diff options
Diffstat (limited to 'old')
| -rw-r--r-- | old/30356-8.txt | 5661 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/30356-8.zip | bin | 0 -> 105262 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/30356-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 331596 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/30356-h/30356-h.htm | 6365 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/30356-h/images/f0002-image.jpg | bin | 0 -> 49197 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/30356-h/images/f0003-image.jpg | bin | 0 -> 3911 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/30356-h/images/p0070a-insert.jpg | bin | 0 -> 68982 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/30356-h/images/p0142a-insert.jpg | bin | 0 -> 42109 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/30356-h/images/p0174a-insert.jpg | bin | 0 -> 54408 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/30356.txt | 5661 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/30356.zip | bin | 0 -> 105240 bytes |
11 files changed, 17687 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/old/30356-8.txt b/old/30356-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..85db361 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/30356-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5661 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Boy from Hollow Hut, by Isla May Mullins + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Boy from Hollow Hut + A Story of the Kentucky Mountains + +Author: Isla May Mullins + +Release Date: October 29, 2009 [EBook #30356] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOY FROM HOLLOW HUT *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + +THE BOY FROM HOLLOW HUT + + + + +[Illustration: "I kin kill rabbits if I can't do nothin' else"] + + + + +The Boy From Hollow Hut + +A STORY OF THE KENTUCKY MOUNTAINS + +By ISLA MAY MULLINS + +Illustrated + +New York Chicago Toronto + +Fleming H. Revell Company + +London and Edinburgh + + + + +Copyright, 1911, by + +FLEMING H. REVELL COMPANY + +New York: 158 Fifth Avenue + +Chicago: 17 North Wabash Ave. + +London: 21 Paternoster Square + +Edinburgh: 75 Princes Street + + + + +To MRS. J. B. MARVIN + +Whose unceasing devotion to the cause of education in the +mountains of Kentucky inspired this little story + + + + +CONTENTS + + I. A STRANGER AND A PROMISE 11 + II. A PACKAGE BY MAIL 24 + III. IN THE WILDERNESS 36 + IV. A HALT ON THE ROAD 44 + V. A DOUBLE RESCUE 57 + VI. AN UNEXPECTED MEETING 72 + VII. A TRIP TO THE CITY 78 + VIII. OPPORTUNITY 91 + IX. A STARTLING APPEARANCE 98 + X. STEVE DEVELOPS A MIND OF HIS OWN 111 + XI. EXPERIENCE 129 + XII. LOVE'S AWAKENING 149 + XIII. OLD TIES RENEWED 160 + XIV. "ALL RIGHT, SON" 180 + XV. FLICKERING HOPE 190 + XVI. IN THE CRUCIBLE 198 + XVII. FRUITION 204 + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + + "I kin kill rabbits if I can't do nothin' else" _Frontispiece_ + The Old Greely Mill 70 + "Hit's Champ fer his pappy" 142 + "Tilda pacing back and forth at her spinning-wheel" 174 + + + + +THE BOY FROM HOLLOW HUT + +I + +A STRANGER AND A PROMISE + + +The rabbit bounded away and was lost in the underbrush. Steve stood +looking disgustedly after him, a limp figure, one shoulder dropping +until the old knit suspender fell at his side, and a sullen, +discouraged look settling in his brown eyes. + +"I ain' no hunter noways. Peers lack I don't even know 'nough to ketch +a rabbit," he said with scorn. "Whar's that lazy Tige anyways?" he +added, his scorn merging into wrath. + +Then jerking the old suspender in place he straightened up on his +sturdy, bare feet, and darted through the underbrush in the direction +where the rabbit had disappeared. + +"I'll ketch you yit, yes I will, you same old cottontail," he muttered +through clenched teeth. + +There it was again! Just a moment the round, gray back darted above +the bushes, and then plunging into deeper undergrowth, bounded on and +on. But the slim, knotty brown legs plunged on and on too, till at +last a swift, cruel stone felled the unlucky little woodlander, for +Steve was a most skillful marksman. + +"Huh! thought you'd git away from me, did ye?" said the boy, picking +up the still body. "I reckons I kin do some things yit," he said, "ef +I don't know much." + +The boy was in a strange, new mood. He did not understand himself. +Though a good hunter for a lad of twelve he had been heretofore a +generous friend or conqueror of the fur and feathered folk, wont to +deal gently with a fallen foe. Now he jerked up the limp body of the +rabbit savagely and struck its head spitefully against a near-by tree +trunk. + +"I kin kill rabbits ef I can't do nothin' else." + +Just then a big black and tan dog came into view with the dignity +befitting age. Boy and dog had been born the same month, but while one +was scarcely well entered upon life, the other's race was almost run. +The boy was usually most considerate of the infirmities of his +lifelong friend, but to-day he scolded the dog till with drooping tail +and grieved, uncomprehending eyes he slunk away out of sight. + +A strange experience had come to the mountain boy the day before which +had changed his whole world. It was as though the wooded mountains +which hemmed in his little cabin home had parted for a moment and +given him a glimpse of a fascinating world beyond. He and Tige had +wandered farther from home that day than ever before, though wanderers +they had always been, the woods holding a deep interest for Steve. He +loved to hide in the densest solitudes, lie still with his dog and +dream, fantastic, unreal dreams. Now a definite, tangible vision had +come to him out of the solitude of a hazy November day in the +mountains of Kentucky. He had lain for two hours or more in the +stillness when suddenly Tige lifted his head and gave a sharp bark, +then came the sound of voices, strange voices Steve at once knew them +to be, and as he caught the tones more clearly, recognized that one at +least was of a kind which he had never heard before. Keeping Tige +quiet with a firm hand, he lifted his head and listened with ear and +soul, then into view stepped a man of medium height with a clean, fine +face, clothes of a sort unknown to the boy, and an easy, alert stride +totally foreign to the mountaineer's slouching gait. A mountain man +accompanied him, but he too was a stranger to the boy. + +The man of the new, strange species smiled at the boy's gaping mouth +and wonder-wide eyes. + +"Well, son," he said pleasantly, "are you a sportsman too?" + +The quick, clear, cultured voice, the unfamiliar accent was so utterly +foreign to anything the boy had ever heard that he could not take in +the import of the words, and amazed silence was his only reply. + +"Wal," drawled the mountain guide, "who'd er thought er seein' a chap +lack that heah? Whar'd you come from anyways?" + +This was familiar vernacular, and Steve, rising slowly from the +ground, and allowing Tige to make friendly acquaintance with the +strangers, said: + +"I lives at Hollow Hut and I comes over here whenever I pleases. +Whar'd you uns come from?" + +The man gave a hearty but musical laugh at the ready dignity of the +reply, but the boy's mouth dropped once more in consternation, as +words came again in crisp, foreign accent. + +"I came from the city, my lad, to get some of your fine quail and +deer. You are willing I should have a few, are you not? My friend here +is showing me the way." + +The mountain folk had proved a most entertaining study for this +sportsman, and his interest was ready for each new specimen +encountered. Turning to the guide he said: + +"Suppose we lunch here," and taking out his watch continued, "yes, it +is high time; twelve thirty to the minute." + +The boy stepped forward involuntarily for a look at the queer, pretty +thing in the man's hand. + +"What's that?" he asked. + +"Why, that's a watch, son. Didn't you ever see one?" said the man +kindly. + +The guide smiled derisively: "Wal, I reckons not," while the boy, too +interested for reply, asked again: + +"What's a watch?" and the man with his genial laugh said: + +"Son, we will be greatly pleased if you will take lunch with us. My +name is Polk, Samuel Polk," he said, touching his cap with the +unfailing courtesy of a true gentleman. "And after we eat I will show +you the watch and tell you all about it." + +But the mountaineer does not readily eat with "furriners," so Steve +stood near by and looked on while the two men ate very strange things. +Little cans were opened and tiny fish taken out that looked +exceedingly queer. Mr. Polk, trying to persuade the boy to eat, +explained that these were sardines, some square, white things were +crackers, a thick stuff was cheese and that some big, round, yellow +things were oranges. But Steve only stared in silence till the meal +was over though Tige, with no instinctive handicap, accepted delicious +scraps with astonishment and relish. + +So amazed, however, had the boy been with it all that he nearly +forgot about the watch. But when he remembered and the man let him +take it in his rusty, brown fingers, that was the most wonderful +moment of all. The tick, tick inside was a marvel, almost a thing +uncanny to the boy, and when it was explained how the hands went round +and round, telling the time of day, it surely seemed a thing beyond +mortal ken. + +The guide drawled out with a superior air: "Wal, sonny, you come from +the backwoods shore ef you never heerd tell of a watch before." + +The boy looked squarely at him in sullen resentment a moment, but with +such opportunity at hand he wouldn't waste time with the likes of him. +He asked, "What moves them things round?" and the man kindly opened +the watch at the back and displayed all the cunning wheels which +respond to the loosening spring, explained how it was wound each day +to keep it from running down, and in answer to the boy's eager +questions as to how such things were made told him something of watch +manufacture. + +At last the wonderful hour was over and the two strange men prepared +to leave. + +"Good-bye, son," said the man; "one of these days you will leave the +mountains and go out into the big world to live a life of usefulness +and honour, I hope." + +The words, so simple and commonplace to the man, were to the boy like +a telescope lifted to the unknown heavens, but through which he could +not yet look. He watched the men go down the mountainside, the strange +words which he did not comprehend, but was never to forget, ringing in +his ears. A bit of heavy timber hid them at last, and the boy stood +dejected a moment, his heart swelling with an agony of strange +longing, while the dog looked up at him almost pleading to understand. +Then suddenly, with a cry of hope, Steve sprang after them, the dog +following. Breathless he came upon them, and the man turned in +surprise at the tragic voice and face. When the boy could speak he +panted out: + +"I've got the bes' fox skin anywheres hereabout. I'll swap it with you +uns fer that watch thing." + +The man suppressed a smile and kindly replied: + +"Why, lad, I couldn't do without it for the rest of this hunting trip, +but I tell you what I will do. When I get back to the city I'll send +you one." + +"Then ef yer'll come home with me I'll give ye the fox skin now," the +boy responded promptly. + +"Oh, never mind about the fox skin now; I must get back to camp before +dark and we are many miles away," said the man. + +"But I can't take the watch 'thout you git the skin," said the boy +sturdily. + +"Well, now, I'll tell you," said the man, realizing that he had struck +the stubborn, independent pride of a mountaineer. "You give me your +name, tell me where you live and I'll send you the watch; then next +time I'm over here I'll get the skin." The address was a difficult +matter to determine, but the mountaineer helped them out. + +This satisfied the boy and he saw the two strangers depart with better +spirit, since he could look forward to the coming of the watch. He did +not understand how it would ever reach him, but trusted the stranger +implicitly. When the last sound of departing feet among the underbrush +had died away, Steve turned and went home with long, rapid strides, +the dog recognizing the relief and following with wagging tail. + +He found supper on the table, the savoury bacon and hoe-cake greeting +him from the door. The head of the family, lean, lank and brown, was +already transporting huge mouthfuls from the tin platter to his mouth; +the fat, slovenly daughter sat for a moment to rest and cool her face +before beginning to eat, while the mother still occupied a chimney +corner, pipe in mouth, for she "hadn't wanted nothin' to eat lately, +her stomick seemed off the hooks somehow." These, with the boy, +composed the family, a row of graves out under the trees at the back +of the hut filling the long gap between Mirandy, a young woman of +twenty-one, and Steve. The boy sat down, but before he ate that +remarkable tale of his morning experience had to be told. When he was +done the father said: + +"Huh, better let city folks alone; don't have nothin' to do with none +of 'em." + +The boy, feeling the rebuke, then turned to his supper, but when his +father had gone out to smoke, and Mirandy was in the lane looking for +her sweetheart, Steve stole up to his mother's side and stood digging +his toe in the sand hearth. + +"Mammy," he said at last, "what makes that man diffrunt from we uns?" + +The old woman smoked a moment in silence and then said: + +"Wal, there's a heap over the mountains what makes him diffrunt,--things +we ain' never seen ner heern tell on." She smoked again a puff or two, +then added, "I recken schoolin's the most." + +"What's schoolin'?" said the boy. + +"Larnin' things," she replied. + +The subject of schools had never been discussed in the boy's hearing. +His father didn't believe in them, there wasn't a book, not even a +Bible, in all the scattered little remote mountain community, and if +the boy had ever heard either books or schools mentioned before the +words had made no impression on him. + +"Do they larn to make watch things thar?" he asked. + +His mother said she supposed so, "she knew they larned out o' things +they called books," and then she explained as best she could to him +what schools and books were. When his father came in again Steve said +boldly: + +"Pappy, I'm er goin' over the mountains an' larn how to make them +watch things." + +The mountaineer stood as if paralyzed a moment, then his dull eyes +blazed. + +"No, you won't nuther! Not a step will ye go! Ye shan't nuver hev +nothin' to do with no city folks, so help me God!" + +The boy dropped back cowed and trembling; he had never seen his father +so stirred. He didn't dare ask a question, but when the mountaineer +had seated himself in the chimney corner opposite his wife, he +continued: + +"City folks with all their larnin', fine clothes an' fine ways ain't +to be depended on. I wouldn't trus' one of 'em with a jay bird lessen +I wanted to git shed of it. Don't you let me hear no mo' o' your goin' +over the mountains arter city folks." + +The prejudice of some mountaineers against the city is deep-seated. +They have little use for the "settlements," meaning the smaller towns, +but the city is their abomination. Jim Langly's prejudice was even +stronger than that of the average mountain man of this type, for it +had been a matter of contention between himself and his wife in the +early days of their married life. She had always longed to see what +was beyond the mountains and besieged him to go till the subject could +no more be mentioned between them. + +Steve soon climbed to his bed in a corner of the room with a very +heavy heart. If city folks weren't to be depended on then he would +never get that watch, and all the beautiful visions of learning to do +things in a wonderful new world grew dim and uncertain. So heavy was +his heart as he fell asleep that when he waked at daylight, it was +with a terrible sense of loss and grief. The morning meal over he +wandered off with Tige, dull and dejected, till the unlucky rabbit had +crossed his path and stirred strange, resentful enmity towards his +little familiar contestants of the woods. Sending the dog angrily off +he skinned the rabbit with savage jerks and then carried it at once +back to his home, saying: + +"Fry it, 'Randy, fry it dog-goned hard." + +His mother caught the sullen, angry tone, and when Mirandy went out +in the kitchen to begin the dinner, she called him from where he sat +on the door-step. + +"Come here, sonny." + +It was a rare term of endearment, and Steve got up quickly and went to +her side. + +"Don't think too much o' whut ye pappy said about city folks. He's +allus hated 'em fer some reason, I don't know whut, 'less hit was +'cause I saw one when I was a gal afore we married, nuver min' how ner +where, and arter that I allus wanted to see whut was over the +mountings. Ef ever ye git a chanct I want ye ter go thar an' larn ter +do things. I'd er done hit ef I'd er been a man. But don't say nothin' +to ye pappy." + +This caution was unnecessary; and what a change the simple words made +for Steve! His spirit bounded up into the world of visions again, and +when dinner was on the table he refused to take a mouthful of the +savoury rabbit, so ashamed was he of the manner of its killing. + +After this his mind was constantly on the watch which was to come. How +it was to reach him he did not think out, for the simple reason that +he knew nothing of the distance which stretched between him and the +city, nor of methods of communication. No letter or piece of mail of +any sort had ever come to his home, or that of any one else of which +he knew but things of various sorts were gotten from the crossroads +store ten miles away, skillets and pans, axes and hoes, which were +made somewhere, and he supposed some time when some one of the +community went to the store they'd find his watch there. But week +after week went by till spring came on, and nobody went to the store. +The mountain folk indeed had little need of stores. They spun and wove +the cloth for their clothes, raised their corn, pigs, and tobacco, +made their own "sweetin'," long and short, meaning sugar and molasses, +and distilled their own whiskey. So the boy's heart grew heavy again +with the long delay and he began to think bitterly that his father and +not his mother was right, when one day a stranger whom he had never +seen before drove up to the door. + + + + +II + +A PACKAGE BY MAIL + + +"Howdye! Does airy feller named Stephen Langly live here?" said the +stranger, reining in his tired, raw-boned steed without difficulty. + +Mirandy went to the cabin door, stared a minute in surprise and then +shook her head slowly. But Steve pushed past her saying: + +"Yes, thar is, too. I'm Stephen Langly." + +"You! Sakes erlive, I clean forgot that was yo' name!" and his sister +laughed lazily, while the stranger joined in. + +"Wal, you're a powerful little chap to be a-gittin' mail. But this +here thing has yo' name on it, they tole me at the store, an' so I +brung it along as I was a-comin' this-a-way. Hit's been thar mo' than +three months they tole me." + +Steve took the package, his hands trembling with eagerness and would +have darted away to the woods with his treasure where he might look +upon it first alone, but Mirandy stormed when he turned to go, and the +man said: + +"'Pears to me you mought show what ye got, when I brung it all this +long ways to ye." + +That did seem the fair thing to do, so when they had asked the man to +"light and hitch," Steve sat down on the door-step and removed the +wrappings from the square box; there was tissue paper first, a miracle +of daintiness which the boy had never beheld before, and at last the +watch came to view. Steve lifted it in trembling fingers, and while +Mirandy and the man expressed their admiration his first quivering +words were: + +"That other one was yaller." + +"Wal, now," said Mirandy, "that one was gold; you couldn't expect that +man to send you no gold." + +Mirandy, having a precious gilded trinket, was better posted on the +colour and value of metals than Steve, though she made a slight error +in her next statement. + +"This hern is silver; that's the next thing to gold," and the bright +nickel of the Waterbury twinkled in the spring sunshine as though +trying to measure up to its admirers' estimate. + +"A silver watch," said the stranger after he had heard the story of +that autumn day with its promise of a watch which was just now +fulfilled--"wal, you air a lucky boy, shore." + +Mrs. Langly called feebly from within, and Steve went and laid it on +the bed beside her. Her "stomick had never seemed to get on the +hooks," as she expressed it, all winter; her spinning-wheel and loom +had been long silent, and for a few days she had not left her bed. + +Her eyes gleamed with strange, new fire as they fell upon the shining +thing which belonged to another world from theirs, and when Steve had +laboriously wound it, which he had not forgotten how to do, setting +the wonderful machinery running, she whispered to him: + +"Remember you air goin' whar you kin larn to make things lack that." + +Steve's shining eyes answered hers, though the boy failed to catch the +light of prophecy and final benediction which they held. Hugging his +treasure, with no hint of oncoming change he went out to feed the +stranger's horse while Mirandy prepared the dinner. + +It was not until the visitor had gone and Steve was in the solitude of +the woods with Tige that he found fullest joy in his new possession. +It seemed to him he could never in all his life take his eyes from it +again. He watched the hands go round and round, the little flying +second hand, the more leisurely minute marker and the creeping hand +which told the hours as they passed. Then again and again the back +was opened and the busy little wheels held his breathless interest. He +took no notice of Tige, but the old dog knew that his mate was happy +and lay content beside him. Although for the first time in possession +of a noter of the hours, he lost all account of time and did not move +from the mossy bed where he had thrown himself until it was too late +to see either hands or wheels. Then he called Tige to come and hurried +back to his home to sit by the cabin firelight till Mirandy made him +go to bed. The family all slept in the same room, three beds occupying +corners; this main room and the lean-to kitchen constituting the whole +house. + +Steve's watch never left his hand the long night through, and for the +first time in his uneventful life he slept fitfully, waking every +little while to make sure it was there. + +Jim Langly was away for a few days "to a logrolling" several miles +away and did not return until dusk of the evening after Steve's watch +came. The boy sat again by the firelight, watch in hand, when Jim +walked in at the door. His eyes fell at once upon the strange, shining +thing and his face was convulsed with sudden wrath: + +"Didn't I tell ye to have nothin' to do with city folks? Ye shan't +keep that thing. I'll smash it, so he'p me God!" But before he could +lift a hand a scream came from the bed, and Mrs. Langly sat up wild +and dishevelled. + +"Let him hev it, Jim Langly, let him hev it," and then she dropped +back gray and still. Jim Langly had seen that gray stillness before, +and he stood looking upon it now in dumb terror. His wife had been +ailing a long time, it was true, yet no one had thought of death. But +the grim visitor was there in all his quiet majesty. The weary spirit, +which had for so many years longed for flight into new haunts of men, +had winged its way at last to a far, mysterious country of which she +had heard little, but towards which for months past she had been +reaching out with a strange prescience of which no one guessed. + +It was a dreary night at the cabin. No one tried to sleep. Jim Langly +said no more to Steve about the watch, and the boy wore it in his +bosom attached to a stout string about his neck, keeping it out of +sight, and sobbing in the stillness of the woods as he wandered with +Tige, "Mammy wanted me to have it." And though his joy in it for the +time was gone, there was peculiar comfort in this thought of her +approval. The old dog looked up in the boy's face from time to time +pitifully, or stuck his nose in the lad's hand, knowing well, in a way +dogs have, what had happened. + +Next day the wife and mother was laid to rest beside the row of little +graves, and life completely changed for Steve. He went to bed as usual +in his corner of the room, but he could not forget the still form +which had lain in another corner the night before, and while Mirandy +and his father slept heavily, he slipped from the bed, took a blanket +and with Tige at his heels went into the woods again. Here in the +stillness which he loved, worn out with loss of sleep and his first +encounter with grief, nestling close to old Tige slumber came and held +him until late the next day. His father and Mirandy paid little +attention to what he did, so night after night he took his blanket and +dog and slept in the woods, the two only going to the cabin for +meals. + +During all these strange, restless days the words of Steve's mother +came to him over and over: "Remember you air goin' whar you kin larn +to make things lack that watch." And he thought, "How am I a-goin' +lessen I jes' go?" He knew his father would never give him permission, +it was not worth while to ask it, so gradually his plans took shape in +the solitude of the woods with no one to counsel. Had the boy known +what distance lay between him and his goal he would have grown +faint-hearted, but he had no conception of what his undertaking meant. +So he laid his plans with good courage, which plans, of course, +included the taking of his dog. For three or four days Steve took an +extra share of corn pone and bacon, Mirandy not noticing in her +shiftless manner of providing, and feeling the loss of her mother, she +was even more listless than usual. These extra rations for himself and +Tige Steve carried to the woods and laid away. Then his beloved fox +skin, the greatest treasure which he possessed beside the watch, he +must take that with him, because it was "the man's"; he had promised +it in return for the watch, and now that he was going he must take it +along to give to the man. The boy had no thought of any difficulty in +such a search. The food, the skin, the watch, and the scanty clothes +he wore constituted all his equipment for the journey. When he started +out with the skin Mirandy lazily asked what he was going to do with +it, and he replied: "Use it fer a piller in the woods." + +"Ye better quit sleepin' out thar," she said; "somethin' 'll eat ye up +some night." + +"I ain't a-feerd," he said, and she thought no more about it. + +Three days passed with a good accumulation of food, and as Steve and +Tige lay down to sleep at night the boy said: + +"Tige, we've gotter be a-goin' 'bout day arter ter-morrer," and the +dog wagged sleepy assent. But next morning when Steve wakened a +peculiar stillness smote him. Tige was usually alert at his least +move. With intuitive alarm Steve put out his hand,--and touched a +rigid body! Drawing back he sprang to his feet, a cry of anguished +appeal on his lips: + +"O Tige, Tige, ye ain't dead too?" + +But death makes no reply. His lifelong playmate lay straightened out +in that last unalterable, mysterious sleep. + +The boy was too stunned for tears. He knelt beside his dog in silent +misery. After a long while he rose from the ground and going to a +moss-covered rock near by where laurel and forget-me-nots blossomed +and rhododendron bells hung in clusters, with a stout stick and his +sturdy hands he dug beneath the rock an opening large enough to hold +his dead dog. Then he went back to where his old playmate lay, and +lifting the stiffened body in his arms he stumbled blindly to the rock +and laid it away. + +Towards evening he slowly made his lonely way home. + +Mirandy, missing the dog at last, inquired: "Whar's Tige?" and Steve's +stiff lips articulated the one word, "Dead." + +She replied indifferently, "Wal, he want no 'count any mo'. I reckons +hit's a good thing." + +Steve had no answer and with swelling heart made his way to the woods +to sleep alone. It was long before he could sleep, and as he lay in +the unbearable loneliness, he decided that next morning he would start +on that journey to the unknown. Perhaps to that new world sorrow would +not follow! He would not need so much food now; he had enough saved +already. The death of the dog urged him on to his purpose as nothing +else could have done. + +He went down to the cabin next morning for the last time. It was a +warm spring morning. Passing Mirandy sitting on the door-step, her +breakfast dishes not yet washed, he paused a minute, longing to say +something, for although the bond between them was of blood and not of +the heart, yet she was part of the life from which he was tearing +himself away, and he longed to sob out a good-bye. But he must not, so +choking down words and tears he stumbled off, never once looking back. +His father sat in the chimney corner smoking his morning pipe, but +father and son had always lacked interests in common, and the coming +of the watch had put an insurmountable barrier between them. So +Steve's only thought in passing him had been to escape suspicion. It +was to his mother that the boy had always shyly told his day-dreams in +the woods,--dreams which reached out into a wonder world lying beyond +the mountains. And she had smoked her pipe in silent sympathy, +occasionally asking: "Did ye see big houses, rows and rows of 'em on +land, and some a-ridin' the water? I've hearn tell of 'em in my day," +so furnishing inspiration for more dreams in the future. + +"O Mammy, O Tige," sobbed the boy when safe at last in the woods, and +he threw himself down in an agony of weeping beside the rock where the +old dog lay buried. When calm at last, he took up his bundle of bread +and bacon wrapped about with his fox skin, and started slowly away. He +took no thought as to direction, he was simply "goin'," as his mother +had told him. A dismal rain soon set in, but on and on he persistently +tramped all the long day, water dripping from his ragged trousers and +old hat as he went farther and farther away from all he had ever +known. He met no one, saw no habitation anywhere, only the startled +denizens of the wood scurrying here and there out of his path. Over +mountains and across ravines he went on and on. He was puzzled and +discouraged when night dropped down, and his aching feet and tired +legs said he must have travelled many miles. "Shorely I'll git thar +to-morrer," he said, as he lay down upon his fox skin, but another +weary day of tramping over unknown ways without sight of any human +being brought terror to his sturdy heart and when he lay down alone at +night he felt that he was the only human being in the universe. Oh, if +he only had Tige! + +All the people he had known and those he expected to see beyond the +mountains seemed to have sunk into some great unseen abyss. He could +never find his way back to the old cabin, he knew, and he began to +feel that he could never reach forward to the wonderful city of which +he had dreamed. In the agony of loneliness and the chill of night +which settled upon him he cried again, "O Tige, O Mammy!" Did the +tender mother-arms reach down and draw her boy near to the heart of +God? At any rate he grew quiet. He remembered vaguely that he had +heard how God is everywhere, and with a new strange sense of +companionship with the great Creator, which comes to souls in +extremity, he fell asleep and did not waken until the sun, bursting +forth with new brilliance after the day of rain, had lit up the +mountain tops and set the birds to singing. + +He enjoyed the breakfast of very hard corn pone and bacon, and took +out his beloved watch. The busy, little shining thing, which he never +forgot to wind, did not mean much to him as a marker of time, for he +knew little about the hours as enumerated by the watch, but it was on +this morning of new courage a fresh pledge of wonderful things +awaiting him. He started on again with steady strides, and tramped +bravely till mid afternoon without adventure. + +Suddenly, without premonition, his heart thrilled at faint sounds +which seemed marvellously like those of a human voice. He stood still +a moment in an agony of uncertainty, straining eye and ear for +confirmation. + +Yes, he was right! He caught the crackle of dry twigs and underbrush, +while the faint human tones grew clear and distinct. Under the +discipline of loneliness and distress the face of the untutored boy +beamed with eager welcome which held no reserve and caught no +suspicious glimmer of lurking treachery as near-by bushes parted and +steps were close upon him. + + + + +III + +IN THE WILDERNESS + + +Two men were before him, men very similar in appearance to those Steve +had known, though with something in their faces which made him draw +back even in the moment of joy at meeting others of his kind. + +"Sakes erlive, Bub, whar'd ye come from?" called the taller, harder +looking of the two. + +"I come from Hollow Hut," answered the boy with his simple dignity. + +"And whar you goin' to?" called the other man, while both laughed +unpleasantly. + +"Ter the city," said the boy. + +"Wal, now, that's a pretty nice fox skin ye got rolled up thar," said +the tall one as they came closer. "S'pose you jes' hand that over to +us." + +"I can't," said the boy, holding it tighter in real alarm. "I swapped +it with a man fer a watch, an' I'm a-takin' it ter him." + +"Is that so!" exclaimed the tall man. "So you've got a watch, hev ye? +Who'd a-thought it,"--and they both haw-hawed loudly. "Now, ye can +jes' han' that over too, fer we mean bizness, don't we, Bill?" + +And with that they pounced upon the terrified boy, jerked the fox skin +from his clinging fingers and soon brought forth from its hiding-place +in his bosom the beautiful, beautiful watch! Steve fought like a small +tiger, but he was no match for them and stunned and bruised he soon +lay upon the ground while the two men walked off, never once looking +back at their helpless victim. + +For a few minutes Steve could not think, so severe had been their +cruel blows; then indignation, such as he had never known in his life, +swept over him in a sudden flood. He sprang to his feet, ignoring pain +and keenly watching which way they went, stealthily followed after. +For two hours he kept within hearing of them, though being careful +always that they did not get a glimpse of him. He did not know what he +was going to do, but when they finally halted for the night he halted +too. The men had also taken the last of his corn pone and bacon; there +was nothing for him to eat, but he did not even think of it, so +intently was he listening. Soon they began to sing and laugh very +loudly and he knew then they had plenty of whiskey with them. Hope +rose in his heart. After a bit they would fall into heavy sleep. He +knew well the ways of drink. + +Soon all was still, and after waiting a while till the sleep was deep +he crept upon them. Fortunately the moon was up in its full glory and +Steve could see plainly what he was about. He crept up close to the +two snoring men and across the feet of the tall one lay his fox skin. + +"I must git that anyways," said the boy to himself, "for it belongs to +the man in the city." + +Slowly, cautiously he lifted it from the big heavy feet, and there was +not a stir. Then he stood, his heart almost bursting with longing for +his watch. It was in the big man's pocket he was sure, and he stooped +close a minute, reaching out a hand,--but he didn't dare. If he waked +them, skin and watch would both be gone, and he must by all means get +the skin to give to the man in the city. He went sorrowfully away with +only the skin. He didn't dare stop near them, so he tramped half the +night in spite of frequent twinges in his left ankle which had had a +little twist as the men threw him down, and at last the boy dropped +upon the ground, utterly exhausted, to sleep until noon next day. + +When he wakened, stiff and sore from the blows of the men, and tried +to get upon his feet he found that left ankle so swollen and painful +he could not put the foot to the ground. He realized for the first +time also with great consternation that he had nothing to eat. +Bruised, sore, empty, helpless he sat alone in the woods. But even +then he did not know the desolation of the night before. He felt once +more that comforting sense of companionship with the great Creator, +and he faced the situation sturdily. + +He crept about on his knees hunting berries which he knew were good to +eat. It was a laborious way to get breakfast, or more properly dinner, +but he succeeded in finding enough to still somewhat the gnawing in +his empty stomach, and suddenly as he lifted his head a road lay +before him. With hope that was almost a tranquil certainty he crept to +the roadside and sat down. An hour or more passed with only the call +and song of birds to break the stillness,--when, list! There was +surely a rumble of wheels! And then the cry came distinctly, "Git up +thar!" + +Tears of joy rained down the boy's face as a covered wagon drawn by +four mules came into view, though he sturdily brushed them aside as +the wagon drove up and halted. + +"Hello, thar," called a lusty youthful voice, and the driver, a young +fellow of perhaps nineteen who was mounted on one of the mules, turned +round and saw at a glance the swollen, helpless foot. + +"Done up, air ye, Bub? Whar do ye belong anyways?" + +Steve knew at once that these people were friends, and told them his +little story. + +"I want to git to the city, so's to give the skin to the man thar an' +then I'm goin' to larn to make watches an' things," he concluded. + +"Wal, you air a long piece from the city, but we uns kin help ye git +to the railroad and that'll take ye to the city." + +Several heads of varying sizes were sticking out of the wagon by this +time, and when Steve had been helped in among the occupants he found +it was a family moving from one little hamlet to another. The husband +and father had recently died and they were going back to their +mother's home to live among her "kin." + +The kindly mother at once bound up Steve's injured foot with white of +egg and salt, which she said would "fetch it round all right," and +hearing the empty rumbles of his poor little stomach she said she +didn't believe "thar was a thing inside of it," and proceeded to give +him a good square meal. + +Was there ever anything happier than to be driving along the road with +a comfortable foot, a full stomach and in the midst of friends! Steve +had never known greater joy than that moment held. They were a +"happy-go-lucky" family he had fallen in with,--and for the first time +in his life he was in the midst of the merry banter of children. The +mountain folk of remote regions lack a sense of humour, and Steve had +grown up entirely alone, the cabins of Hollow Hut being scattered, so +he sat through the afternoon in a maze of delight. There were snickers +and giggles, punching in the ribs and tickling of toes from these +children who lived on the border of civilization, for Steve had really +gone blindly towards his goal. + +As they drove gaily along Steve heard a sudden rumbling which +suggested thunder, the children cried, "The train, the train," and +stopping the mules quickly the big brother who was driving jumped +down, while three of the children sprang out with a bound and all +grasped the bridles at their heads. It was done so quickly there +wasn't time to ask a question and then a monster came tearing, +puffing, hissing past them. Steve's eyes almost started from their +sockets and when it was past he sank back limp and quivering. + +"Why, chile, didn't ye nuver see no railroad trains afore?" said the +good mother. + +Steve managed to say, "No," and then the children told him all the +astonishing things about railroads. To his mingled joy and terror +another came along from the opposite direction when they had driven on +about a mile further, and this time it came more slowly, making a +full stop near them. + +"Whut air they a-doin' that for?" asked Steve, and when it was +explained that they had stopped for fuel or water, there being no +station near, a quivering light broke over his face, and remembering +his watch as his mind tried to grasp new sources of motion, he said: + +"They're jes' a-stoppin' to wind hit up, then." + +Very soon after this they came to a cabin by the roadside and all the +family within poured out to see the strangers. + +"Won't you light and hitch?" drawled the man of the house, but the boy +driver refused, saying they wanted "to git to their kin afore night." +He suggested to Steve, however, that if he wanted to go to the city he +had better stop there, for they were going further from any station +than he would be there. The folks of the cabin were hearty in their +invitation to the boy when they had heard his story, even the fact of +his probable helplessness for a while not marring the beauty of their +royal hospitality. So Steve was carefully lifted out and helped in +among new friends. + +The little cabin was full to overflowing with boys and girls, one girl +of fifteen fondling her baby as she would a big doll, in ignorant, +unlawful, and one perhaps should say innocent motherhood. She, a waif +herself, had come along needing shelter and they had taken her in. + +When Steve had had his supper pallets were spread everywhere about the +cabin floor upon which the family went to rest fully clothed, after +the fashion of mountaineers, and to the boy the night was a great +contrast from the previous one in the loneliness of the woods. He +thought of his own home as he had never done since he left it, +wondering if his father and Mirandy would like to see him, but he +never dreamed of how they had searched the woods for miles around when +he was missed the second day after leaving. His failure to return the +first day and night they thought little of, for he frequently did not +come back after morning, but the second day's absence had brought real +alarm, and when they found his blanket Mirandy said she knew something +had killed and eat him up; she had forgotten about the fox skin which +in that case should also have been there. But Jim Langly set his teeth +grimly and said the boy had gone off "along o' that watch," and he did +not cease to make inquiry as he had opportunity, trying to trace his +son, while he angrily threatened to kill that city man if ever he +"showed up agin in them parts." + + + + +IV + +A HALT ON THE ROAD + + +Steve spent a week in the crowded but hospitable cabin of his latest +friends resting the swollen foot. It was not seriously sprained and +would have given him no trouble but for the long tramp upon it the +night before and his general fatigue. + +He had an interesting time with this family on the roadside. They were +of the most shiftless type of mountain folk. Life was a long holiday +to them, every meal a picnic. There were too many to gather about the +table in the little log lean-to, so the elders only sat down at meal +times. The children came up shuffling, pushing and squirming good +naturedly to get their portions and ran away again full-handed to sit +on the door-step or flat upon the ground outside while they ate. +Sometimes one ambitious consumer would succeed in disposing of his +viands more rapidly than the others and then woe to some small +delinquent! His food would be snatched away and a lively fisticuff +probably follow during which the inevitable "yaller dog" was usually +the gainer. The disturbance at times reached a height which brought +the mother lazily to the door with a mild: + +"Now ef ye alls don't quit fussin', I'll set the boogers arter ye +ter-night," which was a dire and telling threat, for, to the mountain +children, "boogers" meant ghosts, witches, hobgoblins, thieves, or any +other terrible, mysterious creature of the night. + +Steve went up to the table with the rest for his portion of food, and +took his chances with the other children if a squabble began. +Association with the children was most enjoyable to Steve. They told +marvellous tales about giants and mountain feuds and the mother's +threat of "boogers" was sure to stir up all their recollections about +ghosts. Wherever there was a "killin'" as the result of a mountain +feud ghosts were sure to congregate and marvellous were the tales +which clustered about each bloody spot. Steve being a new listener +must hear all these old tragic stories. + +When meals were over, the family disposed themselves to their liking. +The head of the house invariably lit his pipe and sat in the chimney +corner to smoke, a custom quite familiar to Steve. The mother washed +the skillet and few utensils used about the meal, smoking her pipe the +while. The young girl sat down outside in the sun to play with her +baby, the big boys perhaps went off hunting and the children wandered +aimlessly in and out. + +The fields of corn and tobacco had been planted and now there was +little to do but watch it grow, so they thought. The hogs practically +took care of themselves. What more could any one demand, a blank look +would unconsciously have inquired, if asked why they did not work. + +When the day was over and the troop of children began to grow sleepy, +one after another dropped down upon the cabin floor, perhaps upon a +pallet, perhaps not, and fell asleep. The older ones followed in the +same way, as inclination suggested, and room was cheerfully made for +Steve among the rest. For a night or two the full chorus of audible +breathing wakened him frequently, but he soon became accustomed to +it. + +In the morning the voice of some child was apt to be heard first: + +"Mammy, I'm hongry." + +And the reply would come, "Now you shet up, 'tain't time ter be +gittin' up yit," or perhaps the satisfied parent would yawn and say: + +"Wal, I reckons I might as well git up and stop ye mouth," and so the +household would gradually emerge from slumber. + +This was the normal daily life, but comedy and tragedy came to them +as to the rest of the world, and Steve had a taste of both during his +stay of a week. + +Unlike Hollow Hut it was a somewhat thickly settled community and one +moonlight night some young folks from neighbouring cabins came in. +Steve's friends made the visitors welcome and hailed with delight the +banjo which one of them had brought. The young folks were out for a +frolic and laugh and joke were ready. + +Pretty soon the banjo began to tune up and set everybody's feet to +patting. + +"Clear out things," called one of the boys, and in no time the few +articles the room held were out of the way. Then the air vibrated with +"Hook and Line," "Sourwood Mountain," and other lively tunes, while +everybody danced except Steve, who crept to the farthest corner and in +wonder looked and listened. He had never seen dancing or heard music +before. + +The girl with the baby came and dropped it down upon his lap while she +joined in the fun, and it almost seemed that the cabin itself would +break from its moorings in the abandon of rollicking, swaying motion. + +When everybody was tired out the banjo player, a young fellow with +deep-set black eyes and the unmistakable look of an artist in embryo, +swung into a monologue accompanied by the banjo, part talk, part +song, describing a fox hunt which was most fascinating and altogether +remarkable. + +He called the hounds with "Here Tige," "Here Jack," "Here Spot," "Here +Bob-tail," interspersed with the tooting of a horn, long musical +whistles and the banjo striking soft staccato chords. He mustered the +men, he raced the horses with excited calls of "Git up thar," and gave +clever imitation of fleeing hoofs, "to-bucket, to-bucket, to-bucket," +in a rapid, low, chanting song. Then the leading hound opened with a +plaintive bay "how!-oo-oo-oo, how!-oo-oo-oo," and one by one the +others joined in with varying notes till it swelled to a weird chorus +of baying hounds which the banjo and the musician's voice made most +realistic. Next the fox was spied and there were cries of "Hello! Ho! +Here he is!" "There he runs," with the banjo thumping like mad! Then +the medley shaded down into a wild, monotonous drumming from the +strings and the voice, which represented most thrillingly the chase at +full height. At last the fox was caught with dogs barking, men +calling, and banjo shrilling a triumphant strain in stirring climax. + +Steve followed it all in breathless excitement, and the rest of the +audience received it with boisterous enthusiasm. + +After this somebody started the lovely old ballad, "Barbary Allen," in +which all joined; then, "I have a True Love in the Army," and "The +Swapping Song" followed, while "Whistle up your Dogs, Boys, and +Shoulder your Guns," made lively the leave-taking and echoed back from +far down the road. + +Then there was a night of tragedy during Steve's visit. The sleepers +of the cabin were suddenly aroused by blood-curdling whoops and yells, +gunshots, racing horses and running men. Everybody was instantly alert +and the family turned out of the cabin en masse. It was thrilling. All +knew well what it meant. The head of the house and older boys joined +the fleeing crowd like dogs in a chase. + +"That's Bud Levit's folks and the Cuneys done broke out agin 'bout +that ole fuss, I bet," drawled the wife and mother, when the tumult +had died down to faint echoes. + +"I reckon thar'll be a big killin' this time," said one of the +children with zest. + +"Thar shore was a passle er folks and a pile er shootin'," said +another enthusiastically. + +"Now, you-alls git back to bed an' shet up," said the mother, and her +brood gradually quieted down. + +Next day when the man of the house and older boys returned about dark, +full of whiskey and full of talk, a most exciting tale was unfolded +to the eager listeners. + +"Hit was the biggest killin' whut's been in these parts fur many er +day," said the man with pride. "I'll tell ye when they did git +together they fit lack beastes. When ev'ythin' was over thar was five +on 'em a-layin' in their blood. Three of the Levits an' two of the +Cuneys." + +"Wal, I hope they'll keep quiet fer a spell now," commented the +woman. + +Then all the ghastly details were gone over with the children +listening eagerly, drinking it in as they would a story of an exciting +hunt. When the children discussed it afterwards one little fellow said +to another: "I tell yer what, I'm er goin' ter be a fighter jes' lack +them Levits. I'll shoot 'em down ef anybody comes foolin' round me." + +Steve listened soberly. The experience was not a new one to him, but +he remembered that his "Mammy" had always said she didn't like +killings and that mountain folks ought to "larn better some way." The +words came back to the boy with peculiar meaning since the voice which +uttered them was still. He said nothing, but it all made him more +anxious to move on towards that other world of which he and "Mammy" +had dreamed. + +The following morning his foot seeming fully restored and clearing +weather having come after several days of rain, Steve said "he thought +he'd move on." + +"Whar ye goin'?" said the man of the house who had paid little +attention to him before. + +"I'm er goin' to the railroad fust, an' then from thar to the city to +give the fox skin to the man, an' to larn things." + +"Larn things," said the man scornfully, not being in the best of +humour after the previous day's dissipation. "Huh! I s'pose ye'll be +goin' to some er them city schools. Ye better go on back whar you come +from. Schoolin' ain't no good ter anybody. Hit's them schools whut +larns folks to go 'round pesterin' other folks, breakin' up 'stills.' +Folks has got jest as good er right ter make whiskey es anything +else," which showed in what he was especially interested. + +Steve made no answer for the man was too forbidding in his irritability, +but the boy kept to his determination to press on at once towards the +railroad. After breakfast was over he went back to see the woman of +the house, and in lazy kindness she said she wished she had a little +bread and meat to give him but "there wan't none left," which Steve +was quite prepared to hear, for there were many mouths to feed and +never any left. + +"I hope ye'll git thar all right. I reckons ye'll git somethin' to eat +on the road, and ef ye're ever to come this-a-way agin come an' see +us," she drawled as she smoked. + +"Ye been mighty good ter me," said Steve, "an' I ain't nuver goin' ter +forgit it." + +He passed the children about the door-step, his fox skin under his +arm, and they stood and watched him leave with a sort of sorrowful +solemnity. Goodbyes are a thing unknown to mountain folk. + +Then he walked off without much thought as to direction, having a +definite impression, however, as to the way he should go, which was +part instinct and partly remembrance of what the boy on the moving +wagon had told him. The people he had left were too inert to think of +giving him any instructions. But down the road he passed the big boys +of the house sitting idly by the roadside. They had heard with +satisfaction their father's opinion as to Steve's going in search of +"larnin'." As Steve came in sight one of them nudged the other and +said, "Less throw him off the scent." + +"Which-a-way ye goin', Bub?" he asked when Steve came up. + +Then for the first time Steve stopped and thought. + +"Why, that-a-way," he replied pointing. + +The big boys laughed boisterously. "Ye'll nuver git to no railroad +goin' that-a-way. Thar's the way ye want ter go," said one, pointing +off at a slightly different angle, which made the greatest difference +in the boy's ultimate destination. + +Steve looked doubtfully, but when he reflected a moment he remembered +that he really did not know positively in what direction to go. + +"Is that so?" he inquired looking earnestly at the boys. + +"Hit shore is," returned both of them. + +"How fur is it?" asked Steve. + +"Oh, 'tain't fur," said one of the boys; "ye ought ter git thar before +night easy. You go straight as a crow flies that-a-way," pointing as +he had before, "and ye'll come to the railroad tracks. Ye can't miss +hit fer ye're bound to cross 'em, an' ef ye go straight, lack I tell +ye, ye'll be right at the station." + +The boy on the moving wagon had described the railroad tracks to him, +so Steve started off feeling reassured, and it never occurred to him +that any one could be mean enough to misdirect him. It was a pity the +echoes from the boisterous laughter of the boys when he was out of +hearing could not have reached the little traveller's ears, but they +did not, and Steve pressed on with good spirits feeling that he was +almost in sight of his goal with less than a day's journey before +him. + +He turned at once from the road and went on and on, knowing as well as +the crow how to keep straight with the compass, although like the +crow he had never heard of one. The straight path took him quickly +into the wilderness, but that did not dismay him as wilderness travel +had become most familiar to him. At noon he began to feel so empty, he +longed for just a little piece of corn bread. And then remembering +that the mother thought he'd get something to eat on the road he began +looking cheerfully for the smoke of a cabin somewhere. He had been +vaguely disappointed at striking no road anywhere, but he had not +asked the boys any particulars as to the route. Everything so far in +his journeying had been unexpected, and the possibilities of routes +were so totally unknown to him that he had started on again, as when +he left home, unquestioning. + +The empty stomach continued to cry loudly for food as the afternoon +wore on, and no cabin smoke gave token of life anywhere. He did not +suffer from thirst for mountain streams and springs were abundant. He +pressed bravely forward, cheering himself with the thought that the +boys had said he would come to the tracks before dark. But twilight +began creeping in among the forest trees and still no tracks were in +sight. Anxiously he listened for the terrible yet thrilling rush of a +train which he remembered so well. He ought to be in hearing distance +of them by now. But nothing broke the forest stillness save the +twitter and song of birds, the scurrying of rabbits or frisking of +squirrels with occasionally the sound of some larger animal in the +underbrush. + +Finally night fell with the poor boy straining his anxious eyes for +the shining tracks of which he had heard. He forced his aching limbs +along till suddenly, with a quivering sob, his strength seemed all to +go and he sank upon the ground in a pitiful heap. He was too exhausted +to think and in a few moments was sound asleep. + +He lay upon the summit of a rugged mountain, which dropped precipitately +down just beyond the sleeping boy, to ripple off again in lesser +lofty heights, with beautiful fertile valleys and tossing streams +between. A little, lonely, helpless human soul he lay upon Nature's +majestic bosom, with the Infinite hand beneath his head. + +In the morning when he waked billows of mist in silver splendour were +rolling slowly from the valleys below, like Nature's incense rising in +her sacred morning hour. + +Although born in the mountains the mystic grandeur of the scene filled +Steve with awe. Rising, he gazed, a part of the worshipful silence, +and then as the sun burst suddenly into golden glory above the waves +of mist, his mind as suddenly seemed to shoot up from the mists of +fatigue and sleep. It was the peculiarly clear brain which sometimes +comes with long abstinence from food. Instantly he knew that he had +been fooled! + +Turning to look back over the way he had come he said to himself: +"Them boys told me wrong, an' they did hit a purpose. They're lack +their pappy, they don't want to larn nothin' an' they don't want +nobody else ter nuther." + + + + +V + +A DOUBLE RESCUE + + +The boy stood quietly on the mountain top and took his bearings. He +knew the way he had come, and remembering his previous impressions, +and what his friend on the moving wagon had said, he turned at last +and started down at an acute angle from the direction he had come. He +gathered again as he went whatever he knew to be good to eat in the +way of berries and herbs, but he soon began to feel so weary that he +could hardly drag himself along. Had he gotten out of the wilderness +only to plunge into it again and be lost? For as the day went on and +he met no one, saw no cabin or the long-looked-for railroad tracks, +discouragement and anxiety beset him. Noon passed again. Sometimes he +thought he must stop and rest, but he was afraid if he did he could +never get up again. His fatigue and hunger were far greater than in +his previous experience in the wilderness, for he had never eaten +heartily at the roadside cabin, knowing that food was not abundant +there. So he was not in the best of trim for a long fast and great +physical strain. + +The remnants of his courage were wearing away when at last he seemed +to be emerging into a more open country. He was still in the woods, +but there was a subtle difference. He felt somehow that man was in +proximity somewhere, though he had as yet seen no sign. His pulses +quickened a little, and then suddenly a child's scream rang out. + +Steve bounded forward at first with joy, and then as scream after +scream followed, with the unmistakable agony of fear in the cry, +forgetting his deadly weariness he ran swiftly in the direction of the +sound, dropping the fox skin as he ran. In a breathless moment he came +in sight of a good sized tree, and hanging from a high limb by the +skirt of her dress was a little girl, head downward. + +Steve saw in an instant that she could not help herself, and that she +might fall to her death any moment. He did not pause or hesitate. Up +the tree he went, his bare feet clinging to the sides, up and up in a +twinkling, then he carefully crept out upon the limb and drew the +little girl safely up beside him. + +"Oh," she said when she had recovered her equilibrium and gotten her +breath, "I thank you so much," and even then Steve was conscious that +he had never seen anything so pretty in all his life as the blue eyes +which looked up into his, and the soft yellow curls which framed her +little face. But he hurried to get her down safely. With infinite care +he helped her until she could go on down the tree alone, and then, he +did not know what happened, but things suddenly seemed to whirl round +and he fell to the ground in an unconscious heap. + +The next he knew some one was wiping his face with a damp cloth and +chafing his hands. He was too tired to open his eyes and see who it +was. Then a woman's voice was saying in a worried but gentle tone: + +"What were you doing in the tree, Nancy? You know I don't like for you +to climb trees." + +"Why, mother," replied a frightened little voice, "I found a poor +little birdie out of its nest, and I pinned it up tight in my apron +pocket and carried it up the tree and put it into the nest. The father +and mother bird were so worried about it. I didn't know I was going to +fall, and make this boy fall too, and hurt himself so bad," and the +small voice broke pitifully. + +"You never should have tried to do such a thing," said her mother +firmly, and then as the little voice went into sobs, Steve opened his +eyes in a brave effort to try to assure them he was all right. + +"Oh, I'm so glad you are better," exclaimed the woman who knelt beside +him. + +She looked so kind and nice that Steve struggled to get up and further +reassure her, but there seemed weights holding him down and a sharp +pain thrust through and through his left arm. + +"I am afraid you have broken your arm," said the woman anxiously. +"Nancy, you run right over to the store and get your father," she said +to the little girl. And Steve watched a white pinafore and flying +yellow curls through a half-conscious dream mist, with a satisfied +sense that he was at last in the new world of his visions. + +And he was, for he had stumbled blindly through a bit of wood at the +back of Mr. Follet's, the station-master's home, and just in time to +rescue his little girl. + +Mrs. Follet had heard the child's screams, for the tree was in the +edge of the wood only a little way from the house, and she reached the +place just after Steve had fallen to the ground, having seen the +child's perilous position and Steve's rescue. She had dampened her +handkerchief in a near-by spring and worked over the boy until +consciousness returned. + +The little white pinafore was soon running back with Mr. Follet +walking rapidly. + +"What under the cano_pee_ does all this mean?" he asked excitedly as +he came up, although Nancy had told him about the accident. "Are you +hurt much, boy?" he went on. + +Steve heard what was said in a vague way, but he couldn't reply and +Mrs. Follet explained that she didn't think the boy was fully +conscious yet, and they would have to try to get him to the house. + +So Mr. Follet, who was a small but very wiry man, soon had him up in +his arms, while Mrs. Follet supported his head and together they +carried him to the house and laid him down on a couch. Then Mrs. +Follet quickly fixed him a hot drink and gave it slowly to him. With +each swallow the sturdy boy felt stronger, and by the time he had +taken a cup full, was able to talk freely. + +"Where under the cano_pee_ did you come from anyway? You don't live +hereabouts, do you?" asked Mr. Follet, who was of the restless, +nervous temperament which must know things at once. + +"Now, Pa," said Mrs. Follet, "you must get the doctor to set his arm +before you ask him anything," and Mr. Follet started off. + +Steve looked curiously at the arm hanging limply by his side. He had +never seen a broken arm before though he had heard that arms and legs +could break and be mended like hoe or ax handles. + +By questioning, Mrs. Follet found that he had had nothing to eat +since the day before, so she prepared him a dainty meal which filled +the mountain boy with wonder. There was a poached egg, a bit of toast +and a cup of hot milk, none of which had he ever tasted or seen +prepared before. But it all was very, very good, and as he ate Nancy +slipped shyly into the room. She had stayed outside in frightened +misery, feeling that all the trouble was her fault. Her mother said +kindly: + +"That's right, child, come on in; our boy is better now." The little +girl sat down timidly on the edge of a chair, and Steve took in the +complete vision. + +Soft yellow locks strayed out from a ribbon and tumbled about before a +pair of deep blue eyes. Round cheeks were pink and soft, sweet lips +were red and shyly smiling, a white apron with ruffles almost covered +a blue gingham dress. The boy held his breath at the beauty of the +apparition. He had never dreamed of anything so sweet and pretty in +all the world. + +It was not long before Mr. Follet returned with the doctor and the +broken arm was successfully set, Steve bearing the pain "like a +trump," as Mr. Follet put it. Then Mrs. Follet said he must go to bed +at once, and he went up a tiny flight of stairs to a bed in a little +attic chamber which she had made ready. Knowing the ways of mountain +folk, Mrs. Follet did not insist that he undress, as the task would +be difficult for him with the broken arm. He slept soundly in spite of +pain in the arm upon a remarkable bed "off the floor" and awoke +feeling well, and eager to see again his new friends. + +When he got down the stairs, Mrs. Follet was busy getting the +breakfast, and Mr. Follet was ready with questions. + +"Where under the cano_pee_ (which was a favourite expression with Mr. +Follet) did you drap from yesterday, just in time to save our Nancy? +You don't live hereabouts, do you?" + +"No," said Steve, "I come from Hollow Hut." + +"And where's that?" returned Mr. Follet. + +Steve couldn't tell very clearly, but gave an account of his long +journey and told about the watch and the fox skin which he was going +to take to the man in the city. + +Mr. and Mrs. Follet were much interested in his story, so much so that +they forgot the waiting breakfast. Then they turned to it, but Steve +had remembered that he dropped his fox skin as he ran to Nancy's +rescue and he wanted to go at once for it, but Mrs. Follet would not +let him go till he had eaten breakfast. The neatly laid table with its +snowy cloth was a new wonder to Steve, and when the little girl, +looking fresh and sweet as a rose, sat down opposite him, he was so +awed and thrilled he could scarcely eat. Angels could hardly have +given him a more heavenly vision than did this little girl. + +Breakfast over, Steve started at once for the fox skin, and Mrs. +Follet sent Nancy with him to help find it. The little girl lost some +of her shyness as they looked for the skin, and Steve listened to her +chatter, feeling in a strange way that it was all a dream which he had +had before, as we do sometimes in experiences which move us strongly. + +They found the skin with little trouble, and when they had carried it +back to the house, Mr. Follet took it up and carefully examined it. + +"So you're trying to get this here skin to the man in the city who +sent the watch to you?" + +"Yes," said Steve. + +"And you ain't got hair or hide o' the watch now?" continued Mr. +Follet. + +"No, I hain't," said the boy sorrowfully. + +"Well, I'll be sniggered," said Mr. Follet. "And how under the +cano_pee_ do you expect to find him in the city when you git thar?" + +The boy's uncomprehending stare showed that he had no conception of a +city, and Mr. Follet looked at his wife, laughed and went over to the +station, which was station and store combined. + +For a few days Steve continued to live in a dream. The house was a +marvel to him. Mrs. Follet cooked on a stove and constantly fixed +strange, nice things to eat; a clock ticked on the mantel, which +comforted him somewhat for the loss of his watch,--there were queer +but to him surprisingly beautiful and comfortable pieces of furniture, +and one room had a nice piece of good stout cloth with red and green +flowers on it spread over the floor on which people walked! + +Then marvel of marvels, every now and then that engine and great train +of cars came puffing and hissing by the house in full view, and the +boy's spirits mounted on wings as he thought of the wonders of the +world. + +Even with one arm disabled, he took hold at once to help with the work +about the place. He fed the chickens, horse and cow. With only one +hand he could not learn to milk, though he was eager to do so. He went +over to the store on errands and made himself useful in many ways. + +One day when at the store he said to Mr. Follet that as soon as his +arm was well he would have to be going on to the city to take the fox +skin. + +"And how under the cano_pee_ do you expect to be ridin' round on the +railroad without money?" said Mr. Follet. He knew well the boy had +none. "You ain't a Rockefeller or a Jay Gould, air you?" + +These allusions of course meant nothing to the boy, and the question +of money was a new one to him. None of his late friends in their +simplicity had thought of it, and the man had to make clear the need +of it in the business world which Steve had come into. With his people +things had always been "swapped"; corn, tobacco and whiskey, for the +few things they needed from a store, and he had seen very few pieces +of money in his life. + +"Now, how under the cano_pee_ are you going to come up with the +money?" asked Mr. Follet briskly, and with practical pertinence. + +Steve certainly did not know and then Mr. Follet proposed that he stay +with them through the summer, work for him and he would give him his +board and clothes and pay him fifty cents a week. + +Steve agreed readily and at once felt a new sense of responsibility +and manliness. + +When his arm was quite well Mrs. Follet gave him some long white +garments which she called "nightshirts," and told him to undress at +night and wear them for sleeping! It was a very needless performance, +he felt in his secret heart, but he had already learned to love the +gentle woman and he would have done even more foolish things to please +her. In fact, the thing which she gave him for brushing his hair +seemed at first to bring him to the limit of acquiescence, but the bit +of broken looking-glass stuck in one of the timbers of his room soon +told him that a little smoothing down of his tousled head made an +immense difference in his looks, and somehow made him seem a little +more worthy to be in Nancy's presence. + +The little girl had lessons at night from her mother in wonderful +books, and Steve listened with rapt attention each time, beginning +very soon to catch their meaning. It was not long till he had confided +to Nancy how his "mammy" had wanted him to "larn things" too, and that +was another reason why he was trying to get to the city. + +"You're going to school then," said the little girl. "My mama teaches +me, and some day she is going to send me to a big, big college." + +Mrs. Follet had been a school-teacher from the north in one of the +small Kentucky towns, an orphan girl, who very young had been obliged +to make her own way in the world. She had met Mr. Follet, and in one +of those strange attractions between complete opposites in temperament +and training, had married him. She was a quiet, refined and very +kind-hearted woman. She would gladly have taught the boy, but finding +that he did not know even his letters, she felt that with Nancy in the +second reader, she could not take another pupil who was a beginner. + +But when the lessons were going on in the evening Steve soon began to +spell over the words to himself as Nancy spelled them, and then it +came about that often at odd times the brown shock of hair and the +little yellow curls bent together over bits of paper, as the little +girl pointed out and explained the make-up of the letters to the big +boy. + +"Don't you see, Steve, this little chicken coop with a piece across it +is big A, and this one with the piece standing up and two curly things +at the side is big B." The peculiarities of similar letters were +discussed, how the bottom curly thing in big R turned the other way, +while P didn't have any bottom curly thing at all, and F didn't have +any bottom cross piece, while E did. + +"See here," said Steve, growing alert, "here's a powerful nice gate; +whut's that?" + +"Oh, that's big H," said Nancy, "and wriggly, twisty S is just the +prettiest letter of all, I think. Oh, Steve, that is the letter which +begins your name," said she, in generous, childish joy. + +"Is that so?" exclaimed Steve, with eager pleasure because she was +pleased. "And which is the one whut begins yourn?" + +"Oh, mine is just two straight standing up pieces with a slanting +piece between. It's one kind of a gate but not just like H," and she +hunted out an N to show him. + +"_I_ think that's the prettiest letter of all," said Steve, with +unconscious gallantry. "Whar's the other letters in yo' name?" he +inquired, and Nancy hunted them all out. Then she found the other +letters in his name, and Steve had an undefined disappointment that +his name did not have a single letter in it which belonged to her +name. It seemed to shut him out more completely from the things which +belonged to her. + +So the lessons went on from the little girl to the big boy, and Mrs. +Follet was amazed one day to find that Steve could read quite well. He +studied every book and paper within reach as he found time, though he +never neglected his duties. + +Corn was constantly brought Mr. Follet in exchange for goods at the +store, and one of Steve's duties was to take the old horse with two +big bags of corn over to the Greely mill to be ground into meal. Nancy +was mounted upon the old horse in front of the bags to show Steve the +way on his first trip, and afterwards she always begged to go. To +Steve it was the greatest joy to take the little girl with him, though +he wouldn't have dared ask it. He taught her to put her small foot in +his hand while he sturdily lifted her to the old white mare's back, +and on the return she stepped down into his palm with equal ease. + +The way to the mill lay along the road for a time, and then a short +cut was made across what was known as the Greely Ridge. It was a steep +cliff of rugged woodland, and both Nancy and Steve enjoyed the trip +through the woods, Steve walking close beside the horse and the two +chatting all the way. He told the little girl such interesting things +about birds and squirrels, rabbits and foxes. + +"Don't you wish we were birds," said Nancy one day, "so we could fly +way off and see lots of things?" + +"Yes," said Steve, "I shore do; then I could find Mr. Polk and give +him his fox skin." The thought of getting to Mr. Polk was always in +his mind, and though the little girl knew all about it she wanted to +hear again how Steve got the skin and about that wonderful day in the +woods when he met Mr. Polk, and the beautiful watch that the robbers +took. + +"When you find Mr. Polk and learn to make watches and things, like +your mother wanted you to, you will make one just like yours for me, +won't you, Steve?" + +"Yes, I shore will," said Steve earnestly, never doubting that he +would keep his promise. + +There was nothing Steve would not attempt for her pleasure. He went to +the tops of trees after some vacant bird nest or hanging flower, he +chased rabbits and hunted squirrels that she might get a glimpse of +them. + +[Illustration: The Old Greely Mill] + +"Some day, Steve," said Nancy innocently, "let's build us a house and +live here always; we do have such good times when we come to this +wood." + +Steve replied again, "Yes, I shore will," and neither dreamed what the +wood was hiding for them to be revealed, far out in the veiled +future. + +When they reached the mill, Mr. and Mrs. Greely were always so glad to +see them. They had no children of their own and they liked the +straightforward, dependable boy, while the little girl with her sweet, +shy ways, was always a delight. Mrs. Greely would often stop her +spinning to get a little treat for them, which they would eat while +the corn was being ground, and going to mill came to make four people +happy each trip. + + + + +VI + +AN UNEXPECTED MEETING + + +Mr. Follet was a man of unique business methods. He had no idea of +orderliness, though he insisted he knew where everything was, and +strenuously declined his wife's offers to go over to the store, or +stores rather, and help him "straighten up." The stock had overflowed +the floor of the original building and instead of putting in shelves +to dispose of the stock conveniently, he built another and still +another shanty to hold the overflow. But in spite of queer methods he +was making money steadily. He kept each building securely locked, for +he said he wouldn't have idle folks sitting around in his store. He +went over to the station according to the railroad time schedule, +though it was only a flag station and was seldom flagged, and whenever +he saw a customer at the store door or on the way, he bustled over to +unlock the door, stumble around in the dark, for there were no +windows, and hunt out what they wanted. + +Bacon, molasses, dress-goods, coffins and farm implements were on +close terms of intimacy and whatever was wanted Mr. Follet could +produce with amazing promptness. + +Such methods, however, consumed a great deal of time on the path +between his home and the store, and Steve filled an urgent need of the +combined establishment. + +One morning at breakfast in early autumn Mr. Follet was in a great +flutter of excitement. A travelling auditor of the railroad was to be +there for the day looking over his accounts and this not frequent +event was a sore trial to both the station-master and the auditor. +Each time Mr. Follet said to him nervously: "Now, you know I can't +keep things like the road tells me to, and if things don't just come +out even I'll make up whatever's lacking." + +When the auditor, a big, broad-shouldered, kindly-faced gentleman +arrived on this particular morning, and was seated for work, Mr. +Follet made his usual statement. + +"All right, Mr. Follet, all right," said the genial auditor, "we know +you are straight as a string. Are you sure you've got all the ticket +stubs?" he continued as Mr. Follet brought out some bits of pasteboard +from a big bushel basket. + +"Oh, yes, I'm sure," said Mr. Follet. "I don't let nobody in here but +myself and so nothing is out of place." Then thinking a minute, he +said, "Well now I do believe I stuck a few stubs in this tin pail." +He looked, and sure enough there were a few more. + +"And the bills of lading," said the auditor, "are these all?" + +Mr. Follet pondered a moment and then brightening, exclaimed: "Why no, +I stuck a few of them in one of these here coffins one day for safe +keeping," and he stepped over to a grim pine coffin keeping company +with a pile of gay bandanas, and brought forth another bunch of bills. +But his foot caught in a coil of barbed wire as he started over to the +auditor with them and it was at that moment that Steve came to the +station door to get something and Mr. Follet called out, "Here, Steve, +hand these over to the gentleman." The boy started to obey, but when +he turned and faced the auditor he stood rooted to the floor, his face +white and eyes staring. + +"What ails you?" said Mr. Follet sharply, noticing him. The auditor +looked quickly up also, and the boy found his voice. + +"Samuel Polk," he said slowly. + +The auditor smiled, and replied pleasantly, "That's my name, son, and +where did you ever know me?" + +"Ye sent me the watch," said the boy. + +"Is that so!" exclaimed Mr. Polk. "So you are the boy I met in the +woods! Well, this is marvellous, sure, that we should meet here. How +did you ever get so far away from Hollow Hut?" he went on smiling. + +The boy told him briefly, while Mr. Follet listened with lively +interest. When the pitiful tale of the loss of the watch was told, +Steve added sturdily: + +"But I got yer fox skin in spite of 'em, an' I've been a-workin' to +git to the city to give it ter ye." + +"Working to take the skin to me when you have no watch," said the +auditor, gently. + +"Course," said the boy; "hit was yourn jes' the same," and the auditor +reached out and drew the boy to him tenderly, thinking of all the +hardship he had borne in the effort to be square and honest. + +"You are the boy for me," he said with a glimmer in his eyes that made +Steve feel queer, and he broke away, saying, "I'll go and brung ye the +skin." + +He was back as quickly as his sturdy legs could bring him, and laid +the fox skin on Mr. Polk's knee. It was gravely accepted and admired, +and then Steve returned to his work with all the earnestness he could +summon after the excitement of this unexpected meeting. + +When Mr. Follet and Mr. Polk came over to dinner the acquaintance of +the two who had met that November day in the mountains was continued +and Mr. Polk was greatly pleased to find that the boy was already +"larnin'," and astonished at the progress which had been made during +the summer. On the way back to the store he said to Mr. Follet: + +"I've taken a great fancy to that boy; he ought to have a good +education. I am all alone in the world and no good to anybody. If it's +all square with you, I'll take that boy to the city with me this +afternoon when I leave at four-thirty and put him in school +somewhere." + +Mr. Follet was amazed and he hated to give up the boy who had become +so useful, but after a moment's thought, he said: + +"I don't see as I have anything to say about it. He just stopped here +on his way to you, and you've come to him. You'll have to take him if +you want him, though I don't see how under the canopee we'll get along +without him now." + +"That is just like you, Follet, straight always," said the other +warmly, and after a little the station-master went back to take the +news to Steve. It startled them all and Mrs. Follet expressed her +great regret in seeing the boy go, but she put his few little +belongings in good order and prepared him to start off "clean and +whole," as she expressed it. Nancy looked on wide-eyed, and Steve got +ready like one in a dream. He wrapped his small bundle of clothes in +the fox skin, which Mr. Polk had asked him to take care of, and went +over to the station. + +At four-thirty the train rushed up. Mr. Polk led Steve into a +beautiful plush-seated car and placed the boy where he could have a +last look at his friends, for Mr. and Mrs. Follet and Nancy stood on +the platform. + +It was Nancy who held his eyes till the last moment, little Nancy with +two big tears dropping down her cheeks. Steve's throat ached +unaccountably. + + + + +VII + +A TRIP TO THE CITY + + +"Here we are," said Mr. Polk, as the train thundered into the +station at Louisville. The ride of four hours had been a continued +kaleidoscopic delight. Steve could not understand how it was that +trees and houses went racing by the car windows and Mr. Polk had +rare enjoyment in the boy's unsophisticated inquiry and comment. + +Bringing this boy into the city was like giving sudden sight to a +child who had lived its life in blindness. With keenest pleasure, +Mr. Polk took him into a brilliantly lighted restaurant for supper +and then afterwards up town by trolley into a large furnishing +establishment, for it was Saturday night and the stores were open. +There he fitted the little fellow out from top to toe according to +his liking, the outfit including a shining German silver watch! The +two attracted attention everywhere, the boy's face a study in its +swiftly changing expression and the man full of eager interest which +he could not curb. + +When Steve was all dressed and stood before a mirror, Mr. Polk +exclaimed: + +"Now, that is something like!" And the boy turning from the +transformed vision of himself, lifted a quivering face to his +benefactor. + +There was a delicately sensitive side to the nature of this boy of the +woods. To him this experience was not simply getting new, fine +clothes, but his old familiar self seemed to go with the old clothes, +and like the chrysalis emerging into the butterfly, he could not pass +into the new life, which the new type of clothes represented, without +having his joy touched with the pain of travail. + +With the tenderness of a woman Mr. Polk put his arm about the little +fellow in quick contrition, knowing that it had been too much for this +habitant of the quiet woods, and said in a most matter-of-fact way: +"Now, son, for home and bed," and in a few minutes more the boy was +snugly tucked in bed in Mr. Polk's comfortable bachelor quarters, and +the next morning when he woke he was a new boy inwardly as well as +outwardly. + +He was ready for new "thrills" and they came. After a very astonishing +breakfast he went with Mr. Polk to church. The beautiful building and +wonderfully dressed people held his wide-eyed interest, but when the +deep-toned organ poured forth its solemn melody, big tears dropped +down the boy's face and Mr. Polk drew him within a protecting arm. It +was like touching the quivering chords of a little bared soul with +new, strange harmonies, and the sensitive heart of the man understood +intuitively the boy's mingled joy and pain. + +In the afternoon Mr. Polk took his charge to the home of a friend to +see about schools, as his friend had a boy about the same age, and +also to get help as to the general problem of caring for his protégé. + +Arrived at the house, the friend, Mr. Colton, his wife and Maud, the +young daughter about fifteen years of age, were at home and gave the +visitors a lively welcome. They were at once greatly interested in the +mountain boy, but so civilized was his outfit, and intelligent his +face that they could not realize his difference from themselves except +when he talked. This they were delighted to get him to do, and he +answered all questions unabashed, though he liked better to look and +listen. + +The Coltons were well-to-do people with ever-ready, easy hospitality +and insisted that Mr. Polk and Steve remain to tea. + +"The maids are both out as it happens, so we must get tea ourselves," +said Mrs. Colton, adding with mock graciousness, "and everybody may +help!" + +They all trooped out in responsive pleasantry through the hall, and +Mr. Colton inquired: + +"Where is Raymond?" + +"Oh, he is out," replied Mrs. Colton. "There is no telling when he +will be in." + +That they were very indulgent parents and Raymond was an exceedingly +lively boy, Mr. Polk already knew. + +The hostess and her daughter exchanged glances of sudden consternation +when they reached the dining-room, then burst into merriest laughter. + +At last Mrs. Colton said between subsiding ripples, "Father, please go +down in the basement and look in the furnace and you'll find the baker +with the cold roast left from dinner! Mr. Polk, you go along too, +please, and you'll see some loose bricks between the joists right +under this dining-room window, and right behind them is the bread-box +which you can bring up!" + +"The cake is up-stairs in the hat-box of my trunk under lock and key," +gaily put in Maud, "and you can come with me, Steve, and bring down +the preserves from under the bed!" + +By this time the whole family were in gales of laughter, and Steve was +greatly puzzled at this new phase of civilization. Mrs. Colton finally +explained that for a few Sundays past Raymond had been carrying off +everything there was to eat in the house, and having "spreads" in the +barn with his chums. This time they determined to outwit him. + +Mr. Polk joined heartily in all the merriment, going after and +bringing in provisions, but in his heart he thought, "This is the +product of too much opportunity--give me my mountain boy every time. +If he doesn't outstrip this pampered son, I miss my guess." + +A little later Raymond came in and dominated the conversation at once, +after the manner of too many bright, confident children of modern city +life. After tea he took Steve in charge on a lively tour of +exploration, and Mr. Polk talked over his plans for his boy. + +"The thing you ought to do," said Mr. Colton who was very clear-headed +concerning everything except his own son, "is to put the boy in a +mountain college. He would be at a disadvantage among boys of his age +in town, and then you've no way to take care of him, travelling as you +do. My wife has a friend near here who is greatly interested in a +mountain college; just go over and see her." + +This seemed good advice and Mr. Colton took Mr. Polk and Steve over at +once. + +The lady came in and greeted them with gracious cordiality, but when +she learned their errand and knew that one of the little mountain +boys, to whose welfare she had given so much thought, time and money, +was before her, her eyes grew tender and filled with tears. + +"He must go to our mountain college at once; the school has just +opened," she said. So they heard all about the school and its +opportunities. When she had finished Steve spoke up: + +"Is all that jes' fer mountain boys lack me?" This seemed beyond +belief, but they assured him it was. + +Raymond had greatly enjoyed demonstrating the mysteries of the +telephone, electric lights and various contrivances of his own to so +totally unenlightened and yet so appreciative an intelligence as +Steve's, while the quaint mountain speech interested and amused him +exceedingly. So when Mr. Polk and the boy took leave of the Coltons +for the night Raymond secured a promise that Steve might attend school +with him next day. Mr. Polk would be busy making arrangements for the +few days' holiday which would be necessary to take Steve back to the +mountains and place him in school. + +Promptly next morning Raymond arrived at Mr. Polk's rooms for Steve +and the boys started off together like two comrades. It was Steve's +first day in a schoolroom, and eye and ear were on the alert, taking +in everything. + +He was well dressed and with his intelligent face the other boys +noted nothing unusual until the noon hour when Raymond introduced his +new specimen with keen relish. He had no unkind intentions in the sly +winks he gave chosen comrades, but these aroused the curiosity of his +fellows, and when Steve began to talk the boys awoke to lively +possibilities. One after another began to ask questions. + +"What did you do for fun down at Hollow Hut?" asked one. + +"We uns didn't do nothin' fer fun, 'cep'in' hunt cotton tails, foxes +an' coons," answered the boy. + +"Didn't you play football?" asked some one else. + +"I nuver hearn tell of it," said Steve. + +"Du tell," returned another boy, venturing to fall a little into the +stranger's vernacular. + +"Didn't you ever play tennis, shinny or baseball?" persisted some one +else, and Steve replied politely "that nobody ever hearn o' them +things in Hollow Hut." + +The boys then began to venture more boldly into imitations of Steve's +speech while some got behind him and doubled up in silent laughter. +Raymond looked on, feeling himself the hero of the day in having +furnished such a comedy. + +Suddenly Steve turned, perhaps with some intuition of what was going +on, and with swift comprehension knew that he was being made fun of. +His face on the instant was electrified with wrath. He drew himself +up, and clenched his hands. Then in a twinkling his coat and cap were +upon the ground. Taking the first boy at hand Steve dealt him a blow +from the shoulder with a lean, sinewy arm that sent him spinning +across the yard, and before any one could realize what was happening +three or four others followed, and the rest, frightened at his fury, +took to their heels with speed. + +Steve stood alone at last quivering from head to foot; then calming +slowly, he took his coat on his arm, put on his cap and walked away, +not knowing whither he was going. But as he grew more quiet he took +his bearings, and his keen sense of direction and good recollection of +things they had passed in going, led him without trouble back to Mr. +Polk's rooms. + +Raymond was not a cad, and when he had time to think was thoroughly +ashamed of himself. He went to the teacher and made confession; then +as both were afraid the boy might get lost or come to some harm, he +went at once on a search. He did not dream that Steve could so +directly find his way back, and Raymond wandered about for hours in a +fruitless search, doing without his dinner. At last, frightened and +contrite, he went to Mr. Polk's office. Here the confession was harder +to make, but it came out in all its humiliating details. Having eased +his conscience he wound up with a burst of enthusiasm: "I tell you, +Mr. Polk, Steve's got the stuff in him. There isn't a fellow in school +but thinks he is fine. We didn't mean a thing by our fun, but he +served us just right, and every fellow wants to take his paw." + +Mr. Polk said little but sending Raymond home and promising to +telephone later, he went directly to his rooms, knowing Steve's keenly +intuitive mind better than Raymond. Though anxious until it was proven +true, Mr. Polk found Steve as he had expected, seated in his rooms +when he got there. But he saw a most dejected little figure. The new +clothes were laid aside, the old mountain things were on, and the +boy's face was drawn and white, though he fronted Mr. Polk sturdily. + +"I don't belong in no town. I ain't got no town ways. I'll jes' go +back to Hollow Hut and stay thar." + +Mr. Polk put his arm about the boy and gently drew him to a seat. For +some moments there was silence. + +"Steve," he said at last, "did the trip over the mountains from Hollow +Hut to Mr. Follet's sometimes seem hard for you?" + +"Hit shore did," said the boy slowly. + +"But you didn't give up the struggle, did you?" + +"No," said Steve, still slowly. + +"Well, the journey of life is like that journey over the mountains: it +is often hard; there are things to overcome and things to endure. You +have started now up the long, hard hill of learning, and I hope you +are not going to turn back at the laughter of a few boys. You thrashed +them out, I understand," he went on, and his voice held a strong hint +of satisfaction; "pass right on now, putting the incident behind you +just as you did each rocky summit you mounted on that difficult +journey. You must climb to the top, son, understand; nothing short of +that will satisfy me!" And he looked earnestly, almost vehemently into +the boy's eyes. + +The penetrating gaze was returned, but with a puzzled, groping inquiry +for his benefactor's full intent. + +"Yer mean I mus' larn as much as you know?" he asked at last. + +"More,--infinitely more," said Mr. Polk with energy. "I have half-way +climbed the mountain of knowledge and success in life,--I have even +stopped less than half-way," he corrected a little bitterly, "but," +rousing himself, "I want to begin life over again in you, and nothing +but the very top of the mountain of success will ever satisfy me!" He +turned again to the boy with a deep, searching gaze. + +"You are a boy of your word," he went on after a moment, "that is what +pleased me most about you, and now at the very outset of this business +of learning and succeeding in life, I want your promise that you will +not halt before obstacles, but go to the top!" + +There was impelling enthusiasm as well as energy in the resonant +tones, and Steve's spirit kindled with answering enthusiasm and a +glimmering vision of heights which he had not hitherto glimpsed. + +"I'll git ter the top, Mr. Polk,--ef I don't die on the way," he said +with solemn earnestness. + +It was a most unexpected, peculiarly intense moment for both, and in +the silence which followed, the imagination of boy and man scaled +lofty peaks, but the mountain of material success which filled Mr. +Polk's vision was not the beautiful, mystic height upon which the boy +gazed, and neither dreamed of the conflict which this fact was to +bring about in future years. + +"God hath set eternity in the heart of man," and the child of the +woods felt the stirring of an eternal purpose, undefined though it +was. The glamour of the world had long since intervened for the man. + +The telephone rang noisily, having no respect for visions, and Mr. +Polk rose to answer it while Steve began at once to put on again the +new clothes in unconscious ratification of his solemn life-promise to +Mr. Polk. + +It was Mrs. Colton at the phone and she learned with great relief that +Steve had been found. She insisted that Mr. Polk and the boy must come +over to supper, after which there would be a little impromptu party of +Raymond's friends for Steve. + +The boy looked very sober when this announcement was made to him, but +Mr. Polk smiled and said heartily, as he had already done to Mrs. +Colton: + +"Of course we will go!" And they went. + +There was just a bit of awkwardness when the boys came into the +Coltons' that evening and met Steve once more, but Mr. Polk, with an +adroit question, started him to telling them about trapping rabbits, +chasing foxes and treeing coons while the boys became so interested, +including Steve himself, that all unpleasantness was forgotten. Upon +leaving, each boy took Steve's hand with real respect and liking, and +Raymond expressed the general sentiment when he exclaimed, "You're a +brick!" + +Next day Mr. Polk and Steve started for the mountain school. As they +sat together on the train Steve said: "I'll be larnin' to do things +jes' like mammy said fer me ter do. I wonder ef she will know." + +"I think so," said Mr. Polk simply, but with a gentle sympathy in his +voice, which, whenever expressed by look or tone, seemed to bring the +boy close to the heart of the man. Resting a moment in this embrace, +Steve asked a question which had come to him several times. His father +and all the mature men he had known had been married,--for bachelors +are rare in the mountains,--why had Mr. Polk no wife? + +"Is ye woman dead, Mr. Polk?" was the question he asked. + +"No," answered Mr. Polk, with a smile that flitted quickly, "she did +not marry me at all, and so has left me lonely all my life. I would +have been a far better man had she done so. As it is," and the +bitterness crept into his voice again, "I stopped half-way up the hill +of success as I told you, and threw my prospects away. That is why you +are to live my life over for me and bring success whether or no." + + + + +VIII + +OPPORTUNITY + + +Mr. Polk and Steve made their railroad trip by night, and the sleeper +with its rows of shelf-like beds was a fresh experience for the boy, +but he climbed to the upper berth and slept the sleep of healthy +youth. They reached L---- about seven o'clock in the morning, and the +sight of mountain and valley spread out before them in purple beauty +gave a strange thrill of joy to Steve. The mountaineer's love of the +mountains rushed upon him after all his new, pleasant experiences with +a first consciously defined emotion. + +"Well," said Mr. Polk, "now the problem is how we can cover that forty +miles which lies between us and our school." But just at that moment +he spied an old man helping a woman into a wagon, and at once he +stepped up, found they were fortunately going to the same point, and +would gladly take in two passengers with the ready accommodation of +mountain people. + +They travelled leisurely on and on, Steve seeing things of a familiar +type and Mr. Polk much that was fresh and interesting. They stopped +over night at a little settlement and journeyed on again next day, +reaching their destination early in the evening. When the group of +school buildings came into view, the old mountaineer pointed out the +main building with its tower, and told them which was the "gals' +sleepin' place," and which "the boys' sleepin' place," as he termed +the two dormitories. He drove directly to the president's home, a +little unpainted frame house. They were cordially received, +entertained at supper and taken afterwards to the boys' dormitory, +where Steve was given a room with several other boys. Then they walked +over to "The Hall," as it was called, and were introduced to the +teachers, who were gathering there for the study hour. They had met +several when a young woman's trim, slender figure, with a decided air +of the city about it, appeared in the doorway, and the light from +within lit up a pair of clear, steady brown eyes, a pleasant mouth +with firmness lurking in the corners, and fluffy brown hair put back +in a roll from a very attractive face. + +She stood a moment there in the doorway with a casual glance for the +strangers, then suddenly caught her breath and went white, but +instantly recovered herself as the president, oblivious of any tragic +moment for her, turned and said: + +"This is Miss Grace Trowbridge; she came down here all the way from +New York City to teach mountain boys and girls,--and she knows how to +do it, too." + +Miss Trowbridge bowed and passed quickly within the hall. + +Mr. Polk acknowledged the introduction with a look on his face that +Steve had never seen before, and the boy felt somehow that his good +friend had become a stranger as they walked back to the boys' +dormitory for the night. Next morning, too, something had come between +them, and when Mr. Polk said he would leave that day instead of +staying several days, as he had intended, Steve could make no reply. + +Before Mr. Polk left, however, in giving final instructions to his +charge, the old kindly manner returned, and as he said, "I hope you +will like it here, son," the boy replied with his old freedom: + +"I knows I'm a-goin' to like it, and that thar Miss Grace Trowbridge +is the nicest one of 'em all. She used ter live in New York City, the +president said, whar you used ter live. Didn't you nuver know her +thar?" he asked innocently, not yet comprehending in the least city +conditions. + +Mr. Polk set his lips grimly and answered sternly: "Yes," as he +mounted a mule to ride back the forty miles to the nearest railroad +station. + +What was the matter again? The boy did not know, and he felt as +though a sudden chill had come upon him. But a moment later Mr. Polk +looked down at him kindly, reached over, pressed his hand, and said: +"Be a good boy," as he rode away on the ambling mule. + +So Steve began his school life. He went into the second reader class, +his opportunities at the Follets' having put him beyond the beginners. +In his class were children of all ages and mature men and women, who +were just getting their first opportunity to learn. Steve was bright +and quick, had a good mind, and made rapid progress. + +With the superior social advantages which he had found along the way +from Hollow Hut to the school, the boy became a great ally of the +teachers in the battle for nightgowns, combs, and brushes for the hair +and teeth, also for white shirts, collars and neckties on Sunday, +which most of the boys thought "plum foolishness anyways." + +"Here, fellows," Steve would say when he found them turning in at +night with soiled feet, coats and trousers, "this ain't the way ter +git ter be president." He organized a company of "regulators" in the +boys' dormitory, and when any fellows turned in with soiled feet, +coats and trousers, Steve's shrill whistle summoned the army and a +lively pillow fight ensued which was hard on the pillows but always +brought victory for nightgowns. And when a boy refused to brush his +hair in the morning the regulators invariably caught him, and the +penalty was a thorough brushing down of his rebellious locks by at +least twenty-five sturdy young arms. Under such methods the cause of +nightgowns and brushes was made to thrive. + +There was another cause which was more difficult, but which enlisted +all Steve's best endeavour. Mountain children are apt to know the +taste of liquor from babyhood, but Steve had never liked it and +neither had his mother. Occasionally parents, especially fathers, when +they visited the school would bring the children bottles of +"moonshine" to hide and drink from as they pleased, and the teachers +found Steve a great helper, though his corps of "regulators" could not +always be relied upon. + +In the midst of his interesting, new surroundings Steve's mind often +went back to the rock where Tige lay and to the grave of his "mammy." +How pleased she would be, he thought again and again,--maybe she +was--that he was where he could "larn things." + +He soon began to write letters to Mr. Polk, and a steady improvement +was noted all winter in these letters. There was always a great deal +in them about Miss Grace, for she seemed to make him her special +charge and the two were great friends. She loved to walk in the woods +and talk with Steve, hearing him tell many interesting things which he +had learned from intimate association with birds and animals. +Sometimes she would take his hand at the top of a hill and together +they would race down, laughing and breathless to the bottom. After +such a run, one day, they halted by the bank of a stream beneath one +of the grand old beeches for which Kentucky is famous. + +"Oh, Steve," she exclaimed enthusiastically, "what a beautiful old +beech this is. How symmetrical its giant trunk, how perfect its +development of each branch and twig, while it pushes up into the sky +higher than all its fellows, gets more sunshine than all the rest, has +the prettiest growth of ferns and violets at its base,--and I just +know the birds and squirrels love it best!" + +Miss Grace had a bubbling, contagious enthusiasm, and Steve followed +her expressive gestures as she pointed out each detail of perfection +with answering admiration. + +"Steve!" She turned suddenly and bent her eyes upon him with still +more radiant emphasis. "I want you to be just such a grand specimen of +a man! Big and strong and well developed,--pushing up into the sky +further than all the rest about you, getting more sunshine than any +one else--making little plants to grow and blossom all about you and +drawing to you the sweetest and best in life!" + +He smiled back into her shining eyes, somewhat bewildered, but with an +earnest: + +"I shore will try, Miss Grace, but I don't know just what you mean." + +"I mean I want you to study hard, to develop every power of mind and +body you have, and then,--give your life for the uplift of the +children of the mountains." + +She did not press him for a promise, nor linger upon the subject, but +the first dim outline of that mystic height of the boy's vision had +been traced. + +Upon another walk which they took together Steve asked Miss Grace how +she happened to come from her home way up in New York down to Kentucky +to teach mountain boys and girls, and she was silent a moment, a look +which he could not fathom coming over her bright face. At last she +said, "I was very foolish; I threw away happiness. Then I heard of +this work and came here that I might redeem my life by making it +useful." + +There was something about this boy of the mountains that made the +telling of the simple truth the natural thing; but startled at even so +vague a revealing of her bruised heart, she turned the talk quickly to +other things. + + + + +IX + +A STARTLING APPEARANCE + + +In the spring following came a great day for the mountain school when +some friends and benefactors were coming. Great preparations were +made. The school about three hundred strong fronted the main hall, and +there was great waving of small and large handkerchiefs in a genuine +salute as the visiting party drove up. + +When the company had scattered a little after the greeting, Steve +suddenly felt an arm about him and turning, found Mr. Polk smiling +down upon him. The boy was overjoyed and could only cling to his hand, +speechless for a moment. Mr. Polk had met the visiting party on the +train, among whom was the lady who had told him of the school, and she +would take no refusal,--he must go with them. + + * * * * * + +It was a beautiful day for Steve and in his boyish talk about his life +and school he often spoke of Miss Grace, but each time came that grim +setting of Mr. Polk's lips and the boy soon instinctively dropped her +name. The day was destined to be full of events, some in honour of the +visitors and some that were totally unexpected. + +The speech of welcome from the school was made by Stephen Langly. Miss +Grace had told him to say in his own words whatever was in his heart +to say. So the boy stepped out from the gathered school, mounted a +little platform and stood before the assembled crowd unabashed, for +the mountaineer knows no embarrassment, while in simple good English +he thanked the generous friends and teachers for what they were doing +for mountain boys and girls. As he stood there well dressed, erect, +manly, he bore little resemblance to the forlorn boy who had crept +away from his cabin home at Hollow Hut a year before. + +As the crowd dispersed a little after the speech-making, in which +several took part, Mr. Polk and Steve walked away together and passed +a group of teachers and students of which the visiting lady of Mr. +Polk's acquaintance was the centre. + +"Come here, Mr. Polk, please, and bring Steve to see me," she called. + +Miss Grace Trowbridge was one of the group and Mr. Polk halted +reluctantly, but finally joined them. + +Before a word could be exchanged a tall, lank, grim mountaineer +slouched forward and laid a horny hand upon Steve's shoulder. The +startled boy looked up to see his father standing beside him! + +The Kentucky mountain product, unlike any other so-called shiftless +man in the world, may idle his days away with pipe and drink, but let +a wrong, real or fancied, be done him or his and in his thirst for +vengeance he is transformed. His energy, his perseverance, his +intelligence, his fury become colossal. So, Jim Langly, convinced +after months of waiting and brooding that his boy had been enticed +away by the giver of the watch, had set out with a grim purpose of +finding boy and man which had been undaunted by any obstacle. With +slow but persistent effort he had traced the child over mountain and +valley, often losing all clue, but never relaxing till at last he had +reached Mr. Follet and learned that the boy was in school. From thence +he easily made his way to the school of Mr. Polk's selection, and, +arriving by strange providence upon a gala day, had found the two +objects of his search at the same moment. + +"I've found ye at last," he said grimly, "an' when I set eyes on the +man whut give ye that watch and tolled my boy away from his home, I'll +shoot him down lack a dog!" + +Mr. Polk quietly walked out and said, "I am your man, Mr. Langly." + +"You," the enraged mountaineer yelled, and jerking a pistol from his +trousers pocket, he lifted and would have cocked it, but quick as a +deer Grace Trowbridge had stepped in front of Mr. Polk, protecting him +with her body, while Steve threw himself on his father and screamed +shrilly, dropping into the speech of the mountains: + +"No, oh, pappy, pappy, don't shoot him! He nuver got me ter leave +home; I went myself, and I'll go back with yer and stay all my life!" + +Frantically the boy clung to his father, pleading pitifully, while +Grace Trowbridge with all her strength pushed Mr. Polk back among a +quickly gathering crowd. Others joined her, and in the excitement of +the moment, both she and Mr. Polk were hurried into safety within one +of the school buildings and the door locked upon them. + +The town constable was on the ground, for his services were quite +likely to be needed in any public gathering, and before Jim Langly +realized what was happening, being wholly unfamiliar with the ways of +law and order, his pistol had been wrenched from his hand (something +unheard of in mountain ethics), and he was hurried from the scene like +an infuriated lion made captive. + +Breathless and spent, Grace Trowbridge found herself looking into the +face of her old lover when the door was locked upon them. She stood an +instant like a frightened bird driven to cover, her eyes gazing into +his, anxiety, relief, tragic intensity born of but one emotion in her +white quivering face,--and then the warm blood surged up with +returning realization of the years of estrangement between them, and +she wheeled for instant flight. + +But the door was locked, and baffled she faced him again, crying, "Oh, +Sam, let me out!" + +For answer he caught her in his arms and said, "Let you out, and away +from me? Never! I shall hold you fast instead. I love you, love +you, love you," he cried vehemently, "and what is more, you love +me!" He crushed her to him and the tense, spent figure relaxed in +his arms while love in full tide swept over them, after six weary +years of longing and restraint. Their separation had followed a +misunderstanding which now did not even seem to need explanation. + +"Sam," she cried at last, moving energetically away from him, "I can +never give up these blessed mountain children. You'll have to adopt +every one of them if you take me!" + +"All right," he said happily, "just as many of them as you please." + +Instantly both remembered Steve. + +"Oh, Sam, where is Steve? Do you suppose his father has carried him +off, and that we will never see him again?" she exclaimed in distress, +and a few moments later, when release came to them, their first +anxious inquiry was for the boy. + +No one had seen or thought of him in the excitement, and when the +story of Jim Langly's arrest had been told them, they searched the +grounds and buildings in great anxiety before they finally found Steve +in his room. + +When Mr. Polk opened the door the boy stood before him dressed in a +little ragged shirt and old pair of trousers he had worn for hunting +and with bared feet. The hopeless expression of the lost was in his +face. + +"I can't keep my promise to you, Mr. Polk," he said brokenly. "I can't +ever climb that mountain fer yer, but it is better fer me ter die on +the way than fer you to be killed." Correct speech had no part in such +despair. + +Mr. Polk drew the boy to him while Miss Grace stood without, her lips +tremulous and eyes full of tears. After a silent moment Mr. Polk led +the boy outside and put him in her arms. + +"Do you think we are going to give you up?" Mr. Polk said, striding up +and down the hall. "Not by a long shot," he went on with energy, and a +conviction for which he could not at the moment see any tangible +foundation. "This is all going to be fixed up,--just leave everything +to Miss Grace and me." + +The boy shook his head. "Ye don't know pappy," he said sadly. + +"I may not," returned Mr. Polk cheerfully, "but I know Grace +Trowbridge, and I am going to trust her to keep you here. Do just as +she says, son, and everything will come right." + +He left them to talk with the president of the school. They discussed +what should be done with Jim Langly. Mr. Polk greatly regretted the +man's arrest, but was compelled to admit it could not have been +avoided. He begged, however, that prosecution of the case be delayed +until every effort could be made to make Langly see that only good was +intended for his son. + +"Of course I must relinquish all claim to the boy," he said sadly, +"but we must by some means win the father's consent that Steve remain +here,--that is the important thing." + +So it was decided that Mr. Polk should leave, as his presence could +only infuriate the man, and the president gladly promised to do +everything in his power to win the father. + +For a week Jim Langly remained in the lock-up of the town. He had +wrenched his back severely in the struggle with his captors; then, +like a caged lion indeed, he had beaten the walls of his prison all +night without food or drink, and being a man of indolent habits, he +collapsed utterly next morning. The gaunt, haggard face with deep +hollows beneath the eyes, the giant figure lying helpless upon a rude +couch of the lock-up touched deeply the heart of Grace Trowbridge when +she went in to see him. In his blind fury he had not noticed her +especially the day before; and when, without saying a word, she +stepped lightly across the room and reaching through the iron bars +closed a rude shutter to screen the glare of the morning sun from his +eyes, then gently adjusted a pillow beneath his head and fed him a cup +of hot broth, he accepted it all like a wild, sick animal which in its +helplessness has lost all animosity to man. + +During the day she tended him unobtrusively, but with infinite +kindness, and next morning she found him better, but still willing to +accept her care. He even watched her with a far-away interest as one +would something unknown and yet strangely pleasing. By the third +morning she talked to him a bit as she smoothed his pillow, and smiled +as he ate her toast with relish. + +At last he said with an effort, "Whar's Steve?" + +"He is here," she said gladly, "just waiting outside the door for you +to ask for him. He has been there every day," she added softly. + +Then she stepped to the door and motioned for Steve. The boy came in, +still dressed in mountain fashion, for no amount of persuasion could +induce him to again put on the better clothes. This evidently met the +father's approval, for a look of bitter expectancy which had come into +his face faded at once as he saw the old trousers and bare feet. + +"Set down," he commanded feebly, but not unkindly, though he had +nothing more to say. + +The two stayed with him through the day, and gradually Grace, with +consummate tact, made conversation which included the three, though +Langly took little part. Then she read a stirring story which +compelled his attention and interest even though he had never heard +anything read aloud before. It was the first time in the mountaineer's +long life that he had ever been unable to rise from his bed and go his +way and the helplessness had softened his spirit like the touch of a +fairy's wand. As he listened to the sweet, cultured voice of the woman +while she read and saw Steve with quickened intelligence following +every word, he realized for the first time that the world held strange +things in which he had no part, but for which his boy was ready. + +At last Miss Grace turned to Steve and said in the most natural +manner, "My throat is getting tired; won't you read a little for us?" + +The boy looked at his father in quick alarm, but the gaunt face +betrayed nothing, and the reading went on in Steve's boyish voice. + +Several days passed during which Miss Grace and Steve had been +constantly with the prisoner, then his injured back was sufficiently +restored to permit of his being raised in bed to a sitting posture, +and Miss Grace felt it was time she tried to win his consent to +Steve's remaining at school. With woman's intuition she divined the +best method of approach. Steve was not there and she told with simple +pathos of the boy's love for his mother. Jim Langly had loved his wife +with all the mountain man's lack of expression, but the natural +portrayal of the boy's affection did not displease him. The old self +in fact seemed to pass out with that day of terrible fury and the +softer spirit which had taken its place seemed to linger. She went on +to tell how the boy's mother had longed for him to have a chance to +learn, and that only a few minutes before her death she had made him +promise to go where he could learn. + +"It was this," she ended, "which made Steve leave home and not the man +who sent the watch." + +Jim Langly lay silent a long while after hearing this, and then he +said: + +"I was agin that in her alive, I reckon I won't be agin her dead." + +After a little he inquired with resentment in his voice, "How come +that man whut give him the watch ter be with him here?" + +"The boy happened to find the man," she said, "and the man was good to +him when he needed a friend. But we will get Steve to tell us all +about it," she ended brightly, as Steve came just then to the door. +And with a glad heart the boy told all his story from the day he left +Hollow Hut till his father's appearance a few days before. + +The president of the school then visited Langly, told of the boy's +progress and begged earnestly that he be allowed to stay. Nothing was +said as to how the boy's expenses were to be met, and since Jim Langly +knew as little as a child about the cost of such things, he asked no +questions. When strong enough at last Langly walked out a free man, +the president having withdrawn all charges against him, and after +looking about the buildings with strange interest he started back to +Hollow Hut, with no good-bye for his boy after the manner of the +mountains, but with an understanding that when school closed Steve +should return to his old home for the summer. + +It was some two months later when Mr. Polk carried out this promise +which had been made the father, by taking the boy back to the woods +where they had first met. He expected to camp there for a few days' +fishing, and to arrange for Steve's safe return to the school in the +fall, as happy plans of his own for the autumn would probably prevent +his coming in person. + +When Steve left Mr. Polk he swung off down the well-remembered +mountainside with strange joy in his heart. He had felt a new kinship +for his father growing upon him since he could remain at school in the +freedom of parental consent, and shy thought had come of reading aloud +sometimes in the old Hollow Hut cabin from the pile of books under his +arms while his father smoked and listened, as he had in the beautiful +days when Miss Grace had tended him. + +But a few hours later he came slowly back up the same path with a +stricken look on his face. + +"Pappy's dead, too," he said brokenly, when Mr. Polk stepped forward +in surprise and alarm to meet him. + +The boy sat down upon a log, dropping his books in a heap beside him, +and his bent shoulders shook with sobs. + +Mr. Polk comforted him with silent tenderness for a time, then +gradually drew out the story of Jim Langly's short illness of a week +from a virulent fever and his burial two days before. + +Together they went again next day to the cabin. Mirandy had married a +few weeks previous and she and her husband were beginning family life +anew in the old place. She had been stirred somewhat by the events of +the year, and looked with interest upon Mr. Polk and Steve, the latter +showing plainly to her the touch of new surroundings, and when Mr. +Polk told her he wanted to take the boy for his own and educate him, +she said with a touch of bitterness: + +"Tek him erlong; he won't nuver know nothin' here." + +So the two who had seemed bound from the first by close ties went away +together, Steve to spend the summer at the school, where a few were +always accommodated during the vacation, and Mr. Polk to wind up his +business affairs in the South preparatory to a return to New York. He +had formerly been associated with an uncle having large railroad +interests in the East, who had often urged his return. He now proposed +to do so, taking advantage of opportunities still open to him. These +had been thrown away upon the breaking of his engagement with Grace +Trowbridge, six years before, to take a position with a southern +railroad and wander restlessly among new scenes. + + + + +X + +STEVE DEVELOPS A MIND OF HIS OWN + + +In the autumn Mr. Polk's happy plans materialized. There was a wedding +in a handsome New York City home, and Steve Langly arrived the day +before for the festivities. At the ceremony he and Anita Trowbridge, +the little sister of Miss Grace, were the attendants. They came in +first, Steve dressed as a page in a velvet suit which went well with +his clear, dark complexion, and little Nita, as she was called, +tripped beside him in delicate pink as a fairy flower girl. They stood +on either side of a beautiful fox-skin rug with a history, upon which +the bride and groom, slowly following, took their places to repeat the +sacred vows which bound them for life. + +Steve and Nita, as the only children, spent the evening together, +roaming about the house, Steve finding new interests everywhere. He +looked around at the rich furnishings and beautiful floral decorations +with appreciative eyes, seeming not at all out of place in such +surroundings. A feeling of awkwardness and timidity might have +possessed so poor a boy reared anywhere else, but mountain-born as he +was, he accepted man's magnificence with the same tranquil spirit that +he did the shimmering silver of a mountain sunrise or the gorgeous +colour-triumph of its sunset. But he did not understand Nita. She +tried her most grown-up ways upon him, chatting after the manner of a +little society belle, and while she was so pretty that he loved to +look at her as he would have looked at a beautiful flower, he did not +know what to say to her. Having talked of many things, and being an +ardent little lover of pretty clothes, taken in with appreciative eyes +the handsome costumes of the guests, she sighed at last and said: + +"Oh, I just love to go down Broadway, don't you, and see all the +handsome gowns on people as they pass, and look in at the store +windows!" + +"I don't know; I nuver was there," he answered with a touch of his +mountain speech, and then she laughed a silvery, childish laugh and +said: + +"You funny mountain boy," in a natural, frank way that made Steve +smile back and feel more at ease. + +After this they got on well as a couple of children, while Nita often +exclaimed, "You funny mountain boy." + +Mr. and Mrs. Polk called him their boy with a new sense of parentage +after their marriage, and wanted to make him legally their son, but +when it was proposed that he be known in the future as Stephen Polk, +he looked far off into space a moment, and then as though his spirit +had winged its way back into the wilderness of its birth, he dropped +into the old manner of speech and said: + +"I thank yer, but I was born Langly, an' I think I ought ter die +Langly." + +They said no more, and soon decided to send him back to the mountain +school for his preparatory work at least, largely because Mrs. Polk +was strongly convinced this was best for the boy; so, during the next +six years, he spent the school terms in the mountains and his +vacations in the north with his foster-parents. The last two summers +he took work in a city university with special courses in geology and +mining engineering, for Mr. Polk, knowing the rich treasures stored in +the Kentucky mountains, had brilliant plans for Steve's future, +dreaming of a time when the boy should be able to link these treasures +with northern capital. + +Mrs. Polk's dreams were of another sort altogether. She never lost +interest in the cause of education in these same Kentucky mountains, +and many were the talks she and Steve had about the progress being +made there and the needs constantly developing. Engrossed in business, +as Mr. Polk came more and more to be, he took no note of his wife's +indirect influence, while she did not realize that she was +interfering with plans of his. + +As Steve grew to young manhood Mr. Polk asked him as often as studies +would permit in summer to go down to the office. He liked to give the +boy a taste of the financial whirl, and it was intensely interesting +and exciting to Steve. He felt something of the same tremor of wonder +and delight over the inner whirl of gigantic machinery moving railroad +systems which stirred him when he felt the first rush of a passing +railroad train, and there was a certain eager desire to be a part of +it all. + +It was upon his sixth vacation visit that Mr. Polk turned to him one +day at the office as the boy's eyes glistened with interest and said: + +"I shall want you at my elbow in a few years now. I shall be too old +after a while to do all the things waiting to be done, and you +remember your promise to climb that mountain of success for me whose +heights I never shall be able to reach." + +But the youth of nineteen suddenly looked afar as the boy of thirteen +had done when it was proposed that he change the old name of Langly, +and a vision of rugged mountains and deep valleys which again spread +out before him were tracked by eager bared feet of poorly clad +children hurrying towards the few schools which here and there dotted +the wilderness. He was silent, for a definite conflict had begun in +his soul. + +Mr. Polk noticed the silence, and with a restless energy which was +growing upon him, said to his wife that evening when they were alone: + +"Look here, Grace, I am uncertain about Steve. That boy's unfathomable. +Here I have been counting upon his going into business, and I know +business appeals to him for I can see it in his eye, and yet when I +spoke to him definitely to-day he just looked off into space," he +ended in disgust. + +Mrs. Polk laughed. "Well, you know, I have never been an enthusiast +over money-making, and I don't believe Steve ever will be,--though he +may." + +"Why, look here," her husband said impatiently, "if he gets a good +knowledge of geology and mining engineering, as I mean he shall, he +can locate and open up some good mines in those Kentucky mountains +which will make us all rich." + +"Oh," laughed Mrs. Polk again, "that doesn't stir me a bit. But when I +think of every little yearning child of the mountains well shod, with +a clean kerchief in its pocket, and trudging away to school frosty +mornings, then I begin to thrill." + +"Of course," said Mr. Polk with impatient energy; "but money will help +bring that to pass." + +"Yes, but it isn't money alone that is necessary. They need an +apostle of education, one of their very own who shall go among them +opening their eyes to the world of knowledge and opportunity." + +"And you would like our Steve to be that apostle, as you call him, I +suppose." Looking at her intently a moment, he softened and added, +"Well, you are a dear, unworldly woman." Then in sudden justification +of himself, he went on: "I am willing he should be an apostle too, but +one with money, so he can bring things to pass." + +And he said no more to his wife, neither did he trouble Steve in the +least with definite propositions for the future, but in the late +summer of that year he remarked in a matter-of-fact way: + +"Well, Steve, it must be college now for the next two years at +least." + +Whereupon Steve looked very sober and finally said: "Mr. Polk, you +have been so good to me I cannot even talk about it. I do want to go +to college more than I can express, but great, strapping fellow that I +am, I ought not to accept your generosity any longer." + +"Now, son," said Mr. Polk, with the tenderness he had given the little +boy years before, "I want to do for you as I would for my own." + +Steve said huskily, "I appreciate it deeply, but you know I couldn't +give up my name, and it is just as hard for me to give up my +independence. If I go to college at your expense it must be with the +distinct understanding that I am to repay every penny spent for me. +Forgive me," he added with a smile, "I suppose it is my mountain blood +that makes me want to be free." + +Mr. Polk, looking at the strong young face, knew that he must yield, +and so the money was advanced for Steve's college expenses with the +understanding that it was a loan. + +The two college years were busy and profitable ones for Steve. He was +fond of study and the regular courses of the school led him into new +lines of interest while he still pursued his specialties of geology +and mining engineering. The companionship of young men and women of +inherited culture and opportunity of the best type was broadening and +a fine means of general culture for him. Among the young women with +whom he was thrown there developed no special interest for him, though +he often wondered why. He, however, came to smile as he questioned his +own heart or was questioned by chums, while he said, "We of mountain +blood are slow, you know," and he failed to note how certain memories +of soft yellow curls above a little white pinafore were so sacred that +he never mentioned them. + +He matured greatly in the two years, and at twenty-one was +broad-shouldered from college athletics, six feet two in height, and +his abundant dark hair with a suggestion of curl at the ends crowned a +fine, clean-cut, somewhat slender face which in repose was serious, +but possessed of a hidden smile which had formed the habit of flashing +out suddenly, transforming his face with a peculiar radiance. + +For the Christmas holidays of his last year at college he went home to +the Polks as usual and one evening sat at the opera beside Nita +Trowbridge in a little family party which included her. During all his +comings and goings of the school years he had seen Nita with almost +the familiarity of a brother. She was the child of middle age, petted +and spoiled and much of a society butterfly as she developed into +young ladyhood, though a very lovable one. Mr. and Mrs. Polk were +greatly attached to her, and though it had not been hinted at, Steve +knew that Mr. Polk would like nothing better than that they should +marry when he was established in business. How Mrs. Polk would feel +about it he was not so sure. Perhaps she doubted their congeniality of +tastes. + +As Nita sat beside him on this evening she watched Steve's rapt +enjoyment of Wagner's beautiful, weird melodies. Between acts she +said: + +"How intensely you enjoy music!" + +"Yes," he returned, throwing off the spell with an effort, "I do." And +then with a reminiscent flash the smile broke over his face. "I +remember well where I heard the first music of my life. It was when I +was twelve years old, and from a mountain fellow who had had no +training. But he simply made the banjo talk, as the darkeys would say, +and reproduced with skillful touch and thrilling voice a fox hunt +which fairly set me crazy. + +"Then the next," he went on, "was at a church, just a little later, +and never will I forget how the deep-toned organ stirred my soul to +the very depths." There was a quiet solemnity upon him as he said this +which Nita did not break for a moment. Then she said: + +"How barren the mountains must be! You will never want to go there +again, will you?" + +"Barren!" he exclaimed in return. "I wish I were an artist in word +painting and I would make mountain peak after mountain peak glow with +rhododendron and laurel, fill the valleys with silver sunrise-mist to +glorify their verdure for you, and then call out all the fur and +feathered folk and troops of mountain children from their forest +homes. You would not think it a barren country," he concluded with +smiling eloquence. + +"Perhaps not," she said slowly, "but to think of no good music, no +pleasures, no,--anything that makes up our delightful living here," +she ended. + +"That is true," he responded gravely, adding almost to himself, "but +it must be carried to them through work and sacrifice by somebody." + +Then becoming conscious the next instant of the brilliant scene about +him his smile flashed over his face again and he turned to her with: + +"By the way, did you see an account in the papers of the wreckage of a +car load of millinery in the Kentucky mountains a few days ago?" + +"No, I did not," she smiled back. + +"Well, there was a railroad wreck somewhere up there and a whole car +load of millinery was sent out upon the four winds of heaven. Big hats +and little, such as women know all about and men can't even talk of, +with all sorts of gorgeous flower trimmings, feathers and ribbons were +scattered through the woods, and they say barefooted mountain women +flocked from every direction and decked themselves in the latest +styles of head-gear." + +Both laughed over the picture and Steve added: + +"I suppose it would only need a procession of fashionable gowns +parading the mountains to transform our women, while the sight of +swallow-tails and silk hats might do as much for the men, for like +the rest of the world we take up the superficial with ease, +but"--sobering again--"to give our people a glimpse into the knowledge +contained in books, to waken us to life's highest harmonies and open +our eyes to nature's beautiful hidden colours, is going to take a long +time, and as I said, somebody must work and sacrifice for it." + +He searched the beautiful face beside him for sympathetic understanding, +but she only looked at him with wide eyes as the frivolous little +girl had done years before, not comprehending, while she wanted to say +again, this time a little wistfully, "You funny mountain boy." + +No conception of life translated into labour and sacrifice for others, +such as he had begun to battle with, had ever come within her range of +thought, and the starting of the music again was welcome to them +both. + +At the end of two years Steve was graduated, having been thoroughly +prepared upon entering college, and when he returned to his +foster-parents at the close of school they were greatly pleased with +their boy. On the second night after his arrival Mr. Polk sat with him +after dinner and smoked in great satisfaction. But it was of short +duration. Steve had had a letter from his alma mater, the Kentucky +mountain school, asking him to return as a teacher there the next +year, putting forth strongly the need and opportunity for good. He +had waited to talk the matter over with Mr. and Mrs. Polk before +deciding, though it was pretty well settled in his own mind. He handed +the letter to Mr. Polk. + +"Of course you will not go," said Mr. Polk, with decision, as soon as +he had finished it. "There is an opening for you in the office and I +am anxious for you to take hold at once." + +Steve looked afar again, as he had twice before when his fate was +about to be settled for him, and Mr. Polk stirred impatiently. But the +younger man turned at once, this time with that sudden smile upon his +face, and said ingratiatingly: + +"Mr. Polk, I am afraid I haven't any head for business,--I love books +far better. I feel a premonition that I shall be stupid in business." + +"Nonsense," said Mr. Polk, with quick irritation. "I don't believe it. +You have never been stupid about anything." + +"I do not know," Steve replied, serious again. "I have not been tried, +I admit, and I must confess that business had a certain fascination +for me as I have watched things stir in your office." + +"Of course, of course," broke in Mr. Polk. "I have seen it in your +face." + +"But----" said Steve as promptly, and with a compelling earnestness in +his voice that made the older man hold himself in restraint. "Mr. +Polk, I must tell you something before we go any further in this +matter. My barren boyhood has never faded from my mind. I cannot put +it from me. I live it again in the thought of every little child +hidden away in the mountains in ignorance and squalor. + +"There may be little ones of my own blood in the Hollow Hut home," he +added, and his voice dropped into a deep intensity which held them +both motionless for a moment; then, for relief, breaking it again with +that smile, he said: "I suppose it is the survival of our feudal +mountain blood in me which makes me ready to go back to fight, bleed +and die for my own." + +"It is simply a Quixotic idea you have gotten into your head that you +should go back to the mountains and spend your life trying to help +your people," Mr. Polk replied emphatically. + +"I don't deny you may be right," said Steve patiently, "but I got the +idea fixed when I was a boy there at school having privileges which +were denied so many, and you know one is very impressionable in early +youth, and I confess that though for many pleasant reasons I have +wanted to shake it off, I have been unable to do so." + +This roused Mr. Polk to instant combat. He rose and strode the +floor. + +Mrs. Polk stood in the doorway an instant just then, but wisely and +noiselessly slipped away. + +"That's all right to want to help your own, but the practical way to +do it is with money," he said vehemently. + +"I am not entirely sure," returned Steve slowly. "I confess I may be +mistaken--but I have thought and thought over this ever since you +first proposed two years ago that I should go into business with you, +and though, as I have said, I am still uncertain, I believe I ought to +go there and work for my people. It will be ten years at least before +I can do much in a monetary way, but I can begin teaching at once. +Besides," he hurried on before Mr. Polk could speak, "people there +need indoctrination,--inoculating so to speak, with the idea of +education as much as they need money, and no one can do this so well +as one of their own. Thanks to you, the best friend any boy ever had," +he went on, his voice breaking a little, "I have had advantages which +have fallen to the lot of few mountain boys, and I feel that my +responsibility is tremendous." + +"Yes," said Mr. Polk, "but I do not agree with you as to the best way +of meeting it. However," he ended hotly, "I see you are like most +young men of to-day whatever their obligations, you do not wish +advice." + +Steve was deeply hurt. "Mr. Polk," he said, "I would rather give my +right arm than have anything come between us. If it were a matter of +personal ambition, I would yield at once to your good judgment, +but--please understand,--let me make this clear,--I am not sure that +going myself to work among my people is the best way, but I simply +feel it should be tried first. If I should remain here a while, I know +I would never go there, and if I find that I am wrong in going, at the +end of two years I will gladly return to you for business." + +"If you go, Steve Langly, contrary to my advice and better judgment, +you go for good," said Mr. Polk sternly, pausing in his striding and +emphasizing with a stamp of his foot. + +Mr. Polk with his gentleness had always had a hot-headed, unreasonable +side to his nature. It was seldom in evidence, but it had shown itself +years before in his break with his sweetheart and it was showing +itself again with the boy whom he loved most devotedly. + +Steve bowed his head in silent, dignified acceptance. Following a +forceful law of human nature this unreasonable resistance (as he saw +it) was fixing him very firmly in his own resolution. But the thought +of all the older man had been to him rushed upon him again with +softening effect, and he said sadly at last: + +"I do not know how to make you understand, Mr. Polk,--but this need to +go back to my own and try to help them is something inborn." + +"I am afraid it is," said Mr. Polk curtly. "It is the mountain +shiftlessness in you." + +Steve rose with flashing eyes and heaving breast, but remembering +again, he controlled himself, and sat down. His voice was cool and +crisp, however, as he said a moment later: + +"I have no intention of forgetting my debt to you, Mr. Polk, and you +have a right to know what are my prospects for paying it." He named +his salary, which was very meagre, and then added, "But my wants will +be few,--and I have found that my pen promises to be a pretty good +earning implement." This he added with reluctance, for he had not +meant to tell it. "I shall pay you as soon as possible," he ended. + +"Just as you please," said Mr. Polk again curtly, and strode this time +out of the room for the night. + +Steve soon followed, going to his room with a sense of desolation that +was akin to the desolation of his boyhood in the wilderness. He felt +that he must leave New York at once, for he could not stay longer with +self-respect under the roof which had been home to him for so many +years. What "little mother," as he had come to call Mrs. Polk, would +say he did not know, but his heart warmed when he thought of her, and +comforted at last by the feeling that she at least would not +misunderstand him, he fell asleep towards morning. And in his fitful +dreaming her sweet face was strangely crowned with soft yellow curls +and she wore a little white pinafore! + +The next day Steve had a long talk with Mrs. Polk. She had heard of +the trouble from Mr. Polk, and had done all in her power to bring +about a change in his state of mind. Failing utterly and knowing his +tenacity when an idea was once fixed, she could not encourage Steve +with the hope of any immediate change. Neither could she urge the +young man to abandon his purpose, for she felt that he alone must +decide his future, and though in her heart she approved his course, so +deeply was she grieved over the alienation between him and Mr. Polk +that she held it in restraint. She knew that she had helped to shape +his determination, and woman-like was fearful now she had made a +mistake. + +When Steve said that he must go, she did not try to keep him, but her +eyes were brimming with tears when he tenderly kissed her good-bye, as +he had always been in the habit of doing, and she pressed a roll of +money in his hand, whispering, "It is my own." + +"No, no, little mother," he said with determined good cheer, "I do +not need it. I was very economical the last few weeks at school, for I +had forebodings of trouble; then,--I earned some money writing little +stories for boys, the past year." + +Scarcely noticing the last remark she hesitated a moment, wanting to +insist that he take it, and yet reluctant. Then she held him by the +shoulders with her slender hands, and said earnestly: + +"If you ever need, you will let me know, will you not?" + +"I certainly will, dearest little mother in the world," he said, his +own eyes glistening with tears. + +There was a formal leave-taking with Mr. Polk at the office, and then +he went his way back to the mountains of his birth. + + + + +XI + +EXPERIENCE + + +As the train carrying Steve southward reached a point where rugged +peaks began pushing majestically up into the distant firmament he felt +again the old thrill of the mountaineer's love of the mountains, while +his trained eye noted with keen pleasure new details of line and +colour. Then, when the railroad trip was over and he neared the end of +the forty-mile wagon ride, bringing the little tower surmounting "The +Hall" of his alma mater in sight once more, his face lit up with +tender joy, for the old place had meant more to him than schools do to +the average boy. Sweeping his eye back over a landscape where purple +heights were tipped with sunset gold in the distance, giant beeches +held aloft their summer leafage in the valleys and mountain +flower-favourites bloomed in glorious June profusion everywhere, he +inwardly exclaimed, with sudden reverence: + +"That is God's part, the fashioning of this beautiful setting," and +then turning again to the group of school buildings, "and this is +man's,--the bringing of humanity into harmony with the perfection of +His handiwork." + +He had been unable to throw off entirely the depression which had +followed the rupture with Mr. Polk, and deeply stirred emotionally as +he had been in parting with Mrs. Polk, it required this spiritual +interpretation of school life to restore his equilibrium. + +But the battle involved in the step he had taken was by no means +fought in that one flash of high conception. Being a wholesome, +normal fellow with an ordinary amount of selfish desire for comfort +(though he had seemed to follow a Quixotic idea into the wilderness), +he found himself at once missing the luxuries of life to which he +had become accustomed. All through the summer he travelled about on +horseback,--sometimes on foot,--stopping often at little squalid +cabins, and often also at meagre homes where housewives wrung his +heart with their pathetic effort to be thrifty and cleanly on almost +nothing, and everywhere he tried to inoculate the people with the idea +of education. On the whole his experience proved more of a hardship +than he had believed possible with his early mountain bringing up. +He discovered that he had a decided liking for individual towels, and +was quite capable of annoyance when obliged to bathe his face in a +family tin wash-pan,--or temporarily idle skillet where wash-pans +were unknown,--while his predilection for a bath tub with hot and cold +water on tap had become more fixed than he had suspected. + +"Have I already grown too fastidious to be helpful to my own people?" +he asked himself in disgust. Then he squared his shoulders and set his +lips in fresh determination. But, a moment later, with that sudden +smile upon his face, he also resolved to compromise a bit with +hardship. He stopped at the first wayside store and invested in towels +which he learned to wash and dry at convenient times. This gave him +pleasant independence, and since his bedroom had always been fixed in +the open,--for from the first he could not bring himself to sleep in +crowded rooms where whole families took their rest,--he could make his +morning toilet without offense to his hosts, while a soapy plunge in +some mountain stream became a luxury he would not readily forego. And +always, whatever the hardship, there was the compensation of +barefooted boys and girls held spellbound, and often fathers and +mothers as well, while he unfolded the wonders of a world which lay +beyond the mountain's rim, and always he had the advantage of being +able to assure them that he, too, was mountain bred. + +So, with contending against many things distasteful on one side, and +exhilaration while little hands clung to his as his had clung to Mr. +Polk's that long ago day in the heights about Hollow Hut, the summer +passed and he began his work as teacher. + +He had long known that he would enjoy teaching, and took up his +duties with keen interest. Fortunately for him he had little conceit +or pedantry, which would have been a fatal handicap for him as teacher +among his own people, simple-hearted though they were. He organized +his work with straightforward earnestness and quiet ability and things +usually moved smoothly in his class room. But many old difficulties in +the life of the school with which he had seen the teachers battling +when he was a pupil promptly presented themselves afresh to test the +tact, skill and wisdom of the young teacher. Some boys still came to +school with well-developed taste for tobacco and liquor which parents +still indulged, and passing mountaineers often good-naturedly +fostered. Having helped to battle with these things as a boy he knew +somewhat how to handle them. But another matter of which he took +little note in his student days, but which had nevertheless always +been a difficult problem, was love-making in the school. He was sorely +puzzled how to wisely handle this. + +"Little mother," he wrote Mrs. Polk, "my chief difficulty is laughable +in a sense, but from another point of view it is really a stupendous +problem! One old mountaineer said to me last summer, 'Them schools is +the courtin'est places in the world.' I begin to think he was right, +and it is not always the superficial flirting and love-making which is +a part of your coeducational schools,--a thing simply trivial and +naughty,--but often tragic passion instead, quite in harmony with the +title of Dryden's play, 'All for Love, or the World Well Lost'! + +"Really, these children of the woods hear the call to mate as +naturally as the birds in the trees, and knowing nothing of Fifth +Avenue brown stone fronts or cozy cottages at Newport, they want to +leave school, gather twigs and build their nests at once. And +sometimes one feels as guilty in breaking up such prospective nests as +when molesting a pair of birds! + +"Am I getting to be something of a sentimentalist? Well, I assure you +I am not going to let it grow upon me. I bear sternly in mind that, +like the first pair of human beings in the Garden of Eden, they have +really eaten of the tree of knowledge and know some things which they +ought not to know,--having some secrets from the rest of mankind which +are not at all good for them,--while the things they need to know for +higher, better living are so numerous, that I ruthlessly break the +tenderest hearts, and insist on study and discipline; for nothing but +education, mental, moral and spiritual, will ever bring the greatest +people in the world, the people of the Kentucky mountains, into their +just inheritance! You see how completely identified I am again when I +indulge in Kentucky brag,--which is not so different after all from +the brag of other sections, and I promise not to let this grow upon me +either, for work and not brag is before me, as you know. I want you to +see, however, that I continue to feel the mountaineer is worth working +for. + +"But to return to the love-making. Tragedy and comedy are in evidence +enough to lure me into the field of romance, but the practical +hindrances to daily school work are too absorbing for great indulgence +of my pen. Ardent swains pay open court to their sweethearts, +promenading halls and grounds together and even pressing suit in the +class room! While frequently the crowning difficulty in the whole +matter is the pleased approval of parents! Early marriage, you know, +is most common in the mountains, girls of twelve and thirteen often +taking up the duties of wives and the great desire of parents for +their daughters is usually to get them early married off. + +"But,--I suspect this is all familiar to you," he reminded himself, +"and still I must tell it to you,--and let you laugh over a recent +experience I have had with a pair of lovers. + +"You may be sure that I have lectured most earnestly and scientifically +upon the evils of tobacco and liquor for the young, and also have set +forth as tactfully and convincingly as I know how the fact that a +school is not the place for lover-like attentions, beseeching them to +give themselves wholly to the business of acquiring knowledge while +they are here, with all the eloquence of which I am capable. But, in +spite of this, as I was leaving my recitation room at the close of +school a few days ago I noticed a girl, Alice Tomby, lingering with Joe +Mott, one of her admirers, and stepping outside I found another admirer +of hers standing beneath a near-by tree, with clenched fist and +blazing eyes. + +"I knew that a typical mountain tragedy was quite possible and +stopping casually a moment to look at my watch, I turned and went back +to find the girl and her beau in a most lover-like attitude. + +"I threw my shoulders out to their broadest, and walked with all the +dignity I could summon to my desk where I stood before them a moment +in silence. Their sheepish faces were a study for the cartoonist, and +I wanted to laugh more than I can tell you, but I finally said +gravely: + +"'Miss Tomby and Mr. Mott' (the use of the last name with Mr. or Miss, +which is unusual in the mountains, is always most impressive), 'you +are guilty of breaking a rule of the school. You must remain and write +twenty times each the sentence I shall put upon the board.' + +"Then an old song came suddenly into my mind and I wrote without +quiver of lash or hint of smile the silly lines: + + "'Frog went courting, he did ride, + Sword and pistol by his side.' + +"'That!' said the fellow, looking startled, while the girl hung her +head. + +"'Yes, that,' I replied in perfect seriousness. And the two wrote the +lines under my most calm, most dignified eye till they were thoroughly +disgusted with themselves and one another. When at last they went out, +the girl tossed her head and ignored both her crestfallen and her +jealous lover. With books under her arm she went alone straightway to +the boarding hall. + +"The story of the discomfited lovers is spreading in the school, and +the quotation of 'Frog went courting, he did ride,' hilariously given +is quenching the ardour of many an amorous swain. Possibly a little +wholesome humour may after all be more helpful than stern enforcement +of rules, and you know if there is one thing more than another we +mountain folks lack, it is a sense of humour! So, even on general +principles, it will do no harm to cultivate it. + +"However, with all this cruel separation of tender hearts perhaps I am +in a fair way to become a cynical old bachelor instead of a +sentimentalist." + +He was determined to write cheerfully, for he knew that she constantly +grieved over the alienation between Mr. Polk and himself, so his +letters usually held bright accounts of his work, though sometimes he +let her have a glimpse of the struggle which went on in his heart. + +He wrote once after a contest with himself over natural desire for +more congenial surroundings: + +"Little mother, when things seem too sordid and commonplace and barren +for endurance, as I confess they have a way of doing at times, I do +crave a look into your dear face. But as I am too far away to see you +clearly, I remember how you came down here and worked with dauntless +courage and good cheer, and I take heart again. Then several things +recently have contributed to make me ashamed of faint-heartedness, and +I really think I am going to develop some stronger fibre. + +"The pathos of the mountain desire for 'larnin" has come to me +overwhelmingly lately. A woman came on foot forty miles over the +mountains last week bringing her daughter and seven others of +neighbours and friends to the school only to find there was no room +for them. But so great was the mother's distress and so appealing her +sacrifice and hardship in making the trip that one of our lady +teachers took the daughter into her own room rather than see the +mother disappointed. A few days later two boys came in having driven a +pair of lean goats over thirty miles hitched to a rude cart, which +held all the earthly possessions they could muster, the old father and +mother walking behind,--all hoping to buy entrance to the school for +the boys. They, too, were disappointed, for we are full to overflowing +this year. Then to cap the argument for stout-heartedness on my part, +I went for a stroll yesterday afternoon and came across a boy who is +making one of the bravest fights for an education that I ever saw. I +found him putting his shoulder to great boulders on the mountainside, +rolling them down and then setting himself to break them in pieces for +use in paving our little town,--for you must know that under the +influence of the school it is beginning to strive for general +improvement. The boy, whose father is a worthless fellow, works at +rock-breaking till he earns enough to go to school a while; then, when +the money is gone, he returns to work again with a pathetic patience +which has stirred me deeply. + +"So, mother mine, when I long for a sight of your face,--and an +old-time hand-clasp from Mr. Polk, as I assure you I too often do, or +when I crave the feast of books and the quiet student atmosphere of a +city library, I am simply going to think on these things in the +future." + +The second summer in the mountains came on and was a repetition of the +first. The school was getting more pupils than could be accommodated, +it was true, but Steve felt that contact with the thought of education +would help to further the general cause. Then, journeying about +through the wilderness was also a means of gathering fresh material +for his nature and hunting stories for boys. + +There was a distinct drawing towards the Follets in his subconscious +mind, the real objective of which he would scarcely admit to himself. +He put from him suggestive pictures of curls and pinafores which +memory and flitting dreams still flashed before him at times. He meant +to go there some day for he wanted to express his gratitude for all +the kindness of the past, but the time had not yet come. He must not +for the present be diverted in the least from the purpose which was +occupying him. He must repay Mr. Polk,--that was the thought which +dominated him, and to that end he was frugally gathering all the money +he could. As he had carried the fox skin through the wilderness when a +boy, so now he carried the thought of that debt in his mind, and no +robber in the form of pleasant indulgence should prevent him from +meeting his obligation. + +The second session passed, and he had learned how to handle his +difficulties with better success, while his method of teaching was +more definitely marked out and he found more leisure for the use of +his pen. Fresh, bright stories with the breath of the mountains in +them began to find ready sale, and occasionally as his pen dipped a +bit into romance it brought more than ordinary returns. Upon the tide +of this success came a strong temptation: Why not go to a distinctly +literary atmosphere and make a business of literature? He felt an +inward assurance of making good and a longing for the work which was +almost overpowering. Money for the debt must continue to accumulate +very slowly when so much time must be given to the daily business of +teaching, for which he was very poorly paid, and he could not know +freedom until that debt was paid. In literary work, too, he could +combine the cause of mountain need with his daily task with equal +effectiveness in both directions, for could he not portray with great +pathos the mental, spiritual and material poverty of his people? And +he stifled for the moment something within him which cried, "Others +might do that, but never one of our own!" Beside all this it was +probable, as Mr. Polk had said, that money was more sorely needed for +schools than personal service and he believed by giving himself to +literary work he could earn it. He had never been perfectly sure that +giving his life to teaching and personal work among his people was the +best method of helping them, so he need not feel chagrined by any +inconsistency. + +So great was the temptation which came to him at this crisis that he +determined when the session closed to go for a visit to Mirandy's +family and from there to the Follets, with the thought that he would +not like to leave the mountains without seeing them, and it would +doubtless be best to go east for his literary career. In this +satisfactory justification of the latter visit he allowed himself the +freedom of pleasant reminiscence about the spot where life first began +to really unfold for him. + +"Little Nancy," he said to himself, "why she must be nineteen now, +clothed in long frocks and maidenly dignity, I suspect,--but I +certainly hope she still wears the little white pinafores." And his +eyes grew misty with a tenderness which he would have classified as +brotherly, had it occurred to him to question himself. Then he smiled +suddenly and said, "Yes, I must go and see about those pinafores +before I leave the mountains." + +He made the visit to Hollow Hut first, and in the ease of a saddle +seat he reached the old familiar wood by a much more direct trail than +he had followed when a boy. He halted his pony at last by the great +boulder where Tige lay buried. The tragedy of his grief on that +long-ago morning when he had touched the stiffened body of his old +friend came back to him with such vividness that, in spite of "Time's +long caressing hand," he could not "smile beholding it." He hitched +his horse close by with a sense of the old dog's nearness and +protection, for he meant to camp on that spot during his stay as he +used to do when a boy. Then he went on foot down the mountainside to +his old home in the hollow, little dreaming, as he passed along its +rocky fastness, that a "still" was hidden there. + +It was just dusk of an early June day, and cool shadows dropped their +soft curtains about the old log house as he walked towards the door +unannounced. He stopped a moment at the grave of his father and +mother, and then followed noiselessly the little worn path to the +cabin. As he drew near, he saw the fitful light of blazing pine-knots +on the hearth and caught the sound of boisterous laughter. Reaching +the door he stood a moment in the shadow of the outer darkness, before +stepping into the light. Then,--what he saw transfixed him! White to +the lips he watched a moment. + +A group of men, Mirandy's husband among them, surrounded a little +fellow about six years old, who, having been made reeling drunk, was +trying to walk a crack in the floor. The little victim swayed and +tottered and struggled under the hilarious urging of his spectators. + +[Illustration: "Hit's Champ fer his pappy"] + +Steve's first mad impulse was to snatch up the wronged child, and, if +necessary, face the half-drunken men in battle. But this would be +worse than useless his second sober thought told him, for there stood +Mirandy looking carelessly on from the kitchen door behind. The child +was doubtless hers, and the father was taking part in the revolting +deed! What could he do? He knew they would brook no interference. + +With hard-won self-control he stepped upon the threshold, courteously +lifted his hat and bade them "Good-evening." + +Instantly the men turned and pistols clicked, for they thought him a +revenue officer; but Mirandy, looking into his still boyish face which +had caught the light, while his unfamiliar figure was in shadow, +exclaimed: + +"Don't shoot! Hit's Steve, my little buddie Steve!" And she stepped +across the room to him in a way which showed she was capable of being +stirred into action sometimes. + +The men looked uncertain, but Mirandy's husband, peering into Steve's +face a moment, said: + +"Yes, that's right, hit's Steve Langly, though I'd nuver knowed ye in +the world," and the other men dropped back. + +The child in the centre of the room looked about with dull eyes, then +dropped to the floor in a pitiful little drunken heap. + +With his heart wrung to the point of agony, Steve stepped forward and +stooping down lifted it tenderly to his breast. In the old home that +little boy represented himself, as he used to be. When he could speak +he said in a voice which trembled upon the silence: + +"This is my little nephew, is it not?" + +And Mirandy cried out sharply to her husband, without answering the +question: + +"Ye shan't nuver do that no more," and the men slunk out one by one, +ashamed, rebuked, sobered, though they could not have told why. + +Steve turned as they left and sat down, still holding the child to his +breast. Then gently releasing his hold with one hand he tenderly +pushed back the damp hair from the little swollen face, while Mirandy +stood by, the tears dropping down her cheeks,--a thing most unusual +for a mountain woman. And she said again passionately, "Champ shan't +nuver make him drunk agin." + +"What is his name?" asked Steve at last. + +"Hit's Champ fer his pappy. The bigges' one--he's outdoors +some'eres,--he's named Steve," she said in mollifying tone. "He was +borned the nex' winter atter you was here, an' you'd been sech a +likely lookin' boy I thought I'd name him fer ye." + +"That was good ev you, Randy," said Steve dropping tenderly into the +old form of speech. "I'll be glad ter see my namesake. Air the two all +ye hev?" + +"No, thar's the baby on the bed; she's a little gal," Mirandy replied +dully. "Then there's two on 'em that died, when they was babies. We +women allus gits chillun enough," she said, in a whining voice +peculiar to the older women of the mountains which she had already +acquired. + +Steve remained a month and it was the most trying time of his life. +When he learned of the "still," which he did very promptly, despair +for Mirandy, her husband and the children filled his heart. Champ +Brady was always under the influence of his "moonshine," and Steve +knew it was perfectly useless to try to dissuade him from making or +using it. Mirandy had his own distaste for it, but she had been +accustomed to the thought of its free use all her life, and how could +he make her listless mind comprehend its danger for her children? Not +trusting her emotion and passionate protest the day he came, he talked +with her earnestly many times and made her promise to do all she could +to keep the children from it. + +He took the two little boys, Steve and Champ, with their dog, every +day up to the old haunt by Tige's rock, where he camped every night. +He had brought picture books with him, illustrated alphabets and +one-syllable stories with the thought of possible need for them. And +the brown eyes of the two little fellows, so like his own in the old +days, as he well knew, in their blankness and wonder, gave eager +response to new things. He called the spot "our school," and the two +little pupils soon learned their letters, while in a month's time +little Steve was reading simple stories telling that "The dog is on +the mat," and "The cat is on the rug" with great exhilaration, and +spelling out laboriously more complex things. + +But Champ Brady was restless under the visit. He told Mirandy +frequently that he had no use for a fellow who hadn't enough stuff in +him to drink good liquor when it was put before him; and Steve, +knowing well his state of mind without hearing any expression of it, +went sadly away from the cabin at Hollow Hut for the third time. + +After a last earnest talk with Mirandy, he took the little boys to the +old spot where they had kept school and he had camped for the month +and put into the hands of Steve the second a German silver watch which +he had also brought with the thought of a boy in the old home again as +a possibility. + +"This little shining ticker will tell you each day that you are going +to make big, strong men who know things one of these days. You will +listen to it always, will you not?" he said, and each in turn, as he +was held up in the tender arms, promised earnestly with queer aching +in their little throats. Then Steve set them down and rode away, +looking back again and again with a waving hand at the two sober +little figures as long as they were in sight. + +"Oh, God of the wilderness," he cried, when at last he saw them no +more, "Thou didst come and comfort me when I wandered here alone; oh, +now give me assurance that Thou wilt watch over these two of my own +blood and bring them into the light." + +The prayer went up in despair akin to that of his boyhood's desolation +and again, after a time, a sense of comfort and peace flooded his +soul, while, in its full tide, a fresh resolve was fixed upon him: + +"I will give my life to the work. Not money alone, please God, if I +should make it, but my daily breath and life and vigour shall go for +the uplift of my people of the mountains!" + +And he smiled to think that literature should ever have appealed to +him, for a sense of linking himself to the Almighty God to whom he had +prayed had come to him in the holy stillness of the wilderness, making +anything else seem trivial beyond compare. + +He did not go to the Follets as he had intended, but made his way +slowly back to the school, stopping at cabins here and there as in +previous summers, chatting with the people, getting into their life +and giving them visions as no alien could have done. + +On this trip he passed a great coal mine and here he spent a couple of +weeks watching the work with great interest. He carefully examined the +various strata of the excavation and studied the practical working of +the mine with keen intent, his college course having given him ample +preparation for its intelligent comprehension. + +Suddenly a bright thought struck him. + +"Look here," he said to himself, "why not locate a mine here in the +mountains, as Mr. Polk used to talk of my doing, buy the land for a +few hundred dollars, as I am sure I can in some localities, and then +make it over to Mr. Polk? He will know how to handle it, and if it is +valuable will certainly make it pay. With another year's work I can +have the money, and by that means I can cancel that debt with one fell +stroke, perhaps," he went on jubilantly,--and if it proved to do so +many times over, he would only be the more rejoiced, he thought. + + + + +XII + +LOVE'S AWAKENING + + +Full of this happy inspiration Steve went back to his work, determined +to gather during the year a sum sufficient to make his purchase, so as +to be ready for the next vacation when he would be free to go +prospecting. Under the stimulus of this good hope he worked with great +absorption, only allowing himself the recreation of a weekly letter to +Mrs. Polk, which he never failed to send, continuing to put into it +all the interesting and amusing things which came into his work,--and +they did come in spite of the seriousness of his life. + +Oftentimes in brooding thought he went back to the little Steve who +was duplicating his own early life in the old home. He had considered +mountain educational work hitherto in the large; he began now to think +of it from the nucleus of the home. How he would like to see the old +spot of his boyhood redeemed by an ideal home life! And the thought +touched many latent springs of his manly nature, calling forth dim, +sweet visions of domestic love and beauty. + +But he hushed nature's appeal peremptorily, he thrust back the +visions with the firm decision that he had no leisure for dreams, and +continued his many-sided work through another winter with accustomed +constancy. It was in the early spring of that year when an unexpected +telegram came to him from Mrs. Polk. It read: + +"Meet Nita and myself at L---- to-morrow, 7 A. M. train". + +How the brief message thrilled him! He had plodded so long alone. He +sprang up from his place at the breakfast table where the message had +been handed him, his eyes shining and his step buoyant. Securing leave +of absence from school duties for a couple of days, he went at once to +hire a team which would take him forty miles over the mountains to the +railroad station. + +Forty miles! With a good team and a buoyant spirit they seemed little +more than so many city blocks. To look into the face and talk once +more with the "little mother" would renew his enthusiasm for his work. +She must have known that he was growing dull and spiritless with the +lingering winter days,--she had such a wonderful way of divining +things. His eyes grew misty with tender recollection of her. + +And Nita,--beautiful Nita Trowbridge,--when she should step out in the +early morning light, it would be like flashing his glorious mountain +sunrise upon some artist's masterpiece! And he was hungry for the +beauty and grace and charm of the city which she embodied. Yes, it was +true, there was no denying it! And fast and faster sped the retreating +miles under his joyful expectations till the journey was ended, a +night's refreshing sleep had passed and he stood at last at the little +station, restlessly pacing up and down the platform, with eye and ear +strained to detect the first hint of the incoming train. + +Next he was rushing into the rear sleeper! + +"Little mother!" + +"Steve!" were the greetings as he took Mrs. Polk in his arms while the +eyes of both brimmed with tears. Then turning quickly to Nita, he +greeted her with less demonstration but with equal warmth. + +Catching up their hand-bags he hurried them out, for through trains +show scant respect for mountain stations, and leading the way to his +waiting vehicle he helped Mrs. Polk in with easy confidence, then +turned to Nita. What was it about her that made him instantly +conscious that the spring wagonette was very plain, the newness long +gone and that the horses, with abundant manes and tails, lacked +trimness and style? He started to apologize for his turnout, then +quickly set his lips. If he must begin apologizing here, where would +it end? + +"This is just a mild forerunner of the heights before you," he said +laughingly, as he carefully helped her mount the high step before +which she had stood uncertainly. + +But the trip proved equally delightful for them all. The mountain air +was bracing, the morning panorama spread out before them, gloriously +beautiful as it always was, brought constant delighted exclamation +from both Mrs. Polk and Nita while Steve found fresh enjoyment in +their pleasure. + +The little cabins which came into view on the way, standing bare and +barren by the roadside, or looking out from forest recesses where +there was hardly a road to follow, or clinging to some lofty "bench" +upon the mountainside, all were fronted by poorly clad children gazing +in solemn, open-mouthed interest while the strangers passed. + +"Dear little things," said Mrs. Polk, "they stand in mute appeal to us +to open a path for them out into our world,--to take them into the +fold of our larger brotherhood." + +Steve looked back into her bright, earnest face with kindling eyes, +while Nita turned from one to the other with the old childish wonder +again in her face. These mountain folk were a new species to her, +interesting and amusing perhaps, but from whom she instinctively +shrank. Not that she was in the least disdainful, she was of too +sweet a nature for that, but she had no conception of a divine bond of +human kinship which could ever include her and them. + +They spent the night at a mountain village, breaking the long drive +for the ladies, and the next day reached the school where Steve +daily gave his best, and which was so dear to Mrs. Polk. During +the two days following, as during the trip, Steve made them as +comfortable as possible, still making no apologies for anything, +and indeed no apology was necessary, for Mrs. Polk had known what to +expect, and the royal hospitality which glorified it, while Nita +accepted the one with simple good taste and the other with real, if +not genial, appreciation. The visit was full of interest for Mrs. +Polk as she noted the growth of the work, and Nita went about +through school buildings and grounds, her beauty and tasteful +attire making her a most observed visitor. Nor did she fail to show +interest in the work, thoroughly courteous and kindly, and yet +which somehow seemed detached. + +As Steve followed her with admiring eyes and sincere regard, he could +not help seeing most clearly that she could never fit into the +mountain landscape. He thought whimsically of Mr. Polk's dreams for +her and himself and knew that though he could have remained in her +world and found happiness, she could never have come into his. His +early intuition had not been at fault; she would never touch the +height, breadth and depth of universal womanhood with its vision and +its sympathy. + +Just before leaving, the two visitors spent a recitation period in +Steve's class room, and so eager was he to reveal the best in his +pupils that he did not dream he was also putting forth the teacher's +best. + +When the pupils had filed out and the three stood alone, Mrs. Polk +made a gay little bow, and said with glistening eyes: + +"Bravo, Sir Knight of the Mountains, you have certainly won your +spurs,--though they be of civilian make!" + +He smiled in return, brought back to a consciousness of himself, but +turning from it instantly again, he inquired: + +"And what do you think of my brother knights?" + +"They are equally fine," said Mrs. Polk warmly. + +"They are indeed," joined in Nita, "but how you have penetrated the +hopeless exteriors of these people, as we saw them on our way here, +found the germs of promise and developed them, will always remain an +unfathomable mystery for me," she declared. "I confess I understand +your skill less than I do that of the sculptor who makes the marble +express beauty, thought and feeling,--and his work would be infinitely +more to my taste. I think nothing more distasteful than contact with +people can be,--and when it must be daily----" She shrugged her +shoulders in conclusion expressively. + +Steve smiled back at her for he knew she did not think of him as one +of these people with whom she could not bear the thought of daily +contact. + +"Now confess, don't you get dreadfully tired of it all?" she +persisted, looking with real appeal into his face as though she would +draw him away from it if she could. + +"Unspeakably, sometimes," he smiled back again, then looking beyond +her over the mountains he added simply, "but I belong here." + +And uncomprehending as she would ever be, she turned at last lightly +away and walking to the outer door stepped out upon the campus, +leaving her sister and Steve for a little talk alone, which she was +sure they would like. + +When she was gone, Mrs. Polk laid a hand upon Steve's arm and said +softly: "Some day, Steve, everything will come right," looking +expressively into his eyes, and he knew she meant between himself and +Mr. Polk, a subject that had not been mentioned since she came. "I +catch beautiful prophecies sometimes of all this human desert +blossoming as a rose," she went on with her old gay enthusiasm, "and I +am fully persuaded now, as I never have quite been since you left us, +that you have chosen your work wisely. I had to come at last and see +for myself. + +"But are you going to live your life alone, Steve, dear," she asked +after a moment wistfully, "with no sweet home ties?" + +"I do not know, little mother," he said gravely. His mind went +instantly to the old cabin home and little Steve, but he couldn't tell +even her of the family life there now,--nor yet of the mystic vision +which had intruded upon his brooding thought. + +His sudden smile flashed over the seriousness of his face as he +replied at last, "I have been too busy and too poor to think about it +so far." + +She did not smile in return, but catching both his hands in hers she +looked up at him with motherly insistence, and asked: + +"Have you never loved any dear girl? Is there no sweet face that +sometimes steals into the little home which nestles always in every +true man's innermost heart?" + +Her strong mother-love had surely lent her a mystic's insight and +compelling power! + +Instantly into the dim outline of the vision of his brooding thought +which he had hitherto constantly thrust aside, came with a +distinctness that startled him, a childish face framed in yellow curls +above a little white pinafore! + +He caught his breath with the vividness of it, then pulled himself +together and looking down into the dear eyes of the woman who had been +more than second mother to him, and who thereby had won the right to +question him, he said with a curiously puzzled look: + +"Why, I do not know,--perhaps so,"--then, as she still looked intently +at him, "you have startled me. I have become such a stupid grind, I +guess I need waking up. I will commune with myself, as I have never +done before, and let you know what I discover," he ended more +lightly. + +She knew that a revelation had come to him in that moment and was +content without further questioning. With a last gentle, loving +pressure for his hands she released them and they walked out together +to join Nita. + +Their team was soon ready and after another long, pleasant drive Steve +was watching the departing train from the little station platform. He +felt keen regret as it bore his friends out of sight, but he turned to +his team for the homeward drive with a strange exhilaration in his +heart. He had hardly been able to wait for that communion with +himself, and when the opportunity came there was no uncertainty in +its tenor. + +"Of course I love Nancy Follet! I have loved her ever since I first +set eyes upon her sweet little face,--and it has come before me always +in any stress of mind or heart as though to tell me she was always to +have part in my life. And yet I have been so dull I did not +understand. She preëmpted my heart from the first and that is why I +did not love beautiful Nita Trowbridge,--why I have never been able to +look at any girl with a spark of interest since." How he loved to +linger over the revelation which had come to him! It was like having +emerged from a desert into a land flowing with milk and honey. Little +Nancy! She had been so gentle, so confiding, so eager to help him with +things,--she would be his dear helper in the work of his life,--and +the work would thereby be glorified beyond measure! Under the spell of +his tender musing the forty miles again sped by unheeded and he was +back once more at the schoolroom door. + +It was well that his tasks for the year were well-nigh over, for he at +once became consumed with the desire to see Nancy in the maturity of +her girlhood. He promptly decided that he would go as soon as school +closed and win her promise before he went on that prospecting tour. In +the meantime his mind continued to hover over the hours they had +spent together as boy and girl. He went to mill once more walking +beside a little fairy figure on old Dobbin's back,--he caught the +fragrance of shy flowers which nestled in cool woodland depths, and +memory let softly down the bars into a holy of holies as the little +girl said again in her sweet innocence, "Steve, let's build us a house +in this wood and live here always." He mounted the rugged steeps of +Greely's Ridge, her strong protector, while she reached down once more +a timid little hand to hold his tightly,--and suddenly he was startled +with remembrance of the character of that ridge. It must have held +minerals! Coal, yes, coal,--he was sure of it! There was the piece of +land he had been wanting to find! + +And so with buoyant, twofold hope he started as soon as school was out +towards the Follet home, having deposited in the bank a sum which he +felt would be sufficient to purchase the Greely Ridge, should he find +it as valuable as he suspected and no one had preceded him in its +discovery. + + + + +XIII + +OLD TIES RENEWED + + +It was mid-afternoon of a late June day when Steve stopped at Mr. +Follet's store. He wondered if his old friend would be there. Yes, the +door was open, and for a moment Steve stood on the platform in front, +his tall figure erect, his head bared as he looked reverently towards +the little home which had opened the world of books to him. Then Mr. +Follet's high voice rang out from the dark depths where dry-goods and +groceries rioted in hopeless confusion as of old. + +"Hello, stranger, what's the time o' day?" + +Steve stepping forward put out an eager hand, and cried: + +"Mr. Follet, don't you know me?" + +But the man only stared, coming forward into the light of the +doorway. + +"Never saw you before," he declared at last; "or if I did, can't tell +where under the cano_pee_ 'twas." + +Steve laughed with keen enjoyment at hearing the familiar old +expression, and said eagerly: + +"Don't you remember Steve, little Steve Langly who worked for you one +summer?" + +"Steve!" exclaimed Mr. Follet; "of course I do; nobody at my house +has forgotten him, not by a jugful,--but this ain't Steve!" + +"This _is_ Steve though, Mr. Follet,--the same Steve, with just as +grateful a heart for you and Mrs. Follet as I had the day I left you +about a dozen years ago." + +"Well, this does beat me," said Mr. Follet. "We'll lock right up and +go over to the house. My wife and Nancy will be powerful glad to see +you if they can ever think who under the cano_pee_ you are." And he +stepped briskly about locking up, and then the two walked over to the +house. + +Mrs. Follet was seated on the piazza with some light sewing when they +came up, and to Mr. Follet's excited introduction of Mr. Langly she +made polite but unrecognizing acknowledgment, and her husband was too +impatient to delay his revelation. + +"Why, ma, you don't tell me you don't know Steve," he exclaimed. + +"Steve," returned Mrs. Follet bewildered. + +"Why, yes! little, old, scrawny, mountain Steve," exclaimed Mr. +Follet, "who did everything that was done here one summer!" + +Then Mrs. Follet slowly grasped the astonishing thought that little +ignorant Steve and the fine-looking young man before her were one and +the same, and gave him gentle, motherly greeting. + +"Where's Nancy?" went on Mr. Follet, impatiently. + +"She's gone with Gyp for a gallop," returned Mrs. Follet, "but she +ought to be back any minute now." And by the time they had exchanged +brief accounts of the years that had passed since they last met, Nancy +was seen swaying gracefully down the road upon her pony's rounded +back. She waved gaily as she passed the porch not noticing the +stranger who was somewhat screened by hanging vines, and then she +turned into the lane which led to the stable. + +Steve's eyes glistened at the vision of the girl which time had so +charmingly matured, and starting up he exclaimed: + +"Let me meet her at the stable where I used to help her on and off old +Dobbin's back," and with a bound he was off the porch and striding +towards the lane. + +Nancy had slowed her pace along the shady driveway, and Steve, going +noiselessly through the grass, was at her side when she was ready to +dismount. + +Smilingly he held out his hand for her to step upon, his glowing eyes +lifted to hers. Startled she drew back, her eyes held and fascinated, +however, by his intent gaze. + +For a long instant they gazed, and then she breathed: + +"Oh, Steve!" + +Had the meeting occurred otherwise, she probably would never have +taken the tall, broad-shouldered, handsome young fellow for the Steve +of her childish memory, but she only saw and recognized those brown +eyes lifted to hers as they used to be in the old days when he took +her from Dobbin's back, with the same tender light in them. + +"Yes, Nancy, it's Steve!" he exclaimed joyfully. "And you knew me +after all these years!" + +A smile that held something sweet and sensitive flashed assent, and +then in reaction from the stir of undefined feeling, which she was not +ready to acknowledge, her eyes danced with sudden humour. Keeping her +saddle she glanced behind her to the pony's back, and said: + +"Where are our bags of meal?" + +Steve laughed in responsive gaiety, and in spite of himself let his +eyes rest upon her in kindling admiration. + +"Oh, I see good grist which the mill of time has ground for you," he +said, and put out his palm again for her to step upon. + +But she, flushing with girlish surprise at his ready gallantry, which +showed how completely the little mountain boy had been lost in the +cultured man, drew back once more and with equal quick wit said, +laughing: + +"You will certainly find it has, and in good, substantial material if +you try to take my weight in your hand." + +"The same mill has ground out for me an adequate amount of muscle," he +declared, adding with a hint of pleading in his voice, "You must let +me renew old times," and without further protest she lightly touched +his hand with her foot as she sprang from the pony's back. + +"Weight doesn't count with so light a touch as that," laughed Steve, +and started to lead the pony into the stable, when a coloured boy +stepped up to care for it. + +"You see we keep a groom these days," said Nancy. + +"Yes; what style the mountains are taking on," returned Steve, as +Nancy gathered up the long skirt of her riding habit, and the two +walked together through the grass to the porch. + +"To what an astonishing height you have grown," said she with naive +charm, looking up at him. + +"You have done equally well," he returned, measuring with his eye her +slender length; then he added with his sudden smile which held the +whimsical quality of old friendship, "Please tell me,--where are the +curls?" + +"Oh, they are tucked snugly away out of sight," said she demurely, +with a pretty gesture which straying tendrils had made habitual, and +the warm colour rising again to her face. + +"There should be a law against carrying curls concealed," said he. + +By this time they were at the porch, and as they resumed the family +exchange of items of interest from each side, Steve and Nancy sitting +on the steps as in the old days, he saw the fair dream-structure of +the past few weeks in the beginning of complete realization. + +In the evening as Mr. and Mrs. Follet, Steve and Nancy sat again on +the porch enjoying the night air after a warm day, they talked +interestedly of old times and the changes which had taken place. +Steve found that Crosscut, the little flag station over which Mr. +Follet presided, had expanded into a small straggling town with a +meeting-house, school of uncertain sessions and a thriving saloon. + +As they chatted pleasantly a young man turned into the gate and came +up the path with a debonair swing that proclaimed him much at home. + +"Howdy everybody," he said jauntily, and Nancy rose with pleasant +greeting for him. Then turning to Steve she introduced Mr. Colton to +Mr. Langly. + +Steve met the newcomer with quiet courtesy, while Mr. Colton responded +with cordiality of the "hail-fellow-well-met" type, and immediately +seated himself beside Nancy with an air of proprietorship. + +Very soon Mr. Follet in the course of conversation turned and +addressed Steve by his first name. + +"Steve!" exclaimed the visitor. "Didn't Miss Nancy introduce you to me +as Mr. Langly? Are you Steve Langly who visited Louisville with a Mr. +Polk some ten or twelve years ago?" + +"I am," said Steve with much surprise. + +"Is that so?" returned Mr. Colton with enthusiasm. "Well, I am Raymond +Colton!" + +"Indeed," exclaimed Steve heartily. "Well, this is pleasant." + +"I should say so," returned Raymond. "I tell you, old fellow, we never +forgot that lickin' you gave us at our school--served us right and did +us good." He launched into a hilarious account of that experience +which everybody enjoyed, and there was a little pleasant, general +conversation. Then Raymond suddenly exclaimed: + +"Miss Nancy, where's your banjo?" and went at once for it. + +"I tell you, Steve, she can play on the old banjo and sing as no one +else ever did," he said as he returned and laid it in her lap. + +Nancy turned to Steve with a quick flush which showed even in the +moonlight and protested: "I really don't know a thing about it, only +what father taught me when I was a little girl." + +And Mr. Follet said excitedly, "You see, Steve, she was so lonesome +after you left I had to get the old thing down to cheer her up. I +hadn't played any on it since I was a young fellow courtin' her +mother. I don't believe I'd ever got her without that banjo," he added +and laughed with great good humour. "Nancy don't think much of it," he +went on. "She thinks it's nothin' beside the piano, but Raymond, here, +is like me, he thinks it beats the piano all hollow." + +"Sing 'Robin Adair,'" put in Raymond, and Nancy began striking soft +minor chords for a little prelude. Then a rich, contralto voice, low +and clear, told the tender old story of Robin Adair and his love, +which the banjo echoed with little improvised hints of the air. +Raymond and Mr. Follet called for one song after another of the old +favourites, Raymond often joining in with a fine tenor, which +harmonized perfectly with Nancy's contralto. At last she sang of her +own accord "The Rosary." + +There was an exquisite pathos in the beautiful, heart-breaking notes +that stirred Steve deeply. What depth of feeling, as well as maidenly +reserve and charm, his little Nancy had developed! The curls and +pinafores were gone, it was true, but as he watched her sweet, +expressive face in the moonlight and felt the fullness of her sympathy +and understanding in the singing, he said to himself, "I am willing to +lose them for this!" + +"Miss Nancy, please don't ever sing that any more; it gives me the +shivers," said Raymond and was seconded by Mr. Follet. + +"It's bedtime for old folks, anyhow," the latter went on, and added, +"I guess Steve's tired enough to go, too," and though Steve was not +ready to admit this, Raymond gave him gay good-night and he followed +his host to the little attic room where he had slept as a boy, and +which Mrs. Follet had made ready for him, because he had insisted that +it was just the place for him. The house was small and he knew +somebody must vacate comfortable quarters if he slept elsewhere. + +But once in the old bed Steve did not find fair memories crowding +about as he had anticipated. Even the echoing sweet songs lost their +melody. Indeed he could think of nothing but the fact that Nancy and +Raymond Colton sat together on the front porch, left there by her +parents as though he had special rights. A midnight thunder-storm +caught up his perturbed thought with noisy energy. + +"But why not!" he exclaimed sadly for the hundredth time to his +rebellious heart. "You certainly have no claim." + +But that lately aroused, throbbing fountain of love's pulsations +replied with vehemence: "I have! I have loved her every moment since I +first looked upon her as a little girl, and I love her in her sweet +maturity with all my soul. She is mine!" + +So the wordy war went on between his good sense and his yearning +heart, banishing every dear, cherished memory and postponing sleep +till the wee morning hours. + +Next day after the breakfast dishes were done, Mrs. Follet proposed +that Nancy take Steve for a ride with Gyp and the family horse over to +the Greely woods, their old favourite haunt, and this exactly suited +Steve, for, in spite of the night's disturbance, nothing could please +him more than an opportunity for companionship with Nancy alone, and +he was still impatient to see if his memory of that rugged ridge of +woodland was correct. + +He went out at once to saddle the horses. It was a crisp, cool, clear +morning after the storm, and Nancy soon appeared in a trim riding +habit and cap with deep visor to shade the eyes. The severe lines and +dark blue of her costume made charming contrast to her softly rounded +face, with its delicate colouring and the stray yellow tendrils of +hair which were always slipping out from the fluffy braids which +bound her head. She surely was fair to look upon, and when Steve had +assisted her to mount in the old way,--holding out his hand and she +stepping upon it in laughing ease,--she sat her pony with the graceful +poise of the true Kentucky girl, making a picture which less partial +observers than Steve could not have failed to find full of charm. They +cantered off briskly down the road. + +When they reached the wood Steve grew keenly reminiscent, as had +become his habit the last few weeks. Forgetting Raymond completely, +the past came back to him vividly; he seemed to feel again Nancy's +confiding trust in him,--and he yearned to know how clearly she +remembered. He looked often upon her as she rode beside him, the two +horses touching noses in the narrow path, but the delicate face +revealed nothing. + +"Do you remember," he said at last, "what a veritable slave you made +of me in this old wood?" + +She laughed brightly and replied, "Why no, I haven't any such +recollection." + +"Well, you knew even then just how to do it," he returned with a bit +of insinuation. "You would look up at the tallest, hardest tree to +climb and see some high-hanging blossom which you coveted, and I +immediately scaled the tree's height to lay the blossom at your +feet." + +She laughed again and her cheeks this time flushed a rosy hue, +unaccountably disconcerting to her. + +"But that, after all, was as it should have been," he went on after a +moment, smiling. "We men need your bidding to send us to the heights, +always." + +"I do not agree with you," she said, recovering her poise instantly; +and summoning a girlish perversity, she led him straightway from +sentiment to the substantial. "Each one must mount up in his own +strength, like these splendid old trees, without prop or help, only +the light from above to draw it upward," and a very demure look +crossed her ever-changing face as she finished the little speech. + +"You are right," said Steve smiling and remembering Mrs. Polk's lesson +from the giant beech so long ago. "And yet, after all, many things +help the tree in its growth besides the light from above,--the sun. +There are the winds and the rain, and"--he paused a moment,--"its +mates. Don't you know a tree rarely stands alone unless man has cut +down its companions. They like comradeship. I believe they are +dependent upon it in ways we do not know." + +"How stupid of me to forget I was talking with a professor," said +Nancy archly. + +"And worse still for me to forget that I was trying to enlighten the +lady who initiated me into the world of books," replied he promptly, +yielding to her mood. + +"Oh, how lovely that graceful, clinging vine is," she exclaimed, +ignoring his retort and pointing up to a vine covered tree, while +Steve thrust back into the secret place of his heart all the cherished +memories which the old wood held for him, realizing decidedly that +Nancy was no longer a shy, timid little girl ready to place her hand +in his, but a young woman who would need to be wooed before she was +won,--even though there were no Raymond. + +"What had he expected anyway?" he reiterated sternly. "That she would +be waiting his coming, all ready for the plucking?" He straightened +himself in the saddle. He had long since learned how to work and wait +for things he wanted; he could do it again. + +He led the conversation away from the personal. They talked of nature, +each finding under the spur of companionship many new interests in the +old wood; and being a devoted nature lover, Steve was pleased to find +that Nancy had added to her tender interest in the feathered folk much +information as to peculiar characteristics of varying species. It was +an easy transition from nature to nature's interpreters, the poets, +and the two found mutual interest in recalling some choice things of +literature. She had spent four years at a fine old Kentucky college, +graduating in June with high honours. There was still a sweet +seriousness about her as in the little Nancy of old, in spite of her +girlish gaiety, and while the years of study had brought her an +unmistakable breadth and culture, there was also a quaint freshness of +speech and manner that made her especially attractive. Steve found +keen satisfaction in the conversation, for the girl understood his +view-point and yet had fresh conceptions of her own which she knew how +to express. + +He said to himself as he studied her (which having put aside the +personal he could now do), "She has the New England alertness of mind +inherited from her mother without the New England reticence, and from +her Kentucky father, eccentric as he is, she gets the vivacity and +charm which is the Kentucky girl's birthright." + +And yet in the midst of his enjoyment an insistent despair of heart +returned as he recalled a certain good fellowship in her attitude +towards Raymond, which was missing with him. Obtuse as lovers usually +are, it never occurred to him that this was one of the best of +symptoms in his favour! + +They had gone in leisurely fashion through the wood, but the tall +trees began to drop away at last, and they went down the slope till +the old mill stood before them in soft, quaker-gray upon the bank of a +turbulent, rushing mountain creek. The big, wooden wheel had fallen +from its place and the old mill itself was fast dropping into complete +decay, but the trees in fresh summer green still hung affectionately +over it. Just beyond the mill nestled the gray log cabin with its +porch across the front; and, yes, there was Tildy pacing back and +forth at her spinning-wheel just as she used to do when Steve and +Nancy were children. She was of the thrifty type of mountain women, +always cleanly, always busy, making the most of the meagre means at +hand. To the young people it was as though some magic lantern had +flashed before them a scene from the past, and the two turned +involuntarily to one another with a rush of something tender upon +their faces. + +Without speaking they rode to the door, and before Steve could +dismount Nancy had sprung from the saddle, caught up her skirt, and +was warmly shaking hands with the old woman, whom now she did not +often see. Steve quickly followed, and with the air of an old friend +also, put out his hand cordially to Tildy. + +She took it doubtfully, saying: + +"Howdye, stranger?" + +[Illustration: "Tilda pacing back and forth at her spinning-wheel"] + +"Why, don't you know me, Mother Greely?" Steve asked. + +"I shore don't," she replied, pushing her spectacles up on her nose +and peering earnestly through them. "No," she said finally, "I nuver +seed ye afore; leastways I ain't no recollection of hit ef I ever +did." + +The old man, who with the old mill had fallen into decrepitude, then +came slowly hobbling out, an inquiring look on his kind old face. +Tildy turned to him, raising her voice shrilly, for he heard with +difficulty and asked: "Nat, have ye ever seed this young man afore?" + +"No," the old man returned after searching scrutiny. + +Then Steve said: "Don't you remember an old gray horse that used to +come to the mill with a little girl in white pinafore on his back, two +bags of corn behind her, and a tousled, brown-haired boy of about +twelve walking beside her?" + +"And the little girl was always on the verge of starvation, and only +molasses cakes could rescue her," put in Nancy laughing. + +"Nancy and Steve," exclaimed the old woman, and then with the +intuition of her sex for romance, she further exclaimed: "An' ye hev +done got married!" + +"No," Steve hastened to say; but the old man, more accustomed to his +wife's shrill voice, caught her affirmation, and failed to hear +Steve's denial. + +"Well, now," said he, rubbing his hands together, greatly pleased, +"Tildy and me allus said ye'd marry some day; ye was jes' suited to +one another." + +Nancy hated herself for flushing so unreasonably again, and Steve, not +daring to look towards her, was hurrying to the rescue, when the old +woman with a swift, keen glance at both, broke in with: + +"No, pap, no they hain't," piped shrilly into the old man's ear. + +His face dropped with evident disappointment, and there was an +embarrassed moment for all of them. + +"Mother Greely," said Nancy gaily, determinedly recovering herself, +"have you got any of those molasses cakes you used to give us when we +came over?" + +"Wal now, I think I hev," said the old woman, rising as quickly as her +stiffened limbs would let her. + +Steve looked down at Nancy as Tildy went in, smiled, and said: + +"Shall we sit on the door-step, as we used to?" + +Nancy's eyes did not meet his, and she turned her head to hide that +provokingly rising colour as she sat down in a matter-of-fact way. + +When they rode away from the mill, having made the aged couple happy +with the renewal of old times, Steve again with eager yearning +strained his inner vision for a glimpse into her heart, but she +betrayed not the slightest consciousness of the embarrassing episode. + +As the horses went leisurely back along through the wood, Steve and +Nancy talked gently of the two old people with their wondrous mountain +combination of barest poverty, dense ignorance, keen intelligence, +simple kindliness and gentle dignity,--qualities which the young folks +were now prepared to recognize. + +"It is curious how like two people grow from constant association," +said Steve at last, musingly. "The resemblance between the old miller +and his wife is striking, isn't it?" + +"Yes, it is," returned Nancy; "the shape of face and type of feature +is the same in both, and as for expression, each might be a mirror for +the other." + +"It would be interesting to know which had most influenced the other," +said Steve; "whether she has conformed to his type or he to hers." + +"Old Nat and Tildy certainly furnish a good opportunity for study of +that problem," said Nancy, "for there has been little except the +influence of each upon the other to leave its impress." + +"The subject is an interesting field for the aspiring investigator," +Steve went on. "I wonder that some fine-spun, scientific theory has +not already been advanced,--but it only remains another formidable +matrimonial hazard," he ended with his sudden smile. + +"It does indeed," laughed Nancy. "Wouldn't it be dreadful to think of +growing daily more and more like some people?" + +"And on the other hand," promptly returned Steve, "how delightful to +think of growing more and more like certain other people," turning to +her with a light in his eye. + +"But then there is the uncertainty,--which is most likely to influence +the other," said Nancy, switching dexterously away from hinted +personal application, and then with a dash of daring gaiety, adding, +"When you marry a girl with a crooked nose, will yours begin to crook +likewise, or will hers take on your symmetrical lines?" + +"But I am not going to take one with a crooked nose," said Steve, +smiling significantly in spite of himself. + +"Perhaps not, but the question remains,--which is most likely to +conform, a husband or a wife," said Nancy, shying back to the abstract +again, with pretty positiveness. And then she called gaily, as she +touched Gyp with her whip and started both horses off on a brisk +canter, leaving the wood for the road, "Please let me know if you +solve the problem, so I may be relieved in mind or forewarned." + +As she dashed on slightly ahead of him, spirit and beauty in every +line of pony and rider, Steve said to himself with a quizzical smile: + +"How cleverly she manages to keep me at arm's length. Oh, little +Nancy, where did you learn such tactics?" and he did not know that +"such tactics" were sure forerunners of surrender. + +As for Nancy, she stood a little later by her bedroom window. The +trim, smart riding-habit was laid aside and a little light muslin of +almost childlike simplicity had taken its place. She stood looking out +at nothing through brimming tears, with flushed cheeks and quivering +lips. + +"I do blush so horridly when I am with him, and I'm afraid I say +things I shouldn't. Oh, what makes me, when I do like him so much!" + + + + +XIV + +"ALL RIGHT, SON" + + +After dinner Steve walked over to the store with Mr. Follet, talked +with him a little, and then strolling up the street afterwards, he was +joined with great cordiality by Raymond Colton. + +The talk was breezy as was inevitable with Raymond. He had graduated +at a great northern university in June, had any amount of _sang froid_ +and had as yet caught no glimpse of life save as a field for +pleasure. + +"What do you think of Miss Nancy?" he inquired enthusiastically. +"Isn't she the prettiest thing going? I have seen them north, south, +east, and west, but I honestly believe I never saw a sweeter flower +growing than Nancy Follet!" he went on without waiting for Steve to +answer his question, so a smile was all the response which seemed +necessary. + +"I came here," went on Raymond, "to look after a land proposition for +father. They say there's lots of valuable coal and iron ore about +here. I've dipped a good deal into that sort of thing at college and +father sent me up to make some tests for him, and if I found anything +rich to take up a 'claim' instanter. I've been here three weeks and I +haven't done a thing yet. Miss Nancy has fascinated me so, I haven't +had eyes for sordid things. But there's plenty of time; no danger of +anybody's rushing in ahead in this sleepy little burg." + +"I'm not so sure of that," returned Steve quietly. "You never know +when somebody may slip in ahead of you. Business competition is a very +lively thing I've been told, though I confess I don't know much about +it," he ended easily. + +"Well, I've been getting a good bit of experience in business here and +there, and I can tell that there's nobody hanging about here that has +much business go." He had no intention of being personal and Steve +bowed, smiling remotely. + +After some more desultory talk they separated and Steve went back to +join Nancy on the porch where he thought he would find her. + +Raymond looked after him with a half smile. + +"Poor old Steve," he said to himself, "he's caught already, and the +worst of it is, I am afraid he's got the best chance. She's a dear +little chum with me, loves to sing to my tenor and laugh at my +foolishness, but I noticed last night the blushes were for him." And +his handsome face set into unusual, firm lines as he went on: "But I +am going to win her! I'll do it in spite of him. To-night I'll walk +off with her whether or no, and he'll think his case is lost, for he +doesn't know girls, I can see that." And with restored confidence he +went over to the store to visit Mr. Follet. He and Mr. Follet were on +fine terms, and he spent an hour or so at the store every day. They +seemed in fact to have some project in common requiring much +consultation. + +Evening brought Raymond again to the Follet porch, and after a little +music and general talk, turning to Mrs. Follet he said: + +"Mother Follet, won't you let us children, Miss Nancy and me, go for a +little walk together? It is so hard for us to sit still." He said it +with mock childishness that was irresistible, and without waiting for +Mrs. Follet's consent, he laughingly grasped Nancy's hand and made off +with her, whether or no. + +Steve could not see the laughing but real protest in Nancy's face, and +his lips set firmly as he watched her white frock swaying gently up +the long, straggling street. + +Mrs. Follet then went in and Mr. Follet, turning to Steve, began in +pleased excitement: + +"Raymond's mightily in love with her, ain't he?" and went on without +waiting for a reply, "I can't tell about her,--you never can tell +nothin' about girls, anyway, you know, and she's just wrapped up in +her piano music. She spends hours thumpin' on what she calls +classical music, but I wouldn't give it for one tune on the banjo. +She's been begging me to let her go to New York and study, but Lord, +she knows as much now as any woman under the cano_pee_'s got use for, +I think, and I've told her she can't do it. Raymond says, though, she +ought to go, and that he'd like nothin' better than to give her the +chance. His folks have got money, I reckon, and he can do it all +right. If anything'll help to get her that will." + +Steve laughed in reply with as good grace as he could, and soon +followed Mrs. Follet to bed as one of the "old folks" before the +"children" returned. + +It was evident enough that he did not count with anybody except the +Greelys as a possible suitor for Nancy, and his sturdy heart chafed in +almost bitter protest. Again sweet memories played truant in the small +attic chamber. "And little Nancy has musical aspirations," he thought. +"With the life I have chosen I could never gratify her. It is +absolutely hopeless for me,--I have nothing to offer her. I am old and +staid, anyway," he said finally to his rebellious heart. "I have known +the responsibilities of life too long, and Nancy is made only for +joy." + +The next morning, putting aside his depression sternly, Steve went on +horseback alone, taking the same road he and Nancy had taken the +morning before. He lingered again in the Greely woods, this time on a +prospecting tour testing here and testing there carefully. + +When he at last rode up to the little one-roomed log cabin the old +folks again made him welcome. After chatting a goodly length of time +with them, and getting his voice well pitched for the old man's +hearing, Steve asked if Mr. Greely would not like to sell off some of +his land. + +The old man looked surprised at the question, for no coal fields had +then been opened up in that part of Kentucky, so that he was not aware +of the value of coal bearing land. + +"Wal, course I would, but nobody would want ter buy hit. Thar's only +this patch the cabin and mill sets on what's any a'count, an' that I +want ter keep long's me an' the ole woman lives." + +"I am sure you are mistaken about that, Mr. Greely. I think all that +woodland ridge is good land, and I would like to own it. Will you and +Mrs. Greely think it over, give me a price on it by to-morrow and let +me have the first chance at it?" + +Astonished beyond measure the old man looked helplessly at his wife. + +"Why, Steve, give me what ye think hit is wuth, if you really want +hit." + +"Mr. Greely, I must tell you frankly that I cannot give what I think +it is worth, but I can pay you more a thousand times than you can ever +get out of it, for you are too old to attempt anything with it, and +there are no children. I think it can be made to yield returns in ways +of which you do not dream or I wouldn't buy it, but I do not _know_ +and I am making a venture in buying it." + +The old man thought a minute, then said: "Wal, I know as much now +about hit as I will ter-morror and you can have hit fer a hundred +dollars, ef ye kin pay that much." + +"No, Mr. Greely, I can't take it for that," said Steve smiling; "it +will be worth much more to me if it is worth anything. I am willing to +venture more on it," and he named a much larger sum than the one +asked. + +The old man could not speak for amazement. He had never heard of any +one in "them parts" having so much money at one time and the trade was +practically closed at once. + +He left the old folks feeling like millionaires and felt immense +satisfaction himself that the deal had progressed so well. If the old +couple should live in luxury, as they might conceive the word, for the +rest of their lives, they could never spend that sum in the +mountains. + +Steve knew the lay of the land for miles around and he felt sure +there was nothing so valuable as the Greely Ridge with the railroad +lying not far from its base. + +Asking the Follets if he might leave his traps there for a few days he +went at once in the afternoon to the county seat to take the necessary +steps for the transfer of the land, and found the title perfectly +clear. + +With elation over the assured deal and happy expectation of more than +cancelling his debt, he telegraphed Mr. Polk what he had done. A reply +came promptly back saying, "I will be on at once and bring expert." + +It was with mingled feelings that Steve thought of the meeting as he +busied himself with the details completing the transaction, going over +with a notary public for the old folks to sign the papers, getting +everything ready for Mr. Polk's signature as purchaser since he was +coming and one transfer would be sufficient. He did not stop at the +Follets, but returned at once to meet his old friend. + +When Mr. Polk stepped from the train and looked again upon the boy he +had loved as his own, he put an arm about him, as he used to in the +old days, and said: + +"How are you, son?" + +"Well, thank you," answered Steve, and both voices trembled a +little. + +That was all, but it restored the old frank relations. They talked +with great interest about the purchase and went as soon as possible +with the expert to get his opinion upon it. When careful tests of the +property had been made, the expert was enthusiastic. + +"I believe it will prove to be a rich coal deposit, and if well +managed ought to bring you a small fortune." + +That night when they returned to the little "hotel," so named, Mr. +Polk and Steve talked long and interestedly over plans for developing +the mine. Mr. Polk had pretty well-defined ideas for the immediate +organization of a company and the beginning of operations. + +Finally he turned to Steve and said: + +"Son, I have grown since you left,--I hope, some wiser, and that +little woman made me see before I left home that I had no right to +dictate to you what you should do with your life. I know you have +worked hard these three years, or you never could have saved money +enough to buy this piece of land, even at so small a price, and I +don't doubt you have done good at the same time. But I still feel that +you might do just as good work perhaps by earning money for the cause +you are so greatly interested in, so I am going to make a proposition +to you. Suppose you take the oversight of this mining business, +handling the money and seeing that everything goes straight. We could +well afford to pay you a good salary for this service and give you +some shares in the company too. Then you can live right here and exert +your influence upon your people, as you call them, at the same time." + +Steve listened intently, and the thought of money, and Nancy and music +lessons, while he remained in the mountains, made his brain whirl. + +Finally he put out his hand. "You hev allus been kind an' generous ter +me," he said uncertainly, with emotion which carried him back for an +instant to the old-time speech. Then lifting his head he smiled and +added, "Let me think of this till to-morrow." + +Mr. Polk agreed, and they separated for the night. + +It was again a time of sore temptation for Steve. All night he tossed +and thought. In spite of recurring depression he had not given up hope +of winning Nancy. Her desire for musical advantages had been the most +discouraging thing of all, however, and if he accepted this offer, he +could hope to give her what she wanted, while since Raymond was not +accepted he felt free to win her if he could. He pictured the future +with increasing exhilaration, as the night approached its zenith, the +time of keenest mental activity; and then, as the ebb came with the +waning hours, suddenly a little figure reeled and staggered as it +tried to walk a crack in a cabin floor, and springing from bed Steve +strode to the window, and looked out upon the silent, starry sky. + +"Oh, God," he said, "keep me from temptation;" and after a time he +went back to bed firm in the old resolution that whatever the +sacrifice involved, he would give himself, and not money alone, to the +work. And then he slept. + +Next morning he smiled his sudden smile as Mr. Polk looked keenly into +his face, and said: + +"I guess I am incorrigible, Mr. Polk,--I can't see it except in the +old way." + +"All right, son," said Mr. Polk quietly, and when they separated it +was with a warm hand-clasp as Mr. Polk exacted a promise that Steve +would visit them his first opportunity. "'The little mother' longs to +see her boy," he said affectionately; then added, "Some day we hope to +be in shape to help you with your work." + +When he was gone Steve left for the Follets again. A great peace had +come upon him with the renewal of his resolution, and his heart leaped +at the prospect of seeing Nancy again. + +"How long it seems since I left her," he laughed to himself, and the +thought sprang to his mind from out the ever active realm of human +hope: "Perhaps I shall win her yet by some miracle!" + + + + +XV + +FLICKERING HOPE + + +It was with keen satisfaction that Steve caught a glimpse of Nancy's +white dress out under the trees upon his return to the Follets. He +hurried over to the bench where she sat. + +"Is there anything more satisfying than these Kentucky mountains?" he +said, with enthusiasm, as he seated himself beside her. "There is +something that constantly assures me I belong to them." + +"I have wondered that you were not captured by the city with all its +allurements," said Nancy. + +"No," returned Steve, "though perhaps I might have been at first had +not my little foster-mother been loyal to Kentucky mountain need. But +my experience the past three years as teacher has made it impossible +for me to ever get away from the outstretched hand of Kentucky +mountain children," and his voice dropped into deep earnestness. + +"I can understand how you feel," said Nancy after a little silence. "I +could not help being interested in the school when it was opened here. +Little children came trudging in from the most barren cabin homes, +wide-eyed, and eager to 'larn,' and grown-up men and women tramped +barefoot miles and miles every day to try to get some of the 'larnin' +they'd heard about. Then they would plod away with the utmost patience +trying to read and write. It was intensely pathetic. Nothing has ever +touched and interested me so much as some supply work I have done for +our school," she added, a light upon her face, which thrilled Steve's +heart anew. What a help she could be to him in his chosen work! + +"I am so glad you have felt the appeal of mountain need," said he, +struggling to keep the thrill out of his voice. And then he told her +of his hopes and plans, of the dream he had of a new school within +reach of Hollow Hut, a region to which new possibilities were about to +come, he had learned at the county seat, through a projected railroad +line. Of how he hoped to have help in the work from Mr. and Mrs. Polk +and perhaps other capitalists of the north, and she was most +interested, most appreciative, showing all the sweet seriousness of +little Nancy of old. + +But this long talk of some two hours which revealed again congenial +tastes and ideals of life for the two only served to make Steve's +heart more intensely rebellious when, after supper, Raymond walked in +once more with his debonair proprietorship of Nancy. As it happened +she had just stepped out under the trees to get a bit of fancy work +left there in the afternoon, and Raymond joining her, barricaded the +way to the house, insisting that the "old folks" were glad to get rid +of them, till she laughingly sat with him there. It had been purely +accidental, her going out just then, and she remained with inward +protest, but Steve could only see in it complete surrender to the +ardent suitor. + +Mrs. Follet had not yet come out and Mr. Follet turned to Steve, +laughing in a pleased way. + +"I don't mind telling you, for I know you are interested," he said +confidentially, "that Raymond told me this morning he was simply crazy +about her, he couldn't wait any longer, and was going to pop the +question to-night. I s'pose there ain't much question about it though, +for I reckon she's as much in love as he, though,--as I said, you +never can tell." + +And he little suspected that what he said seemed to Steve the +death-knell to his hopes. + +Mr. Follet continued loquaciously: "Raymond's the greatest fellow I +ever saw. Everybody likes him. Why, he's in with the moonshiners about +here hand and glove, and they're powerful offish. Never saw anything +under the cano_pee_ like him. He has big plans too, about some of the +land round here which he says is full of coal. He's looked a little +at the Greely Ridge; he thinks that's the finest piece, but he hasn't +been over it carefully yet--been too much in love, you know," and he +laughed contentedly. + +Steve made conventional reply, and admitting he was quite tired, went +to the little attic for another restless, unhappy night. + +If the good fairies had only visited his couch and whispered their +story of what was going on under the trees, how sweet would have been +his sleep! But they did not. + +Next morning Steve announced at the breakfast table that he must be +leaving the following morning; a few days off from work for pleasure +was all he could take with good grace. + +Mr. and Mrs. Follet expressed their regret, while Nancy's eyes were +upon her plate. Mr. Follet was complaining of some sciatic pain, but +tried to throw it off with his usual nervous energy. + +"Nancy," he said, "you haven't taken Steve over to Borden's Cave, +which has been discovered since he was here. Why don't you go this +morning?" + +"Why, I should be glad to," responded Nancy, and Steve, feeling that +her agreement was upon the basis of the old family relationship +between them, made no excuse, though he did not doubt, with the +fatality of anxious lovers, that the engagement had taken place. The +two started off with Gyp and the family horse for a three mile canter, +and Steve's spirit rose with the exhilaration of it in spite of +himself. + +The cave proved to be a most interesting rock formation and when they +had examined it, Steve pointing out some curious scientific facts, +they sat down in the quiet woods upon a fallen tree trunk, while the +horses grazed. + +Nancy looked up at him when they were seated, and said naively: + +"How much you have learned in these last busy years!" + +"Have I?" said Steve, his eyes brightening. "I am especially glad you +think I have used my time well, because I can never forget that it was +you who taught me my letters,--even how to spell my name," and he +turned kindling eyes upon her. + +"Did I?" she said, laughing and flushing. + +"Yes," he returned, and a bit of tenderness crept into his voice. "I +will never forget how you did it, how picturesquely you characterized +the various letters for me, how you thought curly S the very prettiest +letter in the alphabet, and how disappointed I was when I found my +poor name did not hold a single letter which belonged to yours," and +there was such deep pathos in the last words, as he looked far into +the distance, that she stirred uneasily and could make no answer. + +After a moment he went on: "I suppose I read in it, even then, a +prophecy of our future, how yours must be separate from mine. There +could be nothing in common." + +And still she was dumb; not a word came to her lips. But he seemed to +need no reply; a sad meditativeness was stealing upon him which made +him oblivious for the moment of his surroundings. + +But suddenly setting his lips firmly, he turned and said with forced +lightness: + +"What a bear bachelorhood makes of a man! I have spent so much time +alone the last few years that I am already acquiring the bad habit of +thinking my thoughts aloud sometimes. Forgive me, won't you?" And he +turned to her with more in the tone than the simple words could +convey. + +"I have nothing to forgive," said she, but with an effort,--which he +misinterpreted. + +Then gathering her wits she repeated, "I have nothing to forgive, but +everything for which to thank you. My starting you in the life +intellectual cannot compare with your finding me hanging by a mere +thread from a tall tree top and restoring me to the life physical, +without which my brilliant intellectual attainments would have been as +nothing," she ended gaily, breaking the tension which both had felt. + +The talk continued to drift near the sacred realm of the heart, +however, until the sanctity of engagement was finally touched upon. + +"An engagement is to me a very sacred thing," said Nancy with sweet +seriousness, in response to something from Steve. "I have never +understood how it could be lightly entered into with only the basis of +a brief, gay acquaintance." + +Was not that just what she had done? "Oh, consistency, thy name is +certainly not woman," thought Steve bitterly. He said: + +"Oh, yes, that is good theory, but it is generally overwhelmed by +practice when a gay cavalier comes along and takes the maiden heart by +storm." + +"Perhaps so, with some," returned Nancy quietly, "but so far as I am +concerned I do not believe I could be deceived into thinking that a +brief, gay acquaintance was sufficient assurance for the binding of +two in the tenderest tie of life, when their tastes and ideals might +prove to be totally at variance." + +Steve's heart leaped within him. Was she trying to tell him +something,--to undeceive him with regard to Raymond and herself? +Impetuous words rose and trembled on his lips, while the thought raced +through his brain that it would not be dishonourable to ask if there +were the least hope for him. He would not utter another word if she +said the sacred tie was already entered into with Raymond. + +But Nancy, in the yielding and yet withdrawing which is characteristic +of woman and man never fully understands, plunged into a new topic. +Frightened at the plainness of her revelation and almost seeming to +divine his purpose, with her brightest talk she led him far afield. + +Steve, however, baffled though he was, found memory of that shy look +coming back to him insistently, till he suddenly, firmly determined as +they rode home once more that Nancy Follet should have the opportunity +of accepting or refusing him before he left the place! + + + + +XVI + +IN THE CRUCIBLE + + +When Steve and Nancy reached home they found Mr. Follet in bed +suffering intensely with sciatic pains. He fretted constantly, +declaring he would get up whether or no by afternoon. He was obliged +to make a trip into the country for a load of hay, able or not, that +evening, he said. Steve offered to go for him, but Mr. Follet +impatiently declared that nobody could do it but himself, as there was +some other business to be attended to at the same time. + +The pain continued so severe, however, that getting up was an +impossibility, and about seven o'clock after fretting and fuming for +hours, occupying Mrs. Follet and Nancy continually, he said to his +wife: + +"Go tell Steve to come here." + +Mrs. Follet obeyed and brought Steve in from the porch where he sat +supposedly reading, Nancy being busy then with the supper dishes. + +"Now you go out, ma, and don't come back till I tell you," said Mr. +Follet querulously, and his wife went wonderingly. + +"Steve," said Mr. Follet as soon as the young man entered, "I know I +can trust you, and I am going to get you to do some important business +for me." + +"I will certainly do anything for you, Mr. Follet, with great +pleasure, and I appreciate more than I can tell you the fact that you +feel you can trust me," said Steve warmly. + +"Well," said Mr. Follet, a little uneasily, "this is mighty partic'ler +business I've got. The fact is," he went on with nervous energy, "a +part of the world is getting so good it ain't content with just being +good itself but is bound and determined that the rest of the world +shall do just as it says, and there's a good bit of difference of +opinion about what goodness strictly is." + +Steve listened a little surprised at the homily. Then Mr. Follet went +on: + +"I ain't ever cared anything about liquor myself, though I could have +had all I wanted all my life long, but I am willing other people +should make it, and have it, or sell it, all they want to." + +Steve looked more surprised and his lips settled just a little into +firmer lines, but Mr. Follet failed to notice it. + +"Now, old Kaintuck, which has always been the freest state in the +Union, has got a passle o' folks turned loose in it just like the +folks I was telling you about. They're so good themselves they ain't +satisfied till they make everybody else do just as they say. They're +making laws in the towns that no liquor can be sold, and I tell you +men of old Kaintuck ain't goin' to stand that and I don't blame 'em," +he concluded vehemently. + +Steve started to reply, his lips growing firmer, and his eyes taking +fire, but Mr. Follet gave him no chance. + +"Now, I promised some fellows that I would meet 'em to-night,--and +bring home a load of hay," he ended with an excited laugh. + +"A load of hay with whiskey enclosed?" asked Steve, instantly +suspecting. + +"Yes," said Mr. Follet, delighted with Steve's quickness, "that's the +idee. Then I unload it in my barn and ship it as I please to these dry +towns. I'm in for the law as a general thing," he added quickly, "but +I believe in folks having their rights." + +"Well, Mr. Follet," said Steve, going to the foot of the bed and +leaning hard upon it, "we must understand each other at once. I do not +agree with you as to our rights. I do not think we have the right to +destroy ourselves or others with any weapon whatsoever, the pistol, +the knife, poison or whiskey. I am with the law in every particular," +he said firmly. + +"With the law," exclaimed Mr. Follet excitedly, "when it says a man +can't do with his own corn on his own place what he wants to do with +it? A man's got as good a right, in my mind, to put up a still and +make whiskey out of his corn as his wife has to gather apples and make +pies!" he concluded, fairly quivering with excitement. + +Steve held himself quietly, and said gently: + +"Mr. Follet, you are too ill for me to discuss these things with you +now. I see we look at them from totally different points of view." + +"There ain't but one point of view," shrilly returned Mr. Follet, "and +that's the point of view of man's rights. Why, it won't be long till a +man can't milk his own cow without the government standing round to +watch her switch her tail and tell him how to do it,--all ready to +grab the money if he sells a little to a neighbour!" + +"Well, Mr. Follet," said Steve, looking steadily but kindly in the +enraged eyes of his opponent, "there is one thing that we do agree +upon, and that is, every man has a right to his own opinion," and the +kindness in Steve's eyes merged into his sudden smile, which stemmed a +little the rising tide of Mr. Follet's wrath. + +After a somewhat subdued pause he turned to Steve appealingly: + +"But you will go and get this load for me,--you will have no +responsibility about it. I have never had anything to do with +moonshiners before," he went on, "but Raymond got in with 'em and +thinks it would be a huge joke to send a lot of their whiskey to his +friends in these 'dry towns,' and that prohibition business has riled +me so that I promised I would help pass the stuff along. Raymond's +going to hang around the saloon and the station to see that the coast +is clear o' government men, while the thing is goin' on." + +"No," said Steve instantly and firmly when Mr. Follet was through, "I +cannot do it, Mr. Follet, greatly as it grieves me to refuse you a +favour. I feel that whiskey, the knife and the pistol have been +Kentucky's greatest curses, especially among the people of the +mountains. I would lay down my life, if necessary, for mountain folks, +but I long instead to spend it for them in replacing the pistol and +the knife with the book and the pen, and in cultivating among them a +thirst for knowledge instead of drink," said Steve with quiet passion +which held Mr. Follet's unwilling attention. Then he added: + +"Understand me, Mr. Follet, I do not attempt to decide for you what is +right or wrong, I only know that I cannot do this thing you ask and +keep my self-respect. I must live within the laws of my country even +if I should feel sometimes that they are unjust, and I can never take +even a remote part in the distribution of whiskey in the land I love," +he concluded earnestly. + +At this Mr. Follet fairly shouted in a sudden access of rage. He was +all the more angry for the moment because in the light of Steve's +clear statement he not only felt that Steve was right, but that he +himself was wrong. + +"Then leave my house this instant with your contemptible idees about +Kentucky's rights, and don't dare to stop and speak to my wife or my +daughter." + +"It is your house, Mr. Follet; I will do just as you say," Steve +replied. + +Mr. Follet reiterated shrilly: + +"Go on out of my house then, and don't you ever come near it again." + +Steve bowed and left, not even stopping to get his travelling bag; in +fact he forgot he had one, and only caught up his hat from the porch +as he passed out. + + + + +XVII + +FRUITION + + +Mrs. Follet and Nancy knew that something very exciting was going on +between Mr. Follet and Steve and both were exceedingly anxious. When +silence took the place of heated discussion they could bear it no +longer and went to Mr. Follet's door. + +Mrs. Follet had never seen her husband so wrought up before, though he +had always been of an exciteable temperament. She did not dare ask a +question, but busied herself doing little things for his comfort while +Nancy brought in his supper, which he had not wanted earlier and still +querulously refused to touch. + +A terrible silence settled upon them all. Nancy sat on the porch in +distressed wonder over what had happened between her father and Steve, +while Mrs. Follet, equally anxious, sat silently by the bed of the +restless man. She proposed to get a neighbour to go for the doctor, +but Mr. Follet wouldn't hear of it. Hours passed by and then Mr. +Follet suddenly started up in bed. + +"My God," he cried wildly, "they'll kill him!" + +"Who?" cried his wife, starting up also, while Nancy's white face at +once appeared in the door. + +"Why, Steve," screamed Mr. Follet. "He's gone, and I don't doubt he +went straight to old man Greely's for the night. If he did, he's cut +across the woods and run into some moonshiners. They'll take him for a +government man and shoot him soon's they lay eyes on him!" + +He paused for breath, and Mrs. Follet and Nancy were too appalled to +speak. + +"Do something," screamed Mr. Follet; "I can't have the boy's blood on +my hands!" + +Then Mrs. Follet with her gentle strength made him quiet down enough +to tell them particulars, and she learned that Mr. Follet was to have +gone after a load of hay, and coming back would stop at the edge of +the wood leading to old man Greely's, walk into the woods a piece to +meet the men, and then, if the coast was clear, they'd hide the liquor +in the hay load. At the end she said: + +"You must go, Nancy----" + +"Yes," cried Mr. Follet, "you must go, child, and save Steve. Jim +Sutton will know you. They won't touch you, and they'll believe +you. I was a fool ever to have anything to do with that moonshine +business!" + +But Nancy was already out of the room flying for the stable. There was +no thought of riding habit or saddle. Throwing a bridle over Gyp's +head, she sprang upon his back and like the wind the two rushed forth +into the midnight stillness. Would she be in time to save him? It had +been so long since he left the house. Oh, would she be too late? She +urged Gyp wildly on and on, along the road directly towards the Greely +woods, where she would find the moonshiners, and perhaps,--oh, +perhaps! God only knew what else she might find. + +Every throbbing pulse beat became a prayer that she might be in time +to save him. + + * * * * * + +Meanwhile Steve, upon leaving Mr. Follet, had not gone out into the +street, but crossing the lawn into the driveway he went past the +stable to the wood back of the house from whence he had come so many +years ago. His mind and heart were in a tumult. He scarcely thought +where he was going till he suddenly became conscious that he was in +the old wood where he had rescued Nancy so long ago. Little Nancy! And +he had loved her ever since consciously or unconsciously. But she was +completely lost to him now,--that was final. The fair dream-structure +which had risen anew that afternoon had fallen again in a tragic +moment's space. The mountain blood in Mr. Follet would never forget +or forgive. He must leave the place forever. He was adrift again in +the world. There would never be tender home ties for him,--he could +never love another, no one could be a part of his very self like +little Nancy. He dropped down upon a little seat which he had fixed +there for her in the old days, and was lost in depressed thought, +taking no note of how long he remained. + +The stillness of the wood quieted him finally, as it had always done, +and he remembered his old friends the Greelys. They would be glad to +have him come in for breakfast in the morning, and for the night he +would sleep in the Greely woods. He would feel very near to Nancy +there, for that spot was hallowed by her memory as no other for him. +He rose and made his way over into the road which led to the wood. + +It was a brilliant moonlight night, and he walked on under the +majestic beauty of the firmament with quieted spirit. + +Suddenly, as he had almost reached the wood, he heard rapid hoof-beats +behind him and paused to listen, for it was a little-travelled road. +Nearer and nearer they came, and then he could distinguish a white +dress fluttering in the wind from the flying animal's back and knew +the rider must be a woman. The speed of the horse began to slacken as +she was almost upon him, and he saw that it was Gyp and Nancy! + +She also had recognized him, and the next instant she sprang from the +pony and stood beside him. + +"Oh, Steve," she panted, "they will kill you!" and stretched her +shaking hands out to him. Her agitation was pitiable. Unconsciously he +drew her instantly within his arms, while he said with equal +unconsciousness: + +"Why, Nancy, darling, what do you mean?" + +For answer she dropped her head upon his breast and sobbed convulsively. + +He held her close, stroking her face and soothing her with tenderest +words of love till she was able to speak again. + +"The moonshiners that father was to meet, Steve,--they are in the +Greely wood, and they will think you are a revenue man and kill you +sure," she said brokenly. "You were going there, weren't you?" + +"Yes," he said gravely. + +"Father thought you would and sent me for you. Oh, it was dreadful, +the terror of it," she said shuddering and sobbing anew. + +Again he soothed her with caresses and whispered, "But, sweetheart, +you know I am not going there now,--not when I can hold you like +this." And she nestled in his arms at last in quiet happiness. + +Finally she lifted her head and smiled up at him. He turned her face +up to the moon's full light and looked longingly into it. + +"Nancy, do you love me?" he said. + +"Oh, Steve, I've always loved you, I think," she softly replied. + +"And it never was Raymond?" he went on insistently, his voice taking +on a resonant ring. + +"Not in the least," she returned. Then smiling demurely at him she +said, "Oh, Steve, you weren't nearly so stupid in learning your +letters!" + +And he punished her with kisses. + +"Do you remember," he said at last tenderly, looking over at the +Greely wood, "that you asked me when a little girl to build a house +for you and me over there where we might live always?" + +"Yes," she said with a touch of sweet reluctance, "I confess I have +always remembered that childish speech,--with an intuitive knowledge +that I shouldn't have made it, I suppose." + +"While I have always treasured it consciously or unconsciously," he +returned, with eager joy creeping into the tenderness of his voice. +"You were a blessed little prophetess, for it is here under the shadow +of the old wood that love has at last built for us the fairest, +holiest structure earth ever knew." + +Then they remembered the hour of the night and the anxiety of her +father and mother, and started back down the road, Nancy saying she +would like to walk a little and Steve leading Gyp, who had been +unconcernedly grazing by the roadside. + +After a time the lover went on again joyously: + +"We have equal right to one another now, have we not, sweetheart, for +if I saved you from possible death at the moment of our meeting, you +have probably saved me from a tragic end to-night. It is the way of +our mountain life," he added, his voice taking on a note of sadness; +"our joy must always be mingled with tragedy until we learn the +beautiful ways of peace." + +Then he stopped again and turned her face up to the moonlight once +more. + +"Will you be content, dearest, to help me in the work I have +chosen,--it will probably mean sacrifice,--the giving up of your +ambitions." + +She smiled back with a low, "More than content, if I may be always +with you." + + * * * * * + +The next day Steve met Raymond on the street, and the latter was more +serious than Steve had ever seen him. + +"Well, old fellow," he said with an attempt at a smile, "you've licked +me again. I know all about the sale of Greely Ridge and your narrow +escape last night. Those two things, I admit, show me I am a good +deal of a fool, and something of a cad as I used to be. I want you to +know that the business with the moonshiners is all off. The other +victory you've won over me I can't talk about. I acknowledge you +deserve her though, more than I do, and I wish you luck." + +Before Steve could reply he went on: "You got some hard knocks when +you were a boy, Steve, and they did you good. That is when we need +them most. These are the first real blows I have ever had. I've always +been in for a good time and had it, but I don't believe it pays. +Father is going to be no end put out with me about the loss of that +coal land. I'm going home and make a clean breast of it,--then I am +going to clear out. I've decided this morning to write Mr. Polk and +see if he has any chance for me there. I know he will give it to me, +if he has, for father's sake." + +"That is just the thing," said Steve heartily. "I feel sure he can +take you in, and the game of business is so interesting there, I know +you will like it, and I believe you will make good." He extended his +hand with the last words and Raymond took it with a warm clasp. + + * * * * * + +Mr. Polk's mine was promptly opened up and proved to be a valuable +property. In the formation of his company some shares had been placed +in the name of Stephen Langly. At the end of two years they began to +yield good returns and Steve felt that this, with the income from his +work, would make comfort assured for Nancy. Then came a wedding in the +Follet home, and just before the company arrived for the ceremony Mr. +and Mrs. Polk, her eyes shining as of old, slipped into the little +parlour and placed on the carpet, for the bride and groom to stand +upon, a beautiful fox-skin rug with a history. + +Mr. Follet coming in a moment later nudged his wife excitedly and +said: + +"Can you tell where under the cano_pee_ you ever saw that before?" +while she nodded smiling assent. + +It caught the eye of Steve as he entered with Nancy on his arm, and he +took his place upon it with firm, glad step. + +Mr. and Mrs. Polk were obliged to hurry away as soon as the +congratulations were over, in order to get back to New York in time +for the wedding of Raymond and Nita Trowbridge,--Raymond having well +fulfilled Steve's prophecy of making good. + +In the fall four years later when the mountains glowed with unusually +brilliant colour, as though nature had caught the glory tints of +fresh, bright hope for her people, Steve and Nancy opened a new +school. Its well-equipped, modern buildings crowned the old wooded +mountain of Steve's boyhood, and Steve the second, a sturdy boy, came +daily with little Champ to school. The "still" had passed away with +the passing of Champ, the elder, in a mountain fight, and a new day +had dawned for Hollow Hut. + +THE END + +Printed in the United States of America + + + + +RECENT BOOKS OF WORTH + +AGNES SLIGH TURNBULL + +FAR ABOVE RUBIES + +Heart Stories of Bible Women. + +Second Edition. Illustrated, $2.00 + +Chicago Evening Post: "Here at last are Bible women revealed through +the sympathetic, creative imagination of a woman, who with great +dramatic sense lifts one out of the present into Bethsaida and +Capernaum." The Bookman says: "There is poetry of spirit, deep, clear +understanding, and fine revelation. Imaginative--yes, but fine +spiritual imagination of woman's heart in the moving drama of familiar +Biblical scenes." + +JOHN D. FREEMAN + +Author of "Fan of Belseys," Etc. + +KENNEDY'S SECOND BEST + +A Story of the Great Northwest. $2.00 + +"A moving, deeply-stirring story, the scenes of which are chiefly +amid the broad acres of the ranch-lands of Alberta. A novel of +interest and power, about the Northwest which Ralph Connor made +familiar--delightful humor, mingled tragedy, comedy and +romance."