Show 1 1 81 RIA OR ONE WAA 0 1 2 aaa 1 9 var WE ell I 1 by JUNNETTE LEE pictures by y A J imam copyright IWO by J fl lippincott co all rights reser rea vod love who may I 1 still can say rhose who win heaven blest are they browning CHAPTER I 1 A young man was walking slowly mong falong the country road his eyes fixed moodily before him saw baw nothing but his feet kept to the narrow path that skirted its edge avoiding the wheel tracks and hoof prints printe of the frozen surface and keeping well within the line of stiffened aster and goldenrod golden rod that rose on gray stalks beside the stone wall on either side beyond the wall fields of stubble stretched brown and bare in the twilight everywhere hung the cold unvarying light except along the western horizon where a band of orange glowed against the darkening sky its brightness fell upon the shoulders of the young man emphasizing the listless stoop and the slow dispirited walk the air of dejection might have belonged to tn a man of 0 60 IN no 0 human being was in sight prea antly he turned his head and looked back listening the movement brought his face into the glow of bf light it was a strange face the dark troubled eyes full of inquiry the flexible lia li slightly parted waiting upon silence slowly a smile of amusement crept into the eyes spread over the faced face and drew from the lips a quick laugh uncle eben and aunt jerusha the listless shoulders straightened V N t 0 V A J looked mick listening themselves and the young man faced about looking back far up the road outlined against the orange sky a high farm wagon was approaching the old horse made his way over the hubs with spasmodic seesaw leaps the two figures planted firmly on the high seat seemed in no way in comm oded by the gait both were bundled in shawls and furs that one was a roan man might be known from the ich 1 i its grayish fringe of beard that depended from under the blue and white tippet wound tightly around head and ears one hand reaching in front of the bundled chest palm down and knuckles out grasped the crossed reins and pulled gently now and then with a seesaw motion the other figure sitting stiffly erect ended in a brown veil the young man waited till the clumsy wagon was abreast of him he clambered over tho the end and kneeling in the straw laid an affectionate hand band on each bundled figure the brown veil nodded graciously and stiffly hows the folks richard came from its folds all well arent you frozen of there was no reply from the veil A wheezy chuckle from uncle eben and nd a gentle pull on the reins were the response the wagon rattled and bumped in the silence the sky had deepened from rom orange to purple and hung its light around them in the distance a gray weather beaten house lifted itself tinged with the glowing light theres mother said the young man ashes seen you A tall rawboned raw boned woman with a shawl pinned over her head squaw fashion was coming down the path to the gate well where did you come from she called out as they drew rein 1 I was just thinking about you today to day her mouth was stretched in a smile of conventional welcome but the high pitched voice was cordial and the dark eyes as youthful as those of her son looked out in pleased surprise the rest of the face framed in the shawl was seamed with care cafe and hard bard work it beamed with good humor and concern as she watched uncle eben who having descended from the high wagon with deliberation was helping aunt jerusha to alight the old lady bitched batched cautiously along the seat put one ample foot tentatively on the step glanced suspiciously atthe motionless jack and was at last deposited on the ground with a smile on his lips the young man watched the absurd figure supported on either side by his mother and uncle eben waddle up to the front door but as he turned towards the barn with jack the smile disappeared and the listless look returned he was fighting his first real battle ilard hard work poverty the heavy mortgage had not served to darken his spirit but tonight to night as he be came by emily suttons Hut tons he had seen a yellow wheeled buggy at the gate it meant that edwards the storekeeper from plainfield was in the house was perhaps at this minute talking to emily richards eyes smarted at the thought he turned the hay cutter swiftly and mixed old jacks supper perhaps jack was surprised a moment later to feel an arm thrown about his neck he turned his head inquiringly munching but there was no one else to see the boy was weeping out the bitterness of his heart she had smiled at him with her big black eyes and once on a sleighing party her head had rested for a moment on his shoulder ills his heart beat faster with the thought and aad now edwards this was the third time week she would marry him A sob rob ended the thought jack turned his head with a soft whinny the boy raised his head half shamefaced his hat had fallen to the floor and his eyes were full of tears he looked very boyish to be crying for a lost love he threw his arm again across jacks neck and stood for a moment with his face pressed in the thick fur then he straightened himself and clenched his