Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1924-01-31

money.
The bony fingers drummed hard
upon the chair-arm. The old man ID
geted In his seat In way that seemed
to indicate that the interview was over
The girl rose.
sFather. we're Eoin' up in the wss6s
T. see the sun setback and me-
A statement that was half ques-
ton. The old man did not look up.
They were at the door of the dining
room, the woodsman standing aside -
let the girl pass, when the banker
turned in his chair.
Jack
The girl stopped; the man turned
back.
tickle tells me you're leavin' ms a.
soon as you're twenty-one."
'Tm amin to. sir"
And thatTl be-T
1.-THE twentieth-seven more days"
"Seven days The old mnH
frowned; rasped his hand over the dry
stumble on his bony chin. "Well, seven
days is-seven days." he mutterel-
"Hit amt because I've ben hard On
y'u, is itf" ks
"No, sir, it amt that. You've ben
q good to me that 1t makes 1t haY6
t. 60, but got + DO somethin' n
m'self-now.' M
The old man bent his brows theught-
fully nodded toward his daughter II
the door of the dining-room.
"She says you're eale'latin' Z line
a wagon train f'r California"
yes, sir, that's what I'm amir 4
do. II you're sin minded t. give -
Graylock when my times ont
ssT'm amin + pick up snough-soa1
out there Z come back and buy -
homestead. II youm sell It T. me-, an
make my father's-and metheY,s-
dream come true.' @
The old man dropped his eyn Asa
drew his hand across 49, shasE
brows.
.The day youre-twenty -one"-Ais
voice was strained, and he seemed T.
weigh each word before letting II fall
awe1l have long talk. you and me.
b'fore y'u jine that wagon train
He stopped forward, picked up .
bundle Of papers from the floor sid
began sorting them over.
The others passed out through the
kitchen, where Mrs. Curry was busy
about the cook stove.
The witchery Of the coming sunset
was astir among the spfintered peaks
nd inv all Of hA knt hon n foy ND
The woodsman took off his hat. swept
his eyes over the far-spread landscape,
drank deep the wonder OF It. slowly
turned to his companion.
He allowed himself to revel for
delicious moment in the rich complete
ness Of her, as she stood lightly poised
on the rock.
His arm unconsciously stole toward
her; but he drew it back and pointed
to the tiny flower bed at the foot Of
the outstanding pinnacle. The gih
followed the motion, softly clapped her
hands and stood looking down at the
yellow orchid, its golden slipper stiH
as plump and unwilted as before It
had been transplanteG.
Il found it this morning back in the
woods"
His voice was strained and heavy
out of all proportion to what migM.
have been expected in altering state
ment so simple. The girl breathe2
fast. The man stopped. plucked the
blossom from the stem and held \
toward her; she took 1t and with slow
fingers fastened it in her belt.
II reckon we wasn't nothin' but jiSt
crazy kids" the man went on, ''but IN
know how the first bluebird and the
first robin and the first lady slipper
was alw'ys big days to us"
He was venturing his words forth
as II each one had to feel its way
across his lips, like hunter picking
his way over the dangerous bog at the
head Of Mud Haul.
But lady slipper day" he faltered
on, was alw'ys the biggest. Y'u know,
we alw'ys kinda fig'r'd on dom some
thin extra that day, and when 1t come
this year ben plannin' rd--Td---''3ss
He paused, breathed hard, struggled
for the next words-the hardest In the
language to say; stole a glance at the
girls face; looked away. The stark
skeleton Of the unfinished farmhouse
Unexpectedly mayhap unluckily
came under his eyes the TRANSPORTING
emotion slowly died In his face; the
bound boy again dominated the man.
He heard the girls deep breath: felt
her hand thrill upon his arm accepted
it for what it was--the spontaneous
communion Of comradeship, relation
on which he dared not presume
dmly read in the serious eyes, as they
strayed over his face. the tingiing mys=
terry. the far-fiung vision that nestled
there.
Very thoughtful she seemed, and for
the most part sllent-the an-snflfcieat
silence that sometimes falls between
comrades-as he led her down the
bluffs, on the Eagle hollow side,
around by the post office, and to the
yard gate at the red-roofed cottage.
The Rev Caleb HOnkins with ho,L