Gilpin observer., 1918-09-12
LAID PLANS
BY JACK LAwToN.


that of their neighbor farther down
the road. It was Laurel's mother who
had told her the tale of her grand
fathers crime.
ut was best" she had said. "that the
child should learn of it from her own"
Laurel had longed to make the
mountain nelghbor's child her compnn-
ion, life was lonely among the hills.
So Laurels mother had explained why
this could not be.
She had listened in frightened hor-
ror. Her grandfather was murderer.
That was the fact in all It's brutal
plainness, as her mother told 1t.
Grandfather had killed the man who
would be this mountain child's grand
father. His crime had been vindi-
Gated because the deed was considered
one Of self-defense.
But the grandfather had sought no
such excuse. Murder" he said, was
in his heart ut the time. "The man
had told cruel lie to the woman he
loved, breaking the engagement be-
tween them. On the narrow mountain
trail he had met and accused the vic
tim, and when they had struggled in
anger 1t had ended in the full Of
the man to his death below.
Self-confessed, Laurel's grandfather
was a murderer, and the shadow lin
gered on those who followed. Recon-
ciled, he had married his sweetheart,
but the enmity between the two fam
lilies concerned remained thing Of
reality.
When Laurel's own saddened mother
had gone forever from the mountain
home, 1t was at her wish that her
daughter be sent away to school, and
to learn what the great outer world
might hold. Now, in all the sweetness
of mountain summer. Laurel had
come back again, to be with her father.
It was In the weather-beaten church
on Sabbath that she raised her eyes
from her singing book, to meet those
of stranger. From the outer world
he, too, had come back to the prini-
tive. Like hers. his own eyes had
widened in question, "How come you
here?" asked the strangers eyes. "And
who," flashed Laurel's, "are you"
After service both were answered.
''That," said her father, in a tone Of
constraint, "is the last of the wiltons,
from down the road. He's been away
for years. studying, they say, an get
ting rich."
On the following morning, she met
the man of the questioning gaze on
narrow mountain trail. His pro-
nounced avoidance of her proclaimed
that the last Of the wiltons still bore
aversion to the granddaughter Of
inurderer.\
Laurers soft eyes clouded, but she
felt no resentment.
The next day Laurel took a diff
ferent path, hoping to avoid the mans
displeasure at sight Of her, and as
Dan Wilton had started out with the
same purpose, the two came again
face to face in the roadway. Laurel's
impulsive smile met his frown. And
as he looked down upon her again in
meeting" Laurel fancied that the
neighbor's eyes wore a kinder light,
as though against his own will he were
acting a part. She found 1t impossi-
BILE to Danish his face from her
thoughts.
Grleved, yet wondering why it
should so grieve her, Laurel decided to
confine her walks to the wood; there,
fatefully. she met him. He stood for
a moment. watching the sunlight filter
ing down on her face, then spoke:
"You must not think" he said slow
ly, "that my avoidance of you has been
evidence Of the foolish enmity OF my
family. You will find 1t as difficult to
believe the truth as find 1t myself"
'1 love you," said Dan Wilton. "I
have loved you from the moment
looked into your eyes; "but," he
laughed hnrshly. "there is no use.
cannot reconcile that past stain in the
blood"
LaureIs lip trembled; It did not oc-
cur to her to resent his self-confldence
to tell him that her own heart was oot
for the winning.
1--WE must not meet again." she said
II always will take the upper path to
town, you the lower. When I come
to the wood, shall leave always be-
fore four; 1t Is a dark stain; am
sorry, and understand"
Longing eyes followed her up the
trail. She forgot as she determin edly
kept to her stated routine, that the
best-lnid plans hnve been known to
gang aglee."
Dan Wilton had forsaken the meet
Ing house. He realized that he must
resort to more rigid measures If he
would keep from seeing the girl he
loved. He must go away, and after
four o'clock, therefore, through the
silent wood he walked, fighting his
fight.
True to her promise Laurel had left
the eloquent spot Of flr and pine. But
on her homewnrd way she paused con-
cerned. Her wrist watch wns gone: