Evening star., 1933-09-24

~ wind swooped across the Allegha-
! nes Facing it, the man ana N mare at
climbed slowly the long upgrade OF
the hill road.
March winds, August suns, December SHOWS
all were an old story to them. For 20 years
Shelby Lowden had ridden the star route
carving the United States mails 70 the remote
corners of the hill trail towns. And for seven
of them the dun-colored mare had taken hih
out and brought MIN back.
my Gal Sal hummed Shelby in cracking
falsetto. smiling up at the first pale stars over
head.
But the smile washed out quickly. From out
of the gathering darkness came the Steaoy
drumbeat of a motor-the east-oouho man man
plane. Shelby Lowden watched it with coldly
speculative eye
"Stinkin' things he muttered.
II made him feel old. as he had a right to
feel and helpless, as it shouldnt-so ne re-
sented it, But there was deeper reason
The youth at the controls was Dugal Stew
art oplv son of Judge Donald Stewart rlchest
man in the county and Shelby's most ancient
foeman-and Dugal was in love with sally
Lou LOwden
At the top of the next rise the last one
on the road down into the town. they
passed a wide stone gate. An ornate mall-oox
flanked it and bazoned in neat lettering was
the name: Stewart Shelby spat con-
temptuously-and with unerring aim-as ne
passed and would have paused to shake
mittened fist but the mare gave him no
chance
She knew that 200 yards ahead and straight
down the hill lay peace and comfort and food
Her wiry legs broke into swift fox trot that
SKINNED the treacherous ruts and ShelDys
upraised flung down to grab Tor sadie
horn and bride.
His voice in protest. "Daggone you,
Minnie!" He stood in the stirrups and pulled
and Minnie gave in. She knew as well as
Shelby did that no horse should run down
Stewart's Hill
Fifteen minutes later Minnie was stand
ing hockdeep in clean straw and Shelby was
sitting in the kitchen. His eyes contemplated
the beauty of his daughter Sally Lou She
sitting with her chin cupped in one palm.
an open magazine the table before her.
His voice cut in dryly.
"Whynt you turn the page?"
Sally Lou dropped her arm.
I'm not through reading it," she said
shortly
You amt reading it at ALL" he accused.
Sally Lou dropped her gaze. Shelby's voice
changed
Don't you reckon you'd best tell your old
man what's wrong?"
Their eyes met again in long questioning
look. Then the girl smiled feetingly.
Judge Stewart was down here today" she
said.
Shelby bristled, but Sally LOUIS voice went
on silencing him
HE came to tell me that no son Of his
could marry the daughter of a hill billy"
Shelbys chair went crashing over backward
and the muscles ridged along his jaw
But again Sally LOUIS voice halted him.
Wait" she said. Il told you this because,
for one thing, we've never had any secrets.
For another-well. because wanted to tell
somebody. But it's my affair and I'll handle
it. You've got to promise to keep out Of it,"
After long time Shelby spoke again.
What did you tell him?"
Il told him." the girl said quietly, that I
wouldn't marry Dugal Stewart if he crawled up
Stewart Hill on his hands and knees to ask
me-"
The silence longer this time. Again
Shelby broke it.
DO you care for him?" he asked.
Sally LOUIS face became all at once soft
and sweet. Her voice was huShed.
"Yes" she said, that's the trouble do"
CHELBY LOWDEN was more than just a
- star route mail rider. He was town crier.
special messenger, father confessor and contact
man with the wide world for the cloistered
settlements of Twelve-Mi Gap
And Donald Stewart had called him a hill
billy and insulted his girl.
Shelby paused with one foot on the steps OF
the Summer kitchen and raised knotty fist
toward the hilltop where roasted Stewart Hall.
Time will come" he said darkly, when
you'll eat airy word
He moved up another step and would have