--Springfield Republican. + +ANNE S. LEE + +WHEN ROME REIGNED + +A Story of the Dawn-Time of Christianity. + +Illustrated, $1.75 + +"A story of the dawn-time of Christianity. It has its love story and +its chapters of excitement worked in with such historic background as +to give a running commentary on those fateful and perilous +times."--Bookman. + +JUVENILE + +DILLON WALLACE + +Author of "The Lure of the Labrador Wild," "The Gaunt Gray Wolf," +"Grit-a-Plenty," etc. + +THE WAY TO BURNING MOUNTAIN + +A Boy's Story of Adventures in the Great Canadian Wilderness. + +Illustrated, $1.75 + +"Boys who love stories of courage and adventure will enjoy Dillon +Wallace's latest. The characters are real boys and the book opens +up a life that will be new to most of our boys, and is decidedly +worthwhile."--C. E. World. + +WORKS ON MISSIONS + +BELLE M. BRAIN (Compiler) + +Compiler of "Love Stories of Great Missionaries," etc. + +From Every Tribe and Nation + +Fifty New Missionary Stories. $1.50 + +This new compilation of missionary stories tells of inspiring lives of +Christian converts on the foreign field. Workers in Sunday Schools, +missionary meetings, and mission study classes, and also preachers of +missionary sermons, will find them very usable and effective. Miss +Brain's earlier popular books of missionary stories foretell an +extensive use of the new volume. + +AMY CARMICHAEL + +Author of "Things as They Are," etc. + +Raj, Brigand Chief + +A Robin Hood of Southern India. Illus., $2.50 + +A true story of adventure, outlawry, persecution and endurance +centering around Raj, a young athlete of southern India, well-born and +prosperous, who though innocent of crime, fell into the hands of the +native police. Almost incredible in spite of its truth, the book is +thrilling in every incident and in every sense of the word. + +MAUDE WHITMORE MADDEN + +Author of "In the Land of the Cherry Blossoms," + +Young Hearts in Old Japan + +Japanese-American Interpretations. + +Illustrated, $1.50 + +The color, the fragrance, the delicacy and the indefinable charm of +Japan--all these are in this new vivid and alluring volume by Mrs. +Madden. The captivating chapters vibrate with human interest. This is +a book to enlarge one's understanding of the Japanese, to increase +one's admiration for them, and to quicken one's appreciation of the +value of Christian missions among them. + +HOME MISSIONS + +JOHN T. FARIS + +Author of "Making Good," etc. + +The Alaskan Pathfinder + +The Story of Sheldon Jackson. + +New edition, with introduction by Dr. John A. Marquis, Gen. Sec. +Presbyterian Board of National Missions. Illustrated, $1.50 + +"Dr. Sheldon Jackson did a pioneer work in Alaska that can never be +repeated and that will not need to be done again. The story is here +told with all its adventure and romance, and as Dr. Marquis says in +concluding his Introduction, 'Missionary, Explorer, Educator and +Social Builder, his story must never be forgotten."'--Presbyterian +Banner. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Boy from Hollow Hut, by Isla May Mullins + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOY FROM HOLLOW HUT *** + +***** This file should be named 30356-8.txt or 30356-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/0/3/5/30356/ + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/old/30356-8.zip b/old/30356-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..1673e3a --- /dev/null +++ b/old/30356-8.zip diff --git a/old/30356-h.zip b/old/30356-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4024a38 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/30356-h.zip diff --git a/old/30356-h/30356-h.htm b/old/30356-h/30356-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..35555f7 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/30356-h/30356-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6365 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Boy From Hollow Hut, by Isla May Mullins.</title> + +<style type="text/css"> + @media screen { + hr.pb {margin:30px 0; width:100%; border:none;border-top:thin dashed silver;} + .pagenum {display: inline; font-size: x-small; text-align: right; text-indent: 0; position: absolute; right: 2%; padding: 1px 3px; font-style: normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:normal; text-decoration: none; background-color: inherit; border:1px solid #eee;} + .pncolor {color: silver;} + } + @media print { + hr.pb {border:none;page-break-after: always;} + .pagenum { display:none; } + } + body {margin-left: 11%; margin-right: 10%;} + p {margin-top: 0.5em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 0.5em;} + + h1 {font-size:1.6em;} + h1,h2,h3 {text-align:center; font-weight:normal;} + h2 {font-size:1.4em;} + h3 {font-size:1.2em;} + hr.adpage {border:none; border-bottom:1px solid black; width:100%;} + hr.adpage2 {border:none; border-bottom:1px solid black; border-top:2px solid black; height:4px; width:100%;} + hr.spclt {border:none; border-bottom:1px solid black; width:93%; margin: 5px auto;} + p.tp {font-size:1em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; text-align:center;} + td.chalgn {text-align:left; margin-top:0; padding-right:1em;} + + .caption {font-size: 90%; text-align:center;} + .chsp {margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em;} + .figcenter {margin: 2em auto 2em auto; text-align: center; width: auto;} + .figtag {height: 1px;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .smcaplc {text-transform: lowercase; font-variant: small-caps;} + a {text-decoration: none;} + hr.tb {border: none; border-bottom:1px solid black; width: 33%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;} + hr.toprule {width: 65%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em; border:none; border-bottom:1px solid silver; clear:both;} + p.center {text-align: center !important;} + p.cg {margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0; text-align: left; width: 101%;} + span.indent2 {margin: 0; padding:0; text-indent:0; width: 0.8em; display: block; float: left;} + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; clear: both;} +</style> + +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Boy from Hollow Hut, by Isla May Mullins + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Boy from Hollow Hut + A Story of the Kentucky Mountains + +Author: Isla May Mullins + +Release Date: October 29, 2009 [EBook #30356] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOY FROM HOLLOW HUT *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<h1>The Boy From Hollow Hut</h1> +<hr class='pb' /> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_1' id='linki_1'></a> +</div> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/f0002-image.jpg' alt='' title='' width='303' height='555' /><br /> +<p class='caption'> +“I kin kill rabbits if I can’t do nothin’ else”<br /> +</p> +</div> +<hr class='pb' /> + +<table style='margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; border: black 1px solid;' summary=""> + <tr><td> + <table style='width:22em; margin: 3px 3px; border: black 1px solid;' summary=""> + +<tr><td> + +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.8em;font-style:italic;margin-top:20px;'>The</p> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:2.0em;font-style:italic;margin-bottom:20px;'>Boy From Hollow Hut</p> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.2em;font-style:italic;margin-bottom:20px;'>A STORY OF THE<br />KENTUCKY MOUNTAINS</p> + +<hr class='spclt' /> +<hr class='spclt' /> + +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.2em;margin-bottom:20px;margin-top:20px;'>By<br />ISLA MAY MULLINS</p> +<p class='tp' style='font-style:italic;'>Illustrated</p> + +<div style='margin:40px auto; text-align:center;'> +<img alt='emblem' src='images/f0003-image.jpg' /> +</div> + +<hr class='spclt' /> +<hr class='spclt' /> + +<p class='tp' style='margin-top:20px;font-style:italic;'>New York Chicago Toronto</p> +<p class='tp' style='font-size:larger;font-style:italic;'>Fleming H. Revell Company</p> +<p class='tp' style='margin-bottom:20px;font-style:italic;'>London and Edinburgh</p> +</td></tr> +</table> +</td></tr> +</table> +<hr class='pb' /> +<div style='font-size:smaller;'> +<p class='center'>Copyright, 1911, by<br /> +FLEMING H. REVELL COMPANY<br /> +</p> +<table summary=''><tr><td> +<p class='cg'>New York: 158 Fifth Avenue<br /> +Chicago: 17 North Wabash Ave.<br /> +London: 21 Paternoster Square<br /> +Edinburgh: 75 Princes Street</p> +</td></tr></table> +</div> +<hr class='pb' /> +<p class='tp' style='margin-bottom:10px;font-style:italic;'>To<br />MRS. J. B. MARVIN</p> + +<p class='tp' style='font-style:italic;'>Whose unceasing devotion to the cause<br /> +of education in the mountains of<br /> +Kentucky<br /> +inspired this little story</p> +<hr class='pb' /> +<h3>CONTENTS</h3> +<table border='0' cellpadding='2' cellspacing='0' summary='Contents' style='margin:1em auto;'> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>I.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>A Stranger and a Promise</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#I_A_STRANGER_AND_A_PROMISE'>11</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>II.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>A Package by Mail</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#II_A_PACKAGE_BY_MAIL'>24</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>III.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>In the Wilderness</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#III_IN_THE_WILDERNESS'>36</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>IV.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>A Halt on the Road</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#IV_A_HALT_ON_THE_ROAD'>44</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>V.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>A Double Rescue</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#V_A_DOUBLE_RESCUE'>57</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>VI.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>An Unexpected Meeting</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#VI_AN_UNEXPECTED_MEETING'>72</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>VII.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>A Trip to the City</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#VII_A_TRIP_TO_THE_CITY'>78</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>VIII.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>Opportunity</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#VIII_OPPORTUNITY'>91</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>IX.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>A Startling Appearance</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#IX_A_STARTLING_APPEARANCE'>98</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>X.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>Steve Develops a Mind of His Own</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#X_STEVE_DEVELOPS_A_MIND_OF_HIS_OWN'>111</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XI.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>Experience</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XI_EXPERIENCE'>129</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XII.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>Love’s Awakening</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XII_LOVES_AWAKENING'>149</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XIII.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>Old Ties Renewed</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XIII_OLD_TIES_RENEWED'>160</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XIV.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>“All Right, Son”</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XIV_ALL_RIGHT_SON'>180</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XV.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>Flickering Hope</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XV_FLICKERING_HOPE'>190</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XVI.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>In the Crucible</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XVI_IN_THE_CRUCIBLE'>198</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>XVII.</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>Fruition</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#XVII_FRUITION'>204</a></td> +</tr> +</table> +<hr class='pb' /> +<h3>ILLUSTRATIONS</h3> +<table border='0' cellpadding='2' cellspacing='0' summary='Illustrations' style='margin:1em auto;'> +<col style='width:75%;' /> +<col style='width:25%;' /> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='left'>“I kin kill rabbits if I can’t do nothin’ else”</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#linki_1'><i>Frontispiece</i></a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='left'>The Old Greely Mill</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#linki_2'>70</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='left'>“Hit’s Champ fer his pappy”</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#linki_3'>142</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' align='left'>“Tilda pacing back and forth at her spinning-wheel”</td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#linki_4'>174</a></td> +</tr> +</table> +<hr class='pb' /> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_11' name='page_11'></a>11</span></div> +<p style='text-align:center; margin-top:2em;font-size:1.6em;'>The Boy From Hollow Hut</p> +<div class='chsp' style='padding-top:0'> +<a name='I_A_STRANGER_AND_A_PROMISE' id='I_A_STRANGER_AND_A_PROMISE'></a> +<h2>I</h2> +<h3>A STRANGER AND A PROMISE</h3> +</div> +<p>The rabbit bounded away and was lost in +the underbrush. Steve stood looking disgustedly +after him, a limp figure, one +shoulder dropping until the old knit suspender fell at +his side, and a sullen, discouraged look settling in his +brown eyes.</p> +<p>“I ain’ no hunter noways. Peers lack I don’t +even know ’nough to ketch a rabbit,” he said with +scorn. “Whar’s that lazy Tige anyways?” he +added, his scorn merging into wrath.</p> +<p>Then jerking the old suspender in place he straightened +up on his sturdy, bare feet, and darted through +the underbrush in the direction where the rabbit had +disappeared.</p> +<p>“I’ll ketch you yit, yes I will, you same old cottontail,” +he muttered through clenched teeth.</p> +<p>There it was again! Just a moment the round, +gray back darted above the bushes, and then plunging +into deeper undergrowth, bounded on and on. +But the slim, knotty brown legs plunged on and on +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_12' name='page_12'></a>12</span> +too, till at last a swift, cruel stone felled the unlucky +little woodlander, for Steve was a most skillful marksman.</p> +<p>“Huh! thought you’d git away from me, did ye?” +said the boy, picking up the still body. “I reckons +I kin do some things yit,” he said, “ef I don’t know +much.”</p> +<p>The boy was in a strange, new mood. He did not +understand himself. Though a good hunter for a lad +of twelve he had been heretofore a generous friend +or conqueror of the fur and feathered folk, wont to +deal gently with a fallen foe. Now he jerked up the +limp body of the rabbit savagely and struck its head +spitefully against a near-by tree trunk.</p> +<p>“I kin kill rabbits ef I can’t do nothin’ else.”</p> +<p>Just then a big black and tan dog came into +view with the dignity befitting age. Boy and dog +had been born the same month, but while one was +scarcely well entered upon life, the other’s race was +almost run. The boy was usually most considerate +of the infirmities of his lifelong friend, but to-day +he scolded the dog till with drooping tail and +grieved, uncomprehending eyes he slunk away out +of sight.</p> +<p>A strange experience had come to the mountain +boy the day before which had changed his whole +world. It was as though the wooded mountains +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_13' name='page_13'></a>13</span> +which hemmed in his little cabin home had parted +for a moment and given him a glimpse of a fascinating +world beyond. He and Tige had wandered +farther from home that day than ever before, though +wanderers they had always been, the woods holding +a deep interest for Steve. He loved to hide in the +densest solitudes, lie still with his dog and dream, +fantastic, unreal dreams. Now a definite, tangible +vision had come to him out of the solitude of a hazy +November day in the mountains of Kentucky. He +had lain for two hours or more in the stillness when +suddenly Tige lifted his head and gave a sharp bark, +then came the sound of voices, strange voices Steve +at once knew them to be, and as he caught the tones +more clearly, recognized that one at least was of a +kind which he had never heard before. Keeping +Tige quiet with a firm hand, he lifted his head and +listened with ear and soul, then into view stepped a +man of medium height with a clean, fine face, clothes +of a sort unknown to the boy, and an easy, alert +stride totally foreign to the mountaineer’s slouching +gait. A mountain man accompanied him, but he +too was a stranger to the boy.</p> +<p>The man of the new, strange species smiled at the +boy’s gaping mouth and wonder-wide eyes.</p> +<p>“Well, son,” he said pleasantly, “are you a sportsman +too?”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_14' name='page_14'></a>14</span></div> +<p>The quick, clear, cultured voice, the unfamiliar accent +was so utterly foreign to anything the boy had +ever heard that he could not take in the import of the +words, and amazed silence was his only reply.</p> +<p>“Wal,” drawled the mountain guide, “who’d er +thought er seein’ a chap lack that heah? Whar’d +you come from anyways?”</p> +<p>This was familiar vernacular, and Steve, rising +slowly from the ground, and allowing Tige to make +friendly acquaintance with the strangers, said:</p> +<p>“I lives at Hollow Hut and I comes over here +whenever I pleases. Whar’d you uns come from?”</p> +<p>The man gave a hearty but musical laugh at the +ready dignity of the reply, but the boy’s mouth +dropped once more in consternation, as words came +again in crisp, foreign accent.</p> +<p>“I came from the city, my lad, to get some of +your fine quail and deer. You are willing I should +have a few, are you not? My friend here is showing +me the way.”</p> +<p>The mountain folk had proved a most entertaining +study for this sportsman, and his interest was ready +for each new specimen encountered. Turning to the +guide he said:</p> +<p>“Suppose we lunch here,” and taking out his +watch continued, “yes, it is high time; twelve thirty +to the minute.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_15' name='page_15'></a>15</span></div> +<p>The boy stepped forward involuntarily for a look +at the queer, pretty thing in the man’s hand.</p> +<p>“What’s that?” he asked.</p> +<p>“Why, that’s a watch, son. Didn’t you ever see +one?” said the man kindly.</p> +<p>The guide smiled derisively: “Wal, I reckons +not,” while the boy, too interested for reply, asked +again:</p> +<p>“What’s a watch?” and the man with his genial +laugh said:</p> +<p>“Son, we will be greatly pleased if you will take +lunch with us. My name is Polk, Samuel Polk,” he +said, touching his cap with the unfailing courtesy of +a true gentleman. “And after we eat I will show +you the watch and tell you all about it.”</p> +<p>But the mountaineer does not readily eat with +“furriners,” so Steve stood near by and looked on +while the two men ate very strange things. Little +cans were opened and tiny fish taken out that looked +exceedingly queer. Mr. Polk, trying to persuade the +boy to eat, explained that these were sardines, some +square, white things were crackers, a thick stuff was +cheese and that some big, round, yellow things were +oranges. But Steve only stared in silence till the meal +was over though Tige, with no instinctive handicap, +accepted delicious scraps with astonishment and relish.</p> +<p>So amazed, however, had the boy been with it all that +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_16' name='page_16'></a>16</span> +he nearly forgot about the watch. But when he remembered +and the man let him take it in his rusty, +brown fingers, that was the most wonderful moment +of all. The tick, tick inside was a marvel, almost a +thing uncanny to the boy, and when it was explained +how the hands went round and round, telling the +time of day, it surely seemed a thing beyond mortal +ken.</p> +<p>The guide drawled out with a superior air: “Wal, +sonny, you come from the backwoods shore ef you +never heerd tell of a watch before.”</p> +<p>The boy looked squarely at him in sullen resentment +a moment, but with such opportunity at hand +he wouldn’t waste time with the likes of him. He +asked, “What moves them things round?” and the +man kindly opened the watch at the back and displayed +all the cunning wheels which respond to the +loosening spring, explained how it was wound each +day to keep it from running down, and in answer to +the boy’s eager questions as to how such things were +made told him something of watch manufacture.</p> +<p>At last the wonderful hour was over and the two +strange men prepared to leave.</p> +<p>“Good-bye, son,” said the man; “one of these +days you will leave the mountains and go out into +the big world to live a life of usefulness and honour, +I hope.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_17' name='page_17'></a>17</span></div> +<p>The words, so simple and commonplace to the +man, were to the boy like a telescope lifted to the +unknown heavens, but through which he could not +yet look. He watched the men go down the mountainside, +the strange words which he did not comprehend, +but was never to forget, ringing in his ears. +A bit of heavy timber hid them at last, and the boy +stood dejected a moment, his heart swelling with an +agony of strange longing, while the dog looked up +at him almost pleading to understand. Then suddenly, +with a cry of hope, Steve sprang after them, +the dog following. Breathless he came upon them, +and the man turned in surprise at the tragic voice +and face. When the boy could speak he panted out:</p> +<p>“I’ve got the bes’ fox skin anywheres hereabout. +I’ll swap it with you uns fer that watch thing.”</p> +<p>The man suppressed a smile and kindly replied:</p> +<p>“Why, lad, I couldn’t do without it for the rest of +this hunting trip, but I tell you what I will do. +When I get back to the city I’ll send you one.”</p> +<p>“Then ef yer’ll come home with me I’ll give ye +the fox skin now,” the boy responded promptly.</p> +<p>“Oh, never mind about the fox skin now; I must +get back to camp before dark and we are many miles +away,” said the man.</p> +<p>“But I can’t take the watch ’thout you git the +skin,” said the boy sturdily.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_18' name='page_18'></a>18</span></div> +<p>“Well, now, I’ll tell you,” said the man, realizing +that he had struck the stubborn, independent pride +of a mountaineer. “You give me your name, tell +me where you live and I’ll send you the watch; then +next time I’m over here I’ll get the skin.” The address +was a difficult matter to determine, but the +mountaineer helped them out.</p> +<p>This satisfied the boy and he saw the two strangers +depart with better spirit, since he could look forward +to the coming of the watch. He did not understand +how it would ever reach him, but trusted the +stranger implicitly. When the last sound of departing +feet among the underbrush had died away, Steve +turned and went home with long, rapid strides, the +dog recognizing the relief and following with wagging +tail.</p> +<p>He found supper on the table, the savoury bacon +and hoe-cake greeting him from the door. The head +of the family, lean, lank and brown, was already +transporting huge mouthfuls from the tin platter to +his mouth; the fat, slovenly daughter sat for a moment +to rest and cool her face before beginning to +eat, while the mother still occupied a chimney corner, +pipe in mouth, for she “hadn’t wanted nothin’ to eat +lately, her stomick seemed off the hooks somehow.” +These, with the boy, composed the family, a row of +graves out under the trees at the back of the hut +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_19' name='page_19'></a>19</span> +filling the long gap between Mirandy, a young woman +of twenty-one, and Steve. The boy sat down, but +before he ate that remarkable tale of his morning experience +had to be told. When he was done the +father said:</p> +<p>“Huh, better let city folks alone; don’t have nothin’ +to do with none of ’em.”</p> +<p>The boy, feeling the rebuke, then turned to his +supper, but when his father had gone out to smoke, +and Mirandy was in the lane looking for her sweetheart, +Steve stole up to his mother’s side and stood +digging his toe in the sand hearth.</p> +<p>“Mammy,” he said at last, “what makes that man +diffrunt from we uns?”</p> +<p>The old woman smoked a moment in silence and +then said:</p> +<p>“Wal, there’s a heap over the mountains what +makes him diffrunt,––things we ain’ never seen ner +heern tell on.” She smoked again a puff or two, +then added, “I recken schoolin’s the most.”</p> +<p>“What’s schoolin’?” said the boy.</p> +<p>“Larnin’ things,” she replied.</p> +<p>The subject of schools had never been discussed in +the boy’s hearing. His father didn’t believe in them, +there wasn’t a book, not even a Bible, in all the scattered +little remote mountain community, and if the +boy had ever heard either books or schools mentioned +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_20' name='page_20'></a>20</span> +before the words had made no impression on +him.</p> +<p>“Do they larn to make watch things thar?” he +asked.</p> +<p>His mother said she supposed so, “she knew they +larned out o’ things they called books,” and then she +explained as best she could to him what schools and +books were. When his father came in again Steve +said boldly:</p> +<p>“Pappy, I’m er goin’ over the mountains an’ larn +how to make them watch things.”</p> +<p>The mountaineer stood as if paralyzed a moment, +then his dull eyes blazed.</p> +<p>“No, you won’t nuther! Not a step will ye go! +Ye shan’t nuver hev nothin’ to do with no city folks, +so help me God!”</p> +<p>The boy dropped back cowed and trembling; he +had never seen his father so stirred. He didn’t dare +ask a question, but when the mountaineer had seated +himself in the chimney corner opposite his wife, he +continued:</p> +<p>“City folks with all their larnin’, fine clothes an’ +fine ways ain’t to be depended on. I wouldn’t trus’ +one of ’em with a jay bird lessen I wanted to git shed +of it. Don’t you let me hear no mo’ o’ your goin’ +over the mountains arter city folks.”</p> +<p>The prejudice of some mountaineers against the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_21' name='page_21'></a>21</span> +city is deep-seated. They have little use for the +“settlements,” meaning the smaller towns, but the +city is their abomination. Jim Langly’s prejudice +was even stronger than that of the average mountain +man of this type, for it had been a matter of contention +between himself and his wife in the early days +of their married life. She had always longed to see +what was beyond the mountains and besieged him to +go till the subject could no more be mentioned between +them.</p> +<p>Steve soon climbed to his bed in a corner of the +room with a very heavy heart. If city folks weren’t +to be depended on then he would never get that +watch, and all the beautiful visions of learning to do +things in a wonderful new world grew dim and uncertain. +So heavy was his heart as he fell asleep +that when he waked at daylight, it was with a terrible +sense of loss and grief. The morning meal +over he wandered off with Tige, dull and dejected, +till the unlucky rabbit had crossed his path and +stirred strange, resentful enmity towards his little +familiar contestants of the woods. Sending the dog +angrily off he skinned the rabbit with savage jerks +and then carried it at once back to his home, saying:</p> +<p>“Fry it, ’Randy, fry it dog-goned hard.”</p> +<p>His mother caught the sullen, angry tone, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_22' name='page_22'></a>22</span> +when Mirandy went out in the kitchen to begin the +dinner, she called him from where he sat on the +door-step.</p> +<p>“Come here, sonny.”</p> +<p>It was a rare term of endearment, and Steve got +up quickly and went to her side.</p> +<p>“Don’t think too much o’ whut ye pappy said +about city folks. He’s allus hated ’em fer some reason, +I don’t know whut, ’less hit was ’cause I saw one +when I was a gal afore we married, nuver min’ how +ner where, and arter that I allus wanted to see whut +was over the mountings. Ef ever ye git a chanct I +want ye ter go thar an’ larn ter do things. I’d er +done hit ef I’d er been a man. But don’t say nothin’ +to ye pappy.”</p> +<p>This caution was unnecessary; and what a change +the simple words made for Steve! His spirit +bounded up into the world of visions again, and +when dinner was on the table he refused to take a +mouthful of the savoury rabbit, so ashamed was he +of the manner of its killing.</p> +<p>After this his mind was constantly on the watch +which was to come. How it was to reach him he +did not think out, for the simple reason that he knew +nothing of the distance which stretched between him +and the city, nor of methods of communication. No +letter or piece of mail of any sort had ever come to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_23' name='page_23'></a>23</span> +his home, or that of any one else of which he knew +but things of various sorts were gotten from the +crossroads store ten miles away, skillets and pans, +axes and hoes, which were made somewhere, and he +supposed some time when some one of the community +went to the store they’d find his watch there. +But week after week went by till spring came on, +and nobody went to the store. The mountain folk +indeed had little need of stores. They spun and +wove the cloth for their clothes, raised their corn, +pigs, and tobacco, made their own “sweetin’,” long +and short, meaning sugar and molasses, and distilled +their own whiskey. So the boy’s heart grew heavy +again with the long delay and he began to think bitterly +that his father and not his mother was right, +when one day a stranger whom he had never seen +before drove up to the door.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_24' name='page_24'></a>24</span> +<a name='II_A_PACKAGE_BY_MAIL' id='II_A_PACKAGE_BY_MAIL'></a> +<h2>II</h2> +<h3>A PACKAGE BY MAIL</h3> +</div> +<p>“Howdye! Does airy feller named Stephen +Langly live here?” said the stranger, +reining in his tired, raw-boned steed without +difficulty.</p> +<p>Mirandy went to the cabin door, stared a minute +in surprise and then shook her head slowly. But +Steve pushed past her saying:</p> +<p>“Yes, thar is, too. I’m Stephen Langly.”</p> +<p>“You! Sakes erlive, I clean forgot that was yo’ +name!” and his sister laughed lazily, while the +stranger joined in.</p> +<p>“Wal, you’re a powerful little chap to be a-gittin’ +mail. But this here thing has yo’ name on it, they +tole me at the store, an’ so I brung it along as I was +a-comin’ this-a-way. Hit’s been thar mo’ than three +months they tole me.”</p> +<p>Steve took the package, his hands trembling with +eagerness and would have darted away to the woods +with his treasure where he might look upon it first +alone, but Mirandy stormed when he turned to go, +and the man said:</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_25' name='page_25'></a>25</span></div> +<p>“’Pears to me you mought show what ye got, when +I brung it all this long ways to ye.”</p> +<p>That did seem the fair thing to do, so when they +had asked the man to “light and hitch,” Steve sat +down on the door-step and removed the wrappings +from the square box; there was tissue paper first, a +miracle of daintiness which the boy had never beheld +before, and at last the watch came to view. Steve +lifted it in trembling fingers, and while Mirandy and +the man expressed their admiration his first quivering +words were:</p> +<p>“That other one was yaller.”</p> +<p>“Wal, now,” said Mirandy, “that one was gold; +you couldn’t expect that man to send you no gold.”</p> +<p>Mirandy, having a precious gilded trinket, was +better posted on the colour and value of metals than +Steve, though she made a slight error in her next +statement.</p> +<p>“This hern is silver; that’s the next thing to gold,” +and the bright nickel of the Waterbury twinkled in +the spring sunshine as though trying to measure up +to its admirers’ estimate.</p> +<p>“A silver watch,” said the stranger after he had +heard the story of that autumn day with its promise +of a watch which was just now fulfilled––“wal, you +air a lucky boy, shore.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Langly called feebly from within, and Steve +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_26' name='page_26'></a>26</span> +went and laid it on the bed beside her. Her +“stomick had never seemed to get on the hooks,” +as she expressed it, all winter; her spinning-wheel and +loom had been long silent, and for a few days she +had not left her bed.</p> +<p>Her eyes gleamed with strange, new fire as they +fell upon the shining thing which belonged to another +world from theirs, and when Steve had laboriously +wound it, which he had not forgotten how to +do, setting the wonderful machinery running, she +whispered to him:</p> +<p>“Remember you air goin’ whar you kin larn to +make things lack that.”</p> +<p>Steve’s shining eyes answered hers, though the +boy failed to catch the light of prophecy and final +benediction which they held. Hugging his treasure, +with no hint of oncoming change he went out to +feed the stranger’s horse while Mirandy prepared the +dinner.</p> +<p>It was not until the visitor had gone and Steve +was in the solitude of the woods with Tige that he +found fullest joy in his new possession. It seemed +to him he could never in all his life take his eyes +from it again. He watched the hands go round and +round, the little flying second hand, the more leisurely +minute marker and the creeping hand which +told the hours as they passed. Then again and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_27' name='page_27'></a>27</span> +again the back was opened and the busy little wheels +held his breathless interest. He took no notice of +Tige, but the old dog knew that his mate was happy +and lay content beside him. Although for the first +time in possession of a noter of the hours, he lost all +account of time and did not move from the mossy +bed where he had thrown himself until it was too +late to see either hands or wheels. Then he called +Tige to come and hurried back to his home to sit by +the cabin firelight till Mirandy made him go to bed. +The family all slept in the same room, three beds occupying +corners; this main room and the lean-to +kitchen constituting the whole house.</p> +<p>Steve’s watch never left his hand the long night +through, and for the first time in his uneventful life +he slept fitfully, waking every little while to make +sure it was there.</p> +<p>Jim Langly was away for a few days “to a logrolling” +several miles away and did not return until +dusk of the evening after Steve’s watch came. The +boy sat again by the firelight, watch in hand, when +Jim walked in at the door. His eyes fell at once +upon the strange, shining thing and his face was convulsed +with sudden wrath:</p> +<p>“Didn’t I tell ye to have nothin’ to do with city +folks? Ye shan’t keep that thing. I’ll smash it, so +he’p me God!” But before he could lift a hand a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_28' name='page_28'></a>28</span> +scream came from the bed, and Mrs. Langly sat up +wild and dishevelled.</p> +<p>“Let him hev it, Jim Langly, let him hev it,” and +then she dropped back gray and still. Jim Langly +had seen that gray stillness before, and he stood +looking upon it now in dumb terror. His wife had +been ailing a long time, it was true, yet no one had +thought of death. But the grim visitor was there in +all his quiet majesty. The weary spirit, which had +for so many years longed for flight into new haunts +of men, had winged its way at last to a far, mysterious +country of which she had heard little, but +towards which for months past she had been reaching +out with a strange prescience of which no one +guessed.</p> +<p>It was a dreary night at the cabin. No one tried +to sleep. Jim Langly said no more to Steve about +the watch, and the boy wore it in his bosom attached +to a stout string about his neck, keeping it out of +sight, and sobbing in the stillness of the woods as he +wandered with Tige, “Mammy wanted me to have +it.” And though his joy in it for the time was gone, +there was peculiar comfort in this thought of her approval. +The old dog looked up in the boy’s face +from time to time pitifully, or stuck his nose in the +lad’s hand, knowing well, in a way dogs have, what +had happened.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_29' name='page_29'></a>29</span></div> +<p>Next day the wife and mother was laid to rest beside +the row of little graves, and life completely +changed for Steve. He went to bed as usual in his +corner of the room, but he could not forget the still +form which had lain in another corner the night before, +and while Mirandy and his father slept heavily, +he slipped from the bed, took a blanket and with +Tige at his heels went into the woods again. Here +in the stillness which he loved, worn out with loss of +sleep and his first encounter with grief, nestling close +to old Tige slumber came and held him until late the +next day. His father and Mirandy paid little attention +to what he did, so night after night he took his +blanket and dog and slept in the woods, the two only +going to the cabin for meals.</p> +<p>During all these strange, restless days the words +of Steve’s mother came to him over and over: “Remember +you air goin’ whar you kin larn to make +things lack that watch.” And he thought, “How +am I a-goin’ lessen I jes’ go?” He knew his father +would never give him permission, it was not worth +while to ask it, so gradually his plans took shape in +the solitude of the woods with no one to counsel. +Had the boy known what distance lay between him +and his goal he would have grown faint-hearted, but +he had no conception of what his undertaking meant. +So he laid his plans with good courage, which plans, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_30' name='page_30'></a>30</span> +of course, included the taking of his dog. For three +or four days Steve took an extra share of corn pone +and bacon, Mirandy not noticing in her shiftless +manner of providing, and feeling the loss of her +mother, she was even more listless than usual. These +extra rations for himself and Tige Steve carried to +the woods and laid away. Then his beloved fox +skin, the greatest treasure which he possessed beside +the watch, he must take that with him, because it +was “the man’s”; he had promised it in return for +the watch, and now that he was going he must take +it along to give to the man. The boy had no +thought of any difficulty in such a search. The +food, the skin, the watch, and the scanty clothes he +wore constituted all his equipment for the journey. +When he started out with the skin Mirandy lazily +asked what he was going to do with it, and he replied: +“Use it fer a piller in the woods.”</p> +<p>“Ye better quit sleepin’ out thar,” she said; “somethin’ +’ll eat ye up some night.”</p> +<p>“I ain’t a-feerd,” he said, and she thought no more +about it.</p> +<p>Three days passed with a good accumulation of +food, and as Steve and Tige lay down to sleep at +night the boy said:</p> +<p>“Tige, we’ve gotter be a-goin’ ’bout day arter ter-morrer,” +and the dog wagged sleepy assent. But +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_31' name='page_31'></a>31</span> +next morning when Steve wakened a peculiar stillness +smote him. Tige was usually alert at his least +move. With intuitive alarm Steve put out his hand,––and +touched a rigid body! Drawing back he +sprang to his feet, a cry of anguished appeal on his +lips:</p> +<p>“O Tige, Tige, ye ain’t dead too?”</p> +<p>But death makes no reply. His lifelong playmate +lay straightened out in that last unalterable, mysterious +sleep.</p> +<p>The boy was too stunned for tears. He knelt +beside his dog in silent misery. After a long while +he rose from the ground and going to a moss-covered +rock near by where laurel and forget-me-nots +blossomed and rhododendron bells hung in clusters, +with a stout stick and his sturdy hands he dug +beneath the rock an opening large enough to hold +his dead dog. Then he went back to where his old +playmate lay, and lifting the stiffened body in his +arms he stumbled blindly to the rock and laid it away.</p> +<p>Towards evening he slowly made his lonely way +home.</p> +<p>Mirandy, missing the dog at last, inquired: +“Whar’s Tige?” and Steve’s stiff lips articulated the +one word, “Dead.”</p> +<p>She replied indifferently, “Wal, he want no ’count +any mo’. I reckons hit’s a good thing.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_32' name='page_32'></a>32</span></div> +<p>Steve had no answer and with swelling heart made +his way to the woods to sleep alone. It was long +before he could sleep, and as he lay in the unbearable +loneliness, he decided that next morning he +would start on that journey to the unknown. Perhaps +to that new world sorrow would not follow! +He would not need so much food now; he had +enough saved already. The death of the dog urged +him on to his purpose as nothing else could have +done.</p> +<p>He went down to the cabin next morning for the +last time. It was a warm spring morning. Passing +Mirandy sitting on the door-step, her breakfast +dishes not yet washed, he paused a minute, longing +to say something, for although the bond between +them was of blood and not of the heart, yet she was +part of the life from which he was tearing himself +away, and he longed to sob out a good-bye. But he +must not, so choking down words and tears he +stumbled off, never once looking back. His father +sat in the chimney corner smoking his morning pipe, +but father and son had always lacked interests in +common, and the coming of the watch had put an +insurmountable barrier between them. So Steve’s +only thought in passing him had been to escape +suspicion. It was to his mother that the boy had +always shyly told his day-dreams in the woods,––dreams +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_33' name='page_33'></a>33</span> +which reached out into a wonder world lying +beyond the mountains. And she had smoked her +pipe in silent sympathy, occasionally asking: “Did +ye see big houses, rows and rows of ’em on land, and +some a-ridin’ the water? I’ve hearn tell of ’em in +my day,” so furnishing inspiration for more dreams +in the future.</p> +<p>“O Mammy, O Tige,” sobbed the boy when safe +at last in the woods, and he threw himself down +in an agony of weeping beside the rock where the +old dog lay buried. When calm at last, he took up +his bundle of bread and bacon wrapped about with +his fox skin, and started slowly away. He took no +thought as to direction, he was simply “goin’,” as +his mother had told him. A dismal rain soon set in, +but on and on he persistently tramped all the long +day, water dripping from his ragged trousers and old +hat as he went farther and farther away from all he +had ever known. He met no one, saw no habitation +anywhere, only the startled denizens of the wood +scurrying here and there out of his path. Over +mountains and across ravines he went on and on. +He was puzzled and discouraged when night dropped +down, and his aching feet and tired legs said he must +have travelled many miles. “Shorely I’ll git thar +to-morrer,” he said, as he lay down upon his fox skin, +but another weary day of tramping over unknown +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_34' name='page_34'></a>34</span> +ways without sight of any human being brought terror +to his sturdy heart and when he lay down alone +at night he felt that he was the only human being +in the universe. Oh, if he only had Tige!</p> +<p>All the people he had known and those he expected +to see beyond the mountains seemed to have +sunk into some great unseen abyss. He could +never find his way back to the old cabin, he knew, +and he began to feel that he could never reach forward +to the wonderful city of which he had +dreamed. In the agony of loneliness and the chill +of night which settled upon him he cried again, “O +Tige, O Mammy!” Did the tender mother-arms +reach down and draw her boy near to the heart of +God? At any rate he grew quiet. He remembered +vaguely that he had heard how God is everywhere, +and with a new strange sense of companionship with +the great Creator, which comes to souls in extremity, +he fell asleep and did not waken until the sun, bursting +forth with new brilliance after the day of rain, +had lit up the mountain tops and set the birds to +singing.</p> +<p>He enjoyed the breakfast of very hard corn pone +and bacon, and took out his beloved watch. The +busy, little shining thing, which he never forgot to +wind, did not mean much to him as a marker of time, +for he knew little about the hours as enumerated by +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_35' name='page_35'></a>35</span> +the watch, but it was on this morning of new courage +a fresh pledge of wonderful things awaiting him. He +started on again with steady strides, and tramped +bravely till mid afternoon without adventure.</p> +<p>Suddenly, without premonition, his heart thrilled at +faint sounds which seemed marvellously like those of +a human voice. He stood still a moment in an +agony of uncertainty, straining eye and ear for confirmation.</p> +<p>Yes, he was right! He caught the crackle of dry +twigs and underbrush, while the faint human tones +grew clear and distinct. Under the discipline of +loneliness and distress the face of the untutored boy +beamed with eager welcome which held no reserve +and caught no suspicious glimmer of lurking treachery +as near-by bushes parted and steps were close upon +him.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_36' name='page_36'></a>36</span> +<a name='III_IN_THE_WILDERNESS' id='III_IN_THE_WILDERNESS'></a> +<h2>III</h2> +<h3>IN THE WILDERNESS</h3> +</div> +<p>Two men were before him, men very similar +in appearance to those Steve had known, +though with something in their faces +which made him draw back even in the moment of +joy at meeting others of his kind.</p> +<p>“Sakes erlive, Bub, whar’d ye come from?” called +the taller, harder looking of the two.</p> +<p>“I come from Hollow Hut,” answered the boy +with his simple dignity.</p> +<p>“And whar you goin’ to?” called the other man, +while both laughed unpleasantly.</p> +<p>“Ter the city,” said the boy.</p> +<p>“Wal, now, that’s a pretty nice fox skin ye got +rolled up thar,” said the tall one as they came closer. +“S’pose you jes’ hand that over to us.”</p> +<p>“I can’t,” said the boy, holding it tighter in real +alarm. “I swapped it with a man fer a watch, an’ +I’m a-takin’ it ter him.”</p> +<p>“Is that so!” exclaimed the tall man. “So you’ve +got a watch, hev ye? Who’d a-thought it,”––and +they both haw-hawed loudly. “Now, ye can jes’ +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_37' name='page_37'></a>37</span> +han’ that over too, fer we mean bizness, don’t we, +Bill?”</p> +<p>And with that they pounced upon the terrified +boy, jerked the fox skin from his clinging fingers and +soon brought forth from its hiding-place in his bosom +the beautiful, beautiful watch! Steve fought like a +small tiger, but he was no match for them and +stunned and bruised he soon lay upon the ground +while the two men walked off, never once looking +back at their helpless victim.</p> +<p>For a few minutes Steve could not think, so severe +had been their cruel blows; then indignation, such as +he had never known in his life, swept over him in a +sudden flood. He sprang to his feet, ignoring pain +and keenly watching which way they went, stealthily +followed after. For two hours he kept within hearing +of them, though being careful always that they +did not get a glimpse of him. He did not know +what he was going to do, but when they finally +halted for the night he halted too. The men had +also taken the last of his corn pone and bacon; there +was nothing for him to eat, but he did not even +think of it, so intently was he listening. Soon they +began to sing and laugh very loudly and he knew +then they had plenty of whiskey with them. Hope +rose in his heart. After a bit they would fall into +heavy sleep. He knew well the ways of drink.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_38' name='page_38'></a>38</span></div> +<p>Soon all was still, and after waiting a while till the +sleep was deep he crept upon them. Fortunately +the moon was up in its full glory and Steve could +see plainly what he was about. He crept up close +to the two snoring men and across the feet of the tall +one lay his fox skin.</p> +<p>“I must git that anyways,” said the boy to himself, +“for it belongs to the man in the city.”</p> +<p>Slowly, cautiously he lifted it from the big heavy +feet, and there was not a stir. Then he stood, his +heart almost bursting with longing for his watch. It +was in the big man’s pocket he was sure, and he +stooped close a minute, reaching out a hand,––but he +didn’t dare. If he waked them, skin and watch +would both be gone, and he must by all means get +the skin to give to the man in the city. He went +sorrowfully away with only the skin. He didn’t +dare stop near them, so he tramped half the night +in spite of frequent twinges in his left ankle which +had had a little twist as the men threw him down, +and at last the boy dropped upon the ground, utterly +exhausted, to sleep until noon next day.</p> +<p>When he wakened, stiff and sore from the blows +of the men, and tried to get upon his feet he found +that left ankle so swollen and painful he could not +put the foot to the ground. He realized for the first +time also with great consternation that he had nothing +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_39' name='page_39'></a>39</span> +to eat. Bruised, sore, empty, helpless he sat alone in +the woods. But even then he did not know the +desolation of the night before. He felt once more +that comforting sense of companionship with the +great Creator, and he faced the situation sturdily.</p> +<p>He crept about on his knees hunting berries which +he knew were good to eat. It was a laborious way +to get breakfast, or more properly dinner, but he +succeeded in finding enough to still somewhat the +gnawing in his empty stomach, and suddenly as he +lifted his head a road lay before him. With hope +that was almost a tranquil certainty he crept to the +roadside and sat down. An hour or more passed +with only the call and song of birds to break the +stillness,––when, list! There was surely a rumble of +wheels! And then the cry came distinctly, “Git up +thar!”</p> +<p>Tears of joy rained down the boy’s face as a covered +wagon drawn by four mules came into view, +though he sturdily brushed them aside as the wagon +drove up and halted.</p> +<p>“Hello, thar,” called a lusty youthful voice, and +the driver, a young fellow of perhaps nineteen who +was mounted on one of the mules, turned round and +saw at a glance the swollen, helpless foot.</p> +<p>“Done up, air ye, Bub? Whar do ye belong anyways?”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_40' name='page_40'></a>40</span></div> +<p>Steve knew at once that these people were friends, +and told them his little story.</p> +<p>“I want to git to the city, so’s to give the skin to +the man thar an’ then I’m goin’ to larn to make +watches an’ things,” he concluded.</p> +<p>“Wal, you air a long piece from the city, but we +uns kin help ye git to the railroad and that’ll take ye +to the city.”</p> +<p>Several heads of varying sizes were sticking out of +the wagon by this time, and when Steve had been +helped in among the occupants he found it was a +family moving from one little hamlet to another. +The husband and father had recently died and they +were going back to their mother’s home to live +among her “kin.”</p> +<p>The kindly mother at once bound up Steve’s injured +foot with white of egg and salt, which she said +would “fetch it round all right,” and hearing the +empty rumbles of his poor little stomach she said she +didn’t believe “thar was a thing inside of it,” and +proceeded to give him a good square meal.</p> +<p>Was there ever anything happier than to be driving +along the road with a comfortable foot, a full +stomach and in the midst of friends! Steve had +never known greater joy than that moment held. +They were a “happy-go-lucky” family he had fallen +in with,––and for the first time in his life he was in +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_41' name='page_41'></a>41</span> +the midst of the merry banter of children. The +mountain folk of remote regions lack a sense of +humour, and Steve had grown up entirely alone, the +cabins of Hollow Hut being scattered, so he sat +through the afternoon in a maze of delight. There +were snickers and giggles, punching in the ribs and +tickling of toes from these children who lived on the +border of civilization, for Steve had really gone +blindly towards his goal.</p> +<p>As they drove gaily along Steve heard a sudden +rumbling which suggested thunder, the children cried, +“The train, the train,” and stopping the mules +quickly the big brother who was driving jumped +down, while three of the children sprang out with a +bound and all grasped the bridles at their heads. It +was done so quickly there wasn’t time to ask a question +and then a monster came tearing, puffing, hissing +past them. Steve’s eyes almost started from +their sockets and when it was past he sank back limp +and quivering.</p> +<p>“Why, chile, didn’t ye nuver see no railroad trains +afore?” said the good mother.</p> +<p>Steve managed to say, “No,” and then the children +told him all the astonishing things about +railroads. To his mingled joy and terror another +came along from the opposite direction when +they had driven on about a mile further, and this +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_42' name='page_42'></a>42</span> +time it came more slowly, making a full stop near +them.</p> +<p>“Whut air they a-doin’ that for?” asked Steve, +and when it was explained that they had stopped for +fuel or water, there being no station near, a quivering +light broke over his face, and remembering his +watch as his mind tried to grasp new sources of +motion, he said:</p> +<p>“They’re jes’ a-stoppin’ to wind hit up, then.”</p> +<p>Very soon after this they came to a cabin by the +roadside and all the family within poured out to see +the strangers.</p> +<p>“Won’t you light and hitch?” drawled the man +of the house, but the boy driver refused, saying they +wanted “to git to their kin afore night.” He suggested +to Steve, however, that if he wanted to go to +the city he had better stop there, for they were going +further from any station than he would be there. +The folks of the cabin were hearty in their invitation +to the boy when they had heard his story, even the +fact of his probable helplessness for a while not marring +the beauty of their royal hospitality. So Steve +was carefully lifted out and helped in among new +friends.</p> +<p>The little cabin was full to overflowing with boys +and girls, one girl of fifteen fondling her baby as she +would a big doll, in ignorant, unlawful, and one perhaps +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_43' name='page_43'></a>43</span> +should say innocent motherhood. She, a waif +herself, had come along needing shelter and they +had taken her in.</p> +<p>When Steve had had his supper pallets were +spread everywhere about the cabin floor upon which +the family went to rest fully clothed, after the fashion +of mountaineers, and to the boy the night was a +great contrast from the previous one in the loneliness +of the woods. He thought of his own home as he +had never done since he left it, wondering if his +father and Mirandy would like to see him, but he +never dreamed of how they had searched the woods +for miles around when he was missed the second day +after leaving. His failure to return the first day and +night they thought little of, for he frequently did not +come back after morning, but the second day’s absence +had brought real alarm, and when they found +his blanket Mirandy said she knew something had +killed and eat him up; she had forgotten about the +fox skin which in that case should also have been +there. But Jim Langly set his teeth grimly and said +the boy had gone off “along o’ that watch,” and he +did not cease to make inquiry as he had opportunity, +trying to trace his son, while he angrily threatened to +kill that city man if ever he “showed up agin in them +parts.”</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_44' name='page_44'></a>44</span> +<a name='IV_A_HALT_ON_THE_ROAD' id='IV_A_HALT_ON_THE_ROAD'></a> +<h2>IV</h2> +<h3>A HALT ON THE ROAD</h3> +</div> +<p>Steve spent a week in the crowded but hospitable +cabin of his latest friends resting the +swollen foot. It was not seriously sprained +and would have given him no trouble but for the +long tramp upon it the night before and his general +fatigue.</p> +<p>He had an interesting time with this family on the +roadside. They were of the most shiftless type of +mountain folk. Life was a long holiday to them, +every meal a picnic. There were too many to +gather about the table in the little log lean-to, so the +elders only sat down at meal times. The children +came up shuffling, pushing and squirming good naturedly +to get their portions and ran away again full-handed +to sit on the door-step or flat upon the +ground outside while they ate. Sometimes one ambitious +consumer would succeed in disposing of his +viands more rapidly than the others and then woe to +some small delinquent! His food would be snatched +away and a lively fisticuff probably follow during +which the inevitable “yaller dog” was usually the +gainer. The disturbance at times reached a height +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_45' name='page_45'></a>45</span> +which brought the mother lazily to the door with a +mild:</p> +<p>“Now ef ye alls don’t quit fussin’, I’ll set the +boogers arter ye ter-night,” which was a dire and +telling threat, for, to the mountain children, +“boogers” meant ghosts, witches, hobgoblins, +thieves, or any other terrible, mysterious creature +of the night.</p> +<p>Steve went up to the table with the rest for his +portion of food, and took his chances with the other +children if a squabble began. Association with the +children was most enjoyable to Steve. They told +marvellous tales about giants and mountain feuds +and the mother’s threat of “boogers” was sure to +stir up all their recollections about ghosts. Wherever +there was a “killin’” as the result of a mountain +feud ghosts were sure to congregate and marvellous +were the tales which clustered about each bloody +spot. Steve being a new listener must hear all these +old tragic stories.</p> +<p>When meals were over, the family disposed themselves +to their liking. The head of the house invariably +lit his pipe and sat in the chimney corner to +smoke, a custom quite familiar to Steve. The +mother washed the skillet and few utensils used +about the meal, smoking her pipe the while. The +young girl sat down outside in the sun to play with +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_46' name='page_46'></a>46</span> +her baby, the big boys perhaps went off hunting and +the children wandered aimlessly in and out.</p> +<p>The fields of corn and tobacco had been planted +and now there was little to do but watch it grow, so +they thought. The hogs practically took care of +themselves. What more could any one demand, a +blank look would unconsciously have inquired, if +asked why they did not work.</p> +<p>When the day was over and the troop of children +began to grow sleepy, one after another dropped +down upon the cabin floor, perhaps upon a pallet, +perhaps not, and fell asleep. The older ones followed +in the same way, as inclination suggested, and +room was cheerfully made for Steve among the rest. +For a night or two the full chorus of audible breathing +wakened him frequently, but he soon became accustomed +to it.</p> +<p>In the morning the voice of some child was apt to +be heard first:</p> +<p>“Mammy, I’m hongry.”</p> +<p>And the reply would come, “Now you shet up, +’tain’t time ter be gittin’ up yit,” or perhaps the +satisfied parent would yawn and say:</p> +<p>“Wal, I reckons I might as well git up and stop +ye mouth,” and so the household would gradually +emerge from slumber.</p> +<p>This was the normal daily life, but comedy and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_47' name='page_47'></a>47</span> +tragedy came to them as to the rest of the world, and +Steve had a taste of both during his stay of a week.</p> +<p>Unlike Hollow Hut it was a somewhat thickly +settled community and one moonlight night some +young folks from neighbouring cabins came in. +Steve’s friends made the visitors welcome and hailed +with delight the banjo which one of them had +brought. The young folks were out for a frolic and +laugh and joke were ready.</p> +<p>Pretty soon the banjo began to tune up and set +everybody’s feet to patting.</p> +<p>“Clear out things,” called one of the boys, and in +no time the few articles the room held were out of +the way. Then the air vibrated with “Hook and +Line,” “Sourwood Mountain,” and other lively +tunes, while everybody danced except Steve, who +crept to the farthest corner and in wonder looked +and listened. He had never seen dancing or heard +music before.</p> +<p>The girl with the baby came and dropped it down +upon his lap while she joined in the fun, and it almost +seemed that the cabin itself would break from +its moorings in the abandon of rollicking, swaying +motion.</p> +<p>When everybody was tired out the banjo player, +a young fellow with deep-set black eyes and the unmistakable +look of an artist in embryo, swung into a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_48' name='page_48'></a>48</span> +monologue accompanied by the banjo, part talk, part +song, describing a fox hunt which was most fascinating +and altogether remarkable.</p> +<p>He called the hounds with “Here Tige,” “Here +Jack,” “Here Spot,” “Here Bob-tail,” interspersed +with the tooting of a horn, long musical whistles and +the banjo striking soft staccato chords. He mustered +the men, he raced the horses with excited calls of +“Git up thar,” and gave clever imitation of fleeing +hoofs, “to-bucket, to-bucket, to-bucket,” in a rapid, +low, chanting song. Then the leading hound opened +with a plaintive bay “how!-oo-oo-oo, how!-oo-oo-oo,” +and one by one the others joined in with +varying notes till it swelled to a weird chorus of baying +hounds which the banjo and the musician’s voice +made most realistic. Next the fox was spied and +there were cries of “Hello! Ho! Here he is!” +“There he runs,” with the banjo thumping like +mad! Then the medley shaded down into a wild, +monotonous drumming from the strings and the +voice, which represented most thrillingly the chase +at full height. At last the fox was caught with dogs +barking, men calling, and banjo shrilling a triumphant +strain in stirring climax.</p> +<p>Steve followed it all in breathless excitement, and +the rest of the audience received it with boisterous +enthusiasm.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_49' name='page_49'></a>49</span></div> +<p>After this somebody started the lovely old ballad, +“Barbary Allen,” in which all joined; then, “I have +a True Love in the Army,” and “The Swapping +Song” followed, while “Whistle up your Dogs, +Boys, and Shoulder your Guns,” made lively the +leave-taking and echoed back from far down the +road.</p> +<p>Then there was a night of tragedy during Steve’s +visit. The sleepers of the cabin were suddenly +aroused by blood-curdling whoops and yells, gunshots, +racing horses and running men. Everybody +was instantly alert and the family turned out of the +cabin en masse. It was thrilling. All knew well +what it meant. The head of the house and older +boys joined the fleeing crowd like dogs in a chase.</p> +<p>“That’s Bud Levit’s folks and the Cuneys done +broke out agin ’bout that ole fuss, I bet,” drawled +the wife and mother, when the tumult had died +down to faint echoes.</p> +<p>“I reckon thar’ll be a big killin’ this time,” said +one of the children with zest.</p> +<p>“Thar shore was a passle er folks and a pile er +shootin’,” said another enthusiastically.</p> +<p>“Now, you-alls git back to bed an’ shet up,” said +the mother, and her brood gradually quieted down.</p> +<p>Next day when the man of the house and older +boys returned about dark, full of whiskey and full of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_50' name='page_50'></a>50</span> +talk, a most exciting tale was unfolded to the eager +listeners.</p> +<p>“Hit was the biggest killin’ whut’s been in these +parts fur many er day,” said the man with pride. +“I’ll tell ye when they did git together they fit +lack beastes. When ev’ythin’ was over thar was five +on ’em a-layin’ in their blood. Three of the Levits +an’ two of the Cuneys.”</p> +<p>“Wal, I hope they’ll keep quiet fer a spell now,” +commented the woman.</p> +<p>Then all the ghastly details were gone over with +the children listening eagerly, drinking it in as they +would a story of an exciting hunt. When the children +discussed it afterwards one little fellow said to +another: “I tell yer what, I’m er goin’ ter be a +fighter jes’ lack them Levits. I’ll shoot ’em down ef +anybody comes foolin’ round me.”</p> +<p>Steve listened soberly. The experience was not a +new one to him, but he remembered that his +“Mammy” had always said she didn’t like killings +and that mountain folks ought to “larn better some +way.” The words came back to the boy with peculiar +meaning since the voice which uttered them was +still. He said nothing, but it all made him more +anxious to move on towards that other world of which +he and “Mammy” had dreamed.</p> +<p>The following morning his foot seeming fully restored +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_51' name='page_51'></a>51</span> +and clearing weather having come after several +days of rain, Steve said “he thought he’d move on.”</p> +<p>“Whar ye goin’?” said the man of the house who +had paid little attention to him before.</p> +<p>“I’m er goin’ to the railroad fust, an’ then from +thar to the city to give the fox skin to the man, an’ +to larn things.”</p> +<p>“Larn things,” said the man scornfully, not being +in the best of humour after the previous day’s dissipation. +“Huh! I s’pose ye’ll be goin’ to some er them +city schools. Ye better go on back whar you come +from. Schoolin’ ain’t no good ter anybody. Hit’s +them schools whut larns folks to go ’round pesterin’ +other folks, breakin’ up ‘stills.’ Folks has got jest +as good er right ter make whiskey es anything else,” +which showed in what he was especially interested.</p> +<p>Steve made no answer for the man was too forbidding +in his irritability, but the boy kept to his determination +to press on at once towards the railroad. +After breakfast was over he went back to see the +woman of the house, and in lazy kindness she said +she wished she had a little bread and meat to give +him but “there wan’t none left,” which Steve was +quite prepared to hear, for there were many mouths +to feed and never any left.</p> +<p>“I hope ye’ll git thar all right. I reckons ye’ll git +somethin’ to eat on the road, and ef ye’re ever to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_52' name='page_52'></a>52</span> +come this-a-way agin come an’ see us,” she drawled +as she smoked.</p> +<p>“Ye been mighty good ter me,” said Steve, “an’ I +ain’t nuver goin’ ter forgit it.”</p> +<p>He passed the children about the door-step, his +fox skin under his arm, and they stood and watched +him leave with a sort of sorrowful solemnity. Goodbyes +are a thing unknown to mountain folk.</p> +<p>Then he walked off without much thought as to +direction, having a definite impression, however, as +to the way he should go, which was part instinct and +partly remembrance of what the boy on the moving +wagon had told him. The people he had left were +too inert to think of giving him any instructions. +But down the road he passed the big boys of the +house sitting idly by the roadside. They had heard +with satisfaction their father’s opinion as to Steve’s +going in search of “larnin’.” As Steve came in +sight one of them nudged the other and said, “Less +throw him off the scent.”</p> +<p>“Which-a-way ye goin’, Bub?” he asked when +Steve came up.</p> +<p>Then for the first time Steve stopped and thought.</p> +<p>“Why, that-a-way,” he replied pointing.</p> +<p>The big boys laughed boisterously. “Ye’ll nuver +git to no railroad goin’ that-a-way. Thar’s the way +ye want ter go,” said one, pointing off at a slightly +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_53' name='page_53'></a>53</span> +different angle, which made the greatest difference in +the boy’s ultimate destination.</p> +<p>Steve looked doubtfully, but when he reflected a +moment he remembered that he really did not know +positively in what direction to go.</p> +<p>“Is that so?” he inquired looking earnestly at the +boys.</p> +<p>“Hit shore is,” returned both of them.</p> +<p>“How fur is it?” asked Steve.</p> +<p>“Oh, ’tain’t fur,” said one of the boys; “ye ought +ter git thar before night easy. You go straight as a +crow flies that-a-way,” pointing as he had before, +“and ye’ll come to the railroad tracks. Ye can’t +miss hit fer ye’re bound to cross ’em, an’ ef ye go +straight, lack I tell ye, ye’ll be right at the station.”</p> +<p>The boy on the moving wagon had described the +railroad tracks to him, so Steve started off feeling +reassured, and it never occurred to him that any one +could be mean enough to misdirect him. It was a +pity the echoes from the boisterous laughter of the +boys when he was out of hearing could not have +reached the little traveller’s ears, but they did not, and +Steve pressed on with good spirits feeling that he +was almost in sight of his goal with less than a day’s +journey before him.</p> +<p>He turned at once from the road and went on and +on, knowing as well as the crow how to keep straight +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_54' name='page_54'></a>54</span> +with the compass, although like the crow he had +never heard of one. The straight path took him +quickly into the wilderness, but that did not dismay +him as wilderness travel had become most familiar to +him. At noon he began to feel so empty, he longed +for just a little piece of corn bread. And then remembering +that the mother thought he’d get something +to eat on the road he began looking cheerfully +for the smoke of a cabin somewhere. He had been +vaguely disappointed at striking no road anywhere, +but he had not asked the boys any particulars as to +the route. Everything so far in his journeying had +been unexpected, and the possibilities of routes were +so totally unknown to him that he had started on +again, as when he left home, unquestioning.</p> +<p>The empty stomach continued to cry loudly for +food as the afternoon wore on, and no cabin smoke +gave token of life anywhere. He did not suffer from +thirst for mountain streams and springs were abundant. +He pressed bravely forward, cheering himself +with the thought that the boys had said he would +come to the tracks before dark. But twilight began +creeping in among the forest trees and still no tracks +were in sight. Anxiously he listened for the terrible +yet thrilling rush of a train which he remembered +so well. He ought to be in hearing distance +of them by now. But nothing broke the forest stillness +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_55' name='page_55'></a>55</span> +save the twitter and song of birds, the scurrying +of rabbits or frisking of squirrels with occasionally +the sound of some larger animal in the underbrush.</p> +<p>Finally night fell with the poor boy straining his +anxious eyes for the shining tracks of which he had +heard. He forced his aching limbs along till suddenly, +with a quivering sob, his strength seemed all +to go and he sank upon the ground in a pitiful heap. +He was too exhausted to think and in a few moments +was sound asleep.</p> +<p>He lay upon the summit of a rugged mountain, +which dropped precipitately down just beyond the +sleeping boy, to ripple off again in lesser lofty +heights, with beautiful fertile valleys and tossing +streams between. A little, lonely, helpless human +soul he lay upon Nature’s majestic bosom, with the +Infinite hand beneath his head.</p> +<p>In the morning when he waked billows of mist in +silver splendour were rolling slowly from the valleys +below, like Nature’s incense rising in her sacred +morning hour.</p> +<p>Although born in the mountains the mystic +grandeur of the scene filled Steve with awe. Rising, +he gazed, a part of the worshipful silence, and then +as the sun burst suddenly into golden glory above +the waves of mist, his mind as suddenly seemed to +shoot up from the mists of fatigue and sleep. It was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_56' name='page_56'></a>56</span> +the peculiarly clear brain which sometimes comes +with long abstinence from food. Instantly he knew +that he had been fooled!</p> +<p>Turning to look back over the way he had come +he said to himself: “Them boys told me wrong, an’ +they did hit a purpose. They’re lack their pappy, +they don’t want to larn nothin’ an’ they don’t want +nobody else ter nuther.”</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_57' name='page_57'></a>57</span> +<a name='V_A_DOUBLE_RESCUE' id='V_A_DOUBLE_RESCUE'></a> +<h2>V</h2> +<h3>A DOUBLE RESCUE</h3> +</div> +<p>The boy stood quietly on the mountain top +and took his bearings. He knew the way +he had come, and remembering his previous +impressions, and what his friend on the moving +wagon had said, he turned at last and started down +at an acute angle from the direction he had come. +He gathered again as he went whatever he knew to +be good to eat in the way of berries and herbs, but +he soon began to feel so weary that he could hardly +drag himself along. Had he gotten out of the wilderness +only to plunge into it again and be lost? +For as the day went on and he met no one, saw no +cabin or the long-looked-for railroad tracks, discouragement +and anxiety beset him. Noon passed again. +Sometimes he thought he must stop and rest, but he +was afraid if he did he could never get up again. +His fatigue and hunger were far greater than in his +previous experience in the wilderness, for he had +never eaten heartily at the roadside cabin, knowing +that food was not abundant there. So he was not in +the best of trim for a long fast and great physical +strain.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_58' name='page_58'></a>58</span></div> +<p>The remnants of his courage were wearing away +when at last he seemed to be emerging into a more +open country. He was still in the woods, but there +was a subtle difference. He felt somehow that man +was in proximity somewhere, though he had as yet +seen no sign. His pulses quickened a little, and then +suddenly a child’s scream rang out.</p> +<p>Steve bounded forward at first with joy, and then +as scream after scream followed, with the unmistakable +agony of fear in the cry, forgetting his deadly +weariness he ran swiftly in the direction of the sound, +dropping the fox skin as he ran. In a breathless +moment he came in sight of a good sized tree, and +hanging from a high limb by the skirt of her dress +was a little girl, head downward.</p> +<p>Steve saw in an instant that she could not help +herself, and that she might fall to her death any +moment. He did not pause or hesitate. Up the +tree he went, his bare feet clinging to the sides, up +and up in a twinkling, then he carefully crept out +upon the limb and drew the little girl safely up beside +him.