Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1918-03-06
On the
Mountain
0@
By Susan E.. Clagsett

per syndicate.l

Copyright, 1918. by the Mcclure Newspa-
per syndicate)
From the railroad a faint path
stretched upward to a cabin high on
the mountain above Horseshoe Bend.
The same path continued downward TO
cluster of houses, broadened into
narrow road. and came to a full stop
before a rough porch, upon which sew
eral men were seated in varying de-
grees of comfort.
They were listening to one of their
number. He was reading, with trace
of impatience-aS if compelling him
| self to be neighborly when his desire
was to hasten away-the market re-
ports, the sporting page and the stock
market. But what interested him. the
war news, apparently did not hold
their attention. They turned deaf ears
TO news from the front, but were alb
sorbed in the Army and Navy ball
game that had taken place the day
before in Philadelphia.
With a sigh of relief, Willy Warren
at last folded his paper, wished them
good-day and, walking rapidly away,
was soon lost to view upon the higher
path. AS he disappeared from sight
the chair of Uncle Johnny Peyton
came down on its front legs with
thud, and the old man said. addressing
no one in particular:
"'Pears like Billy's mighty low in
his mind. He's in a heap Of trouble
I'm thinking"
What sort of trouble, Uncle John?"
girl asked casually, as she came
through the door of the post Office and
/ general store.
''Now, Miss May, y'know he's listed
an don't know what1l becom o. his
leedle gal. He's feared he'll have to
go fore he kin place her"
81 had not heard; but things right
themselves in time, and this will be
Strengthened out"
''Maybe, Miss May, maybe. But v
| know Billy's got no one. leastwise
down hyar. There's an old aunt in
IOway, an I guess he's writ to her, but
haiL't seen fit to answer, so l reckln
she's dead. Course, we-aIls II LUX arf-
| ter her. but he's riz her diffrunt. She's
pretty leedle gal.
BILLY don't b'long hyar, y'knOw. He
Jest come. Something the matter with
| him. Never hearn tell of his wife.
! lest came with thot gal an she was a
baby. Hired thot cabin up yonder an
l.dn' make fren's till the fever tux
! we-alls. then he come down an tux
| kyar of jim" rodding toward a noun
taineer sitting Oh the steps, then he
| TUX hold o me. Reckin we'd both be
IN the bOneyard if he hadn'."
$50 he made friends, after ALL" said
The girl. Il think the child win be
taken care of, Uncle Johnny"
"Sure. But thOts not the pint, Miss
May. She's riz diffrunt" His voice
took on a wheedling tone. II jest
wonder if you couldn't think up some
way to help Billy? He sartinly needs
IT,"
"That would be understandable in
reference. Uncle Johnny. l scarcely
know Mr.. Warren"
Don't take no stock in sich talk"
said Uncle Johnny, reaching for his
twist of tobacco and cutting off a
piece of goodly size. "When it comes
to dom things, an thinkin' up things,
Miss May, you're right smart. You
didn' know we-uns when you come TO
| the mountains, but you now has us
trained to eat from your hand-al-
most"
She threw back her head and laughed
heartily. "'Almost' is well put, Uncle
Johnny; but do not see how 1 can
help you Ia this"
"'TwOnt hurt to think erbOut it,,
an. how, an p'haps you'll see light"
was his concluding comment, as. with
glance toward the family outlined
path she turned from the group and
walked away.
| She had been in the mountain three
| yearS-at first for her health, then be-
cause it claimed her. She had heard
all about Billy Warren, had occasion
ally met him. but save for the merest
| courtesy no word had passed between
them. For some reason he had not
impressed her pleasantly. This was
probably due to the fact that he had
made no effort to know better one who
| had made friends with all the noun
tain people.
! But the talk of old John Peyton, or
some subconscious sense of trouble
! in the man himself as he stood silently
beside her that morning, waiting for
! his mail, influenced her in the direc-
ton of her walk that afternoon. Yet
she was not aware that she had been
| so influenced until she found herself
watching n child dabbling bare feet
| In the rushing water of a tiny stream
the while she hushed a corncob doll
| to sleep.
There was no fear in the childs
| eyes as she raised them to the woman
beside her. Instead there was "a whis-
pered "hush; you'll wake her. She's
been real sick and is just going ~
Sleep"
Mary Hilton dropped upon the
ground, and in an equally low voice
asked what was wrong.
"Daddy's says it's a case of humps
| or measles, he's not sure which; but
she's been so awfuiy cross and has
tired me so. he says there is no living
with either Of US"
Betty, TO whom are you talklngT
The voice came from the shadow of
the cabin.
"a pretty lady, honey?"
falos child .