The Elk Mountain pilot., 1924-04-10

feelings, but-well, just can't help
being little bit afraid of you. / sup
pose it's silly of me, but I'm so
ashamed to have you see me with
my hair down like this, and no stock
ings on, and only half-dressed. IL
feel hot all over. 1 didn't think of it
at first, I was so worried, but now
II
'It is very silly of you," he said,
rather thickly. you did right in
coming over. and I'm going to make
you comfortable now that you are
here. Lie down here and get some
sleep, like good little girl, and when
you wake up Zachariah will have a
nice hot breakfast for you"
I'D rather not lie down." she STAN
mered. Let me just sit here while
and don't bother about breakfast
for me. Hattie will-p
"But he has to get breakfast any
how" he argued.
She looked at him suspiciously.
Haven't you had your breakfastY'
"No," he lied. Then he hurried off
to give guilty Instructions to Zacha-
riah.
An hour later, Kenneth arose from
his seat on the front doorstep and
stole over to the sitting-room window.
She was asleep in the big rocking
chair. her head twisted Imply toward
her left shoulder, presenting three
| quarters view of her face to him as
he gazed long and ardently upon her.
He could see the deep rise and fall of
her bosom. The shawl, unclasped at
| the throat, had fallen away, reveal
ing the white flannel nightgown over
which she had hastily drawn a petit
coat before sallying forth.
| He went to the kitchen door and
found Zachariah sitting grumpily on
the step.
"shes still sound asleep he an
nounced.
| SOS dat lazy Hattie over yander,"
lamented Zachariah, with jerk of his
head. Ain no smoke comm out'n
her chimbley, lemme tell yo'."
Fiji that washpan and get me
clean towel" ordered his master. He
looked at his watch. I'm going to
awaken her-in half an hour"
1t was nearly seven o'clock when
he stamped nolsily into the sitting
room with towel and basin. He had
thrice repeated his visit to the win
dow, and with each succeeding visit
had remained little longer than be-
fore, Notwithstanding the no uncer-
tain sense of guilt that accused him
of spying upon the lovely sleeper.
She awoke with start, looked
blankly about as if bewildered by her
strange surroundings, and then fixed
her wide, questioning eyes upon him
watching him in silence as he placed
the basin of spring-water on a chaii
and draped the coarse towel over the
back.
breakfast will be ready in ten min.
utes, miss" he announced, bowling
deeply. IF you desire to freshen your
self a bit after your profound slum-
bers, you will find here some of the
finest water in the universe and a
towel warranted to produce a blush
upon the cheek of craven image"
Has mother come home?" she in
quired anxiously, as she drew the
shawl close about her throat again.
mo sign Of her. Hurry along, and
as soon as we've had bite to eat I'll
ride down to the courthouse and see If
she's there"
He left her, and presently she came
out into the kitchen, her skin glowing
warmly, her braids loosely coiled on
the crown of her head, her eyes like
| violet stars.
Zachariah marveled at his masters
appetite. Recollection of an already
devoured meal of no small proportions
caused him to doubt his senses. From
time to time he shook his head in Won
der and finally took to chuckling. The
next time Marse Kenneth complained
about having no appetite he would
know what to say to him.
| II must run home now," said Viola
at the close Of the meal. TITS been aw-
| fully nice-and SO exciting, Kenny. I
feel as II had been doing something
ought not to do. Isn't 1t queer7 Hav-
ing breakfast with a man / never saw
until six weeks agol"
| 1T does my heart good to see you
blush so prettily." said he warmly.
Then his face darkened. "And 1t turns
my blood cold to think that If you had
succeeded in doing something you
| ought not to have done six weeks ago.
you might now be having breakfast
with somebody else instead of with
me-"
Il wish you would not speak of that,
Kenneth" she said severely. You will
make me hate you II you bring 1t up
again." Then she added, with a plain
tive little smile: 1.-The Bible says,
Love thy neighbor as thyself.' l am
doing my best to live up to that, but
sometimes you make it awfully hard
for me-
He went to the door with her. She
paused for a moment on the step to
look searchingly up the road and
through the trpeS rThara xyou No ,to,,