</p> +<p>“Oh,” she said when she had recovered her equilibrium +and gotten her breath, “I thank you so much,” +and even then Steve was conscious that he had never +seen anything so pretty in all his life as the blue eyes +which looked up into his, and the soft yellow curls +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_59' name='page_59'></a>59</span> +which framed her little face. But he hurried to get +her down safely. With infinite care he helped her +until she could go on down the tree alone, and then, +he did not know what happened, but things suddenly +seemed to whirl round and he fell to the ground in +an unconscious heap.</p> +<p>The next he knew some one was wiping his face +with a damp cloth and chafing his hands. He was +too tired to open his eyes and see who it was. Then +a woman’s voice was saying in a worried but gentle +tone:</p> +<p>“What were you doing in the tree, Nancy? You +know I don’t like for you to climb trees.”</p> +<p>“Why, mother,” replied a frightened little voice, +“I found a poor little birdie out of its nest, and I +pinned it up tight in my apron pocket and carried it +up the tree and put it into the nest. The father and +mother bird were so worried about it. I didn’t +know I was going to fall, and make this boy fall too, +and hurt himself so bad,” and the small voice broke +pitifully.</p> +<p>“You never should have tried to do such a thing,” +said her mother firmly, and then as the little voice +went into sobs, Steve opened his eyes in a brave +effort to try to assure them he was all right.</p> +<p>“Oh, I’m so glad you are better,” exclaimed the +woman who knelt beside him.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_60' name='page_60'></a>60</span></div> +<p>She looked so kind and nice that Steve struggled +to get up and further reassure her, but there seemed +weights holding him down and a sharp pain thrust +through and through his left arm.</p> +<p>“I am afraid you have broken your arm,” said the +woman anxiously. “Nancy, you run right over to +the store and get your father,” she said to the little +girl. And Steve watched a white pinafore and flying +yellow curls through a half-conscious dream mist, +with a satisfied sense that he was at last in the new +world of his visions.</p> +<p>And he was, for he had stumbled blindly through +a bit of wood at the back of Mr. Follet’s, the station-master’s +home, and just in time to rescue his little +girl.</p> +<p>Mrs. Follet had heard the child’s screams, for the +tree was in the edge of the wood only a little way +from the house, and she reached the place just +after Steve had fallen to the ground, having seen +the child’s perilous position and Steve’s rescue. +She had dampened her handkerchief in a near-by +spring and worked over the boy until consciousness +returned.</p> +<p>The little white pinafore was soon running back +with Mr. Follet walking rapidly.</p> +<p>“What under the cano<i>pee</i> does all this mean?” +he asked excitedly as he came up, although Nancy +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_61' name='page_61'></a>61</span> +had told him about the accident. “Are you hurt +much, boy?” he went on.</p> +<p>Steve heard what was said in a vague way, but +he couldn’t reply and Mrs. Follet explained that +she didn’t think the boy was fully conscious yet, +and they would have to try to get him to the +house.</p> +<p>So Mr. Follet, who was a small but very wiry +man, soon had him up in his arms, while Mrs. +Follet supported his head and together they carried +him to the house and laid him down on a couch. +Then Mrs. Follet quickly fixed him a hot drink +and gave it slowly to him. With each swallow +the sturdy boy felt stronger, and by the time he +had taken a cup full, was able to talk freely.</p> +<p>“Where under the cano<i>pee</i> did you come from +anyway? You don’t live hereabouts, do you?” +asked Mr. Follet, who was of the restless, nervous +temperament which must know things at once.</p> +<p>“Now, Pa,” said Mrs. Follet, “you must get the +doctor to set his arm before you ask him anything,” +and Mr. Follet started off.</p> +<p>Steve looked curiously at the arm hanging limply +by his side. He had never seen a broken arm before +though he had heard that arms and legs could break +and be mended like hoe or ax handles.</p> +<p>By questioning, Mrs. Follet found that he had had +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_62' name='page_62'></a>62</span> +nothing to eat since the day before, so she prepared +him a dainty meal which filled the mountain boy +with wonder. There was a poached egg, a bit of +toast and a cup of hot milk, none of which had he +ever tasted or seen prepared before. But it all was +very, very good, and as he ate Nancy slipped shyly +into the room. She had stayed outside in frightened +misery, feeling that all the trouble was her fault. Her +mother said kindly:</p> +<p>“That’s right, child, come on in; our boy is better +now.” The little girl sat down timidly on the edge +of a chair, and Steve took in the complete vision.</p> +<p>Soft yellow locks strayed out from a ribbon and +tumbled about before a pair of deep blue eyes. +Round cheeks were pink and soft, sweet lips were +red and shyly smiling, a white apron with ruffles +almost covered a blue gingham dress. The boy held +his breath at the beauty of the apparition. He had +never dreamed of anything so sweet and pretty in all +the world.</p> +<p>It was not long before Mr. Follet returned with the +doctor and the broken arm was successfully set, +Steve bearing the pain “like a trump,” as Mr. Follet +put it. Then Mrs. Follet said he must go to bed at +once, and he went up a tiny flight of stairs to a bed +in a little attic chamber which she had made ready. +Knowing the ways of mountain folk, Mrs. Follet did +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_63' name='page_63'></a>63</span> +not insist that he undress, as the task would be difficult +for him with the broken arm. He slept soundly +in spite of pain in the arm upon a remarkable bed +“off the floor” and awoke feeling well, and eager to +see again his new friends.</p> +<p>When he got down the stairs, Mrs. Follet was +busy getting the breakfast, and Mr. Follet was ready +with questions.</p> +<p>“Where under the cano<i>pee</i> (which was a favourite +expression with Mr. Follet) did you drap from yesterday, +just in time to save our Nancy? You don’t live +hereabouts, do you?”</p> +<p>“No,” said Steve, “I come from Hollow Hut.”</p> +<p>“And where’s that?” returned Mr. Follet.</p> +<p>Steve couldn’t tell very clearly, but gave an account +of his long journey and told about the watch +and the fox skin which he was going to take to the +man in the city.</p> +<p>Mr. and Mrs. Follet were much interested in his +story, so much so that they forgot the waiting breakfast. +Then they turned to it, but Steve had remembered +that he dropped his fox skin as he ran to +Nancy’s rescue and he wanted to go at once for it, +but Mrs. Follet would not let him go till he had eaten +breakfast. The neatly laid table with its snowy cloth +was a new wonder to Steve, and when the little girl, +looking fresh and sweet as a rose, sat down opposite +him, he was so awed and thrilled he could scarcely +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_64' name='page_64'></a>64</span> +eat. Angels could hardly have given him a more +heavenly vision than did this little girl.</p> +<p>Breakfast over, Steve started at once for the fox +skin, and Mrs. Follet sent Nancy with him to help +find it. The little girl lost some of her shyness as +they looked for the skin, and Steve listened to her +chatter, feeling in a strange way that it was all a +dream which he had had before, as we do sometimes +in experiences which move us strongly.</p> +<p>They found the skin with little trouble, and when +they had carried it back to the house, Mr. Follet +took it up and carefully examined it.</p> +<p>“So you’re trying to get this here skin to the man +in the city who sent the watch to you?”</p> +<p>“Yes,” said Steve.</p> +<p>“And you ain’t got hair or hide o’ the watch +now?” continued Mr. Follet.</p> +<p>“No, I hain’t,” said the boy sorrowfully.</p> +<p>“Well, I’ll be sniggered,” said Mr. Follet. “And +how under the cano<i>pee</i> do you expect to find him in +the city when you git thar?”</p> +<p>The boy’s uncomprehending stare showed that he +had no conception of a city, and Mr. Follet looked +at his wife, laughed and went over to the station, +which was station and store combined.</p> +<p>For a few days Steve continued to live in a +dream. The house was a marvel to him. Mrs. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_65' name='page_65'></a>65</span> +Follet cooked on a stove and constantly fixed +strange, nice things to eat; a clock ticked on the +mantel, which comforted him somewhat for the loss +of his watch,––there were queer but to him surprisingly +beautiful and comfortable pieces of furniture, +and one room had a nice piece of good stout cloth +with red and green flowers on it spread over the +floor on which people walked!</p> +<p>Then marvel of marvels, every now and then that +engine and great train of cars came puffing and hissing +by the house in full view, and the boy’s spirits +mounted on wings as he thought of the wonders of +the world.</p> +<p>Even with one arm disabled, he took hold at once +to help with the work about the place. He fed the +chickens, horse and cow. With only one hand he +could not learn to milk, though he was eager to do +so. He went over to the store on errands and made +himself useful in many ways.</p> +<p>One day when at the store he said to Mr. Follet +that as soon as his arm was well he would have to +be going on to the city to take the fox skin.</p> +<p>“And how under the cano<i>pee</i> do you expect to be +ridin’ round on the railroad without money?” said +Mr. Follet. He knew well the boy had none. “You +ain’t a Rockefeller or a Jay Gould, air you?”</p> +<p>These allusions of course meant nothing to the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_66' name='page_66'></a>66</span> +boy, and the question of money was a new one to +him. None of his late friends in their simplicity had +thought of it, and the man had to make clear the +need of it in the business world which Steve had +come into. With his people things had always been +“swapped”; corn, tobacco and whiskey, for the few +things they needed from a store, and he had seen +very few pieces of money in his life.</p> +<p>“Now, how under the cano<i>pee</i> are you going to +come up with the money?” asked Mr. Follet briskly, +and with practical pertinence.</p> +<p>Steve certainly did not know and then Mr. Follet +proposed that he stay with them through the summer, +work for him and he would give him his board +and clothes and pay him fifty cents a week.</p> +<p>Steve agreed readily and at once felt a new sense +of responsibility and manliness.</p> +<p>When his arm was quite well Mrs. Follet gave him +some long white garments which she called “nightshirts,” +and told him to undress at night and wear +them for sleeping! It was a very needless performance, +he felt in his secret heart, but he had already +learned to love the gentle woman and he would have +done even more foolish things to please her. In +fact, the thing which she gave him for brushing his +hair seemed at first to bring him to the limit of acquiescence, +but the bit of broken looking-glass stuck +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_67' name='page_67'></a>67</span> +in one of the timbers of his room soon told him that +a little smoothing down of his tousled head made an +immense difference in his looks, and somehow made +him seem a little more worthy to be in Nancy’s +presence.</p> +<p>The little girl had lessons at night from her mother +in wonderful books, and Steve listened with rapt attention +each time, beginning very soon to catch their +meaning. It was not long till he had confided to +Nancy how his “mammy” had wanted him to “larn +things” too, and that was another reason why he +was trying to get to the city.</p> +<p>“You’re going to school then,” said the little girl. +“My mama teaches me, and some day she is going +to send me to a big, big college.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Follet had been a school-teacher from the +north in one of the small Kentucky towns, an orphan +girl, who very young had been obliged to make her +own way in the world. She had met Mr. Follet, and +in one of those strange attractions between complete +opposites in temperament and training, had married +him. She was a quiet, refined and very kind-hearted +woman. She would gladly have taught the boy, +but finding that he did not know even his letters, she +felt that with Nancy in the second reader, she could +not take another pupil who was a beginner.</p> +<p>But when the lessons were going on in the evening +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_68' name='page_68'></a>68</span> +Steve soon began to spell over the words to himself +as Nancy spelled them, and then it came about that +often at odd times the brown shock of hair and the +little yellow curls bent together over bits of paper, as +the little girl pointed out and explained the make-up +of the letters to the big boy.</p> +<p>“Don’t you see, Steve, this little chicken coop +with a piece across it is big A, and this one with the +piece standing up and two curly things at the side is +big B.” The peculiarities of similar letters were discussed, +how the bottom curly thing in big R turned +the other way, while P didn’t have any bottom curly +thing at all, and F didn’t have any bottom cross +piece, while E did.</p> +<p>“See here,” said Steve, growing alert, “here’s a +powerful nice gate; whut’s that?”</p> +<p>“Oh, that’s big H,” said Nancy, “and wriggly, +twisty S is just the prettiest letter of all, I think. Oh, +Steve, that is the letter which begins your name,” +said she, in generous, childish joy.</p> +<p>“Is that so?” exclaimed Steve, with eager pleasure +because she was pleased. “And which is the one +whut begins yourn?”</p> +<p>“Oh, mine is just two straight standing up pieces +with a slanting piece between. It’s one kind of a +gate but not just like H,” and she hunted out an N +to show him.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_69' name='page_69'></a>69</span></div> +<p>“<i>I</i> think that’s the prettiest letter of all,” said +Steve, with unconscious gallantry. “Whar’s the +other letters in yo’ name?” he inquired, and Nancy +hunted them all out. Then she found the other letters +in his name, and Steve had an undefined disappointment +that his name did not have a single letter +in it which belonged to her name. It seemed to shut +him out more completely from the things which belonged +to her.</p> +<p>So the lessons went on from the little girl to the +big boy, and Mrs. Follet was amazed one day to find +that Steve could read quite well. He studied every +book and paper within reach as he found time, though +he never neglected his duties.</p> +<p>Corn was constantly brought Mr. Follet in exchange +for goods at the store, and one of Steve’s +duties was to take the old horse with two big bags of +corn over to the Greely mill to be ground into meal. +Nancy was mounted upon the old horse in front of +the bags to show Steve the way on his first trip, and +afterwards she always begged to go. To Steve it was +the greatest joy to take the little girl with him, +though he wouldn’t have dared ask it. He taught +her to put her small foot in his hand while he sturdily +lifted her to the old white mare’s back, and on the +return she stepped down into his palm with equal +ease.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_70' name='page_70'></a>70</span></div> +<p>The way to the mill lay along the road for a time, +and then a short cut was made across what was known +as the Greely Ridge. It was a steep cliff of rugged +woodland, and both Nancy and Steve enjoyed the +trip through the woods, Steve walking close beside +the horse and the two chatting all the way. He told +the little girl such interesting things about birds and +squirrels, rabbits and foxes.</p> +<p>“Don’t you wish we were birds,” said Nancy one +day, “so we could fly way off and see lots of +things?”</p> +<p>“Yes,” said Steve, “I shore do; then I could find +Mr. Polk and give him his fox skin.” The thought +of getting to Mr. Polk was always in his mind, and +though the little girl knew all about it she wanted to +hear again how Steve got the skin and about that +wonderful day in the woods when he met Mr. Polk, +and the beautiful watch that the robbers took.</p> +<p>“When you find Mr. Polk and learn to make +watches and things, like your mother wanted you to, +you will make one just like yours for me, won’t you, +Steve?”</p> +<p>“Yes, I shore will,” said Steve earnestly, never +doubting that he would keep his promise.</p> +<p>There was nothing Steve would not attempt for her +pleasure. He went to the tops of trees after some +vacant bird nest or hanging flower, he chased rabbits +and hunted squirrels that she might get a glimpse of +them.</p> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_2' id='linki_2'></a> +</div> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/p0070a-insert.jpg' alt='' title='' width='565' height='301' /><br /> +<p class='caption'> +The Old Greely Mill<br /> +</p> +</div> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_71' name='page_71'></a>71</span></div> +<p>“Some day, Steve,” said Nancy innocently, “let’s +build us a house and live here always; we do have +such good times when we come to this wood.”</p> +<p>Steve replied again, “Yes, I shore will,” and neither +dreamed what the wood was hiding for them to be +revealed, far out in the veiled future.</p> +<p>When they reached the mill, Mr. and Mrs. Greely +were always so glad to see them. They had no +children of their own and they liked the straightforward, +dependable boy, while the little girl with her +sweet, shy ways, was always a delight. Mrs. Greely +would often stop her spinning to get a little treat for +them, which they would eat while the corn was +being ground, and going to mill came to make four +people happy each trip.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_72' name='page_72'></a>72</span> +<a name='VI_AN_UNEXPECTED_MEETING' id='VI_AN_UNEXPECTED_MEETING'></a> +<h2>VI</h2> +<h3>AN UNEXPECTED MEETING</h3> +</div> +<p>Mr. Follet was a man of unique business +methods. He had no idea of orderliness, +though he insisted he knew where everything +was, and strenuously declined his wife’s offers +to go over to the store, or stores rather, and help him +“straighten up.” The stock had overflowed the floor +of the original building and instead of putting in +shelves to dispose of the stock conveniently, he built +another and still another shanty to hold the overflow. +But in spite of queer methods he was making money +steadily. He kept each building securely locked, for +he said he wouldn’t have idle folks sitting around in +his store. He went over to the station according to +the railroad time schedule, though it was only a flag +station and was seldom flagged, and whenever he saw +a customer at the store door or on the way, he bustled +over to unlock the door, stumble around in the +dark, for there were no windows, and hunt out what +they wanted.</p> +<p>Bacon, molasses, dress-goods, coffins and farm implements +were on close terms of intimacy and whatever +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_73' name='page_73'></a>73</span> +was wanted Mr. Follet could produce with +amazing promptness.</p> +<p>Such methods, however, consumed a great deal of +time on the path between his home and the store, +and Steve filled an urgent need of the combined establishment.</p> +<p>One morning at breakfast in early autumn Mr. +Follet was in a great flutter of excitement. A travelling +auditor of the railroad was to be there for the +day looking over his accounts and this not frequent +event was a sore trial to both the station-master and +the auditor. Each time Mr. Follet said to him nervously: +“Now, you know I can’t keep things like +the road tells me to, and if things don’t just come +out even I’ll make up whatever’s lacking.”</p> +<p>When the auditor, a big, broad-shouldered, kindly-faced +gentleman arrived on this particular morning, +and was seated for work, Mr. Follet made his usual +statement.</p> +<p>“All right, Mr. Follet, all right,” said the genial +auditor, “we know you are straight as a string. Are +you sure you’ve got all the ticket stubs?” he continued +as Mr. Follet brought out some bits of pasteboard +from a big bushel basket.</p> +<p>“Oh, yes, I’m sure,” said Mr. Follet. “I don’t let +nobody in here but myself and so nothing is out of +place.” Then thinking a minute, he said, “Well +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_74' name='page_74'></a>74</span> +now I do believe I stuck a few stubs in this tin pail.” +He looked, and sure enough there were a few more.</p> +<p>“And the bills of lading,” said the auditor, “are +these all?”</p> +<p>Mr. Follet pondered a moment and then brightening, +exclaimed: “Why no, I stuck a few of them in +one of these here coffins one day for safe keeping,” +and he stepped over to a grim pine coffin keeping +company with a pile of gay bandanas, and brought +forth another bunch of bills. But his foot caught in +a coil of barbed wire as he started over to the auditor +with them and it was at that moment that Steve came +to the station door to get something and Mr. Follet +called out, “Here, Steve, hand these over to the gentleman.” +The boy started to obey, but when he +turned and faced the auditor he stood rooted to the +floor, his face white and eyes staring.</p> +<p>“What ails you?” said Mr. Follet sharply, noticing +him. The auditor looked quickly up also, and the +boy found his voice.</p> +<p>“Samuel Polk,” he said slowly.</p> +<p>The auditor smiled, and replied pleasantly, “That’s +my name, son, and where did you ever know me?”</p> +<p>“Ye sent me the watch,” said the boy.</p> +<p>“Is that so!” exclaimed Mr. Polk. “So you are +the boy I met in the woods! Well, this is marvellous, +sure, that we should meet here. How did you +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_75' name='page_75'></a>75</span> +ever get so far away from Hollow Hut?” he went on +smiling.</p> +<p>The boy told him briefly, while Mr. Follet listened +with lively interest. When the pitiful tale of the +loss of the watch was told, Steve added sturdily:</p> +<p>“But I got yer fox skin in spite of ’em, an’ I’ve +been a-workin’ to git to the city to give it ter ye.”</p> +<p>“Working to take the skin to me when you have +no watch,” said the auditor, gently.</p> +<p>“Course,” said the boy; “hit was yourn jes’ the +same,” and the auditor reached out and drew the boy +to him tenderly, thinking of all the hardship he had +borne in the effort to be square and honest.</p> +<p>“You are the boy for me,” he said with a glimmer +in his eyes that made Steve feel queer, and he broke +away, saying, “I’ll go and brung ye the skin.”</p> +<p>He was back as quickly as his sturdy legs could +bring him, and laid the fox skin on Mr. Polk’s knee. +It was gravely accepted and admired, and then Steve +returned to his work with all the earnestness he could +summon after the excitement of this unexpected +meeting.</p> +<p>When Mr. Follet and Mr. Polk came over to dinner +the acquaintance of the two who had met that +November day in the mountains was continued and +Mr. Polk was greatly pleased to find that the boy +was already “larnin’,” and astonished at the progress +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_76' name='page_76'></a>76</span> +which had been made during the summer. On the +way back to the store he said to Mr. Follet:</p> +<p>“I’ve taken a great fancy to that boy; he ought to +have a good education. I am all alone in the world +and no good to anybody. If it’s all square with you, +I’ll take that boy to the city with me this afternoon +when I leave at four-thirty and put him in school +somewhere.”</p> +<p>Mr. Follet was amazed and he hated to give up the +boy who had become so useful, but after a moment’s +thought, he said:</p> +<p>“I don’t see as I have anything to say about it. +He just stopped here on his way to you, and you’ve +come to him. You’ll have to take him if you want +him, though I don’t see how under the canopee we’ll +get along without him now.”</p> +<p>“That is just like you, Follet, straight always,” +said the other warmly, and after a little the station-master +went back to take the news to Steve. It +startled them all and Mrs. Follet expressed her great +regret in seeing the boy go, but she put his few little +belongings in good order and prepared him to start +off “clean and whole,” as she expressed it. Nancy +looked on wide-eyed, and Steve got ready like one +in a dream. He wrapped his small bundle of clothes +in the fox skin, which Mr. Polk had asked him to +take care of, and went over to the station.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_77' name='page_77'></a>77</span></div> +<p>At four-thirty the train rushed up. Mr. Polk led +Steve into a beautiful plush-seated car and placed +the boy where he could have a last look at his +friends, for Mr. and Mrs. Follet and Nancy stood on +the platform.</p> +<p>It was Nancy who held his eyes till the last moment, +little Nancy with two big tears dropping down +her cheeks. Steve’s throat ached unaccountably.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_78' name='page_78'></a>78</span> +<a name='VII_A_TRIP_TO_THE_CITY' id='VII_A_TRIP_TO_THE_CITY'></a> +<h2>VII</h2> +<h3>A TRIP TO THE CITY</h3> +</div> +<p>“Here we are,” said Mr. Polk, as the train +thundered into the station at Louisville. +The ride of four hours had been a continued +kaleidoscopic delight. Steve could not understand +how it was that trees and houses went racing +by the car windows and Mr. Polk had rare enjoyment +in the boy’s unsophisticated inquiry and comment.</p> +<p>Bringing this boy into the city was like giving +sudden sight to a child who had lived its life in +blindness. With keenest pleasure, Mr. Polk took +him into a brilliantly lighted restaurant for supper +and then afterwards up town by trolley into a large +furnishing establishment, for it was Saturday night +and the stores were open. There he fitted the little +fellow out from top to toe according to his liking, +the outfit including a shining German silver watch! +The two attracted attention everywhere, the boy’s +face a study in its swiftly changing expression and +the man full of eager interest which he could not +curb.</p> +<p>When Steve was all dressed and stood before a +mirror, Mr. Polk exclaimed:</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_79' name='page_79'></a>79</span></div> +<p>“Now, that is something like!” And the boy +turning from the transformed vision of himself, lifted +a quivering face to his benefactor.</p> +<p>There was a delicately sensitive side to the nature +of this boy of the woods. To him this experience +was not simply getting new, fine clothes, but his old +familiar self seemed to go with the old clothes, and +like the chrysalis emerging into the butterfly, he +could not pass into the new life, which the new +type of clothes represented, without having his joy +touched with the pain of travail.</p> +<p>With the tenderness of a woman Mr. Polk put his +arm about the little fellow in quick contrition, knowing +that it had been too much for this habitant of the +quiet woods, and said in a most matter-of-fact way: +“Now, son, for home and bed,” and in a few minutes +more the boy was snugly tucked in bed in Mr. Polk’s +comfortable bachelor quarters, and the next morning +when he woke he was a new boy inwardly as well as +outwardly.</p> +<p>He was ready for new “thrills” and they came. +After a very astonishing breakfast he went with Mr. +Polk to church. The beautiful building and wonderfully +dressed people held his wide-eyed interest, but +when the deep-toned organ poured forth its solemn +melody, big tears dropped down the boy’s face and +Mr. Polk drew him within a protecting arm. It was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_80' name='page_80'></a>80</span> +like touching the quivering chords of a little bared +soul with new, strange harmonies, and the sensitive +heart of the man understood intuitively the boy’s +mingled joy and pain.</p> +<p>In the afternoon Mr. Polk took his charge to the +home of a friend to see about schools, as his friend +had a boy about the same age, and also to get help +as to the general problem of caring for his protégé.</p> +<p>Arrived at the house, the friend, Mr. Colton, his +wife and Maud, the young daughter about fifteen +years of age, were at home and gave the visitors a +lively welcome. They were at once greatly interested +in the mountain boy, but so civilized was his +outfit, and intelligent his face that they could not +realize his difference from themselves except when +he talked. This they were delighted to get him to +do, and he answered all questions unabashed, though +he liked better to look and listen.</p> +<p>The Coltons were well-to-do people with ever-ready, +easy hospitality and insisted that Mr. Polk +and Steve remain to tea.</p> +<p>“The maids are both out as it happens, so we +must get tea ourselves,” said Mrs. Colton, adding +with mock graciousness, “and everybody may help!”</p> +<p>They all trooped out in responsive pleasantry +through the hall, and Mr. Colton inquired:</p> +<p>“Where is Raymond?”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_81' name='page_81'></a>81</span></div> +<p>“Oh, he is out,” replied Mrs. Colton. “There is +no telling when he will be in.”</p> +<p>That they were very indulgent parents and Raymond +was an exceedingly lively boy, Mr. Polk +already knew.</p> +<p>The hostess and her daughter exchanged glances +of sudden consternation when they reached the +dining-room, then burst into merriest laughter.</p> +<p>At last Mrs. Colton said between subsiding ripples, +“Father, please go down in the basement and look +in the furnace and you’ll find the baker with the cold +roast left from dinner! Mr. Polk, you go along too, +please, and you’ll see some loose bricks between the +joists right under this dining-room window, and right +behind them is the bread-box which you can bring +up!”</p> +<p>“The cake is up-stairs in the hat-box of my trunk +under lock and key,” gaily put in Maud, “and you +can come with me, Steve, and bring down the preserves +from under the bed!”</p> +<p>By this time the whole family were in gales of +laughter, and Steve was greatly puzzled at this new +phase of civilization. Mrs. Colton finally explained +that for a few Sundays past Raymond had been +carrying off everything there was to eat in the house, +and having “spreads” in the barn with his chums. +This time they determined to outwit him.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_82' name='page_82'></a>82</span></div> +<p>Mr. Polk joined heartily in all the merriment, +going after and bringing in provisions, but in his +heart he thought, “This is the product of too much +opportunity––give me my mountain boy every time. +If he doesn’t outstrip this pampered son, I miss my +guess.”</p> +<p>A little later Raymond came in and dominated the +conversation at once, after the manner of too many +bright, confident children of modern city life. After +tea he took Steve in charge on a lively tour of exploration, +and Mr. Polk talked over his plans for his +boy.</p> +<p>“The thing you ought to do,” said Mr. Colton +who was very clear-headed concerning everything +except his own son, “is to put the boy in a mountain +college. He would be at a disadvantage among boys +of his age in town, and then you’ve no way to take +care of him, travelling as you do. My wife +has a friend near here who is greatly interested +in a mountain college; just go over and see +her.”</p> +<p>This seemed good advice and Mr. Colton took +Mr. Polk and Steve over at once.</p> +<p>The lady came in and greeted them with gracious +cordiality, but when she learned their errand and +knew that one of the little mountain boys, to whose +welfare she had given so much thought, time and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_83' name='page_83'></a>83</span> +money, was before her, her eyes grew tender and +filled with tears.</p> +<p>“He must go to our mountain college at once; the +school has just opened,” she said. So they heard all +about the school and its opportunities. When she +had finished Steve spoke up:</p> +<p>“Is all that jes’ fer mountain boys lack me?” +This seemed beyond belief, but they assured him it +was.</p> +<p>Raymond had greatly enjoyed demonstrating the +mysteries of the telephone, electric lights and various +contrivances of his own to so totally unenlightened +and yet so appreciative an intelligence as Steve’s, +while the quaint mountain speech interested and +amused him exceedingly. So when Mr. Polk and +the boy took leave of the Coltons for the night Raymond +secured a promise that Steve might attend +school with him next day. Mr. Polk would be busy +making arrangements for the few days’ holiday which +would be necessary to take Steve back to the mountains +and place him in school.</p> +<p>Promptly next morning Raymond arrived at Mr. +Polk’s rooms for Steve and the boys started off together +like two comrades. It was Steve’s first day +in a schoolroom, and eye and ear were on the alert, +taking in everything.</p> +<p>He was well dressed and with his intelligent face +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_84' name='page_84'></a>84</span> +the other boys noted nothing unusual until the noon +hour when Raymond introduced his new specimen +with keen relish. He had no unkind intentions in +the sly winks he gave chosen comrades, but these +aroused the curiosity of his fellows, and when Steve +began to talk the boys awoke to lively possibilities. +One after another began to ask questions.</p> +<p>“What did you do for fun down at Hollow Hut?” +asked one.</p> +<p>“We uns didn’t do nothin’ fer fun, ’cep’in’ hunt +cotton tails, foxes an’ coons,” answered the boy.</p> +<p>“Didn’t you play football?” asked some one else.</p> +<p>“I nuver hearn tell of it,” said Steve.</p> +<p>“Du tell,” returned another boy, venturing to fall +a little into the stranger’s vernacular.</p> +<p>“Didn’t you ever play tennis, shinny or baseball?” +persisted some one else, and Steve replied politely +“that nobody ever hearn o’ them things in Hollow +Hut.”</p> +<p>The boys then began to venture more boldly into +imitations of Steve’s speech while some got behind +him and doubled up in silent laughter. Raymond +looked on, feeling himself the hero of the day in having +furnished such a comedy.</p> +<p>Suddenly Steve turned, perhaps with some intuition +of what was going on, and with swift comprehension +knew that he was being made fun of. His face on +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_85' name='page_85'></a>85</span> +the instant was electrified with wrath. He drew +himself up, and clenched his hands. Then in a +twinkling his coat and cap were upon the ground. +Taking the first boy at hand Steve dealt him a blow +from the shoulder with a lean, sinewy arm that sent +him spinning across the yard, and before any one +could realize what was happening three or four others +followed, and the rest, frightened at his fury, took to +their heels with speed.</p> +<p>Steve stood alone at last quivering from head to +foot; then calming slowly, he took his coat on his +arm, put on his cap and walked away, not knowing +whither he was going. But as he grew more quiet +he took his bearings, and his keen sense of direction +and good recollection of things they had passed in +going, led him without trouble back to Mr. Polk’s +rooms.</p> +<p>Raymond was not a cad, and when he had time to +think was thoroughly ashamed of himself. He went +to the teacher and made confession; then as both +were afraid the boy might get lost or come to some +harm, he went at once on a search. He did not +dream that Steve could so directly find his way back, +and Raymond wandered about for hours in a fruitless +search, doing without his dinner. At last, frightened +and contrite, he went to Mr. Polk’s office. Here the +confession was harder to make, but it came out in +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_86' name='page_86'></a>86</span> +all its humiliating details. Having eased his conscience +he wound up with a burst of enthusiasm: +“I tell you, Mr. Polk, Steve’s got the stuff in him. +There isn’t a fellow in school but thinks he is fine. +We didn’t mean a thing by our fun, but he served us +just right, and every fellow wants to take his +paw.”</p> +<p>Mr. Polk said little but sending Raymond home +and promising to telephone later, he went directly to +his rooms, knowing Steve’s keenly intuitive mind +better than Raymond. Though anxious until it was +proven true, Mr. Polk found Steve as he had expected, +seated in his rooms when he got there. But +he saw a most dejected little figure. The new clothes +were laid aside, the old mountain things were on, +and the boy’s face was drawn and white, though he +fronted Mr. Polk sturdily.</p> +<p>“I don’t belong in no town. I ain’t got no town +ways. I’ll jes’ go back to Hollow Hut and stay +thar.”</p> +<p>Mr. Polk put his arm about the boy and gently +drew him to a seat. For some moments there was +silence.</p> +<p>“Steve,” he said at last, “did the trip over the +mountains from Hollow Hut to Mr. Follet’s sometimes +seem hard for you?”</p> +<p>“Hit shore did,” said the boy slowly.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_87' name='page_87'></a>87</span></div> +<p>“But you didn’t give up the struggle, did you?”</p> +<p>“No,” said Steve, still slowly.</p> +<p>“Well, the journey of life is like that journey over +the mountains: it is often hard; there are things to +overcome and things to endure. You have started +now up the long, hard hill of learning, and I hope +you are not going to turn back at the laughter of a +few boys. You thrashed them out, I understand,” +he went on, and his voice held a strong hint of satisfaction; +“pass right on now, putting the incident +behind you just as you did each rocky summit you +mounted on that difficult journey. You must climb +to the top, son, understand; nothing short of that +will satisfy me!” And he looked earnestly, almost +vehemently into the boy’s eyes.</p> +<p>The penetrating gaze was returned, but with a +puzzled, groping inquiry for his benefactor’s full +intent.</p> +<p>“Yer mean I mus’ larn as much as you know?” +he asked at last.</p> +<p>“More,––infinitely more,” said Mr. Polk with +energy. “I have half-way climbed the mountain +of knowledge and success in life,––I have even +stopped less than half-way,” he corrected a little +bitterly, “but,” rousing himself, “I want to begin +life over again in you, and nothing but the very top +of the mountain of success will ever satisfy me!” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_88' name='page_88'></a>88</span> +He turned again to the boy with a deep, searching +gaze.</p> +<p>“You are a boy of your word,” he went on after a +moment, “that is what pleased me most about you, +and now at the very outset of this business of learning +and succeeding in life, I want your promise that +you will not halt before obstacles, but go to the +top!”</p> +<p>There was impelling enthusiasm as well as energy +in the resonant tones, and Steve’s spirit kindled with +answering enthusiasm and a glimmering vision of +heights which he had not hitherto glimpsed.</p> +<p>“I’ll git ter the top, Mr. Polk,––ef I don’t die on +the way,” he said with solemn earnestness.</p> +<p>It was a most unexpected, peculiarly intense moment +for both, and in the silence which followed, the +imagination of boy and man scaled lofty peaks, but +the mountain of material success which filled Mr. +Polk’s vision was not the beautiful, mystic height +upon which the boy gazed, and neither dreamed of +the conflict which this fact was to bring about in +future years.</p> +<p>“God hath set eternity in the heart of man,” and +the child of the woods felt the stirring of an eternal +purpose, undefined though it was. The glamour of +the world had long since intervened for the man.</p> +<p>The telephone rang noisily, having no respect for +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_89' name='page_89'></a>89</span> +visions, and Mr. Polk rose to answer it while Steve +began at once to put on again the new clothes in +unconscious ratification of his solemn life-promise to +Mr. Polk.</p> +<p>It was Mrs. Colton at the phone and she learned +with great relief that Steve had been found. She +insisted that Mr. Polk and the boy must come over +to supper, after which there would be a little impromptu +party of Raymond’s friends for Steve.</p> +<p>The boy looked very sober when this announcement +was made to him, but Mr. Polk smiled and +said heartily, as he had already done to Mrs. Colton:</p> +<p>“Of course we will go!” And they went.</p> +<p>There was just a bit of awkwardness when the +boys came into the Coltons’ that evening and met +Steve once more, but Mr. Polk, with an adroit question, +started him to telling them about trapping +rabbits, chasing foxes and treeing coons while the +boys became so interested, including Steve himself, +that all unpleasantness was forgotten. Upon leaving, +each boy took Steve’s hand with real respect +and liking, and Raymond expressed the general +sentiment when he exclaimed, “You’re a brick!”</p> +<p>Next day Mr. Polk and Steve started for the mountain +school. As they sat together on the train Steve +said: “I’ll be larnin’ to do things jes’ like mammy +said fer me ter do. I wonder ef she will know.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_90' name='page_90'></a>90</span></div> +<p>“I think so,” said Mr. Polk simply, but with a +gentle sympathy in his voice, which, whenever expressed +by look or tone, seemed to bring the boy +close to the heart of the man. Resting a moment +in this embrace, Steve asked a question which had +come to him several times. His father and all the +mature men he had known had been married,––for +bachelors are rare in the mountains,––why had Mr. +Polk no wife?</p> +<p>“Is ye woman dead, Mr. Polk?” was the question +he asked.</p> +<p>“No,” answered Mr. Polk, with a smile that flitted +quickly, “she did not marry me at all, and so has +left me lonely all my life. I would have been a far +better man had she done so. As it is,” and the +bitterness crept into his voice again, “I stopped +half-way up the hill of success as I told you, and +threw my prospects away. That is why you are to +live my life over for me and bring success whether +or no.”</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_91' name='page_91'></a>91</span> +<a name='VIII_OPPORTUNITY' id='VIII_OPPORTUNITY'></a> +<h2>VIII</h2> +<h3>OPPORTUNITY</h3> +</div> +<p>Mr. Polk and Steve made their railroad +trip by night, and the sleeper with its rows +of shelf-like beds was a fresh experience +for the boy, but he climbed to the upper berth and +slept the sleep of healthy youth. They reached +L––– about seven o’clock in the morning, and the +sight of mountain and valley spread out before them +in purple beauty gave a strange thrill of joy to Steve. +The mountaineer’s love of the mountains rushed +upon him after all his new, pleasant experiences with +a first consciously defined emotion.</p> +<p>“Well,” said Mr. Polk, “now the problem is how +we can cover that forty miles which lies between us +and our school.” But just at that moment he spied +an old man helping a woman into a wagon, and at +once he stepped up, found they were fortunately going +to the same point, and would gladly take in two passengers +with the ready accommodation of mountain +people.</p> +<p>They travelled leisurely on and on, Steve seeing +things of a familiar type and Mr. Polk much that was +fresh and interesting. They stopped over night at a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_92' name='page_92'></a>92</span> +little settlement and journeyed on again next day, +reaching their destination early in the evening. When +the group of school buildings came into view, the old +mountaineer pointed out the main building with its +tower, and told them which was the “gals’ sleepin’ +place,” and which “the boys’ sleepin’ place,” as he +termed the two dormitories. He drove directly to +the president’s home, a little unpainted frame house. +They were cordially received, entertained at supper +and taken afterwards to the boys’ dormitory, where +Steve was given a room with several other boys. +Then they walked over to “The Hall,” as it was +called, and were introduced to the teachers, who were +gathering there for the study hour. They had met +several when a young woman’s trim, slender figure, +with a decided air of the city about it, appeared in +the doorway, and the light from within lit up a pair +of clear, steady brown eyes, a pleasant mouth with +firmness lurking in the corners, and fluffy brown hair +put back in a roll from a very attractive face.</p> +<p>She stood a moment there in the doorway with a +casual glance for the strangers, then suddenly caught +her breath and went white, but instantly recovered +herself as the president, oblivious of any tragic moment +for her, turned and said:</p> +<p>“This is Miss Grace Trowbridge; she came down +here all the way from New York City to teach mountain +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_93' name='page_93'></a>93</span> +boys and girls,––and she knows how to do it, +too.”</p> +<p>Miss Trowbridge bowed and passed quickly within the hall.</p> +<p>Mr. Polk acknowledged the introduction with a +look on his face that Steve had never seen before, +and the boy felt somehow that his good friend had +become a stranger as they walked back to the boys’ +dormitory for the night. Next morning, too, something +had come between them, and when Mr. Polk +said he would leave that day instead of staying several +days, as he had intended, Steve could make no +reply.</p> +<p>Before Mr. Polk left, however, in giving final instructions +to his charge, the old kindly manner returned, +and as he said, “I hope you will like it here, +son,” the boy replied with his old freedom:</p> +<p>“I knows I’m a-goin’ to like it, and that thar Miss +Grace Trowbridge is the nicest one of ’em all. She +used ter live in New York City, the president said, +whar you used ter live. Didn’t you nuver know her +thar?” he asked innocently, not yet comprehending +in the least city conditions.</p> +<p>Mr. Polk set his lips grimly and answered sternly: +“Yes,” as he mounted a mule to ride back the forty +miles to the nearest railroad station.</p> +<p>What was the matter again? The boy did not +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_94' name='page_94'></a>94</span> +know, and he felt as though a sudden chill had come +upon him. But a moment later Mr. Polk looked +down at him kindly, reached over, pressed his hand, +and said: “Be a good boy,” as he rode away on the +ambling mule.</p> +<p>So Steve began his school life. He went into the +second reader class, his opportunities at the Follets’ +having put him beyond the beginners. In his class +were children of all ages and mature men and women, +who were just getting their first opportunity to learn. +Steve was bright and quick, had a good mind, and +made rapid progress.</p> +<p>With the superior social advantages which he had +found along the way from Hollow Hut to the school, +the boy became a great ally of the teachers in the +battle for nightgowns, combs, and brushes for the +hair and teeth, also for white shirts, collars and neckties +on Sunday, which most of the boys thought +“plum foolishness anyways.”</p> +<p>“Here, fellows,” Steve would say when he found +them turning in at night with soiled feet, coats and +trousers, “this ain’t the way ter git ter be president.” +He organized a company of “regulators” in the boys’ +dormitory, and when any fellows turned in with soiled +feet, coats and trousers, Steve’s shrill whistle summoned +the army and a lively pillow fight ensued +which was hard on the pillows but always brought +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_95' name='page_95'></a>95</span> +victory for nightgowns. And when a boy refused +to brush his hair in the morning the regulators invariably +caught him, and the penalty was a thorough +brushing down of his rebellious locks by at least +twenty-five sturdy young arms. Under such methods +the cause of nightgowns and brushes was made +to thrive.</p> +<p>There was another cause which was more difficult, +but which enlisted all Steve’s best endeavour. Mountain +children are apt to know the taste of liquor from +babyhood, but Steve had never liked it and neither +had his mother. Occasionally parents, especially +fathers, when they visited the school would bring +the children bottles of “moonshine” to hide and +drink from as they pleased, and the teachers found +Steve a great helper, though his corps of “regulators” +could not always be relied upon.</p> +<p>In the midst of his interesting, new surroundings +Steve’s mind often went back to the rock where Tige +lay and to the grave of his “mammy.” How pleased +she would be, he thought again and again,––maybe +she was––that he was where he could “larn things.”</p> +<p>He soon began to write letters to Mr. Polk, and a +steady improvement was noted all winter in these +letters. There was always a great deal in them +about Miss Grace, for she seemed to make him her +special charge and the two were great friends. She +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_96' name='page_96'></a>96</span> +loved to walk in the woods and talk with Steve, +hearing him tell many interesting things which he +had learned from intimate association with birds and +animals. Sometimes she would take his hand at the +top of a hill and together they would race down, +laughing and breathless to the bottom. After such +a run, one day, they halted by the bank of a stream +beneath one of the grand old beeches for which Kentucky +is famous.</p> +<p>“Oh, Steve,” she exclaimed enthusiastically, +“what a beautiful old beech this is. How symmetrical +its giant trunk, how perfect its development of +each branch and twig, while it pushes up into the +sky higher than all its fellows, gets more sunshine +than all the rest, has the prettiest growth of ferns +and violets at its base,––and I just know the birds +and squirrels love it best!”</p> +<p>Miss Grace had a bubbling, contagious enthusiasm, +and Steve followed her expressive gestures as she +pointed out each detail of perfection with answering +admiration.</p> +<p>“Steve!” She turned suddenly and bent her +eyes upon him with still more radiant emphasis. “I +want you to be just such a grand specimen of a man! +Big and strong and well developed,––pushing up +into the sky further than all the rest about you, getting +more sunshine than any one else––making little +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_97' name='page_97'></a>97</span> +plants to grow and blossom all about you and drawing +to you the sweetest and best in life!”</p> +<p>He smiled back into her shining eyes, somewhat +bewildered, but with an earnest:</p> +<p>“I shore will try, Miss Grace, but I don’t know +just what you mean.”</p> +<p>“I mean I want you to study hard, to develop +every power of mind and body you have, and then,––give +your life for the uplift of the children of the +mountains.”</p> +<p>She did not press him for a promise, nor linger +upon the subject, but the first dim outline of that +mystic height of the boy’s vision had been traced.</p> +<p>Upon another walk which they took together +Steve asked Miss Grace how she happened to come +from her home way up in New York down to Kentucky +to teach mountain boys and girls, and she was +silent a moment, a look which he could not fathom +coming over her bright face. At last she said, “I +was very foolish; I threw away happiness. Then I +heard of this work and came here that I might redeem +my life by making it useful.”</p> +<p>There was something about this boy of the mountains +that made the telling of the simple truth the +natural thing; but startled at even so vague a revealing +of her bruised heart, she turned the talk quickly +to other things.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_98' name='page_98'></a>98</span> +<a name='IX_A_STARTLING_APPEARANCE' id='IX_A_STARTLING_APPEARANCE'></a> +<h2>IX</h2> +<h3>A STARTLING APPEARANCE</h3> +</div> +<p>In the spring following came a great day for the +mountain school when some friends and benefactors +were coming. Great preparations were +made. The school about three hundred strong +fronted the main hall, and there was great waving of +small and large handkerchiefs in a genuine salute as +the visiting party drove up.</p> +<p>When the company had scattered a little after the +greeting, Steve suddenly felt an arm about him and +turning, found Mr. Polk smiling down upon him. +The boy was overjoyed and could only cling to his +hand, speechless for a moment. Mr. Polk had met +the visiting party on the train, among whom was the +lady who had told him of the school, and she would +take no refusal,––he must go with them.</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p>It was a beautiful day for Steve and in his boyish +talk about his life and school he often spoke of Miss +Grace, but each time came that grim setting of Mr. +Polk’s lips and the boy soon instinctively dropped +her name. The day was destined to be full of events, +some in honour of the visitors and some that were +totally unexpected.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_99' name='page_99'></a>99</span></div> +<p>The speech of welcome from the school was made +by Stephen Langly. Miss Grace had told him to +say in his own words whatever was in his heart to +say. So the boy stepped out from the gathered +school, mounted a little platform and stood before +the assembled crowd unabashed, for the mountaineer +knows no embarrassment, while in simple good English +he thanked the generous friends and teachers for +what they were doing for mountain boys and girls. +As he stood there well dressed, erect, manly, he bore +little resemblance to the forlorn boy who had crept +away from his cabin home at Hollow Hut a year +before.</p> +<p>As the crowd dispersed a little after the speech-making, +in which several took part, Mr. Polk and +Steve walked away together and passed a group of +teachers and students of which the visiting lady of +Mr. Polk’s acquaintance was the centre.</p> +<p>“Come here, Mr. Polk, please, and bring Steve to +see me,” she called.</p> +<p>Miss Grace Trowbridge was one of the group and +Mr. Polk halted reluctantly, but finally joined +them.</p> +<p>Before a word could be exchanged a tall, lank, +grim mountaineer slouched forward and laid a horny +hand upon Steve’s shoulder. The startled boy looked +up to see his father standing beside him!</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_100' name='page_100'></a>100</span></div> +<p>The Kentucky mountain product, unlike any other +so-called shiftless man in the world, may idle his +days away with pipe and drink, but let a wrong, real +or fancied, be done him or his and in his thirst for +vengeance he is transformed. His energy, his perseverance, +his intelligence, his fury become colossal. +So, Jim Langly, convinced after months of waiting +and brooding that his boy had been enticed away by +the giver of the watch, had set out with a grim purpose +of finding boy and man which had been undaunted +by any obstacle. With slow but persistent +effort he had traced the child over mountain and +valley, often losing all clue, but never relaxing till at +last he had reached Mr. Follet and learned that the +boy was in school. From thence he easily made his +way to the school of Mr. Polk’s selection, and, arriving +by strange providence upon a gala day, had +found the two objects of his search at the same +moment.</p> +<p>“I’ve found ye at last,” he said grimly, “an’ when +I set eyes on the man whut give ye that watch and +tolled my boy away from his home, I’ll shoot him +down lack a dog!”</p> +<p>Mr. Polk quietly walked out and said, “I am your +man, Mr. Langly.”</p> +<p>“You,” the enraged mountaineer yelled, and +jerking a pistol from his trousers pocket, he lifted +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_101' name='page_101'></a>101</span> +and would have cocked it, but quick as a deer Grace +Trowbridge had stepped in front of Mr. Polk, protecting +him with her body, while Steve threw himself +on his father and screamed shrilly, dropping into +the speech of the mountains:</p> +<p>“No, oh, pappy, pappy, don’t shoot him! He +nuver got me ter leave home; I went myself, and I’ll +go back with yer and stay all my life!”</p> +<p>Frantically the boy clung to his father, pleading +pitifully, while Grace Trowbridge with all her +strength pushed Mr. Polk back among a quickly +gathering crowd. Others joined her, and in the excitement +of the moment, both she and Mr. Polk were +hurried into safety within one of the school buildings +and the door locked upon them.</p> +<p>The town constable was on the ground, for his +services were quite likely to be needed in any public +gathering, and before Jim Langly realized what was +happening, being wholly unfamiliar with the ways +of law and order, his pistol had been wrenched from +his hand (something unheard of in mountain ethics), +and he was hurried from the scene like an infuriated +lion made captive.</p> +<p>Breathless and spent, Grace Trowbridge found +herself looking into the face of her old lover when +the door was locked upon them. She stood an instant +like a frightened bird driven to cover, her eyes +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_102' name='page_102'></a>102</span> +gazing into his, anxiety, relief, tragic intensity born +of but one emotion in her white quivering face,––and +then the warm blood surged up with returning +realization of the years of estrangement between +them, and she wheeled for instant flight.</p> +<p>But the door was locked, and baffled she faced +him again, crying, “Oh, Sam, let me out!”</p> +<p>For answer he caught her in his arms and said, +“Let you out, and away from me? Never! I shall +hold you fast instead. I love you, love you, love +you,” he cried vehemently, “and what is more, you +love me!” He crushed her to him and the tense, +spent figure relaxed in his arms while love in full tide +swept over them, after six weary years of longing +and restraint. Their separation had followed a misunderstanding +which now did not even seem to +need explanation.</p> +<p>“Sam,” she cried at last, moving energetically +away from him, “I can never give up these blessed +mountain children. You’ll have to adopt every one +of them if you take me!”</p> +<p>“All right,” he said happily, “just as many of +them as you please.”</p> +<p>Instantly both remembered Steve.</p> +<p>“Oh, Sam, where is Steve? Do you suppose his +father has carried him off, and that we will never see +him again?” she exclaimed in distress, and a few +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_103' name='page_103'></a>103</span> +moments later, when release came to them, their +first anxious inquiry was for the boy.</p> +<p>No one had seen or thought of him in the excitement, +and when the story of Jim Langly’s arrest had +been told them, they searched the grounds and buildings +in great anxiety before they finally found Steve +in his room.</p> +<p>When Mr. Polk opened the door the boy stood +before him dressed in a little ragged shirt and old +pair of trousers he had worn for hunting and with +bared feet. The hopeless expression of the lost was +in his face.</p> +<p>“I can’t keep my promise to you, Mr. Polk,” he +said brokenly. “I can’t ever climb that mountain +fer yer, but it is better fer me ter die on the way +than fer you to be killed.” Correct speech had no +part in such despair.</p> +<p>Mr. Polk drew the boy to him while Miss Grace +stood without, her lips tremulous and eyes full of +tears. After a silent moment Mr. Polk led the boy +outside and put him in her arms.</p> +<p>“Do you think we are going to give you up?” +Mr. Polk said, striding up and down the hall. “Not +by a long shot,” he went on with energy, and a conviction +for which he could not at the moment see any +tangible foundation. “This is all going to be fixed +up,––just leave everything to Miss Grace and me.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_104' name='page_104'></a>104</span></div> +<p>The boy shook his head. “Ye don’t know pappy,” +he said sadly.</p> +<p>“I may not,” returned Mr. Polk cheerfully, “but I +know Grace Trowbridge, and I am going to trust her +to keep you here. Do just as she says, son, and +everything will come right.”</p> +<p>He left them to talk with the president of the +school. They discussed what should be done with +Jim Langly. Mr. Polk greatly regretted the man’s +arrest, but was compelled to admit it could not have +been avoided. He begged, however, that prosecution +of the case be delayed until every effort could +be made to make Langly see that only good was +intended for his son.</p> +<p>“Of course I must relinquish all claim to the boy,” +he said sadly, “but we must by some means win the +father’s consent that Steve remain here,––that is the +important thing.”</p> +<p>So it was decided that Mr. Polk should leave, as +his presence could only infuriate the man, and the +president gladly promised to do everything in his +power to win the father.</p> +<p>For a week Jim Langly remained in the lock-up +of the town. He had wrenched his back severely in +the struggle with his captors; then, like a caged lion +indeed, he had beaten the walls of his prison all night +without food or drink, and being a man of indolent +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_105' name='page_105'></a>105</span> +habits, he collapsed utterly next morning. The +gaunt, haggard face with deep hollows beneath the +eyes, the giant figure lying helpless upon a rude +couch of the lock-up touched deeply the heart of +Grace Trowbridge when she went in to see him. In +his blind fury he had not noticed her especially the +day before; and when, without saying a word, she +stepped lightly across the room and reaching through +the iron bars closed a rude shutter to screen the glare +of the morning sun from his eyes, then gently adjusted +a pillow beneath his head and fed him a cup +of hot broth, he accepted it all like a wild, sick animal +which in its helplessness has lost all animosity to +man.</p> +<p>During the day she tended him unobtrusively, but +with infinite kindness, and next morning she found +him better, but still willing to accept her care. He +even watched her with a far-away interest as one +would something unknown and yet strangely pleasing. +By the third morning she talked to him a bit +as she smoothed his pillow, and smiled as he ate her +toast with relish.</p> +<p>At last he said with an effort, “Whar’s Steve?”</p> +<p>“He is here,” she said gladly, “just waiting outside +the door for you to ask for him. He has been +there every day,” she added softly.</p> +<p>Then she stepped to the door and motioned for +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_106' name='page_106'></a>106</span> +Steve. The boy came in, still dressed in mountain +fashion, for no amount of persuasion could induce +him to again put on the better clothes. This evidently +met the father’s approval, for a look of bitter +expectancy which had come into his face faded at +once as he saw the old trousers and bare feet.</p> +<p>“Set down,” he commanded feebly, but not unkindly, +though he had nothing more to say.</p> +<p>The two stayed with him through the day, and +gradually Grace, with consummate tact, made conversation +which included the three, though Langly took +little part. Then she read a stirring story which +compelled his attention and interest even though +he had never heard anything read aloud before. It +was the first time in the mountaineer’s long life that +he had ever been unable to rise from his bed and go +his way and the helplessness had softened his spirit +like the touch of a fairy’s wand. As he listened to +the sweet, cultured voice of the woman while she +read and saw Steve with quickened intelligence following +every word, he realized for the first time that +the world held strange things in which he had no +part, but for which his boy was ready.</p> +<p>At last Miss Grace turned to Steve and said in the +most natural manner, “My throat is getting tired; +won’t you read a little for us?”</p> +<p>The boy looked at his father in quick alarm, but +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_107' name='page_107'></a>107</span> +the gaunt face betrayed nothing, and the reading +went on in Steve’s boyish voice.</p> +<p>Several days passed during which Miss Grace and +Steve had been constantly with the prisoner, then +his injured back was sufficiently restored to permit of +his being raised in bed to a sitting posture, and Miss +Grace felt it was time she tried to win his consent to +Steve’s remaining at school. With woman’s intuition +she divined the best method of approach. Steve +was not there and she told with simple pathos of the +boy’s love for his mother. Jim Langly had loved +his wife with all the mountain man’s lack of expression, +but the natural portrayal of the boy’s affection +did not displease him. The old self in fact seemed +to pass out with that day of terrible fury and the +softer spirit which had taken its place seemed to +linger. She went on to tell how the boy’s mother +had longed for him to have a chance to learn, and +that only a few minutes before her death she had +made him promise to go where he could learn.</p> +<p>“It was this,” she ended, “which made Steve leave +home and not the man who sent the watch.”</p> +<p>Jim Langly lay silent a long while after hearing +this, and then he said:</p> +<p>“I was agin that in her alive, I reckon I won’t be +agin her dead.”</p> +<p>After a little he inquired with resentment in his +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_108' name='page_108'></a>108</span> +voice, “How come that man whut give him the +watch ter be with him here?”</p> +<p>“The boy happened to find the man,” she said, +“and the man was good to him when he needed a +friend. But we will get Steve to tell us all about it,” +she ended brightly, as Steve came just then to the +door. And with a glad heart the boy told all his +story from the day he left Hollow Hut till his father’s +appearance a few days before.</p> +<p>The president of the school then visited Langly, +told of the boy’s progress and begged earnestly that +he be allowed to stay. Nothing was said as to how +the boy’s expenses were to be met, and since Jim +Langly knew as little as a child about the cost of +such things, he asked no questions. When strong +enough at last Langly walked out a free man, the +president having withdrawn all charges against him, +and after looking about the buildings with strange +interest he started back to Hollow Hut, with no +good-bye for his boy after the manner of the mountains, +but with an understanding that when school +closed Steve should return to his old home for the +summer.</p> +<p>It was some two months later when Mr. Polk +carried out this promise which had been made the +father, by taking the boy back to the woods where +they had first met. He expected to camp there +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_109' name='page_109'></a>109</span> +for a few days’ fishing, and to arrange for Steve’s +safe return to the school in the fall, as happy plans of +his own for the autumn would probably prevent his +coming in person.</p> +<p>When Steve left Mr. Polk he swung off down the +well-remembered mountainside with strange joy in +his heart. He had felt a new kinship for his father +growing upon him since he could remain at school +in the freedom of parental consent, and shy thought +had come of reading aloud sometimes in the old +Hollow Hut cabin from the pile of books under his +arms while his father smoked and listened, as he had +in the beautiful days when Miss Grace had tended +him.</p> +<p>But a few hours later he came slowly back up the +same path with a stricken look on his face.</p> +<p>“Pappy’s dead, too,” he said brokenly, when Mr. +Polk stepped forward in surprise and alarm to meet +him.</p> +<p>The boy sat down upon a log, dropping his books +in a heap beside him, and his bent shoulders shook +with sobs.</p> +<p>Mr. Polk comforted him with silent tenderness for +a time, then gradually drew out the story of Jim +Langly’s short illness of a week from a virulent +fever and his burial two days before.</p> +<p>Together they went again next day to the cabin. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_110' name='page_110'></a>110</span> +Mirandy had married a few weeks previous and she +and her husband were beginning family life anew in +the old place. She had been stirred somewhat by +the events of the year, and looked with interest upon +Mr. Polk and Steve, the latter showing plainly to her +the touch of new surroundings, and when Mr. Polk +told her he wanted to take the boy for his own and +educate him, she said with a touch of bitterness:</p> +<p>“Tek him erlong; he won’t nuver know nothin’ +here.”</p> +<p>So the two who had seemed bound from the first +by close ties went away together, Steve to spend the +summer at the school, where a few were always accommodated +during the vacation, and Mr. Polk to +wind up his business affairs in the South preparatory +to a return to New York. He had formerly been +associated with an uncle having large railroad interests +in the East, who had often urged his return. +He now proposed to do so, taking advantage of +opportunities still open to him. These had been +thrown away upon the breaking of his engagement +with Grace Trowbridge, six years before, to take a +position with a southern railroad and wander restlessly +among new scenes.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_111' name='page_111'></a>111</span> +<a name='X_STEVE_DEVELOPS_A_MIND_OF_HIS_OWN' id='X_STEVE_DEVELOPS_A_MIND_OF_HIS_OWN'></a> +<h2>X</h2> +<h3>STEVE DEVELOPS A MIND OF HIS OWN</h3> +</div> +<p>In the autumn Mr. Polk’s happy plans materialized. +There was a wedding in a handsome +New York City home, and Steve Langly arrived +the day before for the festivities. At the ceremony +he and Anita Trowbridge, the little sister of Miss +Grace, were the attendants. They came in first, Steve +dressed as a page in a velvet suit which went well +with his clear, dark complexion, and little Nita, as +she was called, tripped beside him in delicate pink as +a fairy flower girl. They stood on either side of a +beautiful fox-skin rug with a history, upon which the +bride and groom, slowly following, took their places +to repeat the sacred vows which bound them for +life.</p> +<p>Steve and Nita, as the only children, spent the +evening together, roaming about the house, Steve +finding new interests everywhere. He looked around +at the rich furnishings and beautiful floral decorations +with appreciative eyes, seeming not at all out +of place in such surroundings. A feeling of awkwardness +and timidity might have possessed so poor +a boy reared anywhere else, but mountain-born as he +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_112' name='page_112'></a>112</span> +was, he accepted man’s magnificence with the same +tranquil spirit that he did the shimmering silver of a +mountain sunrise or the gorgeous colour-triumph of its +sunset. But he did not understand Nita. She tried +her most grown-up ways upon him, chatting after the +manner of a little society belle, and while she was so +pretty that he loved to look at her as he would have +looked at a beautiful flower, he did not know what to +say to her. Having talked of many things, and +being an ardent little lover of pretty clothes, taken in +with appreciative eyes the handsome costumes of the +guests, she sighed at last and said:</p> +<p>“Oh, I just love to go down Broadway, don’t you, +and see all the handsome gowns on people as they +pass, and look in at the store windows!”</p> +<p>“I don’t know; I nuver was there,” he answered +with a touch of his mountain speech, and then she +laughed a silvery, childish laugh and said:</p> +<p>“You funny mountain boy,” in a natural, frank +way that made Steve smile back and feel more at +ease.</p> +<p>After this they got on well as a couple of children, +while Nita often exclaimed, “You funny mountain +boy.”</p> +<p>Mr. and Mrs. Polk called him their boy with a new +sense of parentage after their marriage, and wanted to +make him legally their son, but when it was proposed +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_113' name='page_113'></a>113</span> +that he be known in the future as Stephen Polk, he +looked far off into space a moment, and then as +though his spirit had winged its way back into the +wilderness of its birth, he dropped into the old manner +of speech and said:</p> +<p>“I thank yer, but I was born Langly, an’ I think I +ought ter die Langly.”</p> +<p>They said no more, and soon decided to send him +back to the mountain school for his preparatory work +at least, largely because Mrs. Polk was strongly convinced +this was best for the boy; so, during the next +six years, he spent the school terms in the mountains +and his vacations in the north with his foster-parents. +The last two summers he took work in a +city university with special courses in geology and +mining engineering, for Mr. Polk, knowing the rich +treasures stored in the Kentucky mountains, had brilliant +plans for Steve’s future, dreaming of a time +when the boy should be able to link these treasures +with northern capital.</p> +<p>Mrs. Polk’s dreams were of another sort altogether. +She never lost interest in the cause of education in +these same Kentucky mountains, and many were the +talks she and Steve had about the progress being +made there and the needs constantly developing. +Engrossed in business, as Mr. Polk came more and +more to be, he took no note of his wife’s indirect influence, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_114' name='page_114'></a>114</span> +while she did not realize that she was interfering +with plans of his.</p> +<p>As Steve grew to young manhood Mr. Polk asked +him as often as studies would permit in summer to +go down to the office. He liked to give the boy a +taste of the financial whirl, and it was intensely interesting +and exciting to Steve. He felt something of +the same tremor of wonder and delight over the inner +whirl of gigantic machinery moving railroad systems +which stirred him when he felt the first rush of a +passing railroad train, and there was a certain eager +desire to be a part of it all.</p> +<p>It was upon his sixth vacation visit that Mr. Polk +turned to him one day at the office as the boy’s eyes +glistened with interest and said:</p> +<p>“I shall want you at my elbow in a few years now. +I shall be too old after a while to do all the things +waiting to be done, and you remember your promise +to climb that mountain of success for me whose +heights I never shall be able to reach.”</p> +<p>But the youth of nineteen suddenly looked afar as +the boy of thirteen had done when it was proposed +that he change the old name of Langly, and a vision +of rugged mountains and deep valleys which again +spread out before him were tracked by eager bared +feet of poorly clad children hurrying towards the few +schools which here and there dotted the wilderness. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_115' name='page_115'></a>115</span> +He was silent, for a definite conflict had begun in his +soul.</p> +<p>Mr. Polk noticed the silence, and with a restless +energy which was growing upon him, said to his +wife that evening when they were alone:</p> +<p>“Look here, Grace, I am uncertain about Steve. +That boy’s unfathomable. Here I have been counting +upon his going into business, and I know business +appeals to him for I can see it in his eye, and +yet when I spoke to him definitely to-day he just +looked off into space,” he ended in disgust.</p> +<p>Mrs. Polk laughed. “Well, you know, I have +never been an enthusiast over money-making, and I +don’t believe Steve ever will be,––though he may.”</p> +<p>“Why, look here,” her husband said impatiently, +“if he gets a good knowledge of geology and mining +engineering, as I mean he shall, he can locate +and open up some good mines in those Kentucky +mountains which will make us all rich.”</p> +<p>“Oh,” laughed Mrs. Polk again, “that doesn’t stir +me a bit. But when I think of every little yearning +child of the mountains well shod, with a clean kerchief +in its pocket, and trudging away to school +frosty mornings, then I begin to thrill.”</p> +<p>“Of course,” said Mr. Polk with impatient energy; +“but money will help bring that to pass.”</p> +<p>“Yes, but it isn’t money alone that is necessary. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_116' name='page_116'></a>116</span> +They need an apostle of education, one of their +very own who shall go among them opening their +eyes to the world of knowledge and opportunity.”</p> +<p>“And you would like our Steve to be that apostle, +as you call him, I suppose.” Looking at her intently +a moment, he softened and added, “Well, you are a +dear, unworldly woman.” Then in sudden justification +of himself, he went on: “I am willing he should +be an apostle too, but one with money, so he can +bring things to pass.”</p> +<p>And he said no more to his wife, neither did he +trouble Steve in the least with definite propositions +for the future, but in the late summer of that year he +remarked in a matter-of-fact way:</p> +<p>“Well, Steve, it must be college now for the next +two years at least.”</p> +<p>Whereupon Steve looked very sober and finally +said: “Mr. Polk, you have been so good to me I +cannot even talk about it. I do want to go to college +more than I can express, but great, strapping +fellow that I am, I ought not to accept your generosity +any longer.”</p> +<p>“Now, son,” said Mr. Polk, with the tenderness +he had given the little boy years before, “I want to +do for you as I would for my own.”</p> +<p>Steve said huskily, “I appreciate it deeply, but you +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_117' name='page_117'></a>117</span> +know I couldn’t give up my name, and it is just as +hard for me to give up my independence. If I go +to college at your expense it must be with the distinct +understanding that I am to repay every penny +spent for me. Forgive me,” he added with a smile, +“I suppose it is my mountain blood that makes me +want to be free.”</p> +<p>Mr. Polk, looking at the strong young face, knew +that he must yield, and so the money was advanced +for Steve’s college expenses with the understanding +that it was a loan.</p> +<p>The two college years were busy and profitable +ones for Steve. He was fond of study and the regular +courses of the school led him into new lines of +interest while he still pursued his specialties of +geology and mining engineering. The companionship +of young men and women of inherited culture +and opportunity of the best type was broadening +and a fine means of general culture for him. Among +the young women with whom he was thrown there +developed no special interest for him, though he +often wondered why. He, however, came to smile +as he questioned his own heart or was questioned by +chums, while he said, “We of mountain blood are +slow, you know,” and he failed to note how certain +memories of soft yellow curls above a little white +pinafore were so sacred that he never mentioned them.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_118' name='page_118'></a>118</span></div> +<p>He matured greatly in the two years, and at +twenty-one was broad-shouldered from college athletics, +six feet two in height, and his abundant dark +hair with a suggestion of curl at the ends crowned a +fine, clean-cut, somewhat slender face which in repose +was serious, but possessed of a hidden smile +which had formed the habit of flashing out suddenly, +transforming his face with a peculiar radiance.</p> +<p>For the Christmas holidays of his last year at college +he went home to the Polks as usual and one +evening sat at the opera beside Nita Trowbridge in a +little family party which included her. During all +his comings and goings of the school years he had +seen Nita with almost the familiarity of a brother. +She was the child of middle age, petted and spoiled +and much of a society butterfly as she developed into +young ladyhood, though a very lovable one. Mr. +and Mrs. Polk were greatly attached to her, and +though it had not been hinted at, Steve knew that +Mr. Polk would like nothing better than that they +should marry when he was established in business. +How Mrs. Polk would feel about it he was not so +sure. Perhaps she doubted their congeniality of +tastes.</p> +<p>As Nita sat beside him on this evening she +watched Steve’s rapt enjoyment of Wagner’s beautiful, +weird melodies. Between acts she said:</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_119' name='page_119'></a>119</span></div> +<p>“How intensely you enjoy music!”</p> +<p>“Yes,” he returned, throwing off the spell with +an effort, “I do.” And then with a reminiscent +flash the smile broke over his face. “I remember +well where I heard the first music of my life. It +was when I was twelve years old, and from a mountain +fellow who had had no training. But he simply +made the banjo talk, as the darkeys would say, and +reproduced with skillful touch and thrilling voice a +fox hunt which fairly set me crazy.