves pushed carelessty BACK
from his muscular arms Her very 81
fence brought to HIM a realization OF
"oh! That's It! A mountain man
Is not good enough! You want the
fine clothes, the suaTtty and conyen-
ton to- which you are accustomed
You can have them II you want do
not doubt it. But whoever he II: he
win never have what you have given
to the mountaineer-"
She had risen and faced his. How
He had laughed roughly in tnterruH
ton. "are?" dare anything, my dear
young lady, and tell you plainly that
in that half hour In Eliza RANKING
cabin you gave me what you VIII new?
er give another man. and that VIZ
your soul" and turning on his heel
he left her as the train pulled into
the station.
She heard from him once, months
later. He wrote that he had volun-
teered and must see her before he left
for France The note was unansWer-
ed. He did not come. and as the days
passed she knew her day OF reckon
ing was upon her; that she had let
him go to his work thinking her
heartless.
1t all came back as she looked at
the work in her lap and as she let the
beautiful tatting slip over her fingers
her resolution was taken.
Naturally she met opposition when
she told her family she was going TO
the mountains for a brief stay, but
she went on about the carrying out
Of her plan and blessed the aunt who
left her a small legacy to do with as
she would. Knowing that the rail-
roads were congested by the move
ment OF troops, she hired motor
truck to carry food and told the chauf-
feur she was going with him ac-cGs
the width of Virginia. His expression
spoke volumes and when out OF hear.
ing uttered words not intended for a
woman's ears.
She persuaded married friend to.
accompany her. This she regretted
later on, for the cold was intense and
there was tire trouble. To her it
meant delay. but her friend could see
nothing IN the trip but her own folly
in yielding to Layinia's wishes.
81 will leave you at Hot Springs
and go alone" Layinia told her at
last. ut was really too much to ask
Of you"
al viii keep on until We reach a.
railroad" Mrs Howard answered
shortly. when We come to that bond
with civilization will leave you to
your own devices. What on earth put
such an idea into your head. Couldn't
you have sent the things by freight?'
Eliza and the others need food,
and this IS the quickest way to get it
to them LavaDia answered
Fortunately, her chauffeur was al
Virginian and had come from the
section OF the State to which she
was going. He had known the Ran
ki1s and Wades- I'VE played togeth-
or when we was kids he told her.
"It'u go hard with the women in the
mountains With their mems gone"
For a moment he looked around.
81 s'pose you wonder why a husky !
feller like me is a stay-at-home. =
amt no Stacker. I has a wife an five
kids an the orfe-cer tol' me to stay
at home an take kyar OF en-"
Never IN her life before had La
vinia been so conscious OF the COM
forts of fire as wnen she entered the
log cabin an hour later. stiR and
shiveTiug. But 1t wasn't much Of al
fire, Just handful of sticks upon
which Eliza threw a few pine cones