The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-03-08
On the
Mountain
0<D
By Susan E. Clageett
Copyright, 1915 by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicate)

| copyright, 1918, by the Mcclure NeWsp"-
per Syndicate)
From the railroad faint path
stretched upward to a cabin high on
the mountain above Horseshoe Bend.
The same path continued downward 10
a cluster of houses, broadened into
narrow road, and came to u full stop
before d 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 n trace
OF impatience--as II compelling him
self to be neighb0rly when his desire
was to hasten away-thc market re-
ports, the sporting page and the stock
market. But what interested him, the
war news, apparently did not hoiu
their attention. They turned deaf ears
to news from the front, but were nD-
sorbed In the Army and Navy pan
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 slSht
the chair of Uncle Johnny Peytoh
came down on its front legs with
thud, and the old man said, addressing
no one in particular:
"'Pears like Bllly's mighty low IN
his mind. He's in n heap of trouble
I'm thinking"
"What sort of trouble, Uncle JohnF
girl asked casually, ms she came
through the door of the post office ana
general store.
"Now, Miss May, y'know he's listed
an don't know whatll beeom O his
leedle gal. He's feared he'll have TO
go fore he kin place her.
II had not heard; but things right
themselves in time, and this VIII be
Strengthened out"
Maybe, Miss May, maybe. But y
know Billy's got no one, ieastwlse
down hyar. There's an old aunt N
Ioway, an guess he's writ to her, but
!
she's dead. Course, we-alls II lux ART
ter her but he's riz her diffrunt. She's
a pretty leedle gal.
BILLY don't b'long hyar, yknow. He
Jest come. Something the matter with
him. Never hearn tell of his wife.
Jest came with thot gal an she was
baby. Hired thot cabin up yonder an
didn make frens till the fever TUX
we-alls, then he come down an tux
kyar of jim" nodding toward a noun
taineer sitting on 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 will be
taken care of, Uncle Johnny"
"Sure. But thots not the pint, Miss
May. She's riz diffrunt." His voice
took on wheedling tone. Il jest
wonder if you couldn't think up some
way to help Billy? He sartinly needs
itw
THAT would be unwarrantable in
reference, Uncle Johnny. / scarcely
know MIR. warren.
Don't take no stock in sich talk,
said Uncle Johnny, reaching for his
twist of tobacco and cutting off Il
piece of goodly size. "When it comes
to doin things, an thinliin' 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 l can
help you in this
"'Twon't hurt to think erbout 1t,
anyhow, 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 hat
made no effort to know better one who
had made friends with all the noun
tain people.
, But the talk of old John Peyton, ol
some subconscious sense of trouble
In the man himself as he stood silently
beside her that morning, waiting fol
} his mail, influenced her in the direc
I tion of her walk that afternoon. Ye
t she was not aware that she had beer
9 so influenced until she found herself
: watching child dabbling bare fee
f in the rushing water of tiny stream
the while she hushed corncob dol
a to sleep.
: There was no fear in the child'
j ewes as she raised them to the woman
beside her. Instead there was Whls
o@~~~~~-~~~~~~-~~~
Moved by Powerful Motives.