</p> +<p>“Then the next,” he went on, “was at a church, +just a little later, and never will I forget how the +deep-toned organ stirred my soul to the very depths.” +There was a quiet solemnity upon him as he said +this which Nita did not break for a moment. Then +she said:</p> +<p>“How barren the mountains must be! You will +never want to go there again, will you?”</p> +<p>“Barren!” he exclaimed in return. “I wish I +were an artist in word painting and I would make +mountain peak after mountain peak glow with rhododendron +and laurel, fill the valleys with silver sunrise-mist +to glorify their verdure for you, and then +call out all the fur and feathered folk and troops of +mountain children from their forest homes. You +would not think it a barren country,” he concluded +with smiling eloquence.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_120' name='page_120'></a>120</span></div> +<p>“Perhaps not,” she said slowly, “but to think of +no good music, no pleasures, no,––anything that +makes up our delightful living here,” she ended.</p> +<p>“That is true,” he responded gravely, adding +almost to himself, “but it must be carried to them +through work and sacrifice by somebody.”</p> +<p>Then becoming conscious the next instant of the +brilliant scene about him his smile flashed over his +face again and he turned to her with:</p> +<p>“By the way, did you see an account in the papers +of the wreckage of a car load of millinery in the +Kentucky mountains a few days ago?”</p> +<p>“No, I did not,” she smiled back.</p> +<p>“Well, there was a railroad wreck somewhere up +there and a whole car load of millinery was sent out +upon the four winds of heaven. Big hats and little, +such as women know all about and men can’t even +talk of, with all sorts of gorgeous flower trimmings, +feathers and ribbons were scattered through the +woods, and they say barefooted mountain women +flocked from every direction and decked themselves +in the latest styles of head-gear.”</p> +<p>Both laughed over the picture and Steve added:</p> +<p>“I suppose it would only need a procession of +fashionable gowns parading the mountains to transform +our women, while the sight of swallow-tails and +silk hats might do as much for the men, for like the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_121' name='page_121'></a>121</span> +rest of the world we take up the superficial with +ease, but”––sobering again––“to give our people a +glimpse into the knowledge contained in books, to +waken us to life’s highest harmonies and open our +eyes to nature’s beautiful hidden colours, is going to +take a long time, and as I said, somebody must work +and sacrifice for it.”</p> +<p>He searched the beautiful face beside him for +sympathetic understanding, but she only looked at +him with wide eyes as the frivolous little girl had +done years before, not comprehending, while she +wanted to say again, this time a little wistfully, “You +funny mountain boy.”</p> +<p>No conception of life translated into labour and sacrifice +for others, such as he had begun to battle with, +had ever come within her range of thought, and the +starting of the music again was welcome to them both.</p> +<p>At the end of two years Steve was graduated, having +been thoroughly prepared upon entering college, +and when he returned to his foster-parents at the +close of school they were greatly pleased with their +boy. On the second night after his arrival Mr. Polk +sat with him after dinner and smoked in great satisfaction. +But it was of short duration. Steve had had a +letter from his alma mater, the Kentucky mountain +school, asking him to return as a teacher there the +next year, putting forth strongly the need and opportunity +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_122' name='page_122'></a>122</span> +for good. He had waited to talk the +matter over with Mr. and Mrs. Polk before deciding, +though it was pretty well settled in his own mind. +He handed the letter to Mr. Polk.</p> +<p>“Of course you will not go,” said Mr. Polk, with +decision, as soon as he had finished it. “There is an +opening for you in the office and I am anxious for +you to take hold at once.”</p> +<p>Steve looked afar again, as he had twice before +when his fate was about to be settled for him, and +Mr. Polk stirred impatiently. But the younger man +turned at once, this time with that sudden smile +upon his face, and said ingratiatingly:</p> +<p>“Mr. Polk, I am afraid I haven’t any head for +business,––I love books far better. I feel a premonition +that I shall be stupid in business.”</p> +<p>“Nonsense,” said Mr. Polk, with quick irritation. +“I don’t believe it. You have never been stupid +about anything.”</p> +<p>“I do not know,” Steve replied, serious again. “I +have not been tried, I admit, and I must confess that +business had a certain fascination for me as I have +watched things stir in your office.”</p> +<p>“Of course, of course,” broke in Mr. Polk. “I +have seen it in your face.”</p> +<p>“But–––” said Steve as promptly, and with a +compelling earnestness in his voice that made the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_123' name='page_123'></a>123</span> +older man hold himself in restraint. “Mr. Polk, I +must tell you something before we go any further in +this matter. My barren boyhood has never faded +from my mind. I cannot put it from me. I live +it again in the thought of every little child hidden +away in the mountains in ignorance and squalor.</p> +<p>“There may be little ones of my own blood in the +Hollow Hut home,” he added, and his voice dropped +into a deep intensity which held them both motionless +for a moment; then, for relief, breaking it again +with that smile, he said: “I suppose it is the survival +of our feudal mountain blood in me which +makes me ready to go back to fight, bleed and die +for my own.”</p> +<p>“It is simply a Quixotic idea you have gotten into +your head that you should go back to the mountains +and spend your life trying to help your people,” +Mr. Polk replied emphatically.</p> +<p>“I don’t deny you may be right,” said Steve patiently, +“but I got the idea fixed when I was a boy +there at school having privileges which were denied +so many, and you know one is very impressionable +in early youth, and I confess that though for many +pleasant reasons I have wanted to shake it off, I have +been unable to do so.”</p> +<p>This roused Mr. Polk to instant combat. He rose +and strode the floor.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_124' name='page_124'></a>124</span></div> +<p>Mrs. Polk stood in the doorway an instant just +then, but wisely and noiselessly slipped away.</p> +<p>“That’s all right to want to help your own, but +the practical way to do it is with money,” he said +vehemently.</p> +<p>“I am not entirely sure,” returned Steve slowly. +“I confess I may be mistaken––but I have thought +and thought over this ever since you first proposed +two years ago that I should go into business with +you, and though, as I have said, I am still uncertain, +I believe I ought to go there and work for my +people. It will be ten years at least before I can do +much in a monetary way, but I can begin teaching +at once. Besides,” he hurried on before Mr. Polk +could speak, “people there need indoctrination,––inoculating +so to speak, with the idea of education as +much as they need money, and no one can do this +so well as one of their own. Thanks to you, the +best friend any boy ever had,” he went on, his voice +breaking a little, “I have had advantages which have +fallen to the lot of few mountain boys, and I feel that +my responsibility is tremendous.”</p> +<p>“Yes,” said Mr. Polk, “but I do not agree with +you as to the best way of meeting it. However,” he +ended hotly, “I see you are like most young men of +to-day whatever their obligations, you do not wish +advice.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_125' name='page_125'></a>125</span></div> +<p>Steve was deeply hurt. “Mr. Polk,” he said, “I +would rather give my right arm than have anything +come between us. If it were a matter of personal +ambition, I would yield at once to your good judgment, +but––please understand,––let me make this +clear,––I am not sure that going myself to work +among my people is the best way, but I simply feel +it should be tried first. If I should remain here a +while, I know I would never go there, and if I find +that I am wrong in going, at the end of two years I +will gladly return to you for business.”</p> +<p>“If you go, Steve Langly, contrary to my advice +and better judgment, you go for good,” said Mr. +Polk sternly, pausing in his striding and emphasizing +with a stamp of his foot.</p> +<p>Mr. Polk with his gentleness had always had a +hot-headed, unreasonable side to his nature. It was +seldom in evidence, but it had shown itself years +before in his break with his sweetheart and it was +showing itself again with the boy whom he loved +most devotedly.</p> +<p>Steve bowed his head in silent, dignified acceptance. +Following a forceful law of human nature this +unreasonable resistance (as he saw it) was fixing him +very firmly in his own resolution. But the thought of +all the older man had been to him rushed upon him +again with softening effect, and he said sadly at last:</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_126' name='page_126'></a>126</span></div> +<p>“I do not know how to make you understand, +Mr. Polk,––but this need to go back to my own and +try to help them is something inborn.”</p> +<p>“I am afraid it is,” said Mr. Polk curtly. “It is +the mountain shiftlessness in you.”</p> +<p>Steve rose with flashing eyes and heaving breast, +but remembering again, he controlled himself, and +sat down. His voice was cool and crisp, however, +as he said a moment later:</p> +<p>“I have no intention of forgetting my debt to you, +Mr. Polk, and you have a right to know what are +my prospects for paying it.” He named his salary, +which was very meagre, and then added, “But my +wants will be few,––and I have found that my pen +promises to be a pretty good earning implement.” +This he added with reluctance, for he had not meant +to tell it. “I shall pay you as soon as possible,” he +ended.</p> +<p>“Just as you please,” said Mr. Polk again curtly, +and strode this time out of the room for the night.</p> +<p>Steve soon followed, going to his room with a +sense of desolation that was akin to the desolation +of his boyhood in the wilderness. He felt that he +must leave New York at once, for he could not stay +longer with self-respect under the roof which had +been home to him for so many years. What “little +mother,” as he had come to call Mrs. Polk, would +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_127' name='page_127'></a>127</span> +say he did not know, but his heart warmed when he +thought of her, and comforted at last by the feeling +that she at least would not misunderstand him, he +fell asleep towards morning. And in his fitful +dreaming her sweet face was strangely crowned with +soft yellow curls and she wore a little white pinafore!</p> +<p>The next day Steve had a long talk with Mrs. +Polk. She had heard of the trouble from Mr. Polk, +and had done all in her power to bring about a +change in his state of mind. Failing utterly and +knowing his tenacity when an idea was once fixed, +she could not encourage Steve with the hope of +any immediate change. Neither could she urge the +young man to abandon his purpose, for she felt that +he alone must decide his future, and though in her +heart she approved his course, so deeply was she +grieved over the alienation between him and Mr. +Polk that she held it in restraint. She knew that +she had helped to shape his determination, and +woman-like was fearful now she had made a mistake.</p> +<p>When Steve said that he must go, she did not try +to keep him, but her eyes were brimming with tears +when he tenderly kissed her good-bye, as he had +always been in the habit of doing, and she pressed a +roll of money in his hand, whispering, “It is my +own.”</p> +<p>“No, no, little mother,” he said with determined +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_128' name='page_128'></a>128</span> +good cheer, “I do not need it. I was very economical +the last few weeks at school, for I had forebodings +of trouble; then,––I earned some money +writing little stories for boys, the past year.”</p> +<p>Scarcely noticing the last remark she hesitated a +moment, wanting to insist that he take it, and yet +reluctant. Then she held him by the shoulders with +her slender hands, and said earnestly:</p> +<p>“If you ever need, you will let me know, will you +not?”</p> +<p>“I certainly will, dearest little mother in the +world,” he said, his own eyes glistening with tears.</p> +<p>There was a formal leave-taking with Mr. Polk at +the office, and then he went his way back to the +mountains of his birth.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_129' name='page_129'></a>129</span> +<a name='XI_EXPERIENCE' id='XI_EXPERIENCE'></a> +<h2>XI</h2> +<h3>EXPERIENCE</h3> +</div> +<p>As the train carrying Steve southward reached +a point where rugged peaks began pushing +majestically up into the distant firmament +he felt again the old thrill of the mountaineer’s love +of the mountains, while his trained eye noted with +keen pleasure new details of line and colour. Then, +when the railroad trip was over and he neared the +end of the forty-mile wagon ride, bringing the little +tower surmounting “The Hall” of his alma mater in +sight once more, his face lit up with tender joy, for +the old place had meant more to him than schools +do to the average boy. Sweeping his eye back over +a landscape where purple heights were tipped with +sunset gold in the distance, giant beeches held aloft +their summer leafage in the valleys and mountain +flower-favourites bloomed in glorious June profusion +everywhere, he inwardly exclaimed, with sudden +reverence:</p> +<p>“That is God’s part, the fashioning of this beautiful +setting,” and then turning again to the group of +school buildings, “and this is man’s,––the bringing +of humanity into harmony with the perfection of His +handiwork.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_130' name='page_130'></a>130</span></div> +<p>He had been unable to throw off entirely the +depression which had followed the rupture with Mr. +Polk, and deeply stirred emotionally as he had been +in parting with Mrs. Polk, it required this spiritual +interpretation of school life to restore his equilibrium.</p> +<p>But the battle involved in the step he had taken +was by no means fought in that one flash of high conception. +Being a wholesome, normal fellow with an +ordinary amount of selfish desire for comfort (though +he had seemed to follow a Quixotic idea into the +wilderness), he found himself at once missing the +luxuries of life to which he had become accustomed. +All through the summer he travelled about on +horseback,––sometimes on foot,––stopping often at little +squalid cabins, and often also at meagre homes where +housewives wrung his heart with their pathetic effort +to be thrifty and cleanly on almost nothing, and +everywhere he tried to inoculate the people with the +idea of education. On the whole his experience +proved more of a hardship than he had believed possible +with his early mountain bringing up. He discovered +that he had a decided liking for individual towels, +and was quite capable of annoyance when obliged to +bathe his face in a family tin wash-pan,––or temporarily +idle skillet where wash-pans were unknown,––while his +predilection for a bath tub with hot and cold water +on tap had become more fixed than he had suspected.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_131' name='page_131'></a>131</span></div> +<p>“Have I already grown too fastidious to be helpful +to my own people?” he asked himself in disgust. +Then he squared his shoulders and set his lips in fresh +determination. But, a moment later, with that sudden +smile upon his face, he also resolved to compromise +a bit with hardship. He stopped at the first wayside +store and invested in towels which he learned to wash +and dry at convenient times. This gave him pleasant +independence, and since his bedroom had always +been fixed in the open,––for from the first he could +not bring himself to sleep in crowded rooms where +whole families took their rest,––he could make his +morning toilet without offense to his hosts, while a +soapy plunge in some mountain stream became a +luxury he would not readily forego. And always, +whatever the hardship, there was the compensation +of barefooted boys and girls held spellbound, and +often fathers and mothers as well, while he unfolded +the wonders of a world which lay beyond the mountain’s +rim, and always he had the advantage of being +able to assure them that he, too, was mountain bred.</p> +<p>So, with contending against many things distasteful +on one side, and exhilaration while little hands +clung to his as his had clung to Mr. Polk’s that long +ago day in the heights about Hollow Hut, the summer +passed and he began his work as teacher.</p> +<p>He had long known that he would enjoy teaching, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_132' name='page_132'></a>132</span> +and took up his duties with keen interest. Fortunately +for him he had little conceit or pedantry, +which would have been a fatal handicap for him as +teacher among his own people, simple-hearted though +they were. He organized his work with straightforward +earnestness and quiet ability and things usually +moved smoothly in his class room. But many old +difficulties in the life of the school with which he had +seen the teachers battling when he was a pupil +promptly presented themselves afresh to test the tact, +skill and wisdom of the young teacher. Some boys +still came to school with well-developed taste for tobacco +and liquor which parents still indulged, and +passing mountaineers often good-naturedly fostered. +Having helped to battle with these things as a boy +he knew somewhat how to handle them. But another +matter of which he took little note in his student +days, but which had nevertheless always been a difficult +problem, was love-making in the school. He +was sorely puzzled how to wisely handle this.</p> +<p>“Little mother,” he wrote Mrs. Polk, “my chief +difficulty is laughable in a sense, but from another +point of view it is really a stupendous problem! One +old mountaineer said to me last summer, ‘Them +schools is the courtin’est places in the world.’ I begin +to think he was right, and it is not always the +superficial flirting and love-making which is a part of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_133' name='page_133'></a>133</span> +your coeducational schools,––a thing simply trivial +and naughty,––but often tragic passion instead, quite +in harmony with the title of Dryden’s play, ‘All for +Love, or the World Well Lost’!</p> +<p>“Really, these children of the woods hear the call +to mate as naturally as the birds in the trees, and +knowing nothing of Fifth Avenue brown stone fronts +or cozy cottages at Newport, they want to leave +school, gather twigs and build their nests at once. +And sometimes one feels as guilty in breaking up +such prospective nests as when molesting a pair of +birds!</p> +<p>“Am I getting to be something of a sentimentalist? +Well, I assure you I am not going to let it grow upon +me. I bear sternly in mind that, like the first pair of +human beings in the Garden of Eden, they have really +eaten of the tree of knowledge and know some things +which they ought not to know,––having some secrets +from the rest of mankind which are not at all good +for them,––while the things they need to know for +higher, better living are so numerous, that I ruthlessly +break the tenderest hearts, and insist on study +and discipline; for nothing but education, mental, +moral and spiritual, will ever bring the greatest people +in the world, the people of the Kentucky mountains, +into their just inheritance! You see how completely +identified I am again when I indulge in Kentucky +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_134' name='page_134'></a>134</span> +brag,––which is not so different after all from +the brag of other sections, and I promise not to let +this grow upon me either, for work and not brag is +before me, as you know. I want you to see, however, +that I continue to feel the mountaineer is worth +working for.</p> +<p>“But to return to the love-making. Tragedy and +comedy are in evidence enough to lure me into the +field of romance, but the practical hindrances to daily +school work are too absorbing for great indulgence +of my pen. Ardent swains pay open court to their +sweethearts, promenading halls and grounds together +and even pressing suit in the class room! While +frequently the crowning difficulty in the whole matter +is the pleased approval of parents! Early marriage, +you know, is most common in the mountains, +girls of twelve and thirteen often taking up the duties +of wives and the great desire of parents for their +daughters is usually to get them early married off.</p> +<p>“But,––I suspect this is all familiar to you,” he +reminded himself, “and still I must tell it to you,––and +let you laugh over a recent experience I have +had with a pair of lovers.</p> +<p>“You may be sure that I have lectured most earnestly +and scientifically upon the evils of tobacco and +liquor for the young, and also have set forth as tactfully +and convincingly as I know how the fact that a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_135' name='page_135'></a>135</span> +school is not the place for lover-like attentions, beseeching +them to give themselves wholly to the business +of acquiring knowledge while they are here, +with all the eloquence of which I am capable. But, +in spite of this, as I was leaving my recitation room +at the close of school a few days ago I noticed a girl, +Alice Tomby, lingering with Joe Mott, one of her +admirers, and stepping outside I found another admirer +of hers standing beneath a near-by tree, with +clenched fist and blazing eyes.</p> +<p>“I knew that a typical mountain tragedy was quite +possible and stopping casually a moment to look at +my watch, I turned and went back to find the girl +and her beau in a most lover-like attitude.</p> +<p>“I threw my shoulders out to their broadest, and +walked with all the dignity I could summon to my +desk where I stood before them a moment in silence. +Their sheepish faces were a study for the cartoonist, +and I wanted to laugh more than I can tell you, but +I finally said gravely:</p> +<p>“‘Miss Tomby and Mr. Mott’ (the use of the last +name with Mr. or Miss, which is unusual in the +mountains, is always most impressive), ‘you are +guilty of breaking a rule of the school. You must +remain and write twenty times each the sentence I +shall put upon the board.’</p> +<p>“Then an old song came suddenly into my mind +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_136' name='page_136'></a>136</span> +and I wrote without quiver of lash or hint of smile +the silly lines:</p> +<table summary=''><tr><td> +<p class='cg'>“‘Frog went courting, he did ride,<br /> +<span class='indent2'> </span>Sword and pistol by his side.’</p> +</td></tr></table> +<p>“‘That!’ said the fellow, looking startled, while +the girl hung her head.</p> +<p>“‘Yes, that,’ I replied in perfect seriousness. And +the two wrote the lines under my most calm, most +dignified eye till they were thoroughly disgusted +with themselves and one another. When at last +they went out, the girl tossed her head and ignored +both her crestfallen and her jealous lover. With +books under her arm she went alone straightway to +the boarding hall.</p> +<p>“The story of the discomfited lovers is spreading +in the school, and the quotation of ‘Frog went courting, +he did ride,’ hilariously given is quenching the +ardour of many an amorous swain. Possibly a little +wholesome humour may after all be more helpful +than stern enforcement of rules, and you know if +there is one thing more than another we mountain +folks lack, it is a sense of humour! So, even on +general principles, it will do no harm to cultivate it.</p> +<p>“However, with all this cruel separation of tender +hearts perhaps I am in a fair way to become a cynical +old bachelor instead of a sentimentalist.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_137' name='page_137'></a>137</span></div> +<p>He was determined to write cheerfully, for he +knew that she constantly grieved over the alienation +between Mr. Polk and himself, so his letters usually +held bright accounts of his work, though sometimes +he let her have a glimpse of the struggle which went +on in his heart.</p> +<p>He wrote once after a contest with himself over +natural desire for more congenial surroundings:</p> +<p>“Little mother, when things seem too sordid and +commonplace and barren for endurance, as I confess +they have a way of doing at times, I do crave a look +into your dear face. But as I am too far away to see +you clearly, I remember how you came down here +and worked with dauntless courage and good cheer, +and I take heart again. Then several things recently +have contributed to make me ashamed of faint-heartedness, +and I really think I am going to develop +some stronger fibre.</p> +<p>“The pathos of the mountain desire for ‘larnin” +has come to me overwhelmingly lately. A woman +came on foot forty miles over the mountains last +week bringing her daughter and seven others of +neighbours and friends to the school only to find +there was no room for them. But so great was the +mother’s distress and so appealing her sacrifice and +hardship in making the trip that one of our lady +teachers took the daughter into her own room rather +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_138' name='page_138'></a>138</span> +than see the mother disappointed. A few days later +two boys came in having driven a pair of lean goats +over thirty miles hitched to a rude cart, which held +all the earthly possessions they could muster, the old +father and mother walking behind,––all hoping to +buy entrance to the school for the boys. They, too, +were disappointed, for we are full to overflowing this +year. Then to cap the argument for stout-heartedness +on my part, I went for a stroll yesterday afternoon +and came across a boy who is making one of +the bravest fights for an education that I ever saw. +I found him putting his shoulder to great boulders +on the mountainside, rolling them down and then +setting himself to break them in pieces for use in +paving our little town,––for you must know that +under the influence of the school it is beginning to +strive for general improvement. The boy, whose +father is a worthless fellow, works at rock-breaking +till he earns enough to go to school a while; then, +when the money is gone, he returns to work again +with a pathetic patience which has stirred me deeply.</p> +<p>“So, mother mine, when I long for a sight of your +face,––and an old-time hand-clasp from Mr. Polk, as +I assure you I too often do, or when I crave the +feast of books and the quiet student atmosphere of a +city library, I am simply going to think on these +things in the future.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_139' name='page_139'></a>139</span></div> +<p>The second summer in the mountains came on +and was a repetition of the first. The school was +getting more pupils than could be accommodated, it +was true, but Steve felt that contact with the thought +of education would help to further the general cause. +Then, journeying about through the wilderness was +also a means of gathering fresh material for his +nature and hunting stories for boys.</p> +<p>There was a distinct drawing towards the Follets +in his subconscious mind, the real objective of +which he would scarcely admit to himself. He put +from him suggestive pictures of curls and pinafores +which memory and flitting dreams still flashed before +him at times. He meant to go there some day +for he wanted to express his gratitude for all the +kindness of the past, but the time had not yet come. +He must not for the present be diverted in the least +from the purpose which was occupying him. He +must repay Mr. Polk,––that was the thought which +dominated him, and to that end he was frugally +gathering all the money he could. As he had +carried the fox skin through the wilderness when a +boy, so now he carried the thought of that debt in +his mind, and no robber in the form of pleasant indulgence +should prevent him from meeting his +obligation.</p> +<p>The second session passed, and he had learned +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_140' name='page_140'></a>140</span> +how to handle his difficulties with better success, +while his method of teaching was more definitely +marked out and he found more leisure for the use of +his pen. Fresh, bright stories with the breath of +the mountains in them began to find ready sale, and +occasionally as his pen dipped a bit into romance it +brought more than ordinary returns. Upon the tide +of this success came a strong temptation: Why not +go to a distinctly literary atmosphere and make a +business of literature? He felt an inward assurance +of making good and a longing for the work which +was almost overpowering. Money for the debt +must continue to accumulate very slowly when so +much time must be given to the daily business of +teaching, for which he was very poorly paid, and he +could not know freedom until that debt was paid. +In literary work, too, he could combine the cause of +mountain need with his daily task with equal effectiveness +in both directions, for could he not portray +with great pathos the mental, spiritual and material +poverty of his people? And he stifled for the moment +something within him which cried, “Others +might do that, but never one of our own!” Beside +all this it was probable, as Mr. Polk had said, that +money was more sorely needed for schools than personal +service and he believed by giving himself to +literary work he could earn it. He had never been +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_141' name='page_141'></a>141</span> +perfectly sure that giving his life to teaching and +personal work among his people was the best method +of helping them, so he need not feel chagrined by +any inconsistency.</p> +<p>So great was the temptation which came to him +at this crisis that he determined when the session +closed to go for a visit to Mirandy’s family and from +there to the Follets, with the thought that he would +not like to leave the mountains without seeing them, +and it would doubtless be best to go east for his +literary career. In this satisfactory justification of +the latter visit he allowed himself the freedom of +pleasant reminiscence about the spot where life first +began to really unfold for him.</p> +<p>“Little Nancy,” he said to himself, “why she must +be nineteen now, clothed in long frocks and maidenly +dignity, I suspect,––but I certainly hope she still +wears the little white pinafores.” And his eyes grew +misty with a tenderness which he would have classified +as brotherly, had it occurred to him to question +himself. Then he smiled suddenly and said, “Yes, +I must go and see about those pinafores before I +leave the mountains.”</p> +<p>He made the visit to Hollow Hut first, and in the +ease of a saddle seat he reached the old familiar wood +by a much more direct trail than he had followed +when a boy. He halted his pony at last by the great +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_142' name='page_142'></a>142</span> +boulder where Tige lay buried. The tragedy of his +grief on that long-ago morning when he had touched +the stiffened body of his old friend came back to +him with such vividness that, in spite of “Time’s +long caressing hand,” he could not “smile beholding +it.” He hitched his horse close by with a sense of +the old dog’s nearness and protection, for he meant +to camp on that spot during his stay as he used to +do when a boy. Then he went on foot down the +mountainside to his old home in the hollow, little +dreaming, as he passed along its rocky fastness, that +a “still” was hidden there.</p> +<p>It was just dusk of an early June day, and cool +shadows dropped their soft curtains about the old +log house as he walked towards the door unannounced. +He stopped a moment at the grave of his +father and mother, and then followed noiselessly the +little worn path to the cabin. As he drew near, he +saw the fitful light of blazing pine-knots on the +hearth and caught the sound of boisterous laughter. +Reaching the door he stood a moment in the shadow +of the outer darkness, before stepping into the light. +Then,––what he saw transfixed him! White to the +lips he watched a moment.</p> +<p>A group of men, Mirandy’s husband among them, +surrounded a little fellow about six years old, who, +having been made reeling drunk, was trying to walk +a crack in the floor. The little victim swayed and +tottered and struggled under the hilarious urging of +his spectators.</p> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_3' id='linki_3'></a> +</div> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/p0142a-insert.jpg' alt='' title='' width='306' height='546' /><br /> +<p class='caption'> +“Hit’s Champ fer his pappy”<br /> +</p> +</div> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_143' name='page_143'></a>143</span></div> +<p>Steve’s first mad impulse was to snatch up the +wronged child, and, if necessary, face the half-drunken +men in battle. But this would be worse +than useless his second sober thought told him, for +there stood Mirandy looking carelessly on from the +kitchen door behind. The child was doubtless hers, +and the father was taking part in the revolting deed! +What could he do? He knew they would brook no +interference.</p> +<p>With hard-won self-control he stepped upon the +threshold, courteously lifted his hat and bade them +“Good-evening.”</p> +<p>Instantly the men turned and pistols clicked, for +they thought him a revenue officer; but Mirandy, +looking into his still boyish face which had caught +the light, while his unfamiliar figure was in shadow, +exclaimed:</p> +<p>“Don’t shoot! Hit’s Steve, my little buddie +Steve!” And she stepped across the room to him +in a way which showed she was capable of being +stirred into action sometimes.</p> +<p>The men looked uncertain, but Mirandy’s husband, +peering into Steve’s face a moment, said:</p> +<p>“Yes, that’s right, hit’s Steve Langly, though I’d +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_144' name='page_144'></a>144</span> +nuver knowed ye in the world,” and the other men +dropped back.</p> +<p>The child in the centre of the room looked about +with dull eyes, then dropped to the floor in a pitiful +little drunken heap.</p> +<p>With his heart wrung to the point of agony, Steve +stepped forward and stooping down lifted it tenderly +to his breast. In the old home that little boy represented +himself, as he used to be. When he could +speak he said in a voice which trembled upon the +silence:</p> +<p>“This is my little nephew, is it not?”</p> +<p>And Mirandy cried out sharply to her husband, +without answering the question:</p> +<p>“Ye shan’t nuver do that no more,” and the men +slunk out one by one, ashamed, rebuked, sobered, +though they could not have told why.</p> +<p>Steve turned as they left and sat down, still holding +the child to his breast. Then gently releasing +his hold with one hand he tenderly pushed back the +damp hair from the little swollen face, while Mirandy +stood by, the tears dropping down her cheeks,––a +thing most unusual for a mountain woman. And +she said again passionately, “Champ shan’t nuver +make him drunk agin.”</p> +<p>“What is his name?” asked Steve at last.</p> +<p>“Hit’s Champ fer his pappy. The bigges’ one––he’s +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_145' name='page_145'></a>145</span> +outdoors some’eres,––he’s named Steve,” she +said in mollifying tone. “He was borned the nex’ +winter atter you was here, an’ you’d been sech a +likely lookin’ boy I thought I’d name him fer ye.”</p> +<p>“That was good ev you, Randy,” said Steve dropping +tenderly into the old form of speech. “I’ll be +glad ter see my namesake. Air the two all ye hev?”</p> +<p>“No, thar’s the baby on the bed; she’s a little +gal,” Mirandy replied dully. “Then there’s two on +’em that died, when they was babies. We women +allus gits chillun enough,” she said, in a whining +voice peculiar to the older women of the mountains +which she had already acquired.</p> +<p>Steve remained a month and it was the most trying +time of his life. When he learned of the “still,” +which he did very promptly, despair for Mirandy, +her husband and the children filled his heart. Champ +Brady was always under the influence of his “moonshine,” +and Steve knew it was perfectly useless to +try to dissuade him from making or using it. Mirandy +had his own distaste for it, but she had been accustomed +to the thought of its free use all her life, and +how could he make her listless mind comprehend its +danger for her children? Not trusting her emotion +and passionate protest the day he came, he talked +with her earnestly many times and made her promise +to do all she could to keep the children from it.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_146' name='page_146'></a>146</span></div> +<p>He took the two little boys, Steve and Champ, with +their dog, every day up to the old haunt by Tige’s +rock, where he camped every night. He had brought +picture books with him, illustrated alphabets and one-syllable +stories with the thought of possible need for +them. And the brown eyes of the two little fellows, +so like his own in the old days, as he well knew, in +their blankness and wonder, gave eager response to +new things. He called the spot “our school,” and the +two little pupils soon learned their letters, while in a +month’s time little Steve was reading simple stories +telling that “The dog is on the mat,” and “The cat +is on the rug” with great exhilaration, and spelling +out laboriously more complex things.</p> +<p>But Champ Brady was restless under the visit. +He told Mirandy frequently that he had no use for a +fellow who hadn’t enough stuff in him to drink good +liquor when it was put before him; and Steve, knowing +well his state of mind without hearing any expression +of it, went sadly away from the cabin at +Hollow Hut for the third time.</p> +<p>After a last earnest talk with Mirandy, he took the +little boys to the old spot where they had kept school +and he had camped for the month and put into the +hands of Steve the second a German silver watch +which he had also brought with the thought of a boy +in the old home again as a possibility.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_147' name='page_147'></a>147</span></div> +<p>“This little shining ticker will tell you each day +that you are going to make big, strong men who +know things one of these days. You will listen to +it always, will you not?” he said, and each in turn, +as he was held up in the tender arms, promised earnestly +with queer aching in their little throats. Then +Steve set them down and rode away, looking back +again and again with a waving hand at the two +sober little figures as long as they were in sight.</p> +<p>“Oh, God of the wilderness,” he cried, when at +last he saw them no more, “Thou didst come and +comfort me when I wandered here alone; oh, now +give me assurance that Thou wilt watch over these +two of my own blood and bring them into the light.”</p> +<p>The prayer went up in despair akin to that of his +boyhood’s desolation and again, after a time, a sense +of comfort and peace flooded his soul, while, in its +full tide, a fresh resolve was fixed upon him:</p> +<p>“I will give my life to the work. Not money +alone, please God, if I should make it, but my daily +breath and life and vigour shall go for the uplift of +my people of the mountains!”</p> +<p>And he smiled to think that literature should ever +have appealed to him, for a sense of linking himself +to the Almighty God to whom he had prayed had +come to him in the holy stillness of the wilderness, +making anything else seem trivial beyond compare.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_148' name='page_148'></a>148</span></div> +<p>He did not go to the Follets as he had intended, +but made his way slowly back to the school, stopping +at cabins here and there as in previous summers, +chatting with the people, getting into their life and +giving them visions as no alien could have done.</p> +<p>On this trip he passed a great coal mine and here +he spent a couple of weeks watching the work with +great interest. He carefully examined the various +strata of the excavation and studied the practical +working of the mine with keen intent, his college +course having given him ample preparation for its +intelligent comprehension.</p> +<p>Suddenly a bright thought struck him.</p> +<p>“Look here,” he said to himself, “why not locate +a mine here in the mountains, as Mr. Polk used to +talk of my doing, buy the land for a few hundred dollars, +as I am sure I can in some localities, and then +make it over to Mr. Polk? He will know how to +handle it, and if it is valuable will certainly make it +pay. With another year’s work I can have the +money, and by that means I can cancel that debt +with one fell stroke, perhaps,” he went on jubilantly,––and +if it proved to do so many times over, he +would only be the more rejoiced, he thought.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_149' name='page_149'></a>149</span> +<a name='XII_LOVES_AWAKENING' id='XII_LOVES_AWAKENING'></a> +<h2>XII</h2> +<h3>LOVE’S AWAKENING</h3> +</div> +<p>Full of this happy inspiration Steve went +back to his work, determined to gather during +the year a sum sufficient to make his +purchase, so as to be ready for the next vacation +when he would be free to go prospecting. Under +the stimulus of this good hope he worked with great +absorption, only allowing himself the recreation of a +weekly letter to Mrs. Polk, which he never failed to +send, continuing to put into it all the interesting and +amusing things which came into his work,––and they +did come in spite of the seriousness of his life.</p> +<p>Oftentimes in brooding thought he went back to +the little Steve who was duplicating his own early +life in the old home. He had considered mountain +educational work hitherto in the large; he began +now to think of it from the nucleus of the home. +How he would like to see the old spot of his boyhood +redeemed by an ideal home life! And the +thought touched many latent springs of his manly +nature, calling forth dim, sweet visions of domestic +love and beauty.</p> +<p>But he hushed nature’s appeal peremptorily, he +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_150' name='page_150'></a>150</span> +thrust back the visions with the firm decision that he +had no leisure for dreams, and continued his many-sided +work through another winter with accustomed +constancy. It was in the early spring of that year +when an unexpected telegram came to him from +Mrs. Polk. It read:</p> +<p>“Meet Nita and myself at L––– to-morrow, +7 <span class='smcaplc'>A. M.</span> train”.</p> +<p>How the brief message thrilled him! He had +plodded so long alone. He sprang up from his +place at the breakfast table where the message had +been handed him, his eyes shining and his step +buoyant. Securing leave of absence from school +duties for a couple of days, he went at once to hire +a team which would take him forty miles over the +mountains to the railroad station.</p> +<p>Forty miles! With a good team and a buoyant +spirit they seemed little more than so many city +blocks. To look into the face and talk once more +with the “little mother” would renew his enthusiasm +for his work. She must have known that he was +growing dull and spiritless with the lingering winter +days,––she had such a wonderful way of divining +things. His eyes grew misty with tender recollection +of her.</p> +<p>And Nita,––beautiful Nita Trowbridge,––when she +should step out in the early morning light, it would +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_151' name='page_151'></a>151</span> +be like flashing his glorious mountain sunrise upon +some artist’s masterpiece! And he was hungry for +the beauty and grace and charm of the city which +she embodied. Yes, it was true, there was no denying +it! And fast and faster sped the retreating miles +under his joyful expectations till the journey was +ended, a night’s refreshing sleep had passed and he +stood at last at the little station, restlessly pacing up +and down the platform, with eye and ear strained to +detect the first hint of the incoming train.</p> +<p>Next he was rushing into the rear sleeper!</p> +<p>“Little mother!”</p> +<p>“Steve!” were the greetings as he took Mrs. Polk +in his arms while the eyes of both brimmed with +tears. Then turning quickly to Nita, he greeted her +with less demonstration but with equal warmth.</p> +<p>Catching up their hand-bags he hurried them out, +for through trains show scant respect for mountain +stations, and leading the way to his waiting vehicle +he helped Mrs. Polk in with easy confidence, then +turned to Nita. What was it about her that made +him instantly conscious that the spring wagonette +was very plain, the newness long gone and that the +horses, with abundant manes and tails, lacked trimness +and style? He started to apologize for his +turnout, then quickly set his lips. If he must begin +apologizing here, where would it end?</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_152' name='page_152'></a>152</span></div> +<p>“This is just a mild forerunner of the heights before +you,” he said laughingly, as he carefully helped +her mount the high step before which she had stood +uncertainly.</p> +<p>But the trip proved equally delightful for them all. +The mountain air was bracing, the morning panorama +spread out before them, gloriously beautiful as it always +was, brought constant delighted exclamation +from both Mrs. Polk and Nita while Steve found +fresh enjoyment in their pleasure.</p> +<p>The little cabins which came into view on the way, +standing bare and barren by the roadside, or looking +out from forest recesses where there was hardly a +road to follow, or clinging to some lofty “bench” +upon the mountainside, all were fronted by poorly +clad children gazing in solemn, open-mouthed interest +while the strangers passed.</p> +<p>“Dear little things,” said Mrs. Polk, “they stand +in mute appeal to us to open a path for them out +into our world,––to take them into the fold of our +larger brotherhood.”</p> +<p>Steve looked back into her bright, earnest face +with kindling eyes, while Nita turned from one to +the other with the old childish wonder again in her +face. These mountain folk were a new species to +her, interesting and amusing perhaps, but from whom +she instinctively shrank. Not that she was in the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_153' name='page_153'></a>153</span> +least disdainful, she was of too sweet a nature for +that, but she had no conception of a divine bond of +human kinship which could ever include her and +them.</p> +<p>They spent the night at a mountain village, breaking +the long drive for the ladies, and the next day +reached the school where Steve daily gave his best, +and which was so dear to Mrs. Polk. During the +two days following, as during the trip, Steve made +them as comfortable as possible, still making no +apologies for anything, and indeed no apology was +necessary, for Mrs. Polk had known what to expect, +and the royal hospitality which glorified it, while +Nita accepted the one with simple good taste and +the other with real, if not genial, appreciation. The +visit was full of interest for Mrs. Polk as she noted +the growth of the work, and Nita went about through +school buildings and grounds, her beauty and tasteful +attire making her a most observed visitor. Nor +did she fail to show interest in the work, thoroughly +courteous and kindly, and yet which somehow seemed +detached.</p> +<p>As Steve followed her with admiring eyes and sincere +regard, he could not help seeing most clearly +that she could never fit into the mountain landscape. +He thought whimsically of Mr. Polk’s dreams for her +and himself and knew that though he could have remained +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_154' name='page_154'></a>154</span> +in her world and found happiness, she could +never have come into his. His early intuition had +not been at fault; she would never touch the height, +breadth and depth of universal womanhood with its +vision and its sympathy.</p> +<p>Just before leaving, the two visitors spent a recitation +period in Steve’s class room, and so eager was +he to reveal the best in his pupils that he did not +dream he was also putting forth the teacher’s +best.</p> +<p>When the pupils had filed out and the three stood +alone, Mrs. Polk made a gay little bow, and said with +glistening eyes:</p> +<p>“Bravo, Sir Knight of the Mountains, you have +certainly won your spurs,––though they be of civilian +make!”</p> +<p>He smiled in return, brought back to a consciousness +of himself, but turning from it instantly again, +he inquired:</p> +<p>“And what do you think of my brother knights?”</p> +<p>“They are equally fine,” said Mrs. Polk warmly.</p> +<p>“They are indeed,” joined in Nita, “but how you +have penetrated the hopeless exteriors of these people, +as we saw them on our way here, found the +germs of promise and developed them, will always +remain an unfathomable mystery for me,” she declared. +“I confess I understand your skill less than +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_155' name='page_155'></a>155</span> +I do that of the sculptor who makes the marble +express beauty, thought and feeling,––and his work +would be infinitely more to my taste. I think nothing +more distasteful than contact with people can be,––and +when it must be daily–––” She shrugged +her shoulders in conclusion expressively.</p> +<p>Steve smiled back at her for he knew she did not +think of him as one of these people with whom she +could not bear the thought of daily contact.</p> +<p>“Now confess, don’t you get dreadfully tired of it +all?” she persisted, looking with real appeal into his +face as though she would draw him away from it if +she could.</p> +<p>“Unspeakably, sometimes,” he smiled back again, +then looking beyond her over the mountains he +added simply, “but I belong here.”</p> +<p>And uncomprehending as she would ever be, she +turned at last lightly away and walking to the outer +door stepped out upon the campus, leaving her sister +and Steve for a little talk alone, which she was sure +they would like.</p> +<p>When she was gone, Mrs. Polk laid a hand upon +Steve’s arm and said softly: “Some day, Steve, everything +will come right,” looking expressively into his +eyes, and he knew she meant between himself and +Mr. Polk, a subject that had not been mentioned since +she came. “I catch beautiful prophecies sometimes +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_156' name='page_156'></a>156</span> +of all this human desert blossoming as a rose,” she +went on with her old gay enthusiasm, “and I am +fully persuaded now, as I never have quite been since +you left us, that you have chosen your work wisely. +I had to come at last and see for myself.</p> +<p>“But are you going to live your life alone, Steve, +dear,” she asked after a moment wistfully, “with no +sweet home ties?”</p> +<p>“I do not know, little mother,” he said gravely. +His mind went instantly to the old cabin home and +little Steve, but he couldn’t tell even her of the family +life there now,––nor yet of the mystic vision which +had intruded upon his brooding thought.</p> +<p>His sudden smile flashed over the seriousness of +his face as he replied at last, “I have been too busy +and too poor to think about it so far.”</p> +<p>She did not smile in return, but catching both his +hands in hers she looked up at him with motherly +insistence, and asked:</p> +<p>“Have you never loved any dear girl? Is there +no sweet face that sometimes steals into the little +home which nestles always in every true man’s innermost +heart?”</p> +<p>Her strong mother-love had surely lent her a +mystic’s insight and compelling power!</p> +<p>Instantly into the dim outline of the vision of his +brooding thought which he had hitherto constantly +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_157' name='page_157'></a>157</span> +thrust aside, came with a distinctness that startled +him, a childish face framed in yellow curls above a +little white pinafore!</p> +<p>He caught his breath with the vividness of it, then +pulled himself together and looking down into the +dear eyes of the woman who had been more than +second mother to him, and who thereby had won +the right to question him, he said with a curiously +puzzled look:</p> +<p>“Why, I do not know,––perhaps so,”––then, as +she still looked intently at him, “you have startled +me. I have become such a stupid grind, I guess I +need waking up. I will commune with myself, as I +have never done before, and let you know what I +discover,” he ended more lightly.</p> +<p>She knew that a revelation had come to him in +that moment and was content without further questioning. +With a last gentle, loving pressure for his +hands she released them and they walked out together +to join Nita.</p> +<p>Their team was soon ready and after another long, +pleasant drive Steve was watching the departing +train from the little station platform. He felt keen +regret as it bore his friends out of sight, but he +turned to his team for the homeward drive with a +strange exhilaration in his heart. He had hardly +been able to wait for that communion with himself, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_158' name='page_158'></a>158</span> +and when the opportunity came there was no uncertainty +in its tenor.</p> +<p>“Of course I love Nancy Follet! I have loved her +ever since I first set eyes upon her sweet little face,––and +it has come before me always in any stress of +mind or heart as though to tell me she was always +to have part in my life. And yet I have been so +dull I did not understand. She preëmpted my heart +from the first and that is why I did not love beautiful +Nita Trowbridge,––why I have never been able +to look at any girl with a spark of interest since.” +How he loved to linger over the revelation which +had come to him! It was like having emerged from +a desert into a land flowing with milk and honey. +Little Nancy! She had been so gentle, so confiding, +so eager to help him with things,––she would be his +dear helper in the work of his life,––and the work +would thereby be glorified beyond measure! Under +the spell of his tender musing the forty miles again +sped by unheeded and he was back once more at the +schoolroom door.</p> +<p>It was well that his tasks for the year were well-nigh +over, for he at once became consumed with the +desire to see Nancy in the maturity of her girlhood. +He promptly decided that he would go as soon as +school closed and win her promise before he went on +that prospecting tour. In the meantime his mind +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_159' name='page_159'></a>159</span> +continued to hover over the hours they had spent +together as boy and girl. He went to mill once +more walking beside a little fairy figure on old +Dobbin’s back,––he caught the fragrance of shy +flowers which nestled in cool woodland depths, and +memory let softly down the bars into a holy of holies +as the little girl said again in her sweet innocence, +“Steve, let’s build us a house in this wood and live +here always.” He mounted the rugged steeps of +Greely’s Ridge, her strong protector, while she +reached down once more a timid little hand to hold +his tightly,––and suddenly he was startled with remembrance +of the character of that ridge. It must +have held minerals! Coal, yes, coal,––he was sure +of it! There was the piece of land he had been +wanting to find!</p> +<p>And so with buoyant, twofold hope he started as +soon as school was out towards the Follet home, +having deposited in the bank a sum which he felt +would be sufficient to purchase the Greely Ridge, +should he find it as valuable as he suspected and no +one had preceded him in its discovery.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_160' name='page_160'></a>160</span> +<a name='XIII_OLD_TIES_RENEWED' id='XIII_OLD_TIES_RENEWED'></a> +<h2>XIII</h2> +<h3>OLD TIES RENEWED</h3> +</div> +<p>It was mid-afternoon of a late June day when +Steve stopped at Mr. Follet’s store. He wondered +if his old friend would be there. Yes, +the door was open, and for a moment Steve stood on +the platform in front, his tall figure erect, his head +bared as he looked reverently towards the little +home which had opened the world of books to him. +Then Mr. Follet’s high voice rang out from the dark +depths where dry-goods and groceries rioted in hopeless +confusion as of old.</p> +<p>“Hello, stranger, what’s the time o’ day?”</p> +<p>Steve stepping forward put out an eager hand, and +cried:</p> +<p>“Mr. Follet, don’t you know me?”</p> +<p>But the man only stared, coming forward into the +light of the doorway.</p> +<p>“Never saw you before,” he declared at last; “or +if I did, can’t tell where under the cano<i>pee</i> ’twas.”</p> +<p>Steve laughed with keen enjoyment at hearing +the familiar old expression, and said eagerly:</p> +<p>“Don’t you remember Steve, little Steve Langly +who worked for you one summer?”</p> +<p>“Steve!” exclaimed Mr. Follet; “of course I do; +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_161' name='page_161'></a>161</span> +nobody at my house has forgotten him, not by a jugful,––but +this ain’t Steve!”</p> +<p>“This <i>is</i> Steve though, Mr. Follet,––the same +Steve, with just as grateful a heart for you and Mrs. +Follet as I had the day I left you about a dozen +years ago.”</p> +<p>“Well, this does beat me,” said Mr. Follet. “We’ll +lock right up and go over to the house. My wife +and Nancy will be powerful glad to see you if they +can ever think who under the cano<i>pee</i> you are.” +And he stepped briskly about locking up, and then +the two walked over to the house.</p> +<p>Mrs. Follet was seated on the piazza with some +light sewing when they came up, and to Mr. Follet’s +excited introduction of Mr. Langly she made polite +but unrecognizing acknowledgment, and her husband +was too impatient to delay his revelation.</p> +<p>“Why, ma, you don’t tell me you don’t know +Steve,” he exclaimed.</p> +<p>“Steve,” returned Mrs. Follet bewildered.</p> +<p>“Why, yes! little, old, scrawny, mountain Steve,” +exclaimed Mr. Follet, “who did everything that was +done here one summer!”</p> +<p>Then Mrs. Follet slowly grasped the astonishing +thought that little ignorant Steve and the fine-looking +young man before her were one and the same, and +gave him gentle, motherly greeting.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_162' name='page_162'></a>162</span></div> +<p>“Where’s Nancy?” went on Mr. Follet, impatiently.</p> +<p>“She’s gone with Gyp for a gallop,” returned Mrs. +Follet, “but she ought to be back any minute now.” +And by the time they had exchanged brief accounts +of the years that had passed since they last met, +Nancy was seen swaying gracefully down the road +upon her pony’s rounded back. She waved gaily as +she passed the porch not noticing the stranger who +was somewhat screened by hanging vines, and then +she turned into the lane which led to the stable.</p> +<p>Steve’s eyes glistened at the vision of the girl +which time had so charmingly matured, and starting +up he exclaimed:</p> +<p>“Let me meet her at the stable where I used to help +her on and off old Dobbin’s back,” and with a bound +he was off the porch and striding towards the lane.</p> +<p>Nancy had slowed her pace along the shady driveway, +and Steve, going noiselessly through the grass, +was at her side when she was ready to dismount.</p> +<p>Smilingly he held out his hand for her to step +upon, his glowing eyes lifted to hers. Startled she +drew back, her eyes held and fascinated, however, by +his intent gaze.</p> +<p>For a long instant they gazed, and then she +breathed:</p> +<p>“Oh, Steve!”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_163' name='page_163'></a>163</span></div> +<p>Had the meeting occurred otherwise, she probably +would never have taken the tall, broad-shouldered, +handsome young fellow for the Steve of her childish +memory, but she only saw and recognized those +brown eyes lifted to hers as they used to be in the +old days when he took her from Dobbin’s back, with +the same tender light in them.</p> +<p>“Yes, Nancy, it’s Steve!” he exclaimed joyfully. +“And you knew me after all these years!”</p> +<p>A smile that held something sweet and sensitive +flashed assent, and then in reaction from the stir of +undefined feeling, which she was not ready to acknowledge, +her eyes danced with sudden humour. +Keeping her saddle she glanced behind her to the +pony’s back, and said:</p> +<p>“Where are our bags of meal?”</p> +<p>Steve laughed in responsive gaiety, and in spite of +himself let his eyes rest upon her in kindling admiration.</p> +<p>“Oh, I see good grist which the mill of time has +ground for you,” he said, and put out his palm again +for her to step upon.</p> +<p>But she, flushing with girlish surprise at his ready +gallantry, which showed how completely the little +mountain boy had been lost in the cultured man, +drew back once more and with equal quick wit said, +laughing:</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_164' name='page_164'></a>164</span></div> +<p>“You will certainly find it has, and in good, substantial +material if you try to take my weight in your +hand.”</p> +<p>“The same mill has ground out for me an adequate +amount of muscle,” he declared, adding with a hint +of pleading in his voice, “You must let me renew +old times,” and without further protest she lightly +touched his hand with her foot as she sprang from +the pony’s back.</p> +<p>“Weight doesn’t count with so light a touch as +that,” laughed Steve, and started to lead the pony +into the stable, when a coloured boy stepped up to +care for it.</p> +<p>“You see we keep a groom these days,” said +Nancy.</p> +<p>“Yes; what style the mountains are taking on,” +returned Steve, as Nancy gathered up the long skirt +of her riding habit, and the two walked together +through the grass to the porch.</p> +<p>“To what an astonishing height you have grown,” +said she with naive charm, looking up at him.</p> +<p>“You have done equally well,” he returned, measuring +with his eye her slender length; then he added +with his sudden smile which held the whimsical +quality of old friendship, “Please tell me,––where are +the curls?”</p> +<p>“Oh, they are tucked snugly away out of sight,” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_165' name='page_165'></a>165</span> +said she demurely, with a pretty gesture which straying +tendrils had made habitual, and the warm colour +rising again to her face.</p> +<p>“There should be a law against carrying curls +concealed,” said he.</p> +<p>By this time they were at the porch, and as they +resumed the family exchange of items of interest +from each side, Steve and Nancy sitting on the steps +as in the old days, he saw the fair dream-structure of +the past few weeks in the beginning of complete +realization.</p> +<p>In the evening as Mr. and Mrs. Follet, Steve and +Nancy sat again on the porch enjoying the night +air after a warm day, they talked interestedly of old +times and the changes which had taken place. Steve +found that Crosscut, the little flag station over which +Mr. Follet presided, had expanded into a small straggling +town with a meeting-house, school of uncertain +sessions and a thriving saloon.</p> +<p>As they chatted pleasantly a young man turned +into the gate and came up the path with a debonair +swing that proclaimed him much at home.</p> +<p>“Howdy everybody,” he said jauntily, and Nancy +rose with pleasant greeting for him. Then turning +to Steve she introduced Mr. Colton to Mr. Langly.</p> +<p>Steve met the newcomer with quiet courtesy, while +Mr. Colton responded with cordiality of the “hail-fellow-well-met” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_166' name='page_166'></a>166</span> +type, and immediately seated himself +beside Nancy with an air of proprietorship.</p> +<p>Very soon Mr. Follet in the course of conversation +turned and addressed Steve by his first name.</p> +<p>“Steve!” exclaimed the visitor. “Didn’t Miss +Nancy introduce you to me as Mr. Langly? Are +you Steve Langly who visited Louisville with a Mr. +Polk some ten or twelve years ago?”</p> +<p>“I am,” said Steve with much surprise.</p> +<p>“Is that so?” returned Mr. Colton with enthusiasm. +“Well, I am Raymond Colton!”</p> +<p>“Indeed,” exclaimed Steve heartily. “Well, this +is pleasant.”</p> +<p>“I should say so,” returned Raymond. “I tell +you, old fellow, we never forgot that lickin’ you gave +us at our school––served us right and did us good.” +He launched into a hilarious account of that experience +which everybody enjoyed, and there was a little +pleasant, general conversation. Then Raymond suddenly +exclaimed:</p> +<p>“Miss Nancy, where’s your banjo?” and went at +once for it.</p> +<p>“I tell you, Steve, she can play on the old banjo +and sing as no one else ever did,” he said as he returned +and laid it in her lap.</p> +<p>Nancy turned to Steve with a quick flush which +showed even in the moonlight and protested: “I +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_167' name='page_167'></a>167</span> +really don’t know a thing about it, only what father +taught me when I was a little girl.”</p> +<p>And Mr. Follet said excitedly, “You see, Steve, +she was so lonesome after you left I had to get the +old thing down to cheer her up. I hadn’t played +any on it since I was a young fellow courtin’ her +mother. I don’t believe I’d ever got her without +that banjo,” he added and laughed with great good +humour. “Nancy don’t think much of it,” he went +on. “She thinks it’s nothin’ beside the piano, but +Raymond, here, is like me, he thinks it beats the +piano all hollow.”</p> +<p>“Sing ‘Robin Adair,’” put in Raymond, and +Nancy began striking soft minor chords for a little +prelude. Then a rich, contralto voice, low and +clear, told the tender old story of Robin Adair and +his love, which the banjo echoed with little improvised +hints of the air. Raymond and Mr. Follet +called for one song after another of the old favourites, +Raymond often joining in with a fine tenor, +which harmonized perfectly with Nancy’s contralto. +At last she sang of her own accord “The +Rosary.”</p> +<p>There was an exquisite pathos in the beautiful, +heart-breaking notes that stirred Steve deeply. What +depth of feeling, as well as maidenly reserve and +charm, his little Nancy had developed! The curls +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_168' name='page_168'></a>168</span> +and pinafores were gone, it was true, but as he +watched her sweet, expressive face in the moonlight +and felt the fullness of her sympathy and understanding +in the singing, he said to himself, “I am +willing to lose them for this!”</p> +<p>“Miss Nancy, please don’t ever sing that any +more; it gives me the shivers,” said Raymond and +was seconded by Mr. Follet.</p> +<p>“It’s bedtime for old folks, anyhow,” the latter +went on, and added, “I guess Steve’s tired enough +to go, too,” and though Steve was not ready to admit +this, Raymond gave him gay good-night and +he followed his host to the little attic room where he +had slept as a boy, and which Mrs. Follet had made +ready for him, because he had insisted that it was +just the place for him. The house was small and he +knew somebody must vacate comfortable quarters if +he slept elsewhere.</p> +<p>But once in the old bed Steve did not find fair +memories crowding about as he had anticipated. +Even the echoing sweet songs lost their melody. Indeed +he could think of nothing but the fact that +Nancy and Raymond Colton sat together on the +front porch, left there by her parents as though he +had special rights. A midnight thunder-storm +caught up his perturbed thought with noisy energy.</p> +<p>“But why not!” he exclaimed sadly for the hundredth +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_169' name='page_169'></a>169</span> +time to his rebellious heart. “You certainly +have no claim.”</p> +<p>But that lately aroused, throbbing fountain of +love’s pulsations replied with vehemence: “I have! +I have loved her every moment since I first looked +upon her as a little girl, and I love her in her sweet +maturity with all my soul. She is mine!”</p> +<p>So the wordy war went on between his good sense +and his yearning heart, banishing every dear, +cherished memory and postponing sleep till the +wee morning hours.</p> +<p>Next day after the breakfast dishes were done, +Mrs. Follet proposed that Nancy take Steve for a +ride with Gyp and the family horse over to the +Greely woods, their old favourite haunt, and this +exactly suited Steve, for, in spite of the night’s disturbance, +nothing could please him more than an +opportunity for companionship with Nancy alone, +and he was still impatient to see if his memory of +that rugged ridge of woodland was correct.</p> +<p>He went out at once to saddle the horses. It was +a crisp, cool, clear morning after the storm, and +Nancy soon appeared in a trim riding habit and cap +with deep visor to shade the eyes. The severe lines +and dark blue of her costume made charming contrast +to her softly rounded face, with its delicate +colouring and the stray yellow tendrils of hair which +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_170' name='page_170'></a>170</span> +were always slipping out from the fluffy braids which +bound her head. She surely was fair to look upon, +and when Steve had assisted her to mount in the old +way,––holding out his hand and she stepping upon +it in laughing ease,––she sat her pony with the +graceful poise of the true Kentucky girl, making a +picture which less partial observers than Steve could +not have failed to find full of charm. They cantered +off briskly down the road.</p> +<p>When they reached the wood Steve grew keenly +reminiscent, as had become his habit the last few +weeks. Forgetting Raymond completely, the past +came back to him vividly; he seemed to feel again +Nancy’s confiding trust in him,––and he yearned to +know how clearly she remembered. He looked +often upon her as she rode beside him, the two +horses touching noses in the narrow path, but the +delicate face revealed nothing.</p> +<p>“Do you remember,” he said at last, “what +a veritable slave you made of me in this old +wood?”</p> +<p>She laughed brightly and replied, “Why no, I +haven’t any such recollection.”</p> +<p>“Well, you knew even then just how to do it,” he +returned with a bit of insinuation. “You would +look up at the tallest, hardest tree to climb and see +some high-hanging blossom which you coveted, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_171' name='page_171'></a>171</span> +I immediately scaled the tree’s height to lay the +blossom at your feet.”</p> +<p>She laughed again and her cheeks this time flushed +a rosy hue, unaccountably disconcerting to her.</p> +<p>“But that, after all, was as it should have been,” +he went on after a moment, smiling. “We men +need your bidding to send us to the heights, always.”</p> +<p>“I do not agree with you,” she said, recovering +her poise instantly; and summoning a girlish perversity, +she led him straightway from sentiment to +the substantial. “Each one must mount up in his +own strength, like these splendid old trees, without +prop or help, only the light from above to draw it +upward,” and a very demure look crossed her ever-changing +face as she finished the little speech.</p> +<p>“You are right,” said Steve smiling and remembering +Mrs. Polk’s lesson from the giant beech so +long ago. “And yet, after all, many things help +the tree in its growth besides the light from above,––the +sun. There are the winds and the rain, and”––he +paused a moment,––“its mates. Don’t you know +a tree rarely stands alone unless man has cut down +its companions. They like comradeship. I believe +they are dependent upon it in ways we do not know.”</p> +<p>“How stupid of me to forget I was talking with +a professor,” said Nancy archly.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_172' name='page_172'></a>172</span></div> +<p>“And worse still for me to forget that I was trying +to enlighten the lady who initiated me into the +world of books,” replied he promptly, yielding to +her mood.</p> +<p>“Oh, how lovely that graceful, clinging vine is,” +she exclaimed, ignoring his retort and pointing up +to a vine covered tree, while Steve thrust back into +the secret place of his heart all the cherished memories +which the old wood held for him, realizing +decidedly that Nancy was no longer a shy, timid +little girl ready to place her hand in his, but a young +woman who would need to be wooed before she was +won,––even though there were no Raymond.</p> +<p>“What had he expected anyway?” he reiterated +sternly. “That she would be waiting his coming, +all ready for the plucking?” He straightened himself +in the saddle. He had long since learned how +to work and wait for things he wanted; he could do +it again.</p> +<p>He led the conversation away from the personal. +They talked of nature, each finding under the spur +of companionship many new interests in the old +wood; and being a devoted nature lover, Steve was +pleased to find that Nancy had added to her tender +interest in the feathered folk much information as to +peculiar characteristics of varying species. It was an +easy transition from nature to nature’s interpreters, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_173' name='page_173'></a>173</span> +the poets, and the two found mutual interest in recalling +some choice things of literature. She had +spent four years at a fine old Kentucky college, graduating +in June with high honours. There was still +a sweet seriousness about her as in the little Nancy +of old, in spite of her girlish gaiety, and while the +years of study had brought her an unmistakable +breadth and culture, there was also a quaint freshness +of speech and manner that made her especially +attractive. Steve found keen satisfaction in the conversation, +for the girl understood his view-point and +yet had fresh conceptions of her own which she knew +how to express.</p> +<p>He said to himself as he studied her (which having +put aside the personal he could now do), “She has +the New England alertness of mind inherited from +her mother without the New England reticence, and +from her Kentucky father, eccentric as he is, she gets +the vivacity and charm which is the Kentucky girl’s +birthright.”</p> +<p>And yet in the midst of his enjoyment an insistent +despair of heart returned as he recalled a certain good +fellowship in her attitude towards Raymond, which +was missing with him. Obtuse as lovers usually are, +it never occurred to him that this was one of the best +of symptoms in his favour!</p> +<p>They had gone in leisurely fashion through the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_174' name='page_174'></a>174</span> +wood, but the tall trees began to drop away at last, +and they went down the slope till the old mill stood +before them in soft, quaker-gray upon the bank of a +turbulent, rushing mountain creek. The big, wooden +wheel had fallen from its place and the old mill itself +was fast dropping into complete decay, but the trees +in fresh summer green still hung affectionately over +it. Just beyond the mill nestled the gray log cabin +with its porch across the front; and, yes, there was +Tildy pacing back and forth at her spinning-wheel +just as she used to do when Steve and Nancy were +children. She was of the thrifty type of mountain +women, always cleanly, always busy, making the +most of the meagre means at hand. To the young +people it was as though some magic lantern had +flashed before them a scene from the past, and the +two turned involuntarily to one another with a rush +of something tender upon their faces.</p> +<p>Without speaking they rode to the door, and before +Steve could dismount Nancy had sprung from +the saddle, caught up her skirt, and was warmly shaking +hands with the old woman, whom now she did +not often see. Steve quickly followed, and with the +air of an old friend also, put out his hand cordially +to Tildy.</p> +<p>She took it doubtfully, saying:</p> +<p>“Howdye, stranger?”</p> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_4' id='linki_4'></a> +</div> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/p0174a-insert.jpg' alt='' title='' width='565' height='301' /><br /> +<p class='caption'> +“Tilda pacing back and forth at her spinning-wheel”<br /> +</p> +</div> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_175' name='page_175'></a>175</span></div> +<p>“Why, don’t you know me, Mother Greely?” +Steve asked.</p> +<p>“I shore don’t,” she replied, pushing her spectacles +up on her nose and peering earnestly through +them. “No,” she said finally, “I nuver seed ye afore; +leastways I ain’t no recollection of hit ef I ever did.”</p> +<p>The old man, who with the old mill had fallen into +decrepitude, then came slowly hobbling out, an inquiring +look on his kind old face. Tildy turned to +him, raising her voice shrilly, for he heard with difficulty +and asked: “Nat, have ye ever seed this +young man afore?”</p> +<p>“No,” the old man returned after searching +scrutiny.</p> +<p>Then Steve said: “Don’t you remember an old +gray horse that used to come to the mill with a little +girl in white pinafore on his back, two bags of corn +behind her, and a tousled, brown-haired boy of about +twelve walking beside her?”</p> +<p>“And the little girl was always on the verge of +starvation, and only molasses cakes could rescue her,” +put in Nancy laughing.</p> +<p>“Nancy and Steve,” exclaimed the old woman, +and then with the intuition of her sex for romance, +she further exclaimed: “An’ ye hev done got +married!”</p> +<p>“No,” Steve hastened to say; but the old man, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_176' name='page_176'></a>176</span> +more accustomed to his wife’s shrill voice, caught her +affirmation, and failed to hear Steve’s denial.</p> +<p>“Well, now,” said he, rubbing his hands together, +greatly pleased, “Tildy and me allus said ye’d marry +some day; ye was jes’ suited to one another.”</p> +<p>Nancy hated herself for flushing so unreasonably +again, and Steve, not daring to look towards her, was +hurrying to the rescue, when the old woman with a +swift, keen glance at both, broke in with:</p> +<p>“No, pap, no they hain’t,” piped shrilly into the +old man’s ear.</p> +<p>His face dropped with evident disappointment, and +there was an embarrassed moment for all of them.</p> +<p>“Mother Greely,” said Nancy gaily, determinedly +recovering herself, “have you got any of those molasses +cakes you used to give us when we came +over?”</p> +<p>“Wal now, I think I hev,” said the old woman, +rising as quickly as her stiffened limbs would let +her.</p> +<p>Steve looked down at Nancy as Tildy went in, +smiled, and said:</p> +<p>“Shall we sit on the door-step, as we used to?”</p> +<p>Nancy’s eyes did not meet his, and she turned her +head to hide that provokingly rising colour as she +sat down in a matter-of-fact way.</p> +<p>When they rode away from the mill, having made +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_177' name='page_177'></a>177</span> +the aged couple happy with the renewal of old +times, Steve again with eager yearning strained his +inner vision for a glimpse into her heart, but she +betrayed not the slightest consciousness of the embarrassing +episode.</p> +<p>As the horses went leisurely back along through +the wood, Steve and Nancy talked gently of the two +old people with their wondrous mountain combination +of barest poverty, dense ignorance, keen intelligence, +simple kindliness and gentle dignity,––qualities +which the young folks were now prepared to recognize.</p> +<p>“It is curious how like two people grow from +constant association,” said Steve at last, musingly. +“The resemblance between the old miller and his +wife is striking, isn’t it?”</p> +<p>“Yes, it is,” returned Nancy; “the shape of face +and type of feature is the same in both, and as for +expression, each might be a mirror for the other.”</p> +<p>“It would be interesting to know which had most +influenced the other,” said Steve; “whether she has +conformed to his type or he to hers.”</p> +<p>“Old Nat and Tildy certainly furnish a good +opportunity for study of that problem,” said Nancy, +“for there has been little except the influence of each +upon the other to leave its impress.”</p> +<p>“The subject is an interesting field for the aspiring +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_178' name='page_178'></a>178</span> +investigator,” Steve went on. “I wonder that some +fine-spun, scientific theory has not already been +advanced,––but it only remains another formidable +matrimonial hazard,” he ended with his sudden +smile.</p> +<p>“It does indeed,” laughed Nancy. “Wouldn’t it +be dreadful to think of growing daily more and more +like some people?”</p> +<p>“And on the other hand,” promptly returned +Steve, “how delightful to think of growing more +and more like certain other people,” turning to her +with a light in his eye.</p> +<p>“But then there is the uncertainty,––which is most +likely to influence the other,” said Nancy, switching +dexterously away from hinted personal application, +and then with a dash of daring gaiety, adding, “When +you marry a girl with a crooked nose, will yours +begin to crook likewise, or will hers take on your +symmetrical lines?”