Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1925-01-01
THE CALL.
OF THE
HILLS
BY LUcRETIA D. cLAPP

face. She stood leaning on the fence,
both elbows resting on the top-rail,
the moonlight showing full on her up
of mouth and chin. All about them
rose the mountains, stepped in moon
light and In shadow, rearing their
wooded heights far into the evening
sky. Behind them stretched the white
road, and beyond that small noun
tain cabin, surrounded by a few acres
of rough, rudely cultivated ground
The September moon was waning,
but the night was warm and pallid.
The mists hung low, pierced with
moonlight. A light wind, coming down
the valley, blew strands of the girls
dark hair and wrapped her skirts
about her, bringing out the strong,
bold lines of her figure. She was
| heavily built--large of bone, deep of
bosom-an overdevelopment, the re-
suit of heavy work, of toll In the fields
from sunrise to sunset. Environment
had played a great part in this girls
life, yet with the red blood that flowed
through her veins there was health
great. bounding, joyous health. Her
face showed the touches of mountain
winds and of summer suns, and In her
eyes lay shadow; something of the
mystery, perhaps. Of the mountains
themselves.
"The mountains, the mists, and the
moonlight The girls eyes wandered
from the face of the man at her side
to the far, dim line Of hills then they
came slowly back again.
81 amt never had much else, Jim,
only night after night, just like this
one, when I've stood here In this same
spot and seen the moon come out and
the hills begin to shadow. Seem'd like
II was the only time Of the day when
there want nothin' to do; the supper
done and the dishes washed and put
away; pa smokin' his pipe and the
children in bed. Seem'd like the hills
was a calm me and l had TO answer.
It's all ] ever had. Jim, till you come"
She paused, and her face showed
pale
Il guess I must have always liked
you, ever since / could remember. An
we've been happy together, you an
me-'til-'til the last few months.
That's why asst you to come tonight"
Her hands pressed hard on the rail
in front of her.
Don't you think Tn blamin' you,
Jim. It's just one of those things
that's got to be. I've watched 1t
comm and ! couldn't see no other way
out of 1t. Why, the children was al
ways talkin' bout the new teacher"
Her eyes went suddenly across the
fields to where she could see in the
moonlight a rough board that marked
long grave.
"Seem'd IS though there never was
no time for me to go to school, what
with the children a comm so fast, an
all the mendin' and cookin, to say
nothin' Of the work in the fields. But
knew you loved me, Jim, and some
how / didn't care so much bout the
other-only for your sake, when / seen
you goin' with the others. You've al
ways had a longin after books, and
noticed how you took right hold an
staid home a studyin', night after
| night. The mountains has been all the
teacher I've ever known, an they
amt never failed me yet. There's
somethin' in their bigness an their
stiffness that sometimes seems to just
draw my heart right out. 1t kinder
seems though the Lord had made 'em
for me-"
hn cfr ant Moth q with q
wide, sweeping gesture.
ST love their awful silence. Some
| times 1t seems to answer somethin' in
side of me-a kind of longin' I can't
just tell You've been awful good to
| me, Jim, an / know you loved me
once. But / could see that you was
a gettin' restless, seemd like you
| wanted more'n just this. You us't to
talk bout goin' away, even before the
| new teacher come. An when she let
you take all them books-why, they
wasn't nothin' to me, Jim, but print
ed page. But I could see they was
more to you. You amt never been
the same since You've tried hard to
love me an to keep your promise, but
1t amt no use. I've always loved you,
Jim, an I'd have worked for you an
been q good wife, But / won't never
be any more'n / am now-while She
she's more like you"
She paused and caught her breath
Besides I've been a thinkin' lately,
perhaps it wouldn't be just right for
me to leave pa an the children.
don't want you to feel bad, Jim-tain't
no fault o. yours. Seems like there's
something in this world that's just got
to be-"
Her voice died away suddenly. The
man at her side shifted his feet I'M
easily. Her face showed white in the
moonlight. Her full lips looked tight
and drawn.
Ell guess you'd better be goin'
now, jim"
Ch. h1J5 o,,< nov hand No fnnH a.