The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1918-06-14

Knowing that the railroads were con,
gested by the movement of troops, she
hired a motortruck to carry food and
told the chauffeur she was goins With
him across the width of Virginia. Hit
expression spoke volumes and when
out of hearing uttered words not In
tended for woman's ears.
She persuaded q married friend TO
accompany her. This she regretted
later on, for the cold was intense and
there was tire trouble. To her II
meant delay. but her friend could see
nothing in the trip but her own folly
In yielding to Lavinia's wishes.
II will leave you at Hot Springs and
60 alOne,~ Lavinia told her at last. ut
was really too much to ask of you."
~ will keep on until we reach a
railroad" Mrs. Howard answered
shortly. "When we come to that bond
with civilization I will leave you to
your own devices. What On earth put
such an idea into your head. Couldn't
you have sent the things by freightT
ELIZA and the others need food, and
this is the quickest way to get 1t to
them" Lavinia answered.
Fortunately her chauffeur was Vir-
ginian and had come from the section
Of the state to which she was going.
He had known the Rankins and Wades.
"We played together when we was
kids" he told her. It'll go hard with
the women In the mountains with their
men gone" For a moment he looked
troubled. 81 s'pose you wonder why
a husky Teller like me is stay-at-
home. amt no Stacker. i has wife
an five kids an the orfercer toll me
to stay at home an take kyar of 'em."
Never In her life before had Lavinia
been so conscious of the comforts Of
fire as when she entered the log cabin
an hour later, stiff and shivering. But
1t wasn't much Of fire, just handful
of sticks upon which Eliza threw
few pine cones that blazed up at once.
Standing before it, Lavinia looked
about There was but the one room.
Side by side in one corner stood two
beds covered with gay patchwork
quilts. Four bright eyes peered at her
from the farthest one. From the near
err came slight moan.
81 did not know anyone was sick,
Eliza"
"Liz wore jes' poly when I writ,
miss, honey. She give up las nigh.
I put the chilrun in bed to keep warm.
MOll is out tryin' to git wood. Miss,
honey, shorely think the Lord dun
sent you"
"There must be someone who can
get wood for you," Lavinia said.
"Where is Jake Fox? He is too old
to be called"
For moment Eliza did not answer.
Hes a-haulin' for money an we alls
didn' have none"
Lavinia opened her purse. "Give
him this and tell him to hurry with a
load"
The mountain woman drew back.
II amt beggin', honey"
"Of course not. I expect you to pay
1t back. But now l am cold and hun
cry and we will talk about 1t after
WHILE" and throwing aside her wraps,
she went over to speak to Lizzie Craw-
ford.
For a week she watched beside that
bed In the corner, resting between
times in a big chair before the fire.
At the end of that time as she was
bending over the bed the door was
thrown open and hearty voice said:
II came back to take look around
before left for France, Eliza; heard
Lizzie was sick and came over to see
what was the matter" The voice
stopped short. "You"
For a second Of time Lavinia
thought she would suffocate with the
beating Of her heart, then she said
quietly: 81 heard they were in trouble.
so / came"
The mans hand was not quite steady
as he reached over and laid his fingers
upon Lizzie's wrist. "There Is no
fever. I think" He caught sight Of
Lavinia's eyes and turned abruptly
away.
Her gaze followed him, then rested
upon the compass quilt, the figure OF
which she began to trace absently
with her finger. She had thought him
In France, now that he was here there
were things she must say to him and
they would take courage.
He interrupted her thought. "Come
here" he said peremptorily. II must
see your eyes again. They gave me
yo,rr co,,I Npco Convention op1 train
ing hid them from sight. 1 am won
dering If it was forever"
There was just an instant of pause,
her eyes held by his as she went
toward him and again, as that first
time. she walked directly into his
arms.