Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1919-09-18

and read ali his books Just ON princis
pie. ] have the feeling that some day
he viii write something really good
Just because he was such an awfuliy
nice man himself"
''Hes lucky devil to have you say
that about HMM ne came, tea in
hand, and for lonely bachelor on a
mountain top 1t was a very enticing-
looking tray that he set before the
lady. The thunder came from dis
lance now and the rain was contenting
itself with gentle patter, patter. The
darkness of few moments ago was
giving way to misty ggayness. He
opened the window a little and the
smell OF fresh green earth came
through.
"Um, isn't that delicious" smiled the
girl, as she took long breath. Then
she poured the tea. "How many Jumps?
Three? Why, man alive, what did you
do In Hoover's day."
"Tell me about that author man who
writes such awful drivel," continued
her host.
"Well, you see haven't laid eyes
on him for years and years,nshe went
on. 81 wouldn't know him now If
should meet him on the street But
when l was child we lived on the
same street and he was always so nice
10 me when my brothers would pub
my pig-tails and call me baby And
once they locked me up in an old
building, and that nice man came and
got me out. He heard my bowls, l
guess. l suppose l was rather
baby as my brothers said, and he
was always helping me out. l often
think of it, and now when things go
wrong l say to myself: oh, If | only
knew where Chester Lane was I'm sure
he would tell me what to do Y" She
laughed and added: "Silly, isn't 1t?
But you see why like his books now,
| trash or no trash, don't you? And
some day he will write something
| great, you see"
| "He should for the faith you put
in him, If for no other reason" said
| the man, looking at her with a curious
| intentness. "You see," he went on,
she was poor, oh, so poor little lady
of the storm, and his good things no.
| body wanted to buy. So he took to
best sellers-just because he must have
bread and butter and things like that.
But now-I will do something better
for you"
"You will? You are Chester
LaneT" she whispered.
Eyes, Peggy Trumbull, I am. And
you-why, you were the smallest little
grill ever saw, and such a good sport.
I remember thrashing your brothers,
both of them, when they called you
baby To think that you should
have grown up like this, and"
"And," she interrupted, when a
storm came and frightened me almost
TO death came right here. I might
have known it would be you"
In silence they looked at each other,
and through the open window burst a
ray of late afternoon sunlight-all the
brighter from its release from the
storm.
Peggy rose. II must go now" she
said isn't it a shame? Pm staying
with the Brantfords across the valley
and started out right after lunch for a
tramp. Your mountain looks so nice
from the valley. Good-by," holding out
her hand, "and will you forgive me
for saying your book was silly?'
Lane had his cap and walking stick
in his hand before she finished. "Will
l forgive you?" he repeated. my
word I'm going to marry you, you
know. You'll be needing me to keep
away thunder storms and brothers and
things, and I'm not going to let you
out of my sight, or you'll vanish as
suddenly as you came. And I've been
waiting here for you all these hun
dreds of years. My dear. would you
mind very much marrying me?"
''That was a very nice thunder
Storm" said Peggy.