The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1919-06-26
CHAPTER ..
The First Wayfarer and the Second
Wsyfarer Meet and Par on the
Aiohwsv

Highway.
A solitary figure trudged along IN,
narrow road that wound Its serpen
tinous way through the dismal, forbid
ding depths Of the forest-a man who
though weary and footsore. Jagged no,
In his swift. resoiute advance. Night
was coming on. and with II the no un
certain prospects OF storm.
He came to the pike" and there
was signpost. A huge, crudeiy paint.
ed hand pointed to the left, and on
what wns intended TO be the sleeve OF
n very stlfr and unfilnching arm these
words were printed In scaiy white
"Hart's Tavern. Food for Man and
Beast. Also Gasoline. Established
179s. Mile"
On the opposite side OF the pike. %
. = the angle formed by a junction with
ne narrow mountain road. stood an
Z cimbler signpost, lettered so indis.
tinctly that II deserved the compas.
sion OF all observers because OF its
humility. Swerving In his hurried pas
sage. the tall stranger drew near this
shrinking friend to the uncertain trav.
eler. and was suddenly aware OF an.
other presence In the roadway
A woman appeared. ms II from no
where. almost at his side. He drew
back 10 let her pass. She stopped be
fore the little slgnpost. and together
they made out the faint directions.
To the right and up the mountain
road Frogg's Corner lay four miles and
half away: Pitcairn was six miles
back over the road which the man had
Travelled. Two miles and n half down
the turnpike was Spanish Falls, a rail.
way station. and four miles above the
crossroads where the man and women
stood peering through the darkness nj
the laconic signpost reposed the vii
lage Of ST. Elizabeth. Hnrt's Tavern
was on the road TO 81. Elizabeth, and
the man. with barely n glance ut his
fellow traveller. started briskiy OF In
that direction.
He knew that these wild mountain
storms moved swiftly; his chance OF
reaching the tavern ahead Of the del
uge was exceedingly slim. His long.
powerful legs had carried him twenty
or thirty PAGES before he came 10 a
sudden halt
What OF this lone woman who trav-
ersed the highway His first glimpse
OF her had been extremely casual
indeed. he had paid no attention TO
her at all. so eager was he to read
the directions and he on his way.
She was standing quite still in front
OF the signpost. peerlng up the road
toward Froggs Corner-confronted by
steep climb that led into black and
sinister timberlands above the narrow
strip Of pasture bordering the pike.
The fierce wind pinned her skirts to
her slender body as she leaned against
the gale gripping her hat tightly
with one hand and stralning under the
weight OF the bag In the other. The
ends OF veil whipped furiously about
her head. and, even In the gathering
darkness. he could see a strand or two
OF hair keeping them company.
Retracing his steps. he called out to
her above the gale:
"Can I be Of any assistance 10 your"
She turned quickly. He saw that
the veil was drawn tightly over her
face
mo. thank you" she replied. Her
voice, despite a certain nervous note.
was soft and clear and gentle-the
voice and speech OF a well-bred per-
son who was young and resolute.
Pardon me. but have you much far
ther to gof The storm will soon be
upon us. and-surely you will not con-
slider me presumptuous-I don't like
the Idea Of your being caught out in"
. N"What Is 10 be done about III" she
-.risired. reslgnedly. II must go on.
I can't walt here. you know, to be
washed back TO the place I started
from"
He smiled. She had wit as well as
determination.
"If I can be Of the least assistance
20 you pray don't hesitate to command
me. ! am a sort OF tramp. you might
say, and I travel as well by night as
I do by day-so don't feel that you are
putting me TO any Inconvenience. Are
you ny uuy tnunCt Douuu iOf nufts
Tavern? II so. I viii be glad to lag
behind and carry your bag"
"You are very good. but am not
bound for Harris Tavern. wherever
that may be. Thank you. just the
same. You appear 10 be an uncom-
monty genteel tramp. and II isn't be- ,
cause l am afraid you might make on ,
with my belongings" She added the
last by way OF apology.
He smlled-and then frowned as he {
cast an uneasy look at the black
clouds now rolling oElinously up over /
the mountain ridge.
by Jove, we're going TO catch II
good and hard" he exclaimed. Better I
take my advice. These storms are ter
rible. l know, for I've encountered 7
half dozen OF them In the past week. |