Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1923-11-22

thoughtfully passed her fingers over
the names and glanced down at the
foot of the outstanding pinnacle. In
a sheltered pocket of the great rock,
where only the tempered rays Of the
sun could strike It, lay tiny bed Of
leaf mold set with clumps of yellow
orchids not yet abloom-"lady slip
pers," in the quaint and expressive
vernacular Of the Wabash country
that had doubtless been transplanted
from the deep woods.
The girl stopped above the tiny flow
er bed-a friendly spot in it's setting
of stern rocks; plucked away an OBJ
trusive weed or two; let her sobered
eyes stray back to the red-roofed cot
tage, across small orchard that lay
spread at her feet, and out over the
rather pretentious farmstead to which
the orchard belonged.
Pretentious-just that; promise OF
comfort and affluence never fulfilled.
There was every evidence that the
farmstead had been laid out on scale
much more elaborate than was usual
in the Flatwoods, but nothing had
been finished-an attempt that failed;
a dream that never came true.
Outlined among the weeds and en-
croaching brambles lay the extensive
foundation of the farmhouse, but it
had been carried little beyond the
foundation. A few sills-huge squared
logs, cut and hewed in the upland
woods-had been laid. OF the few
timbers of the superstructure, some
had fallen entirely, others had fallen
at one end and hung straining, while
even the firmest canted far out OF
plumb.
Back Of this creaking skeleton OF
time-blackened timbers, and nearer the
cliff, stood mite of a log cabin, rude
ly constructed, where doubtless man
had housed while dreaming his un-
finished dream of house and barns and
happy homestead. Rooted beside the
door and almost completely covering
the cabin, crimson rambler Of many
years growth-a far wanderer that no
surroundings can degrade Offered q
fragrant suggestion that woman had
shared the dreams Of the man.
Three horses grazed in the barn lot
down near big elm that stood at the
road gate; some geese squatted along
| the diminutive rivulet leading from
the spring; out in the feed lot lolled
bunch Of cattle, fine and thrifty as
could have been seen the length Of
the Wabash.
The eyes of the girl suddenly walked
from brooding; darted to point a
short distance up the cliff; livened.
The SLOUGH hat and drab corduroy
hunting blouse of tall young woods
man with an immense spread of Shout
der had fitted past a break in the
bushes as he sprang down the steep
and rugged path that picked its way
among the rocks from the uplands.
She was just in time to see him reach
up, put his hand on the top rail OF
the fence and vault over into the barn
lot. The girl missed breath. Few
men in the Flatwoods could have made
that leap.
Down by the big elm at the road
gate one of the horses a powerful
gelding, glossy black save for one
i white lock in his foretop, raised his
head; came trotting up the lot. The
big woodsman put his arm about the
arched neck; laid his face against the
glossy name and stroked the soft nose
Good oil Graylock r he muttered-
bound n free, t. you mans man
A shadow subdued the bold frank
ness Of his face, as a chance CLOUD
draws across fair field; he gazed
hard at the wind-staggered skeleton
of the unfinished farmhouse.
His rowing eye, following the glow
of approaching sunset, found the CIR
upon the rock, her plant body softly
outlined against the silver-green back
ground Of the woods.
"Texie-w'y-"
In another moment he was racing
up the cliff. The girl was waiting TO
him by the outstanding pinnacle o
sandstone, half sadness in her eye
that gradually subdued the eagernes
in his He laid his big hand on he
shoulder; slid it down Ter arm ant
gathered her fingers in his great palm
There was not even twitch Of re
Spouse. He dropped the fingers
backed away step and stood study
ing her.
"Jack-? Do yu know what da,
this isl"
He puzzled to find the answer sh
doubtless had in mind; finally ven
tured the only one he could think Of
] Tuesday, May 10th, 1949."
She fiared around at him. "Yo
: know that amt what mean"
/ The girl pointed to the carve
names on the monolith Of sandstone