Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1918-07-11
MAN OF MOUNTAIN
sy LOUIS olive.


| deur Of the mountains. IL was the time
Of day she loved, the long, resfful twi-
light, when the lake and pines looked
like great spIotches Of ink on a can
vas Of silver white.
There had been a party in tn after
noon. The girls had asked some peo-
pie to the lodge for tennis. ana Elinor
had expected TO play, hut at O'clock
repeated rappings at her door had fall
ed TO get any response. and they knew
that Elinor was having one Of her
days.
you'll be sorry. SIS" Betty had CALI
ed through the keyholc. 1.-THE Pals
legs sent word they were coming over
and the CARROTS, and what do you
think-W Weldon Berg IL coming Surely
you don't want to miss him. He's only
coming on your account, because YOU
are in author. Mrs. Garrett told me so
herself"
go way, Betp was all the answer
this had elected.
Elinor knew later, from the sounds
outside. that the guests had arrived,
but 1t was rather her subconscious self
that sensed IT. She knew vaguely that
she wanted TO go ont and play tennis
and to know Weldon Berg, but even
the best-known writer Of his time must
be neglected until her precious book
was started
Now the day was nearly done. AZ.
ter dinner she had changed 10 some
outing things and gone out alone. She
took her favorite path down TO the
edge Of the lake whore canoe was
tied. II was then she saw the man.
lie was sitting In a rather detected af-
titude on the narrow strip Of beach
facing the water. HIS knees were
drawn up, his arms embracing them.
and his head was dropping forward in.
ertly.
Evidently he had not heard her COM
Ing for he sat immovable ms though
carved out of one of the giant powders
II the mountain. There was something
oddly familiar about him.
She hesitated. not knowing whether
TO 20 forward or back.
But the thing was decided for her,
for the man lifted his head and looked
at her
please don't go away" he said.
81 wasn't sure Il was you. John" che
replied ns eveGly MS she could, coming
the rest Of the way down 10 the beach.
He rose and held out his hand. She
put her own ia II and he shook II
grayely. looking deep into her eyes
with the old searching smile that al
ways madc her feel 80 uncomfortable.
especially when there was something
she was trying to conceal Ills eyes
seemed TO have Il way Of discovering
onc's thoughts. and she dropped her
own now IN vcxea confusion she hgd
meant 10 be 20 dieniaod. 20 poised. "a
keep thinRs in her own hands and 20
~ him know that ID thc fcw years
since abe had seen him she had be-
come quite woman Of nHHlre
won't you slt down and talk 10 me-
Nora. or were you going boaiiuri May
be you1l lei me be- your Tod0iler. III
promise not 10 rock the bout
NE'mFeuily oat. Cox axaa sae z sie feie
hastily rsnppoae we walk lnsiead
"Just ~ you IKE. Il really doesn't
matter, just 70 I'm with sou. fiiGaf.a
She Redeemed hotiy "f1oa't talk that
way, John"
:. "why."
"Whyl DO l baye 70 tell your BE
cause you've been four years DECIDING
whether or not you do Ike 10 De viii
me. It's 1atterinE 20 have you decide
IN the affirmative. but too late 10 b,
appreciated"
MORA, whut DO You menn--fonl
yenrs decidng3 Didn't we aerre7 II
WAS yoIif own suggestion 20 wait.
told you I loved YOU ! knew II wn,
all over for me the minute you cam,
into the Tribune office that day and
asked 10 be put on the stafr And AZ
terward when yon said sou wanted Il
devote all your time 10 your work unit
you'd made name for yourself and
asked me 30 come 20 you tben--t did
You've made your name. Here l nm'
after four yearsi" she said bitterly
"But I've tried beforei" he reminded
her.
Won tried hofnref don't under
stand. You've never written"
NO I've come MS ! promised tried
today; tried last summer. tried u.s.,
years ago. And when you refused {,
see me. what was 10 think9"
"Rcfused7'
ut amounted TO that"
II never refused 10 see you. This
Is the first time I've heard Of you sine,
left the Tribane"
Mora The first you've-do yog
honestly mean that you didn't ayoi6
me pnrposeiy7 Look Mt me, dear"
"Of course not, John"
The name enlightened him.
Listen, Nora don't you remembei
that ! used TO write editorials undei
another manner
"Yes--I believe you did; but i neve
remembered It. You were too modes
10 use your own. had forgotten"
"And the name grew until ! lost ms
identity. When nay editorial wander
ings grew to the size Of pocket phllo
sophhies my publishers wouldn't LEI m'
abandon the name. I'm Weldon Berg
I thought you knew It, Nora"
weldon Bergf' she gasped. "John
are You Weldon BergT
Eyes, dear"
"And you did come today. and l0s
year, and the year before, and
wouldn't see you. / remember now"
'Srell ME you love me, dear. Wei
forget the rest"
Eyes, l love You. John better thai