The Elk Mountain pilot., 1924-11-27
AT 7HEENDJOF &
THE LONG. TRAIL,
By -MoLLIE MAFHKR
p<<<s**+****++++*+**+**+
20. 1884. western Newspaper Union,

p OSE MARY came to the dividing
of the paths and stood undecided
The sunlight fltering down through
heavy trees invited her onward
You must go away to high alti-
tude at once" Rose Mary's physician
had said, land you know. don't you.
that you may not come back There
you will live perhaps to good old
age. But you must not try to come
back"
Rose Mary already was gaining in
strength and had lost her first sense
of isolation. Today "a strange antici
patton Of coming pleasure brough; a
flush to her rounding cheeks. There
was even a thought of adventure in
choosing from one of the three trails
reaching out before her. Unknowing,
Rose Mary chose 1.-THE longest trail.
Wandering on and on. in silence, and
when presently 1t occurred to her that
she must be going back to the white
farmhouse for the evening meal, she
found that she could no longer trace
the way back. Beyond the opening
she might find some, sign of life and
seek information there. True, as she
had thought. house confronted her.
Rose Mary smiled at the. whimsical
fancy Of an olden fairy tale--where
the princess. lost in the wood, comes
upon an old wOman's cabin. The old
woman. who by her magic would be-
stow upon this. desolate maiden her
hearts desire. Rose Mary caught her
nId dv or nnd
from the door out into 4 little flower
garden. The young woman FASTENED
toward her and confided her plight.
The old lady was sympathetic and
comforting. t"Why.r my dear" she
said, '.it would be, impossible for you
to 60 back the long trail YOU shall
stop with me, tonight. II you please.
and we will telephone your, friends.
Oh, yes, have telephone" the old
lady laughed softly, tiny boys saw to
that when L insisted upon remaining
In the old family . nest. while my
birdlings went out into the world to
cseh their fortune I.riust ,oeuld, not
be transplanted." said the old lady
went to visit my lawyer son ,one
time and was 30 lonely for the morn
Ing song Of my mountain, birds. so
longing for the sweet. clear air;
home, dearfe. you see. Just =. home!
I'd not be able to get along. perhaps,
IL Jeey had. not known, the - same
mountain love that 1 do. OF all my
sons friends Joey is the only one
who stayed on. And Joey fits in. some
way, with the scenery. Big and brave
and beautiful is Joey Judson He
keeps up the home of his people so
that anyone might be proud to stop
there. There Is Mrs. Tousey to keep
house for him. and; old Mr.. Tousey to
help with chores. Joey sees to 1t that
they are good .neighbOrs. He had a
radio put In lately and often of an
evening joey comes to take me over
to hear music. II you are not too
weary tonight 1t might help to pass
the evening to hear JOey's radio"
Joey came at evening to fetch the
mother of his boyhOOd friends There
was a silent pact between these alb
sent friends and Joey that the per-
versely home-loving Mrs. Tudor should
not lack friendship.
The blue eyes of Rose Mary
widened In pleased surprise when she
met Joey Judson; he was so suitably
part of the adventure, with his fine
bronzed face and his winning smile.
Joey made Rose Mary think Of her
favorite western movie" actor. 1t
was true, as her hostess had said
Joey fitted in with the free mountain
scenery as he never could fit any
where else
So ii happened that after the eve
ming of music from JOey's radio. Rose
Mary was prevailed upon to stay on
with Mrs. Tudor. And it was Joey
who drove his light cart to bring her
baggage from the white farmhouse.
Surely this little old lady of the wood
was also weaving some magic spell.
Never had Rose Mary known the joy
of those sunlit mountain mornings,
Joey often waiting with saddled
horse for her to ride.
She ran back on certain morning
to kiss, in the overflow of grateful af-
fecton, the happy old lady waving
her adieu down the path. Joey seemed
kindlier and nearer than any man
who had touched Rose Mary's young
life. Her cheeks glowed with new
color. His dark eyes regarded her
earnestly. "We WILL. said Joe Jud-
son, drive down the longest trail
today, Rose Mary. | have much to
talk over with you. dear" But after
all, there was little left unsaid when
the loving word had fallen from the
mans lips. For Rose Mary knew that
here, In the purity of the mountains,
In the simplicity of forest ways, this
one word expressed its true meaning
She was dear" to him. And she was
glad. Oh, how glad! Rose Mary
joey was saying. you know of my
love. But 1t IL much would ask OF
one long used to life In the cities-]