The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-04-12

was upon her; That she had let him 90
to bis work thinking her heartless.
II all came back as she looked ut
the work in her lap and us she let the
beautiful tutting slip over her fingers
her resolution was taken.
Naturally she met opposition when
she told her family she was going to
the mountain for brief stay, but she
went on about tire carrying out OF her
plan and blessed the aunt who left her
small legacy TO do with as she would.
Knowing that the railroads were con-
gested by the movement Of troops, she
hired a motoruuck to carry food ana
told the chauffeur she was going with
him across tlre width of Virginia. HIS
expression spoke volumes ana wheh
out of hearing uttered words not in
tended for wOman's ears.
She persuaded a married friend to
accompany her. This she regretted
later on, for the cold was intense and
there was tire trouble. TO her 1t
meant delay, but her friend could see
nothing in the trip but her own folly
in yielding TO Lavinia's wishes.
~ will leave you at Hot Springs and
go alone" Lavlnia told her at last. ut
was really too much to ask Of you"
'I will keep on until we reach a
railroad" Mrs. Howard answered
shortly. "When we come to that bond
with civilization l 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 freight?"
ELIZA and the others need food, and
this is the quickest way to get 1t to
them" Lavinia answered.
Fortunately her chauffeur was Vir-
ginan and had come from the section
of the state to which she was going.
He had known the Rankins and Wades.
1--WE played together when we was
kids" he told her. 'Ttll go hard with
the women in the mountains with their
men gone" For q moment he looked
troubled. 81 s'pose you wonder why
a husky Teller like me is stay-at-
home. amt no Stacker. / has wife
an five kids an the Orfercer tOl' 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 n
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
er came a slight moan.
81 did not know anyone was sick,
Eliza"
Liz wore jes' poly when I writ,
miss honey. She give up las nigh.
put the chilrun in bed to keep warm.
Moll is out tryin' to git wood. Miss,
honey, l 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.
"He's 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.
"I amt beggin', honey"
"Of course not. l expect you to pay
it back. But now am cold and hun
CRY and we will talk about it 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. "Hou!
For second of time Lavinia
thought she would suffocate with the
beating of her heart, then she said
1uietly: 81 heard they were in trouble.
so I came"
The mans hand was not quite steady |
as he reached over and laid his fingers
mon l4izzie's wrist. There is no |
fever l 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
n France, now that he was here there
we're things she must say to him and
hey would take courage.
He interrupted her thought. "Come
nere," he said peremptorily. Il must
zee YOUR eyes again. They gave me
,our soul once. Convention and train
ne hid them from sight. 1 am won
lering if it was forever"
There was just an instant of pause,
Ter eyes held by his as she went
oward him and again, as that first
ime, she walked directly into his
rms.
~N~N~~NNNNNNo~O No~O~.~NO~No@~~U
discovered by an archaeologist during