hands ho he would rather die than have the folks in the house know about it ills his lips were firmly closed as he stepped into the fading light a wooden pall pail in each hand and crossed the barnyard to the old pump when he had filled the palls he dashed the water over his face and eyes he turned back to the barn his head erect and whistling softly under hh clr hr pith chere there rh ere he bc thrust the brimming pall pail under tinder old jacks nose and patted the thick coat drink that its well salted it ought to agree with you with a smile amile of somewhat determined cheerfulness ho he turned away to finish the chores CHAPTER if 11 within doors in the warm kitchen mrs derring was getting supper aunt Jerus has hals chair was drawn up to the stove with her brown merino skirt turned safely back from the heat and her large feet resting comfortably fort ably in front of the oven door she beamed over her gold bowed spectacles the picture of comfort uncle eben with knees drawn up and boot heels on the round of a straight wooden chair rubbed his fingers and chuckled into the conversation Is that edwards man going with emily hutton demanded aunt jerusha over her spectacles 1 I saw ills his team hitched there as we came along 20 mrs derring was stooping to put wood in the fire she lifted a flushed face well I 1 do know she hesitated hes been there once or twice wice I 1 believe 1 I thought she was dicks ga gal V cackled uncle eben from his high seat both women looked at him sternly aunt jerusha on principle mrs derring from the mother instinct to defend her young 1 I guess dick care much about her she said decisively she began to mix the light biscuit for tea uncle eben dropped his boot heels and rose with a crestfallen air he limped towards the sitting room and buried his ignominy behind the ashton weekly press hes a dreadful trial I 1 sometimes murmured aunt jerusha with a glance towards the sitting room door iles hes so affectionate you know wants to hold my hand band in meeting sometimes and such like of course the neighbors think its dreadful queer she had bad closed the oven door that the oven ove P might be hot for the biscuit she sat drawn well back in her chair her merino skirt still tucked up and her feet planted firmly on the floor looking inquiringly at mrs derring yes I 1 know mrs derrings berrings Der rings nod was sympathetic father was some that way too dreadful affectionate only he was more masterful than eben eben seems to give up pretty easy well lie he has to because I 1 have to have my own way answered aunt Jerus jerusha ba settling herself more firmly in her chair the other woman seemed not to have heard her her dark eyes were looking wistfully through the window towards the barn richard favors father some I 1 think she said as if following out her own thought and lately it seems to me hes grown more like him than ever I 1 dont seem to understand him aunt jerusha nodded sagaciously richard ud do well enough if hed give up writing poetry and get married and settle down he needs a woman to look after him mrs derrings berrings Der rings thin face flushed this time it was not the heat of the fire 1 I guess jerusha the door of the kitchen was flung wide the young man appeared a pail in each hand well well aunt Jerus jerusha ba arent you thawed out yet he crossed the room with the balm brimming palls pails and deposited them on the pantry floor there was little of the heartbroken heart broken lover about him as he turned to the wide wooden sink and dipping water into the big tin basin began to wash his face and hands he performed his public toilet with the unconscious ease of habit dashing the water over his brown face and neck and running his fingers far back into the thick hair he emerged from the folds of the heavy crash towel his face glowing and his eyes shining his presence lighted the dim room mrs derrings berrings Der rings face lost its tired look 4 uncle eben limped cheerfully bade back from the sitting room and as they seated themselves at the supper table the boys exuberant vitality gave a touch of unity that had been lacking before aunt jerus jerusha ha softened a little towards uncle eben merely keeping a watchful eye on him as one might j on an irresponsible child you pass him the sweet pickles she said but it was too late the dish was already in uncle ebens trembling 41 fingers and a brown drop had bad fallen on the spotless cloth 1 I knew hed spill it she spoke in an impersonal detached tone uncle eben hastily adjusted a glass to cover the spot richard watched wat clied the byplay by play with dancing eyes uncle eben and aunt IV I V r if only held hed give up writing poetry and get married Jerus jerusha jerushia lia were always irresistible but tonight to night as he watched them the smile faded A thought had flashed across it would he and emily ai lx 30 years impossible emiles dimples deepened to heavy lines hei laughing eyes behind spectacles ab surd yet aunt Jerus has bas manner to ie uncle eben was grotesquely like it I 1 all passed in an undercurrent ol of thought scarcely recognized as he laughed and talked and played th the e part of host TO BE CONTINUED 1 |