Graham guardian., 1918-11-29

Knowing that the railroads were con-
gested by the movement Of troops, she
hired mOtOrtruck to carry food and
told the chauffeur she was going with
him across the width Of Virginia. His
expression spoke volumes and when
out of hearing uttered words not In
tended for a woman's ears.
She persuaded 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 toLavinia's wishes.
81 will leave you at Hot Springs and
go alone" Lavinia told her at last. ut
was really too much to ask of you"
:" will keep on until we reach Il
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 nm 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 II 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 Wndes.
1--WE played together when we was
kids" he told her. It'll 60 hard with
the women In the mountains with their
men gone" For a moment he looked
troubled II s'pose you wonder why
husky feller like me is stay-at-
home. amt no Sucker. has wife
an five kids ati' the orfercer tol' me
to stay at home an take kyar Of EN-"
Never In her life before had f,avinia
been so conscious Of the comforts Of
fire as when she entered the log cabin
an hour later, stiff and shivering. But
It wasn't much of fire, just handful
Of sticks upon which Ellen threw n
few pine cones that blazed up at once.
Standing before It, 1avinin 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 fnrthest one. From the near.
er came slight moan.
81 did not know anyone was sick,
Eliza" 81.
"Liz wore jes poly when 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, shorely think the Lord dun
sent you." .1hs
"There must be someone who can
get wood for you," Lavinia said
"Where Is Jake Fox7 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 q
load" q.
The mountain woman drew back
II amt beggin'. honey"
"Of course not l expect you to pay
It back. But now l am cold and hun
CRY and we will talk about II after q
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
81 came back to take look around
before I left for France. Eliza; heart
Lizzie was sick and came over to see
what was the matter" The voic;
stopped short. your
| For second Of time LAWNS
thought she would suffocate with tho
beating Of her heart. then she sait
quietly: 81 heard they were in trouble
so / came."
The mans hand was not quite stead!
as he reached over and laid his finger!
upon Lizzie's wrist. "There Is M
fever. ! think" He caught sight o.
Lavinia's eyes and turned abrupt!
away.
Her gnze followed him, then rested
upon the compass quilt, the figure o
which she began to trace absent!
with her finger. She had thought hin
in France, now that he was here ther'
were things she must say to him ant
they would take courage.
He Interrupted her thought "Com'
here" he said peremptorlly< Il mus
see your eyes again. They gave mi
your soul once. Convention and train
ing hid them from sight. ! am won
dering II 1t was forever"
There was just an instant OF pause
her eyes held by his as she wen
toward him and again, as that hrs
time, she walked directly into Ill
arms.