The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1922-04-26
BY GEORGE RoEBUck

'"PelesshesS that neither could clear
is understand
You'll come back for me--some
day7"
He nodded violently. Words were
not to be trusted then.
When I'm famous as Shakespeare
and wear long blue serge pants like
Allen Grass, he promised after n
long pause.
She smiled bravely and told herself
that he would surely be all that he
wanted to be. Unconsciously her
eyes sought the ancient encyclopae
dia and remained fastened upon it.
He only had to learn everything in
the big book to become famous, and
as she looked up at his great head she
felt sure that he must know half OF
its contents now.
And you'll be big enough 10 sing
for the graphaphone By then" he
smiled cheerfully.
Zippie-zipp was going to be a great
musician some day. He remembered
how sure every one was of it in ordi-
nary after they heard her play
Hearts and Flowers" at the com
mencement exercises She sang solos
at the Sunday meetings of the Sun
Beam Society of the Methodist
Church, and once she rendered a sad
solo Al a happy wedding. She would
be a grand wife, he thought, and that
was why he was willing to go to the
Home. He dreamed great dreams Of
life there, boy dreams that Brother
Belso told him God meant for boys to
dream. They had talked much OF his
going. For weeks it had been glo-
rious anticipation; but now as he
looked at her his heart sank and he
wished that he might become famous
right in Ordinary.
Later they walked hand in hand
towards the sleepy little mountain
town in which they lived. Cows bells
tingled lazily as they homeward made
their way. Now and then shrill
voice rose in sharp command and Il
tardy COWS bell tangled rapidly.
Across the railroad and over the
green of the ball ground they walked
IN dreamy silence until they came to
Clark Avenue that crept the dusty
length of the one-sided little town.
Half way down the avenue they turn
ed up a short street which led to "A
gray brick church at the top OF hill.
The big church with its many stain
ed windows was naryel-the great
window in the semi-wing always hold
| ing their rapt attention. 1t was of
many soft colors and rose to the very
top of the building in wonderous
beauty. Near the bottom they read:
IN LOVING REMEMBRANCE OF
CLARA JAMES GRAYSON
Clara james Grayson was Zippic
Zipp's dead mother This is why they
paused to read the sacred tribute.
They did not tary long but passed on
down the street until they came to
the long brown town hall, and crossed
over to the doctors odd red Office.
lippie-Zip lived in the middle of the
block and presently he opened her
gate. The shadows were deep now
and the great naples before the
house east a dense gloom over where
they stood
His hand still held hers and he was
leaving next day a light flooded
the room behind them. and sharp,
rasPing voice rose in Gala voice
that both knew well
''Zepp-eel"
She moved and unconsciously he
felt himself drawing her hand to his
lips. Half way up he paused, jerked
her tercely to him and kissed her
warm lips. a sob reached his ears
and ne pushed her swiftly away.
You're not mad. zippie?" he ask
ed fearfully. She shook her head.
Why, why no." she stammered.
"We-were engaged now"
And youll wait for me, won't you.
Zeppie?"
Again she nodded and again he
kissed her-holding her with all his
eager strength as he listened with a
pounding heart to the fierce whisper
ings of this greatest woman on earth.
I'm wait he heard her whisper,
her lips close to his ear, I'm wait
hundred years-I'll wait forever, but
please hurry up and be mani"
ITO be continually