Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-10-20
Hidden in the Hills.

~ ORA BOWS chin uuivered as
she fastened the neck of her
shabby dress with the little gold
~ pin Sam had given her as q
souvenir of their journey West
l l years before. That journey had been
their wedding trip. the only trip they
had ever taken together Eleven years
Is long time for girl to be separated
from her own people. Cora was making
ready to go back home" as she called
II, but she was going alone. She and
Sam had reached point in their lives
where there seemed nothing to do but
separate. Things had been going from
bad to worse ever since their girl had
died. Sam had taken the child's death
quietly. fact Cora had deeply resented
As time went on she grew more and
more convinced that with proper care
the child might have lived. But IL
miles up n rough mountain Is long
way for an overWorked doctor to travel
often. especially in Winter when great
drifts filled what as best was little bet
ter than trail. After the childs death
Cora had urged Sam to sell out and go
back East, but he Stubbornly refused to
sell He argued that he had come West
with high hopes to make his fortune
He admitted he had failed. but he just
could not go back and face the home
folks. And now Cora was going home
alone. leaving her husband and her
memories. She had finished her pack
ing. Sam would take her TO the station
where she would board a train that
would deposit her in her old home
town three days hence. She was fasten-
ing the last strap around battered
suit case when Sam entered.
"Ready?" he asked CURLY. She nod
ded and followed him from the house,
not trusting herself to indulge in a
single backward glance. They climbed
into the old blackboard together
Neither spoke. They had argued and
said it all. The future promised little
or nothing for either, but the present
was too acutely painful to be endured
any longer Each was looking forward
to the moment of separation with relief
The miles slipped by, the silence
broken only by the "klop-klop' of the
horses feet. They had traversed half
of the distance down the mountain,
when. in rounding sharp curve. they
came upon little boy Of or g. When
he saw the team approaching he waved
his thin little arms and cried: stop,
stop"
Sam stopped the horses and the boy
started talking and crying all in the
same breath Cora slipped from the
wagon and put her arms about the
child's shaking shoulders.
What is it, dear?" she said Are
you lost?" ~
a shabby shirt sleeve across his face.
Dad told me to come down to the forks
of the road and stay until some one
came by. Mothers sick and he couldn't
leave her Won't you come up and do
something for mother?" He looked up
appealingly into Cora's face.
How far is it?" she asked.
only little piece up the noun
tain. Daddy said l could shout If got
frightened and he'd hear me-"
will 1 have time?" Cora turned to
her husband.
Il think So" Sam said, IF you hurry.
It's Tummly's kid They may need
word in the village. I'll wait Don't
waste any time.
without further delay Cora seized the
boys hand and hurried up the path
which was evidently a short cut into
the woods Ten minutes later they came
to a cabin in a small clearing. AS
they approached the cabin man came
to the door with the most stricken look
she had ever seen on human face.
"Help-come." he said in a dazed
voice-"but too late--for Martha's gone,
and turning he led the way into the
cabin. followed by Cora. A moments
inspection of conditions convinced her
that she was too late to help Martha,
but a sharp little cry from the bed
drove all other thoughts from her save
that little newborn baby needed care.
She sent the boy back to the forks Of
the roads with instruction for Sam to
tie the horses and come and bring the
biggest suitcase with him. In the hours
that followed all differences between
Cora and Sam were forgotten in face of
this mountain tragedy. They worked
silently side by side in perfect accord.
The late afternoon sun was stream
ing down the mountain when Sam and
Cora left the cabin. They we're leaving
Tummly alone with his dead, but they
would return on the morrow. Sam car
ried the big, clumsy suitcase and guided
the little boy, while Cora followed
carrying the tiny baby close to her
breast. Sam united the waiting horses
and helped Cora and the little boy into
the wagon. then he climbed in beside
them and with the horses heads turned