South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-07-27
On the Mountain
By Susan E. Clagah

From the railroad a faint path
stretched upward TO cabin high on
tie mountain above Horseshoe Bend.
The same path continued downward
TO a cluster Of houses. broadened in
TO a narrow road, and came TO a
fun stop before a rough porch, upon
which several men were seated in
varying degrees of comfort.
They were listening 10 one of their
number. He was reading. with a
trace Of impatience-as # compel
ling himself to he neighborly when
his desire was 10 hasten away-the
market reports, the sporting page
and the stock market But what in
terested him, the war news. appar-
emily did not hold their attention
They turned deaf ears 10 news from
TIE front, but were absorbed i'm the
Army and Navy ball game that had
taken place the day before in Phila-
delphia.
With a sigh of relief, Willy War
rem at last folded his paper, wished
them good day and. walking rapid
~ away, was soon lost TO view upon
the higher path. AS he disappeared
from sight the chair OF Uncle Johnny
Peyton came down on it's front legs
with a thud, as the old man said
addressing no one in particular:
Pears like Billy's mighty low
i'm his mind. He's in a heap OF
trouble, I'm thinking"
oil
john" a girl asked casually. as she
came through the door of the post
Office and general store.
Now. Miss May, y'knOw he:
listed an don't know whatll becom
IBIS leedle gal He's feared he'll
have to 90 fore he kin place her
Il had not heard; but things right
themselves in time. and this will be
Strengthened out"
Maybe. Miss May, maybe But Y
know Bnly's got no one, leastwist
down hyar Thar's an old aunt IL
I Ioway, an I guess he's writ TO her
I but haint seen tit 20 answer. $50
reclIin she's dead Course. we-aIls 4
\ lux arfter her, but he's riz her diff
frunt. She's a pretty leedle gal.
Billy don't blong hyar, yknow
He jest come. Something the mat
! ter with him. Never hearn tell o
/ his wife Jest come with thot ga
am she was a baby. Hired thot cabir
I cd yonder an did'n make frien's til
\ the fever TUX we-alls, then ne come
I down an TUX kyar Of Jim" noddinl
I toward a mountaineer setting on tn
steps then he TUX hold O. me
. Reckin we'd both be in the bone
yard if he hadn."
so he made friends after all,
said the girl. II think the child vii
be taken care of Uncle Johnny"
sure. But thot's not the pint
\ Miss May. She's riz diffrupt." Hi
voice took on a wheedling tone. "
jest wonder if YOU coul6n think VI
some way 10 help Billy? He sartin
/ l. needs it,"
THAT would be unwarrantable in
/ reference. Uncle Johnny, 1 scarce
! ly know Mr.. Warren"
Don't take no stock in SIGH talk.
said Uncle Johnny. reaching for hi
twist OF tobacco and cutting off
piece Of goodly size. When il come
&c doin things, an thinkin' al
tLings. Miss May you're RICH
smart. You did'n know we-uns whel
YOU come 10 the mountains, but yO'
now has us trained TO eat from you
hand-almOst
She threw back her head an,
laughed heartily. Almost is we
. put Uncle Johnny; but / do not Sc
how 7 can help YOU in this"
''Twont hurt 10 think erbout II
anyhow. an p'haps youU see light.
was his concluding comment. as
with a glance toward the family out
lined path she turned from tn
group and walked away.
she had been on the mOuntai
three years-at FIRST for her health
then because il claimed her. Sh
had heard all about Billy Warner
had occasionally met him, but say
for the merest courtesy no word ha
passed between them. For some rea
son ne had not impressed her pleas
Iantly This was probably due 10 IN
.Fact that ne had made no effort I