The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1918-03-12
On the
Mountain
o0
By Susan E. Clageett

eral men were seated in varying de-
grees of comfort.
They were listening to one of their
number. He was reading, with a 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 a
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?'
a 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 what'l becom o. his
leedle gal. He's feared he'll have to
go fore he kin place her."
Il had not heard; but things right
themselves In time, and this will be
Strengthened out"
maybe, Miss May, maybe. But y
know Billy's got no one, leastwise
down hyar. There's an old aunt in
loway, an guess he's writ to her, but
hain't seen fit to answer, so reckin
she's dead. Course, we-alls IL LUX arf-
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 fren's 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. Reckln we'd both be
In the boneyard if he hadn'."
$50 he made friends, after ALL" said
the girl. 81 think the child will be
taken care of, Uncle Johnny"
"Sure. But thot's not the pint, Miss
May. She's riz diffrunt." His voice
took on a wheeling tone. II Jest
wonder If you couldn't think up some
way to help Billy? He sartinIy needs
It'll"
'That would be ,unwarrantable In
reference, Uncle Johnny. / scarcely
know Mr.. Warren"
Don't take no stock in SIGH 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 thinlin' 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 1 do not see how 1 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
a 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 1t 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 a child dabbling bare feet
in the rushing water of tiny stream
the while she hushed corncob doll
to sleep.
There was no fear in the child's
eyes as she raised them to the woman
beside her. Instead there was whis
pered "hush; you'll wake her. She's
been real sick and is just going to
Sleep"
Mary Hilton dropped upon the
ground, and in an equally low voice
asked what was wrong.
''Daddy's says It's case of humps
or measles, he's not sure which; but
she's been so awfuly cross and has
tired me so, he says there is no living
with either of us"
"Betty, to whom are you talklng?"
The voice came from the shadow of
the cabin.
"a pretty lady, honey?"
Don't tell me fairy tales, child;
pretty ladies don't climb the noun
tain.''
"She looks real, daddy. Shall l
pinch her and find out?"
81 wouldn't. III come and find out
for myself There was a rustic of
leaves, and Mary Hilton raised her
eyes to Billy Warren's face.
i fhn child
with steadily advancing fingers, again
asked: "Shall l pinch her, daddy?"
He did not reply. Instead he drew
his hand across his eyes as If UNI
certain as to the reality. When he did
speak his voice was sadly unsteady.
"Thank Godl Hereafter l shall al
ways believe in prayer"
Mary looked at him thoughtfully.
'You have been praying, and l am an
answer to your prayer? In what way,
especiallyi"
you have come"
"You wanted me2"
EYES,"
"Then why did you not come to met"
81 want help. l could not ask for 1t
unless as a last resort. offered, it Is
different
"And you think will offer it?"
Judging from your goodness to the
mountain people. You give comfort to
them"
"That is different. They are poor.
In my humble way, give help where
1t is needed. Years ago took course
of training in an eastern hospital. 1t
has stood me In good stead in my life
here. But my work does not approach
yours. You are a physician?"
"An army surgeon, retired on &C