Evening star., 1935-12-22


cabin door Down there in the Kentucky
mountains snow was falling, soft and still. The
huge pines and sycamores loomed in the twi-
light like great white ghosts. But inside the
dirty cabin was no loveness. no peace. The
fading light through the window showed
lean old man with shaggy grey hair, face lined
with brooding bitterness For two years now
he had lived alone.
Luke Brant Hello up thar Luke Brant"
woman's voice, harsh and shrill, rose from
the trail some rods below. With jerk, up
came his head. Steps drew near and the door
was opened by old Ann Herndon from up the
creek. Behind the silent stare he gave her lay
the whole story of the feud between her
family and his own - but these mountain
people like to leave such things unsaid.
"Ruth's time has come" When she told
him that, the lines of his face drew tighter
still, but he made no answer, till she said:
ashes punishin terrible"
Then he asked: Where's Spcey Keep"
'Spicey's up thar with her now. Been thar
all day an all last night. She amt got head
nor hands for this. If Ruth's to live tonight
VIC IlCCu lIdt WOiildH N1uiNh 90
we can git her here"
He knew whom she meant, the trained
nurse in her house far down the long icy gulch
known as Hell-for -Sartain Creek, eight mule
hours to go and return
where's your Clay?" His voice was low.
Hes over at Danforth's logging camp.
sent Bill Jacksons boy at noon"
. La ell TNanforfhc
nearly forty miles away. A picture flashed in
both their minds of Ruths young husband
pushing his mule over snow and ice all night
long to reach his wife
"Ruth's puhishn awful" repeated Ann.
"She amt let out holer all day. She's
hghtin' hard But she can't last the night -
not without she's helped in time" Ann
looked at him with cleaning eyes. And there
want nobody else l could send to git that
nurse. So come to you"
Slowly he rose and frightened his belt. Her
sharp eyes fell on the pistol there. He took
from the table chunk of bread and slab of
cold pork, picked up lantern and an AK, took
a sheepskin jacket from the wall, and went
out the cabin door.
Nearly eight hours later up in the gap, the
old mountaineer swung himself from his
mule BY the light of his lantern, the nurse,
a young woman in knckers and heavy coat,
dismounted and shouldered her saddle bags;
and leading her horse, she followed him up
an icy path, in which he cut steps here and
there with his AK.
Slow and grim, he chopped their way up
to the cabin at the top. Light shone from the
window As they drew near, Ann Herndon
came out on the narrow porch. He looked at
her quickly.
"Ruths still alive
While the nurse followed her indoors, Luke
took horse and mule to the little barn, then
came back to the cabin, stopped short - and
it was as though the bitter old man had to
force himself to enter there. In the crowded
small front room great chunks of soft coal
glowed on the hearth, but he did not go to it,
though he was shaking with cold. Ann came
in; and when she saw his face all drawn and
grey, she asked him:
want dram of corn?"
His answer was low and hard. mot here"
When she brought him the whiskey, he left
it alone and sank heavily into chair. But
when she'd gone, he raised his head and
listened for news from the other room. Not a
sound but the low quick voice of the nurse In
Kentucky the mountain women don't cry. As
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