The Washington times., 1938-06-08

these damn hills give me thu
willies."
Lets look around a bit nov
that we're here" she suggested
timidly The place is an awful
flop, but we ought to let the
radiator cool little"
] They walked around to the
back of the shack. The terrain
was almost solid rock there. Not
even scrub pine could get a foot.
hold. Only one discouraged
switch-like tree, as yet leafleSS, per.
sisted, in a cleft on the very edge
of the plateau.
Knotty, mishapen and dwarfed
its shape told mutely of it's bit.
ter fight for growth against I'm.
believable odds. 1t grew at an
angle and its top was way out
over space.
That's a silly looking thing,
why doesn't it fall off the cliff and
be done with it," Peter said, kick
ing its frail side.
PROTECTS THE TREE
The kick made Elsie vince for
some strange season. 1t seemed
so needless, brutal almost. "Oh.
Peter, DON'T" she cried, as she
ran to it protecting ly and
smoothed the bark back over the
white wound of the wood.
Don't tell me you're sensitive
about preserving your property"
the boy laughed, little cowed,
nev ertheless, by her fierce protec-
tiveness.
"Oh. it's not that, Peter" she
protested. do anything you like
to anything else around here but
leave this poor thing alone.
1T doesn't really belong up here
this high. it's some sort of fruit
tree. Some one must have tried to
throw a pit over the side and it
lodged here. Can't you see it all
winter, whipping and beating in
every mountain Storm"
Hey, young lady, it's time you
got out of here before these goofy
mountains get you too. Soon you'll
be as batty as your late lamented
uncle. Let's get going-back to
sanity and civilization"
Elsie bought the roadster the
very next week and for a brief
time was happy, as her prince,
once more charming, taught her
to drive. But her happiness was
shortlived. In no time at all he
was back to his old, excuSe-mak-
ing habits, and now not only
Peter but the car went too.
He needed it to make business
contacts, he explained. And
though it grew harder daily. Elsie
Stifled her intelligence and made
herself believe. He was all she
had ever had
1t was on a sunny Sunday sew
eral weeks later, and she was on
her way to turn the car over to
Peter, when she heard the two
girls talking. She had stopped
into the hotel for lonely cock
tail, Peter would be delayed, and
the girls were seated on lounge
directly behind her.
The conversation didn't in
terest Elsie-at first. 1t was just
about some man who seemed to
be very low indeed. The girl with
the deep voice was Scoldlng the
shrill girl for encouraging him.
And the Shrill girl was explain
ing.
HEARS TALK ABOUT SELF
I'll admit he's shallow, disgust
ing almost, with his cheap con-
ceit," the Shrill one protested, "but
I just can't resist avenging some
of the poor little girls he has
bamboozled. Like the silly little
owner of the car he's been turn
ing up with lately.
Besides, he is good looking and
I need something drastic to chiSel
a proposal out Of Wally. I'll get
it any day now, he's frightfully
jealous already, and that will
positively be the last of Peter
Claibourne!"
Elsie could never remember the
numbed drive to Bread Board
Mountain. Spring had come at
last to the Ramapos, and tardy
greenery arched the roadway. but
it passed unnoticed. Nothing regis
tered except that her Peter dreams
were gone forever. She speeded to
join the remembered ruin Of the
mountain top, and the little fruit
tree that faced life, like herself,
alone and desolate.
But when she reached the sum-
nit, the pitiful sapling Of her last
visit had vanished. A miracle had
happened-a transformation. The
little orphan of the orchard had
changed completely. No longer
ugly or forlorn, but wreathed N
bride-like blossoms, it swayec
triumphantly over the valley.
And as it showered white petals
into her hands and hair, it seemed
to promise many thing-compan.
ionship and dreams fulfilled
she had but the courage to keep
seeking.
s$SSssssSssS~ -