</p> +<p>“But I am not going to take one with a crooked +nose,” said Steve, smiling significantly in spite of +himself.</p> +<p>“Perhaps not, but the question remains,––which +is most likely to conform, a husband or a wife,” said +Nancy, shying back to the abstract again, with pretty +positiveness. And then she called gaily, as she +touched Gyp with her whip and started both horses +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_179' name='page_179'></a>179</span> +off on a brisk canter, leaving the wood for the road, +“Please let me know if you solve the problem, so I +may be relieved in mind or forewarned.”</p> +<p>As she dashed on slightly ahead of him, spirit and +beauty in every line of pony and rider, Steve said to +himself with a quizzical smile:</p> +<p>“How cleverly she manages to keep me at arm’s +length. Oh, little Nancy, where did you learn such +tactics?” and he did not know that “such tactics” +were sure forerunners of surrender.</p> +<p>As for Nancy, she stood a little later by her bedroom +window. The trim, smart riding-habit was +laid aside and a little light muslin of almost childlike +simplicity had taken its place. She stood looking +out at nothing through brimming tears, with +flushed cheeks and quivering lips.</p> +<p>“I do blush so horridly when I am with him, and +I’m afraid I say things I shouldn’t. Oh, what makes +me, when I do like him so much!”</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_180' name='page_180'></a>180</span> +<a name='XIV_ALL_RIGHT_SON' id='XIV_ALL_RIGHT_SON'></a> +<h2>XIV</h2> +<h3>“ALL RIGHT, SON”</h3> +</div> +<p>After dinner Steve walked over to the store +with Mr. Follet, talked with him a little, and +then strolling up the street afterwards, he +was joined with great cordiality by Raymond Colton.</p> +<p>The talk was breezy as was inevitable with Raymond. +He had graduated at a great northern university +in June, had any amount of <i>sang froid</i> and +had as yet caught no glimpse of life save as a field +for pleasure.</p> +<p>“What do you think of Miss Nancy?” he inquired +enthusiastically. “Isn’t she the prettiest thing going? +I have seen them north, south, east, and west, +but I honestly believe I never saw a sweeter flower +growing than Nancy Follet!” he went on without +waiting for Steve to answer his question, so a smile +was all the response which seemed necessary.</p> +<p>“I came here,” went on Raymond, “to look after +a land proposition for father. They say there’s lots +of valuable coal and iron ore about here. I’ve dipped +a good deal into that sort of thing at college and +father sent me up to make some tests for him, and if +I found anything rich to take up a ‘claim’ instanter. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_181' name='page_181'></a>181</span> +I’ve been here three weeks and I haven’t done a +thing yet. Miss Nancy has fascinated me so, I +haven’t had eyes for sordid things. But there’s +plenty of time; no danger of anybody’s rushing in +ahead in this sleepy little burg.”</p> +<p>“I’m not so sure of that,” returned Steve quietly. +“You never know when somebody may slip in ahead +of you. Business competition is a very lively thing +I’ve been told, though I confess I don’t know much +about it,” he ended easily.</p> +<p>“Well, I’ve been getting a good bit of experience +in business here and there, and I can tell that there’s +nobody hanging about here that has much business +go.” He had no intention of being personal and +Steve bowed, smiling remotely.</p> +<p>After some more desultory talk they separated and +Steve went back to join Nancy on the porch where +he thought he would find her.</p> +<p>Raymond looked after him with a half smile.</p> +<p>“Poor old Steve,” he said to himself, “he’s caught +already, and the worst of it is, I am afraid he’s got +the best chance. She’s a dear little chum with me, +loves to sing to my tenor and laugh at my foolishness, +but I noticed last night the blushes were for +him.” And his handsome face set into unusual, firm +lines as he went on: “But I am going to win her! +I’ll do it in spite of him. To-night I’ll walk off with +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_182' name='page_182'></a>182</span> +her whether or no, and he’ll think his case is lost, for +he doesn’t know girls, I can see that.” And with +restored confidence he went over to the store to visit +Mr. Follet. He and Mr. Follet were on fine terms, +and he spent an hour or so at the store every day. +They seemed in fact to have some project in common +requiring much consultation.</p> +<p>Evening brought Raymond again to the Follet +porch, and after a little music and general talk, turning +to Mrs. Follet he said:</p> +<p>“Mother Follet, won’t you let us children, Miss +Nancy and me, go for a little walk together? It is +so hard for us to sit still.” He said it with mock +childishness that was irresistible, and without waiting +for Mrs. Follet’s consent, he laughingly grasped +Nancy’s hand and made off with her, whether or no.</p> +<p>Steve could not see the laughing but real protest +in Nancy’s face, and his lips set firmly as he watched +her white frock swaying gently up the long, straggling +street.</p> +<p>Mrs. Follet then went in and Mr. Follet, turning +to Steve, began in pleased excitement:</p> +<p>“Raymond’s mightily in love with her, ain’t he?” +and went on without waiting for a reply, “I can’t +tell about her,––you never can tell nothin’ about girls, +anyway, you know, and she’s just wrapped up in her +piano music. She spends hours thumpin’ on what +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_183' name='page_183'></a>183</span> +she calls classical music, but I wouldn’t give it for +one tune on the banjo. She’s been begging me to +let her go to New York and study, but Lord, she +knows as much now as any woman under the cano<i>pee</i>’s +got use for, I think, and I’ve told her she can’t +do it. Raymond says, though, she ought to go, and +that he’d like nothin’ better than to give her the +chance. His folks have got money, I reckon, and he +can do it all right. If anything’ll help to get her +that will.”</p> +<p>Steve laughed in reply with as good grace as he +could, and soon followed Mrs. Follet to bed as one +of the “old folks” before the “children” returned.</p> +<p>It was evident enough that he did not count with +anybody except the Greelys as a possible suitor for +Nancy, and his sturdy heart chafed in almost bitter +protest. Again sweet memories played truant in the +small attic chamber. “And little Nancy has musical +aspirations,” he thought. “With the life I have +chosen I could never gratify her. It is absolutely +hopeless for me,––I have nothing to offer her. I am +old and staid, anyway,” he said finally to his rebellious +heart. “I have known the responsibilities of +life too long, and Nancy is made only for joy.”</p> +<p>The next morning, putting aside his depression +sternly, Steve went on horseback alone, taking the +same road he and Nancy had taken the morning +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_184' name='page_184'></a>184</span> +before. He lingered again in the Greely woods, this +time on a prospecting tour testing here and testing +there carefully.</p> +<p>When he at last rode up to the little one-roomed +log cabin the old folks again made him welcome. +After chatting a goodly length of time with them, +and getting his voice well pitched for the old man’s +hearing, Steve asked if Mr. Greely would not like to +sell off some of his land.</p> +<p>The old man looked surprised at the question, for +no coal fields had then been opened up in that part of +Kentucky, so that he was not aware of the value of +coal bearing land.</p> +<p>“Wal, course I would, but nobody would want +ter buy hit. Thar’s only this patch the cabin and +mill sets on what’s any a’count, an’ that I want ter +keep long’s me an’ the ole woman lives.”</p> +<p>“I am sure you are mistaken about that, Mr. +Greely. I think all that woodland ridge is good +land, and I would like to own it. Will you and +Mrs. Greely think it over, give me a price on it by +to-morrow and let me have the first chance at it?”</p> +<p>Astonished beyond measure the old man looked +helplessly at his wife.</p> +<p>“Why, Steve, give me what ye think hit is wuth, +if you really want hit.”</p> +<p>“Mr. Greely, I must tell you frankly that I cannot +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_185' name='page_185'></a>185</span> +give what I think it is worth, but I can pay you +more a thousand times than you can ever get out +of it, for you are too old to attempt anything with it, +and there are no children. I think it can be made +to yield returns in ways of which you do not dream +or I wouldn’t buy it, but I do not <i>know</i> and I am +making a venture in buying it.”</p> +<p>The old man thought a minute, then said: “Wal, +I know as much now about hit as I will ter-morror +and you can have hit fer a hundred dollars, ef ye kin +pay that much.”</p> +<p>“No, Mr. Greely, I can’t take it for that,” said +Steve smiling; “it will be worth much more to me if +it is worth anything. I am willing to venture more +on it,” and he named a much larger sum than the +one asked.</p> +<p>The old man could not speak for amazement. He +had never heard of any one in “them parts” having +so much money at one time and the trade was +practically closed at once.</p> +<p>He left the old folks feeling like millionaires and +felt immense satisfaction himself that the deal had +progressed so well. If the old couple should live in +luxury, as they might conceive the word, for the +rest of their lives, they could never spend that sum +in the mountains.</p> +<p>Steve knew the lay of the land for miles around +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_186' name='page_186'></a>186</span> +and he felt sure there was nothing so valuable as the +Greely Ridge with the railroad lying not far from its +base.</p> +<p>Asking the Follets if he might leave his traps +there for a few days he went at once in the afternoon +to the county seat to take the necessary steps for the +transfer of the land, and found the title perfectly clear.</p> +<p>With elation over the assured deal and happy +expectation of more than cancelling his debt, he +telegraphed Mr. Polk what he had done. A reply +came promptly back saying, “I will be on at once +and bring expert.”</p> +<p>It was with mingled feelings that Steve thought +of the meeting as he busied himself with the details +completing the transaction, going over with a notary +public for the old folks to sign the papers, getting +everything ready for Mr. Polk’s signature as purchaser +since he was coming and one transfer would +be sufficient. He did not stop at the Follets, but +returned at once to meet his old friend.</p> +<p>When Mr. Polk stepped from the train and looked +again upon the boy he had loved as his own, he put +an arm about him, as he used to in the old days, and +said:</p> +<p>“How are you, son?”</p> +<p>“Well, thank you,” answered Steve, and both +voices trembled a little.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_187' name='page_187'></a>187</span></div> +<p>That was all, but it restored the old frank relations. +They talked with great interest about the purchase +and went as soon as possible with the expert to get +his opinion upon it. When careful tests of the +property had been made, the expert was enthusiastic.</p> +<p>“I believe it will prove to be a rich coal deposit, +and if well managed ought to bring you a small +fortune.”</p> +<p>That night when they returned to the little +“hotel,” so named, Mr. Polk and Steve talked long +and interestedly over plans for developing the mine. +Mr. Polk had pretty well-defined ideas for the immediate +organization of a company and the beginning +of operations.</p> +<p>Finally he turned to Steve and said:</p> +<p>“Son, I have grown since you left,––I hope, some +wiser, and that little woman made me see before I +left home that I had no right to dictate to you what +you should do with your life. I know you have +worked hard these three years, or you never could +have saved money enough to buy this piece of land, +even at so small a price, and I don’t doubt you have +done good at the same time. But I still feel that +you might do just as good work perhaps by earning +money for the cause you are so greatly interested in, +so I am going to make a proposition to you. Suppose +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_188' name='page_188'></a>188</span> +you take the oversight of this mining business, +handling the money and seeing that everything goes +straight. We could well afford to pay you a good +salary for this service and give you some shares in +the company too. Then you can live right here +and exert your influence upon your people, as you +call them, at the same time.”</p> +<p>Steve listened intently, and the thought of money, +and Nancy and music lessons, while he remained in +the mountains, made his brain whirl.</p> +<p>Finally he put out his hand. “You hev allus been +kind an’ generous ter me,” he said uncertainly, with +emotion which carried him back for an instant to the +old-time speech. Then lifting his head he smiled +and added, “Let me think of this till to-morrow.”</p> +<p>Mr. Polk agreed, and they separated for the night.</p> +<p>It was again a time of sore temptation for Steve. +All night he tossed and thought. In spite of recurring +depression he had not given up hope of winning +Nancy. Her desire for musical advantages had been +the most discouraging thing of all, however, and if +he accepted this offer, he could hope to give her what +she wanted, while since Raymond was not accepted +he felt free to win her if he could. He pictured the +future with increasing exhilaration, as the night approached +its zenith, the time of keenest mental activity; +and then, as the ebb came with the waning +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_189' name='page_189'></a>189</span> +hours, suddenly a little figure reeled and staggered as +it tried to walk a crack in a cabin floor, and springing +from bed Steve strode to the window, and looked +out upon the silent, starry sky.</p> +<p>“Oh, God,” he said, “keep me from temptation;” +and after a time he went back to bed firm in the old +resolution that whatever the sacrifice involved, he +would give himself, and not money alone, to the +work. And then he slept.</p> +<p>Next morning he smiled his sudden smile as Mr. +Polk looked keenly into his face, and said:</p> +<p>“I guess I am incorrigible, Mr. Polk,––I can’t see +it except in the old way.”</p> +<p>“All right, son,” said Mr. Polk quietly, and when +they separated it was with a warm hand-clasp as Mr. +Polk exacted a promise that Steve would visit them +his first opportunity. “‘The little mother’ longs to +see her boy,” he said affectionately; then added, +“Some day we hope to be in shape to help you with +your work.”</p> +<p>When he was gone Steve left for the Follets again. +A great peace had come upon him with the renewal +of his resolution, and his heart leaped at the prospect +of seeing Nancy again.</p> +<p>“How long it seems since I left her,” he laughed +to himself, and the thought sprang to his mind from +out the ever active realm of human hope: “Perhaps +I shall win her yet by some miracle!”</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_190' name='page_190'></a>190</span> +<a name='XV_FLICKERING_HOPE' id='XV_FLICKERING_HOPE'></a> +<h2>XV</h2> +<h3>FLICKERING HOPE</h3> +</div> +<p>It was with keen satisfaction that Steve caught a +glimpse of Nancy’s white dress out under the +trees upon his return to the Follets. He hurried +over to the bench where she sat.</p> +<p>“Is there anything more satisfying than these +Kentucky mountains?” he said, with enthusiasm, as +he seated himself beside her. “There is something +that constantly assures me I belong to them.”</p> +<p>“I have wondered that you were not captured by +the city with all its allurements,” said Nancy.</p> +<p>“No,” returned Steve, “though perhaps I might +have been at first had not my little foster-mother +been loyal to Kentucky mountain need. But my experience +the past three years as teacher has made it +impossible for me to ever get away from the outstretched +hand of Kentucky mountain children,” and +his voice dropped into deep earnestness.</p> +<p>“I can understand how you feel,” said Nancy after +a little silence. “I could not help being interested +in the school when it was opened here. Little children +came trudging in from the most barren cabin +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_191' name='page_191'></a>191</span> +homes, wide-eyed, and eager to ‘larn,’ and grown-up +men and women tramped barefoot miles and miles +every day to try to get some of the ‘larnin’ they’d +heard about. Then they would plod away with the +utmost patience trying to read and write. It was intensely +pathetic. Nothing has ever touched and interested +me so much as some supply work I have +done for our school,” she added, a light upon her +face, which thrilled Steve’s heart anew. What a help +she could be to him in his chosen work!</p> +<p>“I am so glad you have felt the appeal of mountain +need,” said he, struggling to keep the thrill out of his +voice. And then he told her of his hopes and plans, +of the dream he had of a new school within reach of +Hollow Hut, a region to which new possibilities were +about to come, he had learned at the county seat, +through a projected railroad line. Of how he hoped +to have help in the work from Mr. and Mrs. Polk and +perhaps other capitalists of the north, and she was +most interested, most appreciative, showing all the +sweet seriousness of little Nancy of old.</p> +<p>But this long talk of some two hours which revealed +again congenial tastes and ideals of life for the +two only served to make Steve’s heart more intensely +rebellious when, after supper, Raymond walked in +once more with his debonair proprietorship of Nancy. +As it happened she had just stepped out under the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_192' name='page_192'></a>192</span> +trees to get a bit of fancy work left there in the afternoon, +and Raymond joining her, barricaded the way +to the house, insisting that the “old folks” were glad +to get rid of them, till she laughingly sat with him +there. It had been purely accidental, her going out +just then, and she remained with inward protest, but +Steve could only see in it complete surrender to the +ardent suitor.</p> +<p>Mrs. Follet had not yet come out and Mr. Follet +turned to Steve, laughing in a pleased way.</p> +<p>“I don’t mind telling you, for I know you are interested,” +he said confidentially, “that Raymond +told me this morning he was simply crazy about her, +he couldn’t wait any longer, and was going to pop +the question to-night. I s’pose there ain’t much +question about it though, for I reckon she’s as much +in love as he, though,––as I said, you never can +tell.”</p> +<p>And he little suspected that what he said seemed +to Steve the death-knell to his hopes.</p> +<p>Mr. Follet continued loquaciously: “Raymond’s +the greatest fellow I ever saw. Everybody likes +him. Why, he’s in with the moonshiners about here +hand and glove, and they’re powerful offish. Never +saw anything under the cano<i>pee</i> like him. He has +big plans too, about some of the land round here +which he says is full of coal. He’s looked a little at +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_193' name='page_193'></a>193</span> +the Greely Ridge; he thinks that’s the finest piece, +but he hasn’t been over it carefully yet––been too +much in love, you know,” and he laughed contentedly.</p> +<p>Steve made conventional reply, and admitting he +was quite tired, went to the little attic for another +restless, unhappy night.</p> +<p>If the good fairies had only visited his couch and +whispered their story of what was going on under the +trees, how sweet would have been his sleep! But +they did not.</p> +<p>Next morning Steve announced at the breakfast +table that he must be leaving the following morning; +a few days off from work for pleasure was all he +could take with good grace.</p> +<p>Mr. and Mrs. Follet expressed their regret, while +Nancy’s eyes were upon her plate. Mr. Follet was +complaining of some sciatic pain, but tried to throw +it off with his usual nervous energy.</p> +<p>“Nancy,” he said, “you haven’t taken Steve over +to Borden’s Cave, which has been discovered since +he was here. Why don’t you go this morning?”</p> +<p>“Why, I should be glad to,” responded Nancy, +and Steve, feeling that her agreement was upon the +basis of the old family relationship between them, +made no excuse, though he did not doubt, with the +fatality of anxious lovers, that the engagement had +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_194' name='page_194'></a>194</span> +taken place. The two started off with Gyp and the +family horse for a three mile canter, and Steve’s +spirit rose with the exhilaration of it in spite of himself.</p> +<p>The cave proved to be a most interesting rock +formation and when they had examined it, Steve +pointing out some curious scientific facts, they sat +down in the quiet woods upon a fallen tree trunk, +while the horses grazed.</p> +<p>Nancy looked up at him when they were seated, +and said naively:</p> +<p>“How much you have learned in these last busy +years!”</p> +<p>“Have I?” said Steve, his eyes brightening. “I +am especially glad you think I have used my time +well, because I can never forget that it was you who +taught me my letters,––even how to spell my name,” +and he turned kindling eyes upon her.</p> +<p>“Did I?” she said, laughing and flushing.</p> +<p>“Yes,” he returned, and a bit of tenderness crept +into his voice. “I will never forget how you did it, +how picturesquely you characterized the various +letters for me, how you thought curly S the very +prettiest letter in the alphabet, and how disappointed +I was when I found my poor name did not hold a +single letter which belonged to yours,” and there was +such deep pathos in the last words, as he looked far +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_195' name='page_195'></a>195</span> +into the distance, that she stirred uneasily and could +make no answer.</p> +<p>After a moment he went on: “I suppose I read +in it, even then, a prophecy of our future, how yours +must be separate from mine. There could be nothing +in common.”</p> +<p>And still she was dumb; not a word came to her +lips. But he seemed to need no reply; a sad +meditativeness was stealing upon him which made +him oblivious for the moment of his surroundings.</p> +<p>But suddenly setting his lips firmly, he turned and +said with forced lightness:</p> +<p>“What a bear bachelorhood makes of a man! I +have spent so much time alone the last few years +that I am already acquiring the bad habit of thinking +my thoughts aloud sometimes. Forgive me, won’t +you?” And he turned to her with more in the tone +than the simple words could convey.</p> +<p>“I have nothing to forgive,” said she, but with an +effort,––which he misinterpreted.</p> +<p>Then gathering her wits she repeated, “I have +nothing to forgive, but everything for which to +thank you. My starting you in the life intellectual +cannot compare with your finding me hanging by a +mere thread from a tall tree top and restoring me to +the life physical, without which my brilliant intellectual +attainments would have been as nothing,” she +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_196' name='page_196'></a>196</span> +ended gaily, breaking the tension which both had +felt.</p> +<p>The talk continued to drift near the sacred realm +of the heart, however, until the sanctity of engagement +was finally touched upon.</p> +<p>“An engagement is to me a very sacred thing,” +said Nancy with sweet seriousness, in response to +something from Steve. “I have never understood +how it could be lightly entered into with only the +basis of a brief, gay acquaintance.”</p> +<p>Was not that just what she had done? “Oh, consistency, +thy name is certainly not woman,” thought +Steve bitterly. He said:</p> +<p>“Oh, yes, that is good theory, but it is generally +overwhelmed by practice when a gay cavalier comes +along and takes the maiden heart by storm.”</p> +<p>“Perhaps so, with some,” returned Nancy quietly, +“but so far as I am concerned I do not believe I +could be deceived into thinking that a brief, gay acquaintance +was sufficient assurance for the binding +of two in the tenderest tie of life, when their tastes +and ideals might prove to be totally at variance.”</p> +<p>Steve’s heart leaped within him. Was she trying +to tell him something,––to undeceive him with regard +to Raymond and herself? Impetuous words rose +and trembled on his lips, while the thought raced +through his brain that it would not be dishonourable +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_197' name='page_197'></a>197</span> +to ask if there were the least hope for him. He +would not utter another word if she said the sacred +tie was already entered into with Raymond.</p> +<p>But Nancy, in the yielding and yet withdrawing +which is characteristic of woman and man never fully +understands, plunged into a new topic. Frightened +at the plainness of her revelation and almost seeming +to divine his purpose, with her brightest talk she led +him far afield.</p> +<p>Steve, however, baffled though he was, found +memory of that shy look coming back to him insistently, +till he suddenly, firmly determined as they +rode home once more that Nancy Follet should have +the opportunity of accepting or refusing him before +he left the place!</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_198' name='page_198'></a>198</span> +<a name='XVI_IN_THE_CRUCIBLE' id='XVI_IN_THE_CRUCIBLE'></a> +<h2>XVI</h2> +<h3>IN THE CRUCIBLE</h3> +</div> +<p>When Steve and Nancy reached home +they found Mr. Follet in bed suffering intensely +with sciatic pains. He fretted constantly, +declaring he would get up whether or no by +afternoon. He was obliged to make a trip into the +country for a load of hay, able or not, that evening, +he said. Steve offered to go for him, but Mr. Follet +impatiently declared that nobody could do it but +himself, as there was some other business to be attended +to at the same time.</p> +<p>The pain continued so severe, however, that +getting up was an impossibility, and about seven +o’clock after fretting and fuming for hours, occupying +Mrs. Follet and Nancy continually, he said to +his wife:</p> +<p>“Go tell Steve to come here.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Follet obeyed and brought Steve in from +the porch where he sat supposedly reading, Nancy +being busy then with the supper dishes.</p> +<p>“Now you go out, ma, and don’t come back till I +tell you,” said Mr. Follet querulously, and his wife +went wonderingly.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_199' name='page_199'></a>199</span></div> +<p>“Steve,” said Mr. Follet as soon as the young +man entered, “I know I can trust you, and I am +going to get you to do some important business for +me.”</p> +<p>“I will certainly do anything for you, Mr. Follet, +with great pleasure, and I appreciate more than I +can tell you the fact that you feel you can trust me,” +said Steve warmly.</p> +<p>“Well,” said Mr. Follet, a little uneasily, “this is +mighty partic’ler business I’ve got. The fact is,” he +went on with nervous energy, “a part of the world +is getting so good it ain’t content with just being +good itself but is bound and determined that the rest +of the world shall do just as it says, and there’s a +good bit of difference of opinion about what goodness +strictly is.”</p> +<p>Steve listened a little surprised at the homily. +Then Mr. Follet went on:</p> +<p>“I ain’t ever cared anything about liquor myself, +though I could have had all I wanted all my life long, +but I am willing other people should make it, and +have it, or sell it, all they want to.”</p> +<p>Steve looked more surprised and his lips settled +just a little into firmer lines, but Mr. Follet failed to +notice it.</p> +<p>“Now, old Kaintuck, which has always been the +freest state in the Union, has got a passle o’ folks +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_200' name='page_200'></a>200</span> +turned loose in it just like the folks I was telling you +about. They’re so good themselves they ain’t satisfied +till they make everybody else do just as they +say. They’re making laws in the towns that no +liquor can be sold, and I tell you men of old Kaintuck +ain’t goin’ to stand that and I don’t blame ’em,” +he concluded vehemently.</p> +<p>Steve started to reply, his lips growing firmer, and +his eyes taking fire, but Mr. Follet gave him no +chance.</p> +<p>“Now, I promised some fellows that I would meet +’em to-night,––and bring home a load of hay,” he +ended with an excited laugh.</p> +<p>“A load of hay with whiskey enclosed?” asked +Steve, instantly suspecting.</p> +<p>“Yes,” said Mr. Follet, delighted with Steve’s +quickness, “that’s the idee. Then I unload it in my +barn and ship it as I please to these dry towns. +I’m in for the law as a general thing,” he added +quickly, “but I believe in folks having their rights.”</p> +<p>“Well, Mr. Follet,” said Steve, going to the foot +of the bed and leaning hard upon it, “we must +understand each other at once. I do not agree with +you as to our rights. I do not think we have the +right to destroy ourselves or others with any weapon +whatsoever, the pistol, the knife, poison or whiskey. +I am with the law in every particular,” he said firmly.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_201' name='page_201'></a>201</span></div> +<p>“With the law,” exclaimed Mr. Follet excitedly, +“when it says a man can’t do with his own corn on +his own place what he wants to do with it? A +man’s got as good a right, in my mind, to put up a +still and make whiskey out of his corn as his wife +has to gather apples and make pies!” he concluded, +fairly quivering with excitement.</p> +<p>Steve held himself quietly, and said gently:</p> +<p>“Mr. Follet, you are too ill for me to discuss these +things with you now. I see we look at them from +totally different points of view.”</p> +<p>“There ain’t but one point of view,” shrilly returned +Mr. Follet, “and that’s the point of view of +man’s rights. Why, it won’t be long till a man can’t +milk his own cow without the government standing +round to watch her switch her tail and tell him how +to do it,––all ready to grab the money if he sells a +little to a neighbour!”</p> +<p>“Well, Mr. Follet,” said Steve, looking steadily +but kindly in the enraged eyes of his opponent, +“there is one thing that we do agree upon, and that +is, every man has a right to his own opinion,” and +the kindness in Steve’s eyes merged into his sudden +smile, which stemmed a little the rising tide of Mr. +Follet’s wrath.</p> +<p>After a somewhat subdued pause he turned to +Steve appealingly:</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_202' name='page_202'></a>202</span></div> +<p>“But you will go and get this load for me,––you +will have no responsibility about it. I have never +had anything to do with moonshiners before,” he +went on, “but Raymond got in with ’em and thinks it +would be a huge joke to send a lot of their whiskey +to his friends in these ‘dry towns,’ and that prohibition +business has riled me so that I promised I would +help pass the stuff along. Raymond’s going to hang +around the saloon and the station to see that the +coast is clear o’ government men, while the thing is +goin’ on.”</p> +<p>“No,” said Steve instantly and firmly when Mr. +Follet was through, “I cannot do it, Mr. Follet, +greatly as it grieves me to refuse you a favour. I +feel that whiskey, the knife and the pistol have been +Kentucky’s greatest curses, especially among the +people of the mountains. I would lay down my life, +if necessary, for mountain folks, but I long instead +to spend it for them in replacing the pistol and the +knife with the book and the pen, and in cultivating +among them a thirst for knowledge instead of drink,” +said Steve with quiet passion which held Mr. Follet’s +unwilling attention. Then he added:</p> +<p>“Understand me, Mr. Follet, I do not attempt to +decide for you what is right or wrong, I only know +that I cannot do this thing you ask and keep my +self-respect. I must live within the laws of my +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_203' name='page_203'></a>203</span> +country even if I should feel sometimes that they are +unjust, and I can never take even a remote part in +the distribution of whiskey in the land I love,” he +concluded earnestly.</p> +<p>At this Mr. Follet fairly shouted in a sudden access +of rage. He was all the more angry for the moment +because in the light of Steve’s clear statement he not +only felt that Steve was right, but that he himself +was wrong.</p> +<p>“Then leave my house this instant with your contemptible +idees about Kentucky’s rights, and don’t +dare to stop and speak to my wife or my daughter.”</p> +<p>“It is your house, Mr. Follet; I will do just as +you say,” Steve replied.</p> +<p>Mr. Follet reiterated shrilly:</p> +<p>“Go on out of my house then, and don’t you ever +come near it again.”</p> +<p>Steve bowed and left, not even stopping to get his +travelling bag; in fact he forgot he had one, and +only caught up his hat from the porch as he passed +out.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_204' name='page_204'></a>204</span> +<a name='XVII_FRUITION' id='XVII_FRUITION'></a> +<h2>XVII</h2> +<h3>FRUITION</h3> +</div> +<p>Mrs. Follet and Nancy knew that something +very exciting was going on between +Mr. Follet and Steve and both were exceedingly +anxious. When silence took the place of +heated discussion they could bear it no longer and +went to Mr. Follet’s door.</p> +<p>Mrs. Follet had never seen her husband so wrought +up before, though he had always been of an exciteable +temperament. She did not dare ask a question, +but busied herself doing little things for his comfort +while Nancy brought in his supper, which he had +not wanted earlier and still querulously refused to +touch.</p> +<p>A terrible silence settled upon them all. Nancy sat +on the porch in distressed wonder over what had +happened between her father and Steve, while Mrs. +Follet, equally anxious, sat silently by the bed of the +restless man. She proposed to get a neighbour to +go for the doctor, but Mr. Follet wouldn’t hear of it. +Hours passed by and then Mr. Follet suddenly started +up in bed.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_205' name='page_205'></a>205</span></div> +<p>“My God,” he cried wildly, “they’ll kill him!”</p> +<p>“Who?” cried his wife, starting up also, while +Nancy’s white face at once appeared in the door.</p> +<p>“Why, Steve,” screamed Mr. Follet. “He’s gone, +and I don’t doubt he went straight to old man Greely’s +for the night. If he did, he’s cut across the woods +and run into some moonshiners. They’ll take him +for a government man and shoot him soon’s they lay +eyes on him!”</p> +<p>He paused for breath, and Mrs. Follet and Nancy +were too appalled to speak.</p> +<p>“Do something,” screamed Mr. Follet; “I can’t +have the boy’s blood on my hands!”</p> +<p>Then Mrs. Follet with her gentle strength made him +quiet down enough to tell them particulars, and she +learned that Mr. Follet was to have gone after a load +of hay, and coming back would stop at the edge of +the wood leading to old man Greely’s, walk into the +woods a piece to meet the men, and then, if the coast +was clear, they’d hide the liquor in the hay load. At +the end she said:</p> +<p>“You must go, Nancy–––”</p> +<p>“Yes,” cried Mr. Follet, “you must go, child, and +save Steve. Jim Sutton will know you. They won’t +touch you, and they’ll believe you. I was a fool +ever to have anything to do with that moonshine +business!”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_206' name='page_206'></a>206</span></div> +<p>But Nancy was already out of the room flying for +the stable. There was no thought of riding habit or +saddle. Throwing a bridle over Gyp’s head, she +sprang upon his back and like the wind the two +rushed forth into the midnight stillness. Would she +be in time to save him? It had been so long since +he left the house. Oh, would she be too late? She +urged Gyp wildly on and on, along the road directly +towards the Greely woods, where she would find the +moonshiners, and perhaps,––oh, perhaps! God only +knew what else she might find.</p> +<p>Every throbbing pulse beat became a prayer that +she might be in time to save him.</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p>Meanwhile Steve, upon leaving Mr. Follet, had not +gone out into the street, but crossing the lawn into +the driveway he went past the stable to the wood +back of the house from whence he had come so many +years ago. His mind and heart were in a tumult. +He scarcely thought where he was going till he suddenly +became conscious that he was in the old wood +where he had rescued Nancy so long ago. Little +Nancy! And he had loved her ever since consciously +or unconsciously. But she was completely lost to +him now,––that was final. The fair dream-structure +which had risen anew that afternoon had fallen again +in a tragic moment’s space. The mountain blood in +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_207' name='page_207'></a>207</span> +Mr. Follet would never forget or forgive. He must +leave the place forever. He was adrift again in the +world. There would never be tender home ties for +him,––he could never love another, no one could be +a part of his very self like little Nancy. He dropped +down upon a little seat which he had fixed there for +her in the old days, and was lost in depressed thought, +taking no note of how long he remained.</p> +<p>The stillness of the wood quieted him finally, as it +had always done, and he remembered his old friends +the Greelys. They would be glad to have him come +in for breakfast in the morning, and for the night he +would sleep in the Greely woods. He would feel +very near to Nancy there, for that spot was hallowed +by her memory as no other for him. He rose and +made his way over into the road which led to the +wood.</p> +<p>It was a brilliant moonlight night, and he walked +on under the majestic beauty of the firmament with +quieted spirit.</p> +<p>Suddenly, as he had almost reached the wood, he +heard rapid hoof-beats behind him and paused to listen, +for it was a little-travelled road. Nearer and +nearer they came, and then he could distinguish a +white dress fluttering in the wind from the flying animal’s +back and knew the rider must be a woman. +The speed of the horse began to slacken as she was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_208' name='page_208'></a>208</span> +almost upon him, and he saw that it was Gyp and +Nancy!</p> +<p>She also had recognized him, and the next instant +she sprang from the pony and stood beside him.</p> +<p>“Oh, Steve,” she panted, “they will kill you!” +and stretched her shaking hands out to him. Her +agitation was pitiable. Unconsciously he drew her +instantly within his arms, while he said with equal +unconsciousness:</p> +<p>“Why, Nancy, darling, what do you mean?”</p> +<p>For answer she dropped her head upon his breast +and sobbed convulsively.</p> +<p>He held her close, stroking her face and soothing +her with tenderest words of love till she was able to +speak again.</p> +<p>“The moonshiners that father was to meet, Steve,––they +are in the Greely wood, and they will think +you are a revenue man and kill you sure,” she said +brokenly. “You were going there, weren’t you?”</p> +<p>“Yes,” he said gravely.</p> +<p>“Father thought you would and sent me for you. +Oh, it was dreadful, the terror of it,” she said shuddering +and sobbing anew.</p> +<p>Again he soothed her with caresses and whispered, +“But, sweetheart, you know I am not going there +now,––not when I can hold you like this.” And she +nestled in his arms at last in quiet happiness.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_209' name='page_209'></a>209</span></div> +<p>Finally she lifted her head and smiled up at him. +He turned her face up to the moon’s full light and +looked longingly into it.</p> +<p>“Nancy, do you love me?” he said.</p> +<p>“Oh, Steve, I’ve always loved you, I think,” she +softly replied.</p> +<p>“And it never was Raymond?” he went on insistently, +his voice taking on a resonant ring.</p> +<p>“Not in the least,” she returned. Then smiling +demurely at him she said, “Oh, Steve, you weren’t +nearly so stupid in learning your letters!”</p> +<p>And he punished her with kisses.</p> +<p>“Do you remember,” he said at last tenderly, +looking over at the Greely wood, “that you asked +me when a little girl to build a house for you and +me over there where we might live always?”</p> +<p>“Yes,” she said with a touch of sweet reluctance, +“I confess I have always remembered that childish +speech,––with an intuitive knowledge that I shouldn’t +have made it, I suppose.”</p> +<p>“While I have always treasured it consciously or +unconsciously,” he returned, with eager joy creeping +into the tenderness of his voice. “You were a +blessed little prophetess, for it is here under the +shadow of the old wood that love has at last built +for us the fairest, holiest structure earth ever knew.”</p> +<p>Then they remembered the hour of the night and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_210' name='page_210'></a>210</span> +the anxiety of her father and mother, and started +back down the road, Nancy saying she would like to +walk a little and Steve leading Gyp, who had been +unconcernedly grazing by the roadside.</p> +<p>After a time the lover went on again joyously:</p> +<p>“We have equal right to one another now, have +we not, sweetheart, for if I saved you from possible +death at the moment of our meeting, you have probably +saved me from a tragic end to-night. It is the +way of our mountain life,” he added, his voice taking +on a note of sadness; “our joy must always be +mingled with tragedy until we learn the beautiful +ways of peace.”</p> +<p>Then he stopped again and turned her face up to +the moonlight once more.</p> +<p>“Will you be content, dearest, to help me in the +work I have chosen,––it will probably mean sacrifice,––the +giving up of your ambitions.”</p> +<p>She smiled back with a low, “More than content, +if I may be always with you.”</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p>The next day Steve met Raymond on the street, +and the latter was more serious than Steve had ever +seen him.</p> +<p>“Well, old fellow,” he said with an attempt at a +smile, “you’ve licked me again. I know all about +the sale of Greely Ridge and your narrow escape last +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_211' name='page_211'></a>211</span> +night. Those two things, I admit, show me I am a +good deal of a fool, and something of a cad as I used +to be. I want you to know that the business with +the moonshiners is all off. The other victory you’ve +won over me I can’t talk about. I acknowledge you +deserve her though, more than I do, and I wish you +luck.”</p> +<p>Before Steve could reply he went on: “You got +some hard knocks when you were a boy, Steve, and +they did you good. That is when we need them +most. These are the first real blows I have ever had. +I’ve always been in for a good time and had it, but I +don’t believe it pays. Father is going to be no end +put out with me about the loss of that coal land. +I’m going home and make a clean breast of it,––then +I am going to clear out. I’ve decided this morning +to write Mr. Polk and see if he has any chance for me +there. I know he will give it to me, if he has, for +father’s sake.”</p> +<p>“That is just the thing,” said Steve heartily. “I +feel sure he can take you in, and the game of business +is so interesting there, I know you will like it, +and I believe you will make good.” He extended +his hand with the last words and Raymond took it +with a warm clasp.</p> +<hr class='tb' /> +<p>Mr. Polk’s mine was promptly opened up and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_212' name='page_212'></a>212</span> +proved to be a valuable property. In the formation +of his company some shares had been placed in the +name of Stephen Langly. At the end of two years +they began to yield good returns and Steve felt that +this, with the income from his work, would make +comfort assured for Nancy. Then came a wedding +in the Follet home, and just before the company arrived +for the ceremony Mr. and Mrs. Polk, her eyes +shining as of old, slipped into the little parlour and +placed on the carpet, for the bride and groom to +stand upon, a beautiful fox-skin rug with a history.</p> +<p>Mr. Follet coming in a moment later nudged his +wife excitedly and said:</p> +<p>“Can you tell where under the cano<i>pee</i> you ever +saw that before?” while she nodded smiling assent.</p> +<p>It caught the eye of Steve as he entered with +Nancy on his arm, and he took his place upon it +with firm, glad step.</p> +<p>Mr. and Mrs. Polk were obliged to hurry away as +soon as the congratulations were over, in order to +get back to New York in time for the wedding of +Raymond and Nita Trowbridge,––Raymond having +well fulfilled Steve’s prophecy of making good.</p> +<p>In the fall four years later when the mountains +glowed with unusually brilliant colour, as though +nature had caught the glory tints of fresh, bright +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_213' name='page_213'></a>213</span> +hope for her people, Steve and Nancy opened a new +school. Its well-equipped, modern buildings crowned +the old wooded mountain of Steve’s boyhood, and +Steve the second, a sturdy boy, came daily with little +Champ to school. The “still” had passed away +with the passing of Champ, the elder, in a mountain +fight, and a new day had dawned for Hollow Hut.</p> +<p style='text-align:center; margin-top:2em;'>THE END</p> +<p style='text-align:center; margin-top:2em;font-size:smaller;'>Printed in the United States of America</p> +<hr class='pb' /> +<hr class='adpage2' /> + +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.2em;'>RECENT BOOKS OF WORTH</p> + +<hr class='adpage' /> + +<p style='text-decoration:underline'><i>AGNES SLIGH TURNBULL</i></p> + +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.2em;'>Far Above Rubies</p> + +<p>Heart Stories of Bible Women.</p> + +<p style='text-align:right'><i>Second Edition</i>. Illustrated, $2.00</p> + +<p><i>Chicago Evening Post:</i> “Here at last are Bible women +revealed through the sympathetic, creative imagination of +a woman, who with great dramatic sense lifts one out of +the present into Bethsaida and Capernaum.” <i>The Bookman</i> +says: “There is poetry of spirit, deep, clear understanding, +and fine revelation. Imaginative––yes, but fine +spiritual imagination of woman’s heart in the moving +drama of familiar Biblical scenes.”</p> + +<p style='text-decoration:underline'><i>JOHN D. FREEMAN</i></p> + +<p style='text-align:right'><i>Author of “Fan of Belseys,” Etc</i>.</p> + +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.2em;'>Kennedy’s Second Best</p> + +<p>A Story of the Great Northwest. $2.00</p> + +<p>“A moving, deeply-stirring story, the scenes of which +are chiefly amid the broad acres of the ranch-lands of +Alberta. A novel of interest and power, about the Northwest +which Ralph Connor made familiar––delightful +humor, mingled tragedy, comedy and romance.”––<i>Springfield +Republican</i>.</p> + +<p style='text-decoration:underline'><i>ANNE S. LEE</i></p> + +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.2em;'>When Rome Reigned</p> + +<p>A Story of the Dawn-Time of Christianity.</p> + +<p style='text-align:right'>Illustrated, $1.75</p> + +<p>“A story of the dawn-time of Christianity. It has its +love story and its chapters of excitement worked in with +such historic background as to give a running commentary +on those fateful and perilous times.”––<i>Bookman</i>.</p> + +<hr class='adpage2' /> + +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.2em;'>JUVENILE</p> + +<hr class='adpage' /> + +<p style='text-decoration:underline'><i>DILLON WALLACE</i></p> + +<p style='text-align:right'><i>Author of “The Lure of the Labrador Wild,” “The<br /> +Gaunt Gray Wolf,” “Grit-a-Plenty,” etc</i>.</p> + +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.2em;'>The Way to Burning Mountain</p> + +<p>A Boy’s Story of Adventures in the Great Canadian +Wilderness. Illustrated, $1.75</p> + +<p>“Boys who love stories of courage and adventure will +enjoy Dillon Wallace’s latest. The characters are real +boys and the book opens up a life that will be new to most +of our boys, and is decidedly worth while.”––<i>C. E. World</i>.</p> + +<hr class='adpage2' /> + +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.2em;'>WORKS ON MISSIONS</p> + +<hr class='adpage' /> + +<p style='text-decoration:underline'><i>BELLE M. BRAIN (Compiler)</i></p> + +<p class='tp' style='font-size:smaller;text-align:right;'><i>Compiler of “Love Stories of Great Missionaries,” etc</i>.</p> + +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.2em;'>From Every Tribe and Nation</p> + +<p>Fifty New Missionary Stories. $1.50</p> + +<p style='font-size:smaller;'>This new compilation of missionary stories tells of inspiring +lives of Christian converts on the foreign field. +Workers in Sunday Schools, missionary meetings, and +mission study classes, and also preachers of missionary +sermons, will find them very usable and effective. Miss +Brain’s earlier popular books of missionary stories foretell +an extensive use of the new volume.</p> + +<p style='text-decoration:underline'><i>AMY CARMICHAEL</i></p> + +<p style='text-align:right'><i>Author of “Things as They Are,” etc</i>.</p> + +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.2em;'>Raj, Brigand Chief</p> + +<p>A Robin Hood of Southern India. Illus., $2.50</p> + +<p style='font-size:smaller;'>A true story of adventure, outlawry, persecution and +endurance centering around Raj, a young athlete of southern +India, well-born and prosperous, who though innocent +of crime, fell into the hands of the native police. Almost +incredible in spite of its truth, the book is thrilling in +every incident and in every sense of the word.</p> + +<p style='text-decoration:underline'><i>MAUDE WHITMORE MADDEN</i></p> + +<p style='text-align:right'><i>Author of “In the Land of the Cherry Blossoms,”</i></p> + +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.2em;'>Young Hearts in Old Japan</p> + +<p>Japanese-American Interpretations. Illustrated, $1.50</p> + +<p style='font-size:smaller;'>The color, the fragrance, the delicacy and the indefinable +charm of Japan––all these are in this new vivid and alluring +volume by Mrs. Madden. The captivating chapters +vibrate with human interest. This is a book to enlarge +one’s understanding of the Japanese, to increase one’s admiration +for them, and to quicken one’s appreciation of +the value of Christian missions among them.</p> + +<hr class='adpage2' /> + +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.2em;'>HOME MISSIONS</p> + +<hr class='adpage' /> + +<p style='text-decoration:underline'><i>JOHN T. FARIS</i></p> + +<p style='text-align:right'><i>Author of “Making Good,” etc</i>.</p> + +<p class='tp' style='font-size:1.2em;'>The Alaskan Pathfinder</p> + +<p>The Story of Sheldon Jackson.</p> + +<p>New edition, with introduction by Dr. John A. +Marquis, Gen. Sec. Presbyterian Board of National +Missions. Illustrated, $1.50</p> + +<p style='font-size:smaller;'>“Dr. Sheldon Jackson did a pioneer work in Alaska +that can never be repeated and that will not need to be +done again. The story is here told with all its adventure +and romance, and as Dr. Marquis says in concluding his +Introduction, ‘Missionary, Explorer, Educator and Social +Builder, his story must never be forgotten.”’––<i>Presbyterian +Banner</i>.</p> + +<!-- generated by ppg.rb version: 3.19 --> +<!-- timestamp: Tue Oct 27 17:05:18 -0600 2009 --> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Boy from Hollow Hut, by Isla May Mullins + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOY FROM HOLLOW HUT *** + +***** This file should be named 30356-h.htm or 30356-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/0/3/5/30356/ + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/old/30356-h/images/f0002-image.jpg b/old/30356-h/images/f0002-image.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c47e562 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/30356-h/images/f0002-image.jpg diff --git a/old/30356-h/images/f0003-image.jpg b/old/30356-h/images/f0003-image.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a5dba04 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/30356-h/images/f0003-image.jpg diff --git a/old/30356-h/images/p0070a-insert.jpg b/old/30356-h/images/p0070a-insert.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..301a0f1 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/30356-h/images/p0070a-insert.jpg diff --git a/old/30356-h/images/p0142a-insert.jpg b/old/30356-h/images/p0142a-insert.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..bf1e1b3 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/30356-h/images/p0142a-insert.jpg diff --git a/old/30356-h/images/p0174a-insert.jpg b/old/30356-h/images/p0174a-insert.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..673e29d --- /dev/null +++ b/old/30356-h/images/p0174a-insert.jpg diff --git a/old/30356.txt b/old/30356.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0fd1acf --- /dev/null +++ b/old/30356.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5661 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Boy from Hollow Hut, by Isla May Mullins + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Boy from Hollow Hut + A Story of the Kentucky Mountains + +Author: Isla May Mullins + +Release Date: October 29, 2009 [EBook #30356] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOY FROM HOLLOW HUT *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + +THE BOY FROM HOLLOW HUT + + + + +[Illustration: "I kin kill rabbits if I can't do nothin' else"] + + + + +The Boy From Hollow Hut + +A STORY OF THE KENTUCKY MOUNTAINS + +By ISLA MAY MULLINS + +Illustrated + +New York Chicago Toronto + +Fleming H. Revell Company + +London and Edinburgh + + + + +Copyright, 1911, by + +FLEMING H. REVELL COMPANY + +New York: 158 Fifth Avenue + +Chicago: 17 North Wabash Ave. + +London: 21 Paternoster Square + +Edinburgh: 75 Princes Street + + + + +To MRS. J. B. MARVIN + +Whose unceasing devotion to the cause of education in the +mountains of Kentucky inspired this little story + + + + +CONTENTS + + I. A STRANGER AND A PROMISE 11 + II. A PACKAGE BY MAIL 24 + III. IN THE WILDERNESS 36 + IV. A HALT ON THE ROAD 44 + V. A DOUBLE RESCUE 57 + VI. AN UNEXPECTED MEETING 72 + VII. A TRIP TO THE CITY 78 + VIII. OPPORTUNITY 91 + IX. A STARTLING APPEARANCE 98 + X. STEVE DEVELOPS A MIND OF HIS OWN 111 + XI. EXPERIENCE 129 + XII. LOVE'S AWAKENING 149 + XIII. OLD TIES RENEWED 160 + XIV. "ALL RIGHT, SON" 180 + XV. FLICKERING HOPE 190 + XVI. IN THE CRUCIBLE 198 + XVII. FRUITION 204 + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + + "I kin kill rabbits if I can't do nothin' else" _Frontispiece_ + The Old Greely Mill 70 + "Hit's Champ fer his pappy" 142 + "Tilda pacing back and forth at her spinning-wheel" 174 + + + + +THE BOY FROM HOLLOW HUT + +I + +A STRANGER AND A PROMISE + + +The rabbit bounded away and was lost in the underbrush. Steve stood +looking disgustedly after him, a limp figure, one shoulder dropping +until the old knit suspender fell at his side, and a sullen, +discouraged look settling in his brown eyes. + +"I ain' no hunter noways. Peers lack I don't even know 'nough to ketch +a rabbit," he said with scorn. "Whar's that lazy Tige anyways?" he +added, his scorn merging into wrath. + +Then jerking the old suspender in place he straightened up on his +sturdy, bare feet, and darted through the underbrush in the direction +where the rabbit had disappeared. + +"I'll ketch you yit, yes I will, you same old cottontail," he muttered +through clenched teeth. + +There it was again! Just a moment the round, gray back darted above +the bushes, and then plunging into deeper undergrowth, bounded on and +on. But the slim, knotty brown legs plunged on and on too, till at +last a swift, cruel stone felled the unlucky little woodlander, for +Steve was a most skillful marksman. + +"Huh! thought you'd git away from me, did ye?" said the boy, picking +up the still body. "I reckons I kin do some things yit," he said, "ef +I don't know much." + +The boy was in a strange, new mood. He did not understand himself. +Though a good hunter for a lad of twelve he had been heretofore a +generous friend or conqueror of the fur and feathered folk, wont to +deal gently with a fallen foe. Now he jerked up the limp body of the +rabbit savagely and struck its head spitefully against a near-by tree +trunk. + +"I kin kill rabbits ef I can't do nothin' else." + +Just then a big black and tan dog came into view with the dignity +befitting age. Boy and dog had been born the same month, but while one +was scarcely well entered upon life, the other's race was almost run. +The boy was usually most considerate of the infirmities of his +lifelong friend, but to-day he scolded the dog till with drooping tail +and grieved, uncomprehending eyes he slunk away out of sight. + +A strange experience had come to the mountain boy the day before which +had changed his whole world. It was as though the wooded mountains +which hemmed in his little cabin home had parted for a moment and +given him a glimpse of a fascinating world beyond. He and Tige had +wandered farther from home that day than ever before, though wanderers +they had always been, the woods holding a deep interest for Steve. He +loved to hide in the densest solitudes, lie still with his dog and +dream, fantastic, unreal dreams. Now a definite, tangible vision had +come to him out of the solitude of a hazy November day in the +mountains of Kentucky. He had lain for two hours or more in the +stillness when suddenly Tige lifted his head and gave a sharp bark, +then came the sound of voices, strange voices Steve at once knew them +to be, and as he caught the tones more clearly, recognized that one at +least was of a kind which he had never heard before. Keeping Tige +quiet with a firm hand, he lifted his head and listened with ear and +soul, then into view stepped a man of medium height with a clean, fine +face, clothes of a sort unknown to the boy, and an easy, alert stride +totally foreign to the mountaineer's slouching gait. A mountain man +accompanied him, but he too was a stranger to the boy. + +The man of the new, strange species smiled at the boy's gaping mouth +and wonder-wide eyes. + +"Well, son," he said pleasantly, "are you a sportsman too?" + +The quick, clear, cultured voice, the unfamiliar accent was so utterly +foreign to anything the boy had ever heard that he could not take in +the import of the words, and amazed silence was his only reply. + +"Wal," drawled the mountain guide, "who'd er thought er seein' a chap +lack that heah? Whar'd you come from anyways?" + +This was familiar vernacular, and Steve, rising slowly from the +ground, and allowing Tige to make friendly acquaintance with the +strangers, said: + +"I lives at Hollow Hut and I comes over here whenever I pleases. +Whar'd you uns come from?" + +The man gave a hearty but musical laugh at the ready dignity of the +reply, but the boy's mouth dropped once more in consternation, as +words came again in crisp, foreign accent. + +"I came from the city, my lad, to get some of your fine quail and +deer. You are willing I should have a few, are you not? My friend here +is showing me the way." + +The mountain folk had proved a most entertaining study for this +sportsman, and his interest was ready for each new specimen +encountered. Turning to the guide he said: + +"Suppose we lunch here," and taking out his watch continued, "yes, it +is high time; twelve thirty to the minute." + +The boy stepped forward involuntarily for a look at the queer, pretty +thing in the man's hand. + +"What's that?" he asked. + +"Why, that's a watch, son. Didn't you ever see one?" said the man +kindly. + +The guide smiled derisively: "Wal, I reckons not," while the boy, too +interested for reply, asked again: + +"What's a watch?" and the man with his genial laugh said: + +"Son, we will be greatly pleased if you will take lunch with us. My +name is Polk, Samuel Polk," he said, touching his cap with the +unfailing courtesy of a true gentleman. "And after we eat I will show +you the watch and tell you all about it." + +But the mountaineer does not readily eat with "furriners," so Steve +stood near by and looked on while the two men ate very strange things. +Little cans were opened and tiny fish taken out that looked +exceedingly queer. Mr. Polk, trying to persuade the boy to eat, +explained that these were sardines, some square, white things were +crackers, a thick stuff was cheese and that some big, round, yellow +things were oranges. But Steve only stared in silence till the meal +was over though Tige, with no instinctive handicap, accepted delicious +scraps with astonishment and relish. + +So amazed, however, had the boy been with it all that he nearly +forgot about the watch. But when he remembered and the man let him +take it in his rusty, brown fingers, that was the most wonderful +moment of all. The tick, tick inside was a marvel, almost a thing +uncanny to the boy, and when it was explained how the hands went round +and round, telling the time of day, it surely seemed a thing beyond +mortal ken. + +The guide drawled out with a superior air: "Wal, sonny, you come from +the backwoods shore ef you never heerd tell of a watch before." + +The boy looked squarely at him in sullen resentment a moment, but with +such opportunity at hand he wouldn't waste time with the likes of him. +He asked, "What moves them things round?" and the man kindly opened +the watch at the back and displayed all the cunning wheels which +respond to the loosening spring, explained how it was wound each day +to keep it from running down, and in answer to the boy's eager +questions as to how such things were made told him something of watch +manufacture. + +At last the wonderful hour was over and the two strange men prepared +to leave. + +"Good-bye, son," said the man; "one of these days you will leave the +mountains and go out into the big world to live a life of usefulness +and honour, I hope." + +The words, so simple and commonplace to the man, were to the boy like +a telescope lifted to the unknown heavens, but through which he could +not yet look. He watched the men go down the mountainside, the strange +words which he did not comprehend, but was never to forget, ringing in +his ears. A bit of heavy timber hid them at last, and the boy stood +dejected a moment, his heart swelling with an agony of strange +longing, while the dog looked up at him almost pleading to understand. +Then suddenly, with a cry of hope, Steve sprang after them, the dog +following. Breathless he came upon them, and the man turned in +surprise at the tragic voice and face. When the boy could speak he +panted out: + +"I've got the bes' fox skin anywheres hereabout. I'll swap it with you +uns fer that watch thing." + +The man suppressed a smile and kindly replied: + +"Why, lad, I couldn't do without it for the rest of this hunting trip, +but I tell you what I will do. When I get back to the city I'll send +you one." + +"Then ef yer'll come home with me I'll give ye the fox skin now," the +boy responded promptly. + +"Oh, never mind about the fox skin now; I must get back to camp before +dark and we are many miles away," said the man. + +"But I can't take the watch 'thout you git the skin," said the boy +sturdily. + +"Well, now, I'll tell you," said the man, realizing that he had struck +the stubborn, independent pride of a mountaineer. "You give me your +name, tell me where you live and I'll send you the watch; then next +time I'm over here I'll get the skin." The address was a difficult +matter to determine, but the mountaineer helped them out. + +This satisfied the boy and he saw the two strangers depart with better +spirit, since he could look forward to the coming of the watch. He did +not understand how it would ever reach him, but trusted the stranger +implicitly. When the last sound of departing feet among the underbrush +had died away, Steve turned and went home with long, rapid strides, +the dog recognizing the relief and following with wagging tail. + +He found supper on the table, the savoury bacon and hoe-cake greeting +him from the door. The head of the family, lean, lank and brown, was +already transporting huge mouthfuls from the tin platter to his mouth; +the fat, slovenly daughter sat for a moment to rest and cool her face +before beginning to eat, while the mother still occupied a chimney +corner, pipe in mouth, for she "hadn't wanted nothin' to eat lately, +her stomick seemed off the hooks somehow." These, with the boy, +composed the family, a row of graves out under the trees at the back +of the hut filling the long gap between Mirandy, a young woman of +twenty-one, and Steve. The boy sat down, but before he ate that +remarkable tale of his morning experience had to be told. When he was +done the father said: + +"Huh, better let city folks alone; don't have nothin' to do with none +of 'em." + +The boy, feeling the rebuke, then turned to his supper, but when his +father had gone out to smoke, and Mirandy was in the lane looking for +her sweetheart, Steve stole up to his mother's side and stood digging +his toe in the sand hearth. + +"Mammy," he said at last, "what makes that man diffrunt from we uns?" + +The old woman smoked a moment in silence and then said: + +"Wal, there's a heap over the mountains what makes him diffrunt,--things +we ain' never seen ner heern tell on." She smoked again a puff or two, +then added, "I recken schoolin's the most." + +"What's schoolin'?" said the boy. + +"Larnin' things," she replied. + +The subject of schools had never been discussed in the boy's hearing. +His father didn't believe in them, there wasn't a book, not even a +Bible, in all the scattered little remote mountain community, and if +the boy had ever heard either books or schools mentioned before the +words had made no impression on him. + +"Do they larn to make watch things thar?" he asked. + +His mother said she supposed so, "she knew they larned out o' things +they called books," and then she explained as best she could to him +what schools and books were. When his father came in again Steve said +boldly: + +"Pappy, I'm er goin' over the mountains an' larn how to make them +watch things." + +The mountaineer stood as if paralyzed a moment, then his dull eyes +blazed. + +"No, you won't nuther! Not a step will ye go! Ye shan't nuver hev +nothin' to do with no city folks, so help me God!" + +The boy dropped back cowed and trembling; he had never seen his father +so stirred. He didn't dare ask a question, but when the mountaineer +had seated himself in the chimney corner opposite his wife, he +continued: + +"City folks with all their larnin', fine clothes an' fine ways ain't +to be depended on. I wouldn't trus' one of 'em with a jay bird lessen +I wanted to git shed of it. Don't you let me hear no mo' o' your goin' +over the mountains arter city folks." + +The prejudice of some mountaineers against the city is deep-seated. +They have little use for the "settlements," meaning the smaller towns, +but the city is their abomination. Jim Langly's prejudice was even +stronger than that of the average mountain man of this type, for it +had been a matter of contention between himself and his wife in the +early days of their married life. She had always longed to see what +was beyond the mountains and besieged him to go till the subject could +no more be mentioned between them. + +Steve soon climbed to his bed in a corner of the room with a very +heavy heart. If city folks weren't to be depended on then he would +never get that watch, and all the beautiful visions of learning to do +things in a wonderful new world grew dim and uncertain. So heavy was +his heart as he fell asleep that when he waked at daylight, it was +with a terrible sense of loss and grief. The morning meal over he +wandered off with Tige, dull and dejected, till the unlucky rabbit had +crossed his path and stirred strange, resentful enmity towards his +little familiar contestants of the woods. Sending the dog angrily off +he skinned the rabbit with savage jerks and then carried it at once +back to his home, saying: + +"Fry it, 'Randy, fry it dog-goned hard." + +His mother caught the sullen, angry tone, and when Mirandy went out +in the kitchen to begin the dinner, she called him from where he sat +on the door-step. + +"Come here, sonny." + +It was a rare term of endearment, and Steve got up quickly and went to +her side. + +"Don't think too much o' whut ye pappy said about city folks. He's +allus hated 'em fer some reason, I don't know whut, 'less hit was +'cause I saw one when I was a gal afore we married, nuver min' how ner +where, and arter that I allus wanted to see whut was over the +mountings. Ef ever ye git a chanct I want ye ter go thar an' larn ter +do things. I'd er done hit ef I'd er been a man. But don't say nothin' +to ye pappy." + +This caution was unnecessary; and what a change the simple words made +for Steve! His spirit bounded up into the world of visions again, and +when dinner was on the table he refused to take a mouthful of the +savoury rabbit, so ashamed was he of the manner of its killing. + +After this his mind was constantly on the watch which was to come. How +it was to reach him he did not think out, for the simple reason that +he knew nothing of the distance which stretched between him and the +city, nor of methods of communication. No letter or piece of mail of +any sort had ever come to his home, or that of any one else of which +he knew but things of various sorts were gotten from the crossroads +store ten miles away, skillets and pans, axes and hoes, which were +made somewhere, and he supposed some time when some one of the +community went to the store they'd find his watch there. But week +after week went by till spring came on, and nobody went to the store. +The mountain folk indeed had little need of stores. They spun and wove +the cloth for their clothes, raised their corn, pigs, and tobacco, +made their own "sweetin'," long and short, meaning sugar and molasses, +and distilled their own whiskey. So the boy's heart grew heavy again +with the long delay and he began to think bitterly that his father and +not his mother was right, when one day a stranger whom he had never +seen before drove up to the door. + + + + +II + +A PACKAGE BY MAIL + + +"Howdye! Does airy feller named Stephen Langly live here?" said the +stranger, reining in his tired, raw-boned steed without difficulty. + +Mirandy went to the cabin door, stared a minute in surprise and then +shook her head slowly. But Steve pushed past her saying: + +"Yes, thar is, too. I'm Stephen Langly." + +"You! Sakes erlive, I clean forgot that was yo' name!" and his sister +laughed lazily, while the stranger joined in. + +"Wal, you're a powerful little chap to be a-gittin' mail. But this +here thing has yo' name on it, they tole me at the store, an' so I +brung it along as I was a-comin' this-a-way. Hit's been thar mo' than +three months they tole me." + +Steve took the package, his hands trembling with eagerness and would +have darted away to the woods with his treasure where he might look +upon it first alone, but Mirandy stormed when he turned to go, and the +man said: + +"'Pears to me you mought show what ye got, when I brung it all this +long ways to ye." + +That did seem the fair thing to do, so when they had asked the man to +"light and hitch," Steve sat down on the door-step and removed the +wrappings from the square box; there was tissue paper first, a miracle +of daintiness which the boy had never beheld before, and at last the +watch came to view. Steve lifted it in trembling fingers, and while +Mirandy and the man expressed their admiration his first quivering +words were: + +"That other one was yaller." + +"Wal, now," said Mirandy, "that one was gold; you couldn't expect that +man to send you no gold." + +Mirandy, having a precious gilded trinket, was better posted on the +colour and value of metals than Steve, though she made a slight error +in her next statement. + +"This hern is silver; that's the next thing to gold," and the bright +nickel of the Waterbury twinkled in the spring sunshine as though +trying to measure up to its admirers' estimate. + +"A silver watch," said the stranger after he had heard the story of +that autumn day with its promise of a watch which was just now +fulfilled--"wal, you air a lucky boy, shore." + +Mrs. Langly called feebly from within, and Steve went and laid it on +the bed beside her. Her "stomick had never seemed to get on the +hooks," as she expressed it, all winter; her spinning-wheel and loom +had been long silent, and for a few days she had not left her bed. + +Her eyes gleamed with strange, new fire as they fell upon the shining +thing which belonged to another world from theirs, and when Steve had +laboriously wound it, which he had not forgotten how to do, setting +the wonderful machinery running, she whispered to him: + +"Remember you air goin' whar you kin larn to make things lack that." + +Steve's shining eyes answered hers, though the boy failed to catch the +light of prophecy and final benediction which they held. Hugging his +treasure, with no hint of oncoming change he went out to feed the +stranger's horse while Mirandy prepared the dinner. + +It was not until the visitor had gone and Steve was in the solitude of +the woods with Tige that he found fullest joy in his new possession. +It seemed to him he could never in all his life take his eyes from it +again. He watched the hands go round and round, the little flying +second hand, the more leisurely minute marker and the creeping hand +which told the hours as they passed. Then again and again the back +was opened and the busy little wheels held his breathless interest. He +took no notice of Tige, but the old dog knew that his mate was happy +and lay content beside him. Although for the first time in possession +of a noter of the hours, he lost all account of time and did not move +from the mossy bed where he had thrown himself until it was too late +to see either hands or wheels. Then he called Tige to come and hurried +back to his home to sit by the cabin firelight till Mirandy made him +go to bed. The family all slept in the same room, three beds occupying +corners; this main room and the lean-to kitchen constituting the whole +house. + +Steve's watch never left his hand the long night through, and for the +first time in his uneventful life he slept fitfully, waking every +little while to make sure it was there. + +Jim Langly was away for a few days "to a logrolling" several miles +away and did not return until dusk of the evening after Steve's watch +came. The boy sat again by the firelight, watch in hand, when Jim +walked in at the door. His eyes fell at once upon the strange, shining +thing and his face was convulsed with sudden wrath: + +"Didn't I tell ye to have nothin' to do with city folks? Ye shan't +keep that thing. I'll smash it, so he'p me God!" But before he could +lift a hand a scream came from the bed, and Mrs. Langly sat up wild +and dishevelled. + +"Let him hev it, Jim Langly, let him hev it," and then she dropped +back gray and still. Jim Langly had seen that gray stillness before, +and he stood looking upon it now in dumb terror. His wife had been +ailing a long time, it was true, yet no one had thought of death. But +the grim visitor was there in all his quiet majesty. The weary spirit, +which had for so many years longed for flight into new haunts of men, +had winged its way at last to a far, mysterious country of which she +had heard little, but towards which for months past she had been +reaching out with a strange prescience of which no one guessed. + +It was a dreary night at the cabin. No one tried to sleep. Jim Langly +said no more to Steve about the watch, and the boy wore it in his +bosom attached to a stout string about his neck, keeping it out of +sight, and sobbing in the stillness of the woods as he wandered with +Tige, "Mammy wanted me to have it." And though his joy in it for the +time was gone, there was peculiar comfort in this thought of her +approval. The old dog looked up in the boy's face from time to time +pitifully, or stuck his nose in the lad's hand, knowing well, in a way +dogs have, what had happened. + +Next day the wife and mother was laid to rest beside the row of little +graves, and life completely changed for Steve. He went to bed as usual +in his corner of the room, but he could not forget the still form +which had lain in another corner the night before, and while Mirandy +and his father slept heavily, he slipped from the bed, took a blanket +and with Tige at his heels went into the woods again. Here in the +stillness which he loved, worn out with loss of sleep and his first +encounter with grief, nestling close to old Tige slumber came and held +him until late the next day. His father and Mirandy paid little +attention to what he did, so night after night he took his blanket and +dog and slept in the woods, the two only going to the cabin for +meals. + +During all these strange, restless days the words of Steve's mother +came to him over and over: "Remember you air goin' whar you kin larn +to make things lack that watch." And he thought, "How am I a-goin' +lessen I jes' go?" He knew his father would never give him permission, +it was not worth while to ask it, so gradually his plans took shape in +the solitude of the woods with no one to counsel. Had the boy known +what distance lay between him and his goal he would have grown +faint-hearted, but he had no conception of what his undertaking meant. +So he laid his plans with good courage, which plans, of course, +included the taking of his dog. For three or four days Steve took an +extra share of corn pone and bacon, Mirandy not noticing in her +shiftless manner of providing, and feeling the loss of her mother, she +was even more listless than usual. These extra rations for himself and +Tige Steve carried to the woods and laid away. Then his beloved fox +skin, the greatest treasure which he possessed beside the watch, he +must take that with him, because it was "the man's"; he had promised +it in return for the watch, and now that he was going he must take it +along to give to the man. The boy had no thought of any difficulty in +such a search. The food, the skin, the watch, and the scanty clothes +he wore constituted all his equipment for the journey. When he started +out with the skin Mirandy lazily asked what he was going to do with +it, and he replied: "Use it fer a piller in the woods." + +"Ye better quit sleepin' out thar," she said; "somethin' 'll eat ye up +some night." + +"I ain't a-feerd," he said, and she thought no more about it. + +Three days passed with a good accumulation of food, and as Steve and +Tige lay down to sleep at night the boy said: + +"Tige, we've gotter be a-goin' 'bout day arter ter-morrer," and the +dog wagged sleepy assent. But next morning when Steve wakened a +peculiar stillness smote him. Tige was usually alert at his least +move. With intuitive alarm Steve put out his hand,--and touched a +rigid body! Drawing back he sprang to his feet, a cry of anguished +appeal on his lips: + +"O Tige, Tige, ye ain't dead too?" + +But death makes no reply. His lifelong playmate lay straightened out +in that last unalterable, mysterious sleep. + +The boy was too stunned for tears. He knelt beside his dog in silent +misery. After a long while he rose from the ground and going to a +moss-covered rock near by where laurel and forget-me-nots blossomed +and rhododendron bells hung in clusters, with a stout stick and his +sturdy hands he dug beneath the rock an opening large enough to hold +his dead dog. Then he went back to where his old playmate lay, and +lifting the stiffened body in his arms he stumbled blindly to the rock +and laid it away. + +Towards evening he slowly made his lonely way home. + +Mirandy, missing the dog at last, inquired: "Whar's Tige?" and Steve's +stiff lips articulated the one word, "Dead." + +She replied indifferently, "Wal, he want no 'count any mo'. I reckons +hit's a good thing." + +Steve had no answer and with swelling heart made his way to the woods +to sleep alone. It was long before he could sleep, and as he lay in +the unbearable loneliness, he decided that next morning he would start +on that journey to the unknown. Perhaps to that new world sorrow would +not follow! He would not need so much food now; he had enough saved +already. The death of the dog urged him on to his purpose as nothing +else could have done. + +He went down to the cabin next morning for the last time. It was a +warm spring morning. Passing Mirandy sitting on the door-step, her +breakfast dishes not yet washed, he paused a minute, longing to say +something, for although the bond between them was of blood and not of +the heart, yet she was part of the life from which he was tearing +himself away, and he longed to sob out a good-bye. But he must not, so +choking down words and tears he stumbled off, never once looking back. +His father sat in the chimney corner smoking his morning pipe, but +father and son had always lacked interests in common, and the coming +of the watch had put an insurmountable barrier between them. So +Steve's only thought in passing him had been to escape suspicion. It +was to his mother that the boy had always shyly told his day-dreams in +the woods,--dreams which reached out into a wonder world lying beyond +the mountains. And she had smoked her pipe in silent sympathy, +occasionally asking: "Did ye see big houses, rows and rows of 'em on +land, and some a-ridin' the water? I've hearn tell of 'em in my day," +so furnishing inspiration for more dreams in the future. + +"O Mammy, O Tige," sobbed the boy when safe at last in the woods, and +he threw himself down in an agony of weeping beside the rock where the +old dog lay buried. When calm at last, he took up his bundle of bread +and bacon wrapped about with his fox skin, and started slowly away. He +took no thought as to direction, he was simply "goin'," as his mother +had told him. A dismal rain soon set in, but on and on he persistently +tramped all the long day, water dripping from his ragged trousers and +old hat as he went farther and farther away from all he had ever +known. He met no one, saw no habitation anywhere, only the startled +denizens of the wood scurrying here and there out of his path. Over +mountains and across ravines he went on and on. He was puzzled and +discouraged when night dropped down, and his aching feet and tired +legs said he must have travelled many miles. "Shorely I'll git thar +to-morrer," he said, as he lay down upon his fox skin, but another +weary day of tramping over unknown ways without sight of any human +being brought terror to his sturdy heart and when he lay down alone at +night he felt that he was the only human being in the universe. Oh, if +he only had Tige! + +All the people he had known and those he expected to see beyond the +mountains seemed to have sunk into some great unseen abyss. He could +never find his way back to the old cabin, he knew, and he began to +feel that he could never reach forward to the wonderful city of which +he had dreamed. In the agony of loneliness and the chill of night +which settled upon him he cried again, "O Tige, O Mammy!" Did the +tender mother-arms reach down and draw her boy near to the heart of +God? At any rate he grew quiet. He remembered vaguely that he had +heard how God is everywhere, and with a new strange sense of +companionship with the great Creator, which comes to souls in +extremity, he fell asleep and did not waken until the sun, bursting +forth with new brilliance after the day of rain, had lit up the +mountain tops and set the birds to singing. + +He enjoyed the breakfast of very hard corn pone and bacon, and took +out his beloved watch. The busy, little shining thing, which he never +forgot to wind, did not mean much to him as a marker of time, for he +knew little about the hours as enumerated by the watch, but it was on +this morning of new courage a fresh pledge of wonderful things +awaiting him. He started on again with steady strides, and tramped +bravely till mid afternoon without adventure. + +Suddenly, without premonition, his heart thrilled at faint sounds +which seemed marvellously like those of a human voice. He stood still +a moment in an agony of uncertainty, straining eye and ear for +confirmation. + +Yes, he was right! He caught the crackle of dry twigs and underbrush, +while the faint human tones grew clear and distinct. Under the +discipline of loneliness and distress the face of the untutored boy +beamed with eager welcome which held no reserve and caught no +suspicious glimmer of lurking treachery as near-by bushes parted and +steps were close upon him. + + + + +III + +IN THE WILDERNESS + + +Two men were before him, men very similar in appearance to those Steve +had known, though with something in their faces which made him draw +back even in the moment of joy at meeting others of his kind. + +"Sakes erlive, Bub, whar'd ye come from?" called the taller, harder +looking of the two. + +"I come from Hollow Hut," answered the boy with his simple dignity. + +"And whar you goin' to?" called the other man, while both laughed +unpleasantly. + +"Ter the city," said the boy. + +"Wal, now, that's a pretty nice fox skin ye got rolled up thar," said +the tall one as they came closer. "S'pose you jes' hand that over to +us." + +"I can't," said the boy, holding it tighter in real alarm. "I swapped +it with a man fer a watch, an' I'm a-takin' it ter him." + +"Is that so!" exclaimed the tall man. "So you've got a watch, hev ye? +Who'd a-thought it,"--and they both haw-hawed loudly. "Now, ye can +jes' han' that over too, fer we mean bizness, don't we, Bill?" + +And with that they pounced upon the terrified boy, jerked the fox skin +from his clinging fingers and soon brought forth from its hiding-place +in his bosom the beautiful, beautiful watch! Steve fought like a small +tiger, but he was no match for them and stunned and bruised he soon +lay upon the ground while the two men walked off, never once looking +back at their helpless victim. + +For a few minutes Steve could not think, so severe had been their +cruel blows; then indignation, such as he had never known in his life, +swept over him in a sudden flood. He sprang to his feet, ignoring pain +and keenly watching which way they went, stealthily followed after. +For two hours he kept within hearing of them, though being careful +always that they did not get a glimpse of him. He did not know what he +was going to do, but when they finally halted for the night he halted +too. The men had also taken the last of his corn pone and bacon; there +was nothing for him to eat, but he did not even think of it, so +intently was he listening. Soon they began to sing and laugh very +loudly and he knew then they had plenty of whiskey with them. Hope +rose in his heart. After a bit they would fall into heavy sleep. He +knew well the ways of drink. + +Soon all was still, and after waiting a while till the sleep was deep +he crept upon them. Fortunately the moon was up in its full glory and +Steve could see plainly what he was about. He crept up close to the +two snoring men and across the feet of the tall one lay his fox skin. + +"I must git that anyways," said the boy to himself, "for it belongs to +the man in the city." + +Slowly, cautiously he lifted it from the big heavy feet, and there was +not a stir. Then he stood, his heart almost bursting with longing for +his watch. It was in the big man's pocket he was sure, and he stooped +close a minute, reaching out a hand,--but he didn't dare. If he waked +them, skin and watch would both be gone, and he must by all means get +the skin to give to the man in the city. He went sorrowfully away with +only the skin. He didn't dare stop near them, so he tramped half the +night in spite of frequent twinges in his left ankle which had had a +little twist as the men threw him down, and at last the boy dropped +upon the ground, utterly exhausted, to sleep until noon next day. + +When he wakened, stiff and sore from the blows of the men, and tried +to get upon his feet he found that left ankle so swollen and painful +he could not put the foot to the ground. He realized for the first +time also with great consternation that he had nothing to eat. +Bruised, sore, empty, helpless he sat alone in the woods. But even +then he did not know the desolation of the night before. He felt once +more that comforting sense of companionship with the great Creator, +and he faced the situation sturdily. + +He crept about on his knees hunting berries which he knew were good to +eat. It was a laborious way to get breakfast, or more properly dinner, +but he succeeded in finding enough to still somewhat the gnawing in +his empty stomach, and suddenly as he lifted his head a road lay +before him. With hope that was almost a tranquil certainty he crept to +the roadside and sat down. An hour or more passed with only the call +and song of birds to break the stillness,--when, list! There was +surely a rumble of wheels! And then the cry came distinctly, "Git up +thar!" + +Tears of joy rained down the boy's face as a covered wagon drawn by +four mules came into view, though he sturdily brushed them aside as +the wagon drove up and halted. + +"Hello, thar," called a lusty youthful voice, and the driver, a young +fellow of perhaps nineteen who was mounted on one of the mules, turned +round and saw at a glance the swollen, helpless foot. + +"Done up, air ye, Bub? Whar do ye belong anyways?" + +Steve knew at once that these people were friends, and told them his +little story. + +"I want to git to the city, so's to give the skin to the man thar an' +then I'm goin' to larn to make watches an' things," he concluded. + +"Wal, you air a long piece from the city, but we uns kin help ye git +to the railroad and that'll take ye to the city." + +Several heads of varying sizes were sticking out of the wagon by this +time, and when Steve had been helped in among the occupants he found +it was a family moving from one little hamlet to another. The husband +and father had recently died and they were going back to their +mother's home to live among her "kin." + +The kindly mother at once bound up Steve's injured foot with white of +egg and salt, which she said would "fetch it round all right," and +hearing the empty rumbles of his poor little stomach she said she +didn't believe "thar was a thing inside of it," and proceeded to give +him a good square meal. + +Was there ever anything happier than to be driving along the road with +a comfortable foot, a full stomach and in the midst of friends! Steve +had never known greater joy than that moment held. They were a +"happy-go-lucky" family he had fallen in with,--and for the first time +in his life he was in the midst of the merry banter of children. The +mountain folk of remote regions lack a sense of humour, and Steve had +grown up entirely alone, the cabins of Hollow Hut being scattered, so +he sat through the afternoon in a maze of delight. There were snickers +and giggles, punching in the ribs and tickling of toes from these +children who lived on the border of civilization, for Steve had really +gone blindly towards his goal. + +As they drove gaily along Steve heard a sudden rumbling which +suggested thunder, the children cried, "The train, the train," and +stopping the mules quickly the big brother who was driving jumped +down, while three of the children sprang out with a bound and all +grasped the bridles at their heads. It was done so quickly there +wasn't time to ask a question and then a monster came tearing, +puffing, hissing past them. Steve's eyes almost started from their +sockets and when it was past he sank back limp and quivering. + +"Why, chile, didn't ye nuver see no railroad trains afore?" said the +good mother. + +Steve managed to say, "No," and then the children told him all the +astonishing things about railroads. To his mingled joy and terror +another came along from the opposite direction when they had driven on +about a mile further, and this time it came more slowly, making a +full stop near them. + +"Whut air they a-doin' that for?" asked Steve, and when it was +explained that they had stopped for fuel or water, there being no +station near, a quivering light broke over his face, and remembering +his watch as his mind tried to grasp new sources of motion, he said: + +"They're jes' a-stoppin' to wind hit up, then." + +Very soon after this they came to a cabin by the roadside and all the +family within poured out to see the strangers. + +"Won't you light and hitch?" drawled the man of the house, but the boy +driver refused, saying they wanted "to git to their kin afore night." +He suggested to Steve, however, that if he wanted to go to the city he +had better stop there, for they were going further from any station +than he would be there. The folks of the cabin were hearty in their +invitation to the boy when they had heard his story, even the fact of +his probable helplessness for a while not marring the beauty of their +royal hospitality. So Steve was carefully lifted out and helped in +among new friends. + +The little cabin was full to overflowing with boys and girls, one girl +of fifteen fondling her baby as she would a big doll, in ignorant, +unlawful, and one perhaps should say innocent motherhood. She, a waif +herself, had come along needing shelter and they had taken her in. + +When Steve had had his supper pallets were spread everywhere about the +cabin floor upon which the family went to rest fully clothed, after +the fashion of mountaineers, and to the boy the night was a great +contrast from the previous one in the loneliness of the woods. He +thought of his own home as he had never done since he left it, +wondering if his father and Mirandy would like to see him, but he +never dreamed of how they had searched the woods for miles around when +he was missed the second day after leaving. His failure to return the +first day and night they thought little of, for he frequently did not +come back after morning, but the second day's absence had brought real +alarm, and when they found his blanket Mirandy said she knew something +had killed and eat him up; she had forgotten about the fox skin which +in that case should also have been there. But Jim Langly set his teeth +grimly and said the boy had gone off "along o' that watch," and he did +not cease to make inquiry as he had opportunity, trying to trace his +son, while he angrily threatened to kill that city man if ever he +"showed up agin in them parts." + + + + +IV + +A HALT ON THE ROAD + + +Steve spent a week in the crowded but hospitable cabin of his latest +friends resting the swollen foot. It was not seriously sprained and +would have given him no trouble but for the long tramp upon it the +night before and his general fatigue. + +He had an interesting time with this family on the roadside. They were +of the most shiftless type of mountain folk. Life was a long holiday +to them, every meal a picnic. There were too many to gather about the +table in the little log lean-to, so the elders only sat down at meal +times. The children came up shuffling, pushing and squirming good +naturedly to get their portions and ran away again full-handed to sit +on the door-step or flat upon the ground outside while they ate. +Sometimes one ambitious consumer would succeed in disposing of his +viands more rapidly than the others and then woe to some small +delinquent! His food would be snatched away and a lively fisticuff +probably follow during which the inevitable "yaller dog" was usually +the gainer. The disturbance at times reached a height which brought +the mother lazily to the door with a mild: + +"Now ef ye alls don't quit fussin', I'll set the boogers arter ye +ter-night," which was a dire and telling threat, for, to the mountain +children, "boogers" meant ghosts, witches, hobgoblins, thieves, or any +other terrible, mysterious creature of the night. + +Steve went up to the table with the rest for his portion of food, and +took his chances with the other children if a squabble began. +Association with the children was most enjoyable to Steve. They told +marvellous tales about giants and mountain feuds and the mother's +threat of "boogers" was sure to stir up all their recollections about +ghosts. Wherever there was a "killin'" as the result of a mountain +feud ghosts were sure to congregate and marvellous were the tales +which clustered about each bloody spot. Steve being a new listener +must hear all these old tragic stories. + +When meals were over, the family disposed themselves to their liking. +The head of the house invariably lit his pipe and sat in the chimney +corner to smoke, a custom quite familiar to Steve. The mother washed +the skillet and few utensils used about the meal, smoking her pipe the +while. The young girl sat down outside in the sun to play with her +baby, the big boys perhaps went off hunting and the children wandered +aimlessly in and out. + +The fields of corn and tobacco had been planted and now there was +little to do but watch it grow, so they thought. The hogs practically +took care of themselves. What more could any one demand, a blank look +would unconsciously have inquired, if asked why they did not work. + +When the day was over and the troop of children began to grow sleepy, +one after another dropped down upon the cabin floor, perhaps upon a +pallet, perhaps not, and fell asleep. The older ones followed in the +same way, as inclination suggested, and room was cheerfully made for +Steve among the rest. For a night or two the full chorus of audible +breathing wakened him frequently, but he soon became accustomed to +it. + +In the morning the voice of some child was apt to be heard first: + +"Mammy, I'm hongry." + +And the reply would come, "Now you shet up, 'tain't time ter be +gittin' up yit," or perhaps the satisfied parent would yawn and say: + +"Wal, I reckons I might as well git up and stop ye mouth," and so the +household would gradually emerge from slumber. + +This was the normal daily life, but comedy and tragedy came to them +as to the rest of the world, and Steve had a taste of both during his +stay of a week. + +Unlike Hollow Hut it was a somewhat thickly settled community and one +moonlight night some young folks from neighbouring cabins came in. +Steve's friends made the visitors welcome and hailed with delight the +banjo which one of them had brought. The young folks were out for a +frolic and laugh and joke were ready. + +Pretty soon the banjo began to tune up and set everybody's feet to +patting. + +"Clear out things," called one of the boys, and in no time the few +articles the room held were out of the way. Then the air vibrated with +"Hook and Line," "Sourwood Mountain," and other lively tunes, while +everybody danced except Steve, who crept to the farthest corner and in +wonder looked and listened. He had never seen dancing or heard music +before. + +The girl with the baby came and dropped it down upon his lap while she +joined in the fun, and it almost seemed that the cabin itself would +break from its moorings in the abandon of rollicking, swaying motion. + +When everybody was tired out the banjo player, a young fellow with +deep-set black eyes and the unmistakable look of an artist in embryo, +swung into a monologue accompanied by the banjo, part talk, part +song, describing a fox hunt which was most fascinating and altogether +remarkable. + +He called the hounds with "Here Tige," "Here Jack," "Here Spot," "Here +Bob-tail," interspersed with the tooting of a horn, long musical +whistles and the banjo striking soft staccato chords. He mustered the +men, he raced the horses with excited calls of "Git up thar," and gave +clever imitation of fleeing hoofs, "to-bucket, to-bucket, to-bucket," +in a rapid, low, chanting song. Then the leading hound opened with a +plaintive bay "how!-oo-oo-oo, how!-oo-oo-oo," and one by one the +others joined in with varying notes till it swelled to a weird chorus +of baying hounds which the banjo and the musician's voice made most +realistic. Next the fox was spied and there were cries of "Hello! Ho! +Here he is!" "There he runs," with the banjo thumping like mad! Then +the medley shaded down into a wild, monotonous drumming from the +strings and the voice, which represented most thrillingly the chase at +full height. At last the fox was caught with dogs barking, men +calling, and banjo shrilling a triumphant strain in stirring climax. + +Steve followed it all in breathless excitement, and the rest of the +audience received it with boisterous enthusiasm. + +After this somebody started the lovely old ballad, "Barbary Allen," in +which all joined; then, "I have a True Love in the Army," and "The +Swapping Song" followed, while "Whistle up your Dogs, Boys, and +Shoulder your Guns," made lively the leave-taking and echoed back from +far down the road. + +Then there was a night of tragedy during Steve's visit. The sleepers +of the cabin were suddenly aroused by blood-curdling whoops and yells, +gunshots, racing horses and running men. Everybody was instantly alert +and the family turned out of the cabin en masse. It was thrilling. All +knew well what it meant. The head of the house and older boys joined +the fleeing crowd like dogs in a chase. + +"That's Bud Levit's folks and the Cuneys done broke out agin 'bout +that ole fuss, I bet," drawled the wife and mother, when the tumult +had died down to faint echoes. + +"I reckon thar'll be a big killin' this time," said one of the +children with zest. + +"Thar shore was a passle er folks and a pile er shootin'," said +another enthusiastically. + +"Now, you-alls git back to bed an' shet up," said the mother, and her +brood gradually quieted down. + +Next day when the man of the house and older boys returned about dark, +full of whiskey and full of talk, a most exciting tale was unfolded +to the eager listeners. + +"Hit was the biggest killin' whut's been in these parts fur many er +day," said the man with pride. "I'll tell ye when they did git +together they fit lack beastes. When ev'ythin' was over thar was five +on 'em a-layin' in their blood. Three of the Levits an' two of the +Cuneys." + +"Wal, I hope they'll keep quiet fer a spell now," commented the +woman. + +Then all the ghastly details were gone over with the children +listening eagerly, drinking it in as they would a story of an exciting +hunt. When the children discussed it afterwards one little fellow said +to another: "I tell yer what, I'm er goin' ter be a fighter jes' lack +them Levits. I'll shoot 'em down ef anybody comes foolin' round me." + +Steve listened soberly. The experience was not a new one to him, but +he remembered that his "Mammy" had always said she didn't like +killings and that mountain folks ought to "larn better some way." The +words came back to the boy with peculiar meaning since the voice which +uttered them was still. He said nothing, but it all made him more +anxious to move on towards that other world of which he and "Mammy" +had dreamed. + +The following morning his foot seeming fully restored and clearing +weather having come after several days of rain, Steve said "he thought +he'd move on." + +"Whar ye goin'?" said the man of the house who had paid little +attention to him before. + +"I'm er goin' to the railroad fust, an' then from thar to the city to +give the fox skin to the man, an' to larn things." + +"Larn things," said the man scornfully, not being in the best of +humour after the previous day's dissipation. "Huh! I s'pose ye'll be +goin' to some er them city schools. Ye better go on back whar you come +from. Schoolin' ain't no good ter anybody. Hit's them schools whut +larns folks to go 'round pesterin' other folks, breakin' up 'stills.' +Folks has got jest as good er right ter make whiskey es anything +else," which showed in what he was especially interested. + +Steve made no answer for the man was too forbidding in his irritability, +but the boy kept to his determination to press on at once towards the +railroad. After breakfast was over he went back to see the woman of +the house, and in lazy kindness she said she wished she had a little +bread and meat to give him but "there wan't none left," which Steve +was quite prepared to hear, for there were many mouths to feed and +never any left. + +"I hope ye'll git thar all right. I reckons ye'll git somethin' to eat +on the road, and ef ye're ever to come this-a-way agin come an' see +us," she drawled as she smoked. + +"Ye been mighty good ter me," said Steve, "an' I ain't nuver goin' ter +forgit it." + +He passed the children about the door-step, his fox skin under his +arm, and they stood and watched him leave with a sort of sorrowful +solemnity. Goodbyes are a thing unknown to mountain folk. + +Then he walked off without much thought as to direction, having a +definite impression, however, as to the way he should go, which was +part instinct and partly remembrance of what the boy on the moving +wagon had told him. The people he had left were too inert to think of +giving him any instructions. But down the road he passed the big boys +of the house sitting idly by the roadside. They had heard with +satisfaction their father's opinion as to Steve's going in search of +"larnin'." As Steve came in sight one of them nudged the other and +said, "Less throw him off the scent." + +"Which-a-way ye goin', Bub?" he asked when Steve came up. + +Then for the first time Steve stopped and thought. + +"Why, that-a-way," he replied pointing. + +The big boys laughed boisterously. "Ye'll nuver git to no railroad +goin' that-a-way. Thar's the way ye want ter go," said one, pointing +off at a slightly different angle, which made the greatest difference +in the boy's ultimate destination. + +Steve looked doubtfully, but when he reflected a moment he remembered +that he really did not know positively in what direction to go. + +"Is that so?" he inquired looking earnestly at the boys. + +"Hit shore is," returned both of them. + +"How fur is it?" asked Steve. + +"Oh, 'tain't fur," said one of the boys; "ye ought ter git thar before +night easy. You go straight as a crow flies that-a-way," pointing as +he had before, "and ye'll come to the railroad tracks. Ye can't miss +hit fer ye're bound to cross 'em, an' ef ye go straight, lack I tell +ye, ye'll be right at the station." + +The boy on the moving wagon had described the railroad tracks to him, +so Steve started off feeling reassured, and it never occurred to him +that any one could be mean enough to misdirect him. It was a pity the +echoes from the boisterous laughter of the boys when he was out of +hearing could not have reached the little traveller's ears, but they +did not, and Steve pressed on with good spirits feeling that he was +almost in sight of his goal with less than a day's journey before +him. + +He turned at once from the road and went on and on, knowing as well as +the crow how to keep straight with the compass, although like the +crow he had never heard of one. The straight path took him quickly +into the wilderness, but that did not dismay him as wilderness travel +had become most familiar to him. At noon he began to feel so empty, he +longed for just a little piece of corn bread. And then remembering +that the mother thought he'd get something to eat on the road he began +looking cheerfully for the smoke of a cabin somewhere. He had been +vaguely disappointed at striking no road anywhere, but he had not +asked the boys any particulars as to the route. Everything so far in +his journeying had been unexpected, and the possibilities of routes +were so totally unknown to him that he had started on again, as when +he left home, unquestioning. + +The empty stomach continued to cry loudly for food as the afternoon +wore on, and no cabin smoke gave token of life anywhere. He did not +suffer from thirst for mountain streams and springs were abundant. He +pressed bravely forward, cheering himself with the thought that the +boys had said he would come to the tracks before dark. But twilight +began creeping in among the forest trees and still no tracks were in +sight. Anxiously he listened for the terrible yet thrilling rush of a +train which he remembered so well. He ought to be in hearing distance +of them by now. But nothing broke the forest stillness save the +twitter and song of birds, the scurrying of rabbits or frisking of +squirrels with occasionally the sound of some larger animal in the +underbrush. + +Finally night fell with the poor boy straining his anxious eyes for +the shining tracks of which he had heard. He forced his aching limbs +along till suddenly, with a quivering sob, his strength seemed all to +go and he sank upon the ground in a pitiful heap. He was too exhausted +to think and in a few moments was sound asleep. + +He lay upon the summit of a rugged mountain, which dropped precipitately +down just beyond the sleeping boy, to ripple off again in lesser +lofty heights, with beautiful fertile valleys and tossing streams +between. A little, lonely, helpless human soul he lay upon Nature's +majestic bosom, with the Infinite hand beneath his head. + +In the morning when he waked billows of mist in silver splendour were +rolling slowly from the valleys below, like Nature's incense rising in +her sacred morning hour. + +Although born in the mountains the mystic grandeur of the scene filled +Steve with awe. Rising, he gazed, a part of the worshipful silence, +and then as the sun burst suddenly into golden glory above the waves +of mist, his mind as suddenly seemed to shoot up from the mists of +fatigue and sleep. It was the peculiarly clear brain which sometimes +comes with long abstinence from food. Instantly he knew that he had +been fooled! + +Turning to look back over the way he had come he said to himself: +"Them boys told me wrong, an' they did hit a purpose. They're lack +their pappy, they don't want to larn nothin' an' they don't want +nobody else ter nuther." + + + + +V + +A DOUBLE RESCUE + + +The boy stood quietly on the mountain top and took his bearings. He +knew the way he had come, and remembering his previous impressions, +and what his friend on the moving wagon had said, he turned at last +and started down at an acute angle from the direction he had come. He +gathered again as he went whatever he knew to be good to eat in the +way of berries and herbs, but he soon began to feel so weary that he +could hardly drag himself along. Had he gotten out of the wilderness +only to plunge into it again and be lost? For as the day went on and +he met no one, saw no cabin or the long-looked-for railroad tracks, +discouragement and anxiety beset him. Noon passed again. Sometimes he +thought he must stop and rest, but he was afraid if he did he could +never get up again. His fatigue and hunger were far greater than in +his previous experience in the wilderness, for he had never eaten +heartily at the roadside cabin, knowing that food was not abundant +there. So he was not in the best of trim for a long fast and great +physical strain. + +The remnants of his courage were wearing away when at last he seemed +to be emerging into a more open country. He was still in the woods, +but there was a subtle difference. He felt somehow that man was in +proximity somewhere, though he had as yet seen no sign. His pulses +quickened a little, and then suddenly a child's scream rang out. + +Steve bounded forward at first with joy, and then as scream after +scream followed, with the unmistakable agony of fear in the cry, +forgetting his deadly weariness he ran swiftly in the direction of the +sound, dropping the fox skin as he ran. In a breathless moment he came +in sight of a good sized tree, and hanging from a high limb by the +skirt of her dress was a little girl, head downward. + +Steve saw in an instant that she could not help herself, and that she +might fall to her death any moment. He did not pause or hesitate. Up +the tree he went, his bare feet clinging to the sides, up and up in a +twinkling, then he carefully crept out upon the limb and drew the +little girl safely up beside him. + +"Oh," she said when she had recovered her equilibrium and gotten her +breath, "I thank you so much," and even then Steve was conscious that +he had never seen anything so pretty in all his life as the blue eyes +which looked up into his, and the soft yellow curls which framed her +little face. But he hurried to get her down safely. With infinite care +he helped her until she could go on down the tree alone, and then, he +did not know what happened, but things suddenly seemed to whirl round +and he fell to the ground in an unconscious heap. + +The next he knew some one was wiping his face with a damp cloth and +chafing his hands. He was too tired to open his eyes and see who it +was. Then a woman's voice was saying in a worried but gentle tone: + +"What were you doing in the tree, Nancy? You know I don't like for you +to climb trees." + +"Why, mother," replied a frightened little voice, "I found a poor +little birdie out of its nest, and I pinned it up tight in my apron +pocket and carried it up the tree and put it into the nest. The father +and mother bird were so worried about it. I didn't know I was going to +fall, and make this boy fall too, and hurt himself so bad," and the +small voice broke pitifully. + +"You never should have tried to do such a thing," said her mother +firmly, and then as the little voice went into sobs, Steve opened his +eyes in a brave effort to try to assure them he was all right. + +"Oh, I'm so glad you are better," exclaimed the woman who knelt beside +him. + +She looked so kind and nice that Steve struggled to get up and further +reassure her, but there seemed weights holding him down and a sharp +pain thrust through and through his left arm. + +"I am afraid you have broken your arm," said the woman anxiously. +"Nancy, you run right over to the store and get your father," she said +to the little girl. And Steve watched a white pinafore and flying +yellow curls through a half-conscious dream mist, with a satisfied +sense that he was at last in the new world of his visions. + +And he was, for he had stumbled blindly through a bit of wood at the +back of Mr. Follet's, the station-master's home, and just in time to +rescue his little girl. + +Mrs. Follet had heard the child's screams, for the tree was in the +edge of the wood only a little way from the house, and she reached the +place just after Steve had fallen to the ground, having seen the +child's perilous position and Steve's rescue. She had dampened her +handkerchief in a near-by spring and worked over the boy until +consciousness returned. + +The little white pinafore was soon running back with Mr. Follet +walking rapidly. + +"What under the cano_pee_ does all this mean?" he asked excitedly as +he came up, although Nancy had told him about the accident. "Are you +hurt much, boy?" he went on. + +Steve heard what was said in a vague way, but he couldn't reply and +Mrs. Follet explained that she didn't think the boy was fully +conscious yet, and they would have to try to get him to the house. + +So Mr. Follet, who was a small but very wiry man, soon had him up in +his arms, while Mrs. Follet supported his head and together they +carried him to the house and laid him down on a couch. Then Mrs. +Follet quickly fixed him a hot drink and gave it slowly to him. With +each swallow the sturdy boy felt stronger, and by the time he had +taken a cup full, was able to talk freely. + +"Where under the cano_pee_ did you come from anyway? You don't live +hereabouts, do you?" asked Mr. Follet, who was of the restless, +nervous temperament which must know things at once. + +"Now, Pa," said Mrs. Follet, "you must get the doctor to set his arm +before you ask him anything," and Mr. Follet started off. + +Steve looked curiously at the arm hanging limply by his side. He had +never seen a broken arm before though he had heard that arms and legs +could break and be mended like hoe or ax handles. + +By questioning, Mrs. Follet found that he had had nothing to eat +since the day before, so she prepared him a dainty meal which filled +the mountain boy with wonder. There was a poached egg, a bit of toast +and a cup of hot milk, none of which had he ever tasted or seen +prepared before. But it all was very, very good, and as he ate Nancy +slipped shyly into the room. She had stayed outside in frightened +misery, feeling that all the trouble was her fault. Her mother said +kindly: + +"That's right, child, come on in; our boy is better now." The little +girl sat down timidly on the edge of a chair, and Steve took in the +complete vision. + +Soft yellow locks strayed out from a ribbon and tumbled about before a +pair of deep blue eyes. Round cheeks were pink and soft, sweet lips +were red and shyly smiling, a white apron with ruffles almost covered +a blue gingham dress. The boy held his breath at the beauty of the +apparition. He had never dreamed of anything so sweet and pretty in +all the world. + +It was not long before Mr. Follet returned with the doctor and the +broken arm was successfully set, Steve bearing the pain "like a +trump," as Mr. Follet put it. Then Mrs. Follet said he must go to bed +at once, and he went up a tiny flight of stairs to a bed in a little +attic chamber which she had made ready. Knowing the ways of mountain +folk, Mrs. Follet did not insist that he undress, as the task would +be difficult for him with the broken arm. He slept soundly in spite of +pain in the arm upon a remarkable bed "off the floor" and awoke +feeling well, and eager to see again his new friends. + +When he got down the stairs, Mrs. Follet was busy getting the +breakfast, and Mr. Follet was ready with questions. + +"Where under the cano_pee_ (which was a favourite expression with Mr. +Follet) did you drap from yesterday, just in time to save our Nancy? +You don't live hereabouts, do you?" + +"No," said Steve, "I come from Hollow Hut." + +"And where's that?" returned Mr. Follet. + +Steve couldn't tell very clearly, but gave an account of his long +journey and told about the watch and the fox skin which he was going +to take to the man in the city. + +Mr. and Mrs. Follet were much interested in his story, so much so that +they forgot the waiting breakfast. Then they turned to it, but Steve +had remembered that he dropped his fox skin as he ran to Nancy's +rescue and he wanted to go at once for it, but Mrs. Follet would not +let him go till he had eaten breakfast. The neatly laid table with its +snowy cloth was a new wonder to Steve, and when the little girl, +looking fresh and sweet as a rose, sat down opposite him, he was so +awed and thrilled he could scarcely eat. Angels could hardly have +given him a more heavenly vision than did this little girl. + +Breakfast over, Steve started at once for the fox skin, and Mrs. +Follet sent Nancy with him to help find it. The little girl lost some +of her shyness as they looked for the skin, and Steve listened to her +chatter, feeling in a strange way that it was all a dream which he had +had before, as we do sometimes in experiences which move us strongly. + +They found the skin with little trouble, and when they had carried it +back to the house, Mr. Follet took it up and carefully examined it. + +"So you're trying to get this here skin to the man in the city who +sent the watch to you?" + +"Yes," said Steve. + +"And you ain't got hair or hide o' the watch now?" continued Mr. +Follet. + +"No, I hain't," said the boy sorrowfully. + +"Well, I'll be sniggered," said Mr. Follet. "And how under the +cano_pee_ do you expect to find him in the city when you git thar?" + +The boy's uncomprehending stare showed that he had no conception of a +city, and Mr. Follet looked at his wife, laughed and went over to the +station, which was station and store combined. + +For a few days Steve continued to live in a dream. The house was a +marvel to him. Mrs. Follet cooked on a stove and constantly fixed +strange, nice things to eat; a clock ticked on the mantel, which +comforted him somewhat for the loss of his watch,--there were queer +but to him surprisingly beautiful and comfortable pieces of furniture, +and one room had a nice piece of good stout cloth with red and green +flowers on it spread over the floor on which people walked! + +Then marvel of marvels, every now and then that engine and great train +of cars came puffing and hissing by the house in full view, and the +boy's spirits mounted on wings as he thought of the wonders of the +world. + +Even with one arm disabled, he took hold at once to help with the work +about the place. He fed the chickens, horse and cow. With only one +hand he could not learn to milk, though he was eager to do so. He went +over to the store on errands and made himself useful in many ways. + +One day when at the store he said to Mr. Follet that as soon as his +arm was well he would have to be going on to the city to take the fox +skin. + +"And how under the cano_pee_ do you expect to be ridin' round on the +railroad without money?" said Mr. Follet. He knew well the boy had +none. "You ain't a Rockefeller or a Jay Gould, air you?" + +These allusions of course meant nothing to the boy, and the question +of money was a new one to him. None of his late friends in their +simplicity had thought of it, and the man had to make clear the need +of it in the business world which Steve had come into. With his people +things had always been "swapped"; corn, tobacco and whiskey, for the +few things they needed from a store, and he had seen very few pieces +of money in his life. + +"Now, how under the cano_pee_ are you going to come up with the +money?" asked Mr. Follet briskly, and with practical pertinence. + +Steve certainly did not know and then Mr. Follet proposed that he stay +with them through the summer, work for him and he would give him his +board and clothes and pay him fifty cents a week. + +Steve agreed readily and at once felt a new sense of responsibility +and manliness. + +When his arm was quite well Mrs. Follet gave him some long white +garments which she called "nightshirts," and told him to undress at +night and wear them for sleeping! It was a very needless performance, +he felt in his secret heart, but he had already learned to love the +gentle woman and he would have done even more foolish things to please +her. In fact, the thing which she gave him for brushing his hair +seemed at first to bring him to the limit of acquiescence, but the bit +of broken looking-glass stuck in one of the timbers of his room soon +told him that a little smoothing down of his tousled head made an +immense difference in his looks, and somehow made him seem a little +more worthy to be in Nancy's presence. + +The little girl had lessons at night from her mother in wonderful +books, and Steve listened with rapt attention each time, beginning +very soon to catch their meaning. It was not long till he had confided +to Nancy how his "mammy" had wanted him to "larn things" too, and that +was another reason why he was trying to get to the city. + +"You're going to school then," said the little girl. "My mama teaches +me, and some day she is going to send me to a big, big college." + +Mrs. Follet had been a school-teacher from the north in one of the +small Kentucky towns, an orphan girl, who very young had been obliged +to make her own way in the world. She had met Mr. Follet, and in one +of those strange attractions between complete opposites in temperament +and training, had married him. She was a quiet, refined and very +kind-hearted woman. She would gladly have taught the boy, but finding +that he did not know even his letters, she felt that with Nancy in the +second reader, she could not take another pupil who was a beginner. + +But when the lessons were going on in the evening Steve soon began to +spell over the words to himself as Nancy spelled them, and then it +came about that often at odd times the brown shock of hair and the +little yellow curls bent together over bits of paper, as the little +girl pointed out and explained the make-up of the letters to the big +boy. + +"Don't you see, Steve, this little chicken coop with a piece across it +is big A, and this one with the piece standing up and two curly things +at the side is big B." The peculiarities of similar letters were +discussed, how the bottom curly thing in big R turned the other way, +while P didn't have any bottom curly thing at all, and F didn't have +any bottom cross piece, while E did. + +"See here," said Steve, growing alert, "here's a powerful nice gate; +whut's that?" + +"Oh, that's big H," said Nancy, "and wriggly, twisty S is just the +prettiest letter of all, I think. Oh, Steve, that is the letter which +begins your name," said she, in generous, childish joy. + +"Is that so?" exclaimed Steve, with eager pleasure because she was +pleased. "And which is the one whut begins yourn?" + +"Oh, mine is just two straight standing up pieces with a slanting +piece between. It's one kind of a gate but not just like H," and she +hunted out an N to show him. + +"_I_ think that's the prettiest letter of all," said Steve, with +unconscious gallantry. "Whar's the other letters in yo' name?" he +inquired, and Nancy hunted them all out. Then she found the other +letters in his name, and Steve had an undefined disappointment that +his name did not have a single letter in it which belonged to her +name. It seemed to shut him out more completely from the things which +belonged to her. + +So the lessons went on from the little girl to the big boy, and Mrs. +Follet was amazed one day to find that Steve could read quite well. He +studied every book and paper within reach as he found time, though he +never neglected his duties. + +Corn was constantly brought Mr. Follet in exchange for goods at the +store, and one of Steve's duties was to take the old horse with two +big bags of corn over to the Greely mill to be ground into meal. Nancy +was mounted upon the old horse in front of the bags to show Steve the +way on his first trip, and afterwards she always begged to go. To +Steve it was the greatest joy to take the little girl with him, though +he wouldn't have dared ask it. He taught her to put her small foot in +his hand while he sturdily lifted her to the old white mare's back, +and on the return she stepped down into his palm with equal ease. + +The way to the mill lay along the road for a time, and then a short +cut was made across what was known as the Greely Ridge. It was a steep +cliff of rugged woodland, and both Nancy and Steve enjoyed the trip +through the woods, Steve walking close beside the horse and the two +chatting all the way. He told the little girl such interesting things +about birds and squirrels, rabbits and foxes. + +"Don't you wish we were birds," said Nancy one day, "so we could fly +way off and see lots of things?" + +"Yes," said Steve, "I shore do; then I could find Mr. Polk and give +him his fox skin." The thought of getting to Mr. Polk was always in +his mind, and though the little girl knew all about it she wanted to +hear again how Steve got the skin and about that wonderful day in the +woods when he met Mr. Polk, and the beautiful watch that the robbers +took. + +"When you find Mr. Polk and learn to make watches and things, like +your mother wanted you to, you will make one just like yours for me, +won't you, Steve?" + +"Yes, I shore will," said Steve earnestly, never doubting that he +would keep his promise. + +There was nothing Steve would not attempt for her pleasure. He went to +the tops of trees after some vacant bird nest or hanging flower, he +chased rabbits and hunted squirrels that she might get a glimpse of +them. + +[Illustration: The Old Greely Mill] + +"Some day, Steve," said Nancy innocently, "let's build us a house and +live here always; we do have such good times when we come to this +wood." + +Steve replied again, "Yes, I shore will," and neither dreamed what the +wood was hiding for them to be revealed, far out in the veiled +future. + +When they reached the mill, Mr. and Mrs. Greely were always so glad to +see them. They had no children of their own and they liked the +straightforward, dependable boy, while the little girl with her sweet, +shy ways, was always a delight. Mrs. Greely would often stop her +spinning to get a little treat for them, which they would eat while +the corn was being ground, and going to mill came to make four people +happy each trip. + + + + +VI + +AN UNEXPECTED MEETING + + +Mr. Follet was a man of unique business methods. He had no idea of +orderliness, though he insisted he knew where everything was, and +strenuously declined his wife's offers to go over to the store, or +stores rather, and help him "straighten up." The stock had overflowed +the floor of the original building and instead of putting in shelves +to dispose of the stock conveniently, he built another and still +another shanty to hold the overflow. But in spite of queer methods he +was making money steadily. He kept each building securely locked, for +he said he wouldn't have idle folks sitting around in his store. He +went over to the station according to the railroad time schedule, +though it was only a flag station and was seldom flagged, and whenever +he saw a customer at the store door or on the way, he bustled over to +unlock the door, stumble around in the dark, for there were no +windows, and hunt out what they wanted. + +Bacon, molasses, dress-goods, coffins and farm implements were on +close terms of intimacy and whatever was wanted Mr. Follet could +produce with amazing promptness. + +Such methods, however, consumed a great deal of time on the path +between his home and the store, and Steve filled an urgent need of the +combined establishment. + +One morning at breakfast in early autumn Mr. Follet was in a great +flutter of excitement. A travelling auditor of the railroad was to be +there for the day looking over his accounts and this not frequent +event was a sore trial to both the station-master and the auditor. +Each time Mr. Follet said to him nervously: "Now, you know I can't +keep things like the road tells me to, and if things don't just come +out even I'll make up whatever's lacking." + +When the auditor, a big, broad-shouldered, kindly-faced gentleman +arrived on this particular morning, and was seated for work, Mr. +Follet made his usual statement. + +"All right, Mr. Follet, all right," said the genial auditor, "we know +you are straight as a string. Are you sure you've got all the ticket +stubs?" he continued as Mr. Follet brought out some bits of pasteboard +from a big bushel basket. + +"Oh, yes, I'm sure," said Mr. Follet. "I don't let nobody in here but +myself and so nothing is out of place." Then thinking a minute, he +said, "Well now I do believe I stuck a few stubs in this tin pail." +He looked, and sure enough there were a few more. + +"And the bills of lading," said the auditor, "are these all?" + +Mr. Follet pondered a moment and then brightening, exclaimed: "Why no, +I stuck a few of them in one of these here coffins one day for safe +keeping," and he stepped over to a grim pine coffin keeping company +with a pile of gay bandanas, and brought forth another bunch of bills. +But his foot caught in a coil of barbed wire as he started over to the +auditor with them and it was at that moment that Steve came to the +station door to get something and Mr. Follet called out, "Here, Steve, +hand these over to the gentleman." The boy started to obey, but when +he turned and faced the auditor he stood rooted to the floor, his face +white and eyes staring. + +"What ails you?" said Mr. Follet sharply, noticing him. The auditor +looked quickly up also, and the boy found his voice. + +"Samuel Polk," he said slowly. + +The auditor smiled, and replied pleasantly, "That's my name, son, and +where did you ever know me?" + +"Ye sent me the watch," said the boy. + +"Is that so!" exclaimed Mr. Polk. "So you are the boy I met in the +woods! Well, this is marvellous, sure, that we should meet here. How +did you ever get so far away from Hollow Hut?" he went on smiling. + +The boy told him briefly, while Mr. Follet listened with lively +interest. When the pitiful tale of the loss of the watch was told, +Steve added sturdily: + +"But I got yer fox skin in spite of 'em, an' I've been a-workin' to +git to the city to give it ter ye." + +"Working to take the skin to me when you have no watch," said the +auditor, gently. + +"Course," said the boy; "hit was yourn jes' the same," and the auditor +reached out and drew the boy to him tenderly, thinking of all the +hardship he had borne in the effort to be square and honest. + +"You are the boy for me," he said with a glimmer in his eyes that made +Steve feel queer, and he broke away, saying, "I'll go and brung ye the +skin." + +He was back as quickly as his sturdy legs could bring him, and laid +the fox skin on Mr. Polk's knee. It was gravely accepted and admired, +and then Steve returned to his work with all the earnestness he could +summon after the excitement of this unexpected meeting. + +When Mr. Follet and Mr. Polk came over to dinner the acquaintance of +the two who had met that November day in the mountains was continued +and Mr. Polk was greatly pleased to find that the boy was already +"larnin'," and astonished at the progress which had been made during +the summer. On the way back to the store he said to Mr. Follet: + +"I've taken a great fancy to that boy; he ought to have a good +education. I am all alone in the world and no good to anybody. If it's +all square with you, I'll take that boy to the city with me this +afternoon when I leave at four-thirty and put him in school +somewhere." + +Mr. Follet was amazed and he hated to give up the boy who had become +so useful, but after a moment's thought, he said: + +"I don't see as I have anything to say about it. He just stopped here +on his way to you, and you've come to him. You'll have to take him if +you want him, though I don't see how under the canopee we'll get along +without him now." + +"That is just like you, Follet, straight always," said the other +warmly, and after a little the station-master went back to take the +news to Steve. It startled them all and Mrs. Follet expressed her +great regret in seeing the boy go, but she put his few little +belongings in good order and prepared him to start off "clean and +whole," as she expressed it. Nancy looked on wide-eyed, and Steve got +ready like one in a dream. He wrapped his small bundle of clothes in +the fox skin, which Mr. Polk had asked him to take care of, and went +over to the station. + +At four-thirty the train rushed up. Mr. Polk led Steve into a +beautiful plush-seated car and placed the boy where he could have a +last look at his friends, for Mr. and Mrs. Follet and Nancy stood on +the platform. + +It was Nancy who held his eyes till the last moment, little Nancy with +two big tears dropping down her cheeks. Steve's throat ached +unaccountably. + + + + +VII + +A TRIP TO THE CITY + + +"Here we are," said Mr. Polk, as the train thundered into the +station at Louisville. The ride of four hours had been a continued +kaleidoscopic delight. Steve could not understand how it was that +trees and houses went racing by the car windows and Mr. Polk had +rare enjoyment in the boy's unsophisticated inquiry and comment. + +Bringing this boy into the city was like giving sudden sight to a +child who had lived its life in blindness. With keenest pleasure, +Mr. Polk took him into a brilliantly lighted restaurant for supper +and then afterwards up town by trolley into a large furnishing +establishment, for it was Saturday night and the stores were open. +There he fitted the little fellow out from top to toe according to +his liking, the outfit including a shining German silver watch! The +two attracted attention everywhere, the boy's face a study in its +swiftly changing expression and the man full of eager interest which +he could not curb. + +When Steve was all dressed and stood before a mirror, Mr. Polk +exclaimed: + +"Now, that is something like!" And the boy turning from the +transformed vision of himself, lifted a quivering face to his +benefactor. + +There was a delicately sensitive side to the nature of this boy of the +woods. To him this experience was not simply getting new, fine +clothes, but his old familiar self seemed to go with the old clothes, +and like the chrysalis emerging into the butterfly, he could not pass +into the new life, which the new type of clothes represented, without +having his joy touched with the pain of travail. + +With the tenderness of a woman Mr. Polk put his arm about the little +fellow in quick contrition, knowing that it had been too much for this +habitant of the quiet woods, and said in a most matter-of-fact way: +"Now, son, for home and bed," and in a few minutes more the boy was +snugly tucked in bed in Mr. Polk's comfortable bachelor quarters, and +the next morning when he woke he was a new boy inwardly as well as +outwardly. + +He was ready for new "thrills" and they came. After a very astonishing +breakfast he went with Mr. Polk to church. The beautiful building and +wonderfully dressed people held his wide-eyed interest, but when the +deep-toned organ poured forth its solemn melody, big tears dropped +down the boy's face and Mr. Polk drew him within a protecting arm. It +was like touching the quivering chords of a little bared soul with +new, strange harmonies, and the sensitive heart of the man understood +intuitively the boy's mingled joy and pain. + +In the afternoon Mr. Polk took his charge to the home of a friend to +see about schools, as his friend had a boy about the same age, and +also to get help as to the general problem of caring for his protege. + +Arrived at the house, the friend, Mr. Colton, his wife and Maud, the +young daughter about fifteen years of age, were at home and gave the +visitors a lively welcome. They were at once greatly interested in the +mountain boy, but so civilized was his outfit, and intelligent his +face that they could not realize his difference from themselves except +when he talked. This they were delighted to get him to do, and he +answered all questions unabashed, though he liked better to look and +listen. + +The Coltons were well-to-do people with ever-ready, easy hospitality +and insisted that Mr. Polk and Steve remain to tea. + +"The maids are both out as it happens, so we must get tea ourselves," +said Mrs. Colton, adding with mock graciousness, "and everybody may +help!" + +They all trooped out in responsive pleasantry through the hall, and +Mr. Colton inquired: + +"Where is Raymond?" + +"Oh, he is out," replied Mrs. Colton. "There is no telling when he +will be in." + +That they were very indulgent parents and Raymond was an exceedingly +lively boy, Mr. Polk already knew. + +The hostess and her daughter exchanged glances of sudden consternation +when they reached the dining-room, then burst into merriest laughter. + +At last Mrs. Colton said between subsiding ripples, "Father, please go +down in the basement and look in the furnace and you'll find the baker +with the cold roast left from dinner! Mr. Polk, you go along too, +please, and you'll see some loose bricks between the joists right +under this dining-room window, and right behind them is the bread-box +which you can bring up!" + +"The cake is up-stairs in the hat-box of my trunk under lock and key," +gaily put in Maud, "and you can come with me, Steve, and bring down +the preserves from under the bed!" + +By this time the whole family were in gales of laughter, and Steve was +greatly puzzled at this new phase of civilization. Mrs. Colton finally +explained that for a few Sundays past Raymond had been carrying off +everything there was to eat in the house, and having "spreads" in the +barn with his chums. This time they determined to outwit him. + +Mr. Polk joined heartily in all the merriment, going after and +bringing in provisions, but in his heart he thought, "This is the +product of too much opportunity--give me my mountain boy every time. +If he doesn't outstrip this pampered son, I miss my guess." + +A little later Raymond came in and dominated the conversation at once, +after the manner of too many bright, confident children of modern city +life. After tea he took Steve in charge on a lively tour of +exploration, and Mr. Polk talked over his plans for his boy. + +"The thing you ought to do," said Mr. Colton who was very clear-headed +concerning everything except his own son, "is to put the boy in a +mountain college. He would be at a disadvantage among boys of his age +in town, and then you've no way to take care of him, travelling as you +do. My wife has a friend near here who is greatly interested in a +mountain college; just go over and see her." + +This seemed good advice and Mr. Colton took Mr. Polk and Steve over at +once. + +The lady came in and greeted them with gracious cordiality, but when +she learned their errand and knew that one of the little mountain +boys, to whose welfare she had given so much thought, time and money, +was before her, her eyes grew tender and filled with tears. + +"He must go to our mountain college at once; the school has just +opened," she said. So they heard all about the school and its +opportunities. When she had finished Steve spoke up: + +"Is all that jes' fer mountain boys lack me?" This seemed beyond +belief, but they assured him it was. + +Raymond had greatly enjoyed demonstrating the mysteries of the +telephone, electric lights and various contrivances of his own to so +totally unenlightened and yet so appreciative an intelligence as +Steve's, while the quaint mountain speech interested and amused him +exceedingly. So when Mr. Polk and the boy took leave of the Coltons +for the night Raymond secured a promise that Steve might attend school +with him next day. Mr. Polk would be busy making arrangements for the +few days' holiday which would be necessary to take Steve back to the +mountains and place him in school. + +Promptly next morning Raymond arrived at Mr. Polk's rooms for Steve +and the boys started off together like two comrades. It was Steve's +first day in a schoolroom, and eye and ear were on the alert, taking +in everything. + +He was well dressed and with his intelligent face the other boys +noted nothing unusual until the noon hour when Raymond introduced his +new specimen with keen relish. He had no unkind intentions in the sly +winks he gave chosen comrades, but these aroused the curiosity of his +fellows, and when Steve began to talk the boys awoke to lively +possibilities. One after another began to ask questions. + +"What did you do for fun down at Hollow Hut?" asked one. + +"We uns didn't do nothin' fer fun, 'cep'in' hunt cotton tails, foxes +an' coons," answered the boy. + +"Didn't you play football?" asked some one else. + +"I nuver hearn tell of it," said Steve. + +"Du tell," returned another boy, venturing to fall a little into the +stranger's vernacular. + +"Didn't you ever play tennis, shinny or baseball?" persisted some one +else, and Steve replied politely "that nobody ever hearn o' them +things in Hollow Hut." + +The boys then began to venture more boldly into imitations of Steve's +speech while some got behind him and doubled up in silent laughter. +Raymond looked on, feeling himself the hero of the day in having +furnished such a comedy. + +Suddenly Steve turned, perhaps with some intuition of what was going +on, and with swift comprehension knew that he was being made fun of. +His face on the instant was electrified with wrath. He drew himself +up, and clenched his hands. Then in a twinkling his coat and cap were +upon the ground. Taking the first boy at hand Steve dealt him a blow +from the shoulder with a lean, sinewy arm that sent him spinning +across the yard, and before any one could realize what was happening +three or four others followed, and the rest, frightened at his fury, +took to their heels with speed. + +Steve stood alone at last quivering from head to foot; then calming +slowly, he took his coat on his arm, put on his cap and walked away, +not knowing whither he was going. But as he grew more quiet he took +his bearings, and his keen sense of direction and good recollection of +things they had passed in going, led him without trouble back to Mr. +Polk's rooms. + +Raymond was not a cad, and when he had time to think was thoroughly +ashamed of himself. He went to the teacher and made confession; then +as both were afraid the boy might get lost or come to some harm, he +went at once on a search. He did not dream that Steve could so +directly find his way back, and Raymond wandered about for hours in a +fruitless search, doing without his dinner. At last, frightened and +contrite, he went to Mr. Polk's office. Here the confession was harder +to make, but it came out in all its humiliating details. Having eased +his conscience he wound up with a burst of enthusiasm: "I tell you, +Mr. Polk, Steve's got the stuff in him. There isn't a fellow in school +but thinks he is fine. We didn't mean a thing by our fun, but he +served us just right, and every fellow wants to take his paw." + +Mr. Polk said little but sending Raymond home and promising to +telephone later, he went directly to his rooms, knowing Steve's keenly +intuitive mind better than Raymond. Though anxious until it was proven +true, Mr. Polk found Steve as he had expected, seated in his rooms +when he got there. But he saw a most dejected little figure. The new +clothes were laid aside, the old mountain things were on, and the +boy's face was drawn and white, though he fronted Mr. Polk sturdily. + +"I don't belong in no town. I ain't got no town ways. I'll jes' go +back to Hollow Hut and stay thar." + +Mr. Polk put his arm about the boy and gently drew him to a seat. For +some moments there was silence. + +"Steve," he said at last, "did the trip over the mountains from Hollow +Hut to Mr. Follet's sometimes seem hard for you?" + +"Hit shore did," said the boy slowly. + +"But you didn't give up the struggle, did you?" + +"No," said Steve, still slowly. + +"Well, the journey of life is like that journey over the mountains: it +is often hard; there are things to overcome and things to endure. You +have started now up the long, hard hill of learning, and I hope you +are not going to turn back at the laughter of a few boys. You thrashed +them out, I understand," he went on, and his voice held a strong hint +of satisfaction; "pass right on now, putting the incident behind you +just as you did each rocky summit you mounted on that difficult +journey. You must climb to the top, son, understand; nothing short of +that will satisfy me!" And he looked earnestly, almost vehemently into +the boy's eyes. + +The penetrating gaze was returned, but with a puzzled, groping inquiry +for his benefactor's full intent. + +"Yer mean I mus' larn as much as you know?" he asked at last. + +"More,--infinitely more," said Mr. Polk with energy. "I have half-way +climbed the mountain of knowledge and success in life,--I have even +stopped less than half-way," he corrected a little bitterly, "but," +rousing himself, "I want to begin life over again in you, and nothing +but the very top of the mountain of success will ever satisfy me!" He +turned again to the boy with a deep, searching gaze. + +"You are a boy of your word," he went on after a moment, "that is what +pleased me most about you, and now at the very outset of this business +of learning and succeeding in life, I want your promise that you will +not halt before obstacles, but go to the top!" + +There was impelling enthusiasm as well as energy in the resonant +tones, and Steve's spirit kindled with answering enthusiasm and a +glimmering vision of heights which he had not hitherto glimpsed. + +"I'll git ter the top, Mr. Polk,--ef I don't die on the way," he said +with solemn earnestness. + +It was a most unexpected, peculiarly intense moment for both, and in +the silence which followed, the imagination of boy and man scaled +lofty peaks, but the mountain of material success which filled Mr. +Polk's vision was not the beautiful, mystic height upon which the boy +gazed, and neither dreamed of the conflict which this fact was to +bring about in future years. + +"God hath set eternity in the heart of man," and the child of the +woods felt the stirring of an eternal purpose, undefined though it +was. The glamour of the world had long since intervened for the man. + +The telephone rang noisily, having no respect for visions, and Mr. +Polk rose to answer it while Steve began at once to put on again the +new clothes in unconscious ratification of his solemn life-promise to +Mr. Polk. + +It was Mrs. Colton at the phone and she learned with great relief that +Steve had been found. She insisted that Mr. Polk and the boy must come +over to supper, after which there would be a little impromptu party of +Raymond's friends for Steve. + +The boy looked very sober when this announcement was made to him, but +Mr. Polk smiled and said heartily, as he had already done to Mrs. +Colton: + +"Of course we will go!" And they went. + +There was just a bit of awkwardness when the boys came into the +Coltons' that evening and met Steve once more, but Mr. Polk, with an +adroit question, started him to telling them about trapping rabbits, +chasing foxes and treeing coons while the boys became so interested, +including Steve himself, that all unpleasantness was forgotten. Upon +leaving, each boy took Steve's hand with real respect and liking, and +Raymond expressed the general sentiment when he exclaimed, "You're a +brick!" + +Next day Mr. Polk and Steve started for the mountain school. As they +sat together on the train Steve said: "I'll be larnin' to do things +jes' like mammy said fer me ter do. I wonder ef she will know." + +"I think so," said Mr. Polk simply, but with a gentle sympathy in his +voice, which, whenever expressed by look or tone, seemed to bring the +boy close to the heart of the man. Resting a moment in this embrace, +Steve asked a question which had come to him several times. His father +and all the mature men he had known had been married,--for bachelors +are rare in the mountains,--why had Mr. Polk no wife? + +"Is ye woman dead, Mr. Polk?" was the question he asked. + +"No," answered Mr. Polk, with a smile that flitted quickly, "she did +not marry me at all, and so has left me lonely all my life. I would +have been a far better man had she done so. As it is," and the +bitterness crept into his voice again, "I stopped half-way up the hill +of success as I told you, and threw my prospects away. That is why you +are to live my life over for me and bring success whether or no." + + + + +VIII + +OPPORTUNITY + + +Mr. Polk and Steve made their railroad trip by night, and the sleeper +with its rows of shelf-like beds was a fresh experience for the boy, +but he climbed to the upper berth and slept the sleep of healthy +youth. They reached L---- about seven o'clock in the morning, and the +sight of mountain and valley spread out before them in purple beauty +gave a strange thrill of joy to Steve. The mountaineer's love of the +mountains rushed upon him after all his new, pleasant experiences with +a first consciously defined emotion. + +"Well," said Mr. Polk, "now the problem is how we can cover that forty +miles which lies between us and our school." But just at that moment +he spied an old man helping a woman into a wagon, and at once he +stepped up, found they were fortunately going to the same point, and +would gladly take in two passengers with the ready accommodation of +mountain people. + +They travelled leisurely on and on, Steve seeing things of a familiar +type and Mr. Polk much that was fresh and interesting. They stopped +over night at a little settlement and journeyed on again next day, +reaching their destination early in the evening. When the group of +school buildings came into view, the old mountaineer pointed out the +main building with its tower, and told them which was the "gals' +sleepin' place," and which "the boys' sleepin' place," as he termed +the two dormitories. He drove directly to the president's home, a +little unpainted frame house. They were cordially received, +entertained at supper and taken afterwards to the boys' dormitory, +where Steve was given a room with several other boys. Then they walked +over to "The Hall," as it was called, and were introduced to the +teachers, who were gathering there for the study hour. They had met +several when a young woman's trim, slender figure, with a decided air +of the city about it, appeared in the doorway, and the light from +within lit up a pair of clear, steady brown eyes, a pleasant mouth +with firmness lurking in the corners, and fluffy brown hair put back +in a roll from a very attractive face. + +She stood a moment there in the doorway with a casual glance for the +strangers, then suddenly caught her breath and went white, but +instantly recovered herself as the president, oblivious of any tragic +moment for her, turned and said: + +"This is Miss Grace Trowbridge; she came down here all the way from +New York City to teach mountain boys and girls,--and she knows how to +do it, too." + +Miss Trowbridge bowed and passed quickly within the hall. + +Mr. Polk acknowledged the introduction with a look on his face that +Steve had never seen before, and the boy felt somehow that his good +friend had become a stranger as they walked back to the boys' +dormitory for the night. Next morning, too, something had come between +them, and when Mr. Polk said he would leave that day instead of +staying several days, as he had intended, Steve could make no reply. + +Before Mr. Polk left, however, in giving final instructions to his +charge, the old kindly manner returned, and as he said, "I hope you +will like it here, son," the boy replied with his old freedom: + +"I knows I'm a-goin' to like it, and that thar Miss Grace Trowbridge +is the nicest one of 'em all. She used ter live in New York City, the +president said, whar you used ter live. Didn't you nuver know her +thar?" he asked innocently, not yet comprehending in the least city +conditions. + +Mr. Polk set his lips grimly and answered sternly: "Yes," as he +mounted a mule to ride back the forty miles to the nearest railroad +station. + +What was the matter again? The boy did not know, and he felt as +though a sudden chill had come upon him. But a moment later Mr. Polk +looked down at him kindly, reached over, pressed his hand, and said: +"Be a good boy," as he rode away on the ambling mule. + +So Steve began his school life. He went into the second reader class, +his opportunities at the Follets' having put him beyond the beginners. +In his class were children of all ages and mature men and women, who +were just getting their first opportunity to learn. Steve was bright +and quick, had a good mind, and made rapid progress. + +With the superior social advantages which he had found along the way +from Hollow Hut to the school, the boy became a great ally of the +teachers in the battle for nightgowns, combs, and brushes for the hair +and teeth, also for white shirts, collars and neckties on Sunday, +which most of the boys thought "plum foolishness anyways." + +"Here, fellows," Steve would say when he found them turning in at +night with soiled feet, coats and trousers, "this ain't the way ter +git ter be president." He organized a company of "regulators" in the +boys' dormitory, and when any fellows turned in with soiled feet, +coats and trousers, Steve's shrill whistle summoned the army and a +lively pillow fight ensued which was hard on the pillows but always +brought victory for nightgowns. And when a boy refused to brush his +hair in the morning the regulators invariably caught him, and the +penalty was a thorough brushing down of his rebellious locks by at +least twenty-five sturdy young arms. Under such methods the cause of +nightgowns and brushes was made to thrive. + +There was another cause which was more difficult, but which enlisted +all Steve's best endeavour. Mountain children are apt to know the +taste of liquor from babyhood, but Steve had never liked it and +neither had his mother. Occasionally parents, especially fathers, when +they visited the school would bring the children bottles of +"moonshine" to hide and drink from as they pleased, and the teachers +found Steve a great helper, though his corps of "regulators" could not +always be relied upon. + +In the midst of his interesting, new surroundings Steve's mind often +went back to the rock where Tige lay and to the grave of his "mammy." +How pleased she would be, he thought again and again,--maybe she +was--that he was where he could "larn things." + +He soon began to write letters to Mr. Polk, and a steady improvement +was noted all winter in these letters. There was always a great deal +in them about Miss Grace, for she seemed to make him her special +charge and the two were great friends. She loved to walk in the woods +and talk with Steve, hearing him tell many interesting things which he +had learned from intimate association with birds and animals. +Sometimes she would take his hand at the top of a hill and together +they would race down, laughing and breathless to the bottom. After +such a run, one day, they halted by the bank of a stream beneath one +of the grand old beeches for which Kentucky is famous. + +"Oh, Steve," she exclaimed enthusiastically, "what a beautiful old +beech this is. How symmetrical its giant trunk, how perfect its +development of each branch and twig, while it pushes up into the sky +higher than all its fellows, gets more sunshine than all the rest, has +the prettiest growth of ferns and violets at its base,--and I just +know the birds and squirrels love it best!" + +Miss Grace had a bubbling, contagious enthusiasm, and Steve followed +her expressive gestures as she pointed out each detail of perfection +with answering admiration. + +"Steve!" She turned suddenly and bent her eyes upon him with still +more radiant emphasis. "I want you to be just such a grand specimen of +a man! Big and strong and well developed,--pushing up into the sky +further than all the rest about you, getting more sunshine than any +one else--making little plants to grow and blossom all about you and +drawing to you the sweetest and best in life!" + +He smiled back into her shining eyes, somewhat bewildered, but with an +earnest: + +"I shore will try, Miss Grace, but I don't know just what you mean." + +"I mean I want you to study hard, to develop every power of mind and +body you have, and then,--give your life for the uplift of the +children of the mountains." + +She did not press him for a promise, nor linger upon the subject, but +the first dim outline of that mystic height of the boy's vision had +been traced. + +Upon another walk which they took together Steve asked Miss Grace how +she happened to come from her home way up in New York down to Kentucky +to teach mountain boys and girls, and she was silent a moment, a look +which he could not fathom coming over her bright face. At last she +said, "I was very foolish; I threw away happiness. Then I heard of +this work and came here that I might redeem my life by making it +useful." + +There was something about this boy of the mountains that made the +telling of the simple truth the natural thing; but startled at even so +vague a revealing of her bruised heart, she turned the talk quickly to +other things. + + + + +IX + +A STARTLING APPEARANCE + + +In the spring following came a great day for the mountain school when +some friends and benefactors were coming. Great preparations were +made. The school about three hundred strong fronted the main hall, and +there was great waving of small and large handkerchiefs in a genuine +salute as the visiting party drove up. + +When the company had scattered a little after the greeting, Steve +suddenly felt an arm about him and turning, found Mr. Polk smiling +down upon him. The boy was overjoyed and could only cling to his hand, +speechless for a moment. Mr. Polk had met the visiting party on the +train, among whom was the lady who had told him of the school, and she +would take no refusal,--he must go with them. + + * * * * * + +It was a beautiful day for Steve and in his boyish talk about his life +and school he often spoke of Miss Grace, but each time came that grim +setting of Mr. Polk's lips and the boy soon instinctively dropped her +name. The day was destined to be full of events, some in honour of the +visitors and some that were totally unexpected. + +The speech of welcome from the school was made by Stephen Langly. Miss +Grace had told him to say in his own words whatever was in his heart +to say. So the boy stepped out from the gathered school, mounted a +little platform and stood before the assembled crowd unabashed, for +the mountaineer knows no embarrassment, while in simple good English +he thanked the generous friends and teachers for what they were doing +for mountain boys and girls. As he stood there well dressed, erect, +manly, he bore little resemblance to the forlorn boy who had crept +away from his cabin home at Hollow Hut a year before. + +As the crowd dispersed a little after the speech-making, in which +several took part, Mr. Polk and Steve walked away together and passed +a group of teachers and students of which the visiting lady of Mr. +Polk's acquaintance was the centre. + +"Come here, Mr. Polk, please, and bring Steve to see me," she called. + +Miss Grace Trowbridge was one of the group and Mr. Polk halted +reluctantly, but finally joined them. + +Before a word could be exchanged a tall, lank, grim mountaineer +slouched forward and laid a horny hand upon Steve's shoulder. The +startled boy looked up to see his father standing beside him! + +The Kentucky mountain product, unlike any other so-called shiftless +man in the world, may idle his days away with pipe and drink, but let +a wrong, real or fancied, be done him or his and in his thirst for +vengeance he is transformed. His energy, his perseverance, his +intelligence, his fury become colossal. So, Jim Langly, convinced +after months of waiting and brooding that his boy had been enticed +away by the giver of the watch, had set out with a grim purpose of +finding boy and man which had been undaunted by any obstacle. With +slow but persistent effort he had traced the child over mountain and +valley, often losing all clue, but never relaxing till at last he had +reached Mr. Follet and learned that the boy was in school. From thence +he easily made his way to the school of Mr. Polk's selection, and, +arriving by strange providence upon a gala day, had found the two +objects of his search at the same moment. + +"I've found ye at last," he said grimly, "an' when I set eyes on the +man whut give ye that watch and tolled my boy away from his home, I'll +shoot him down lack a dog!" + +Mr. Polk quietly walked out and said, "I am your man, Mr. Langly." + +"You," the enraged mountaineer yelled, and jerking a pistol from his +trousers pocket, he lifted and would have cocked it, but quick as a +deer Grace Trowbridge had stepped in front of Mr. Polk, protecting him +with her body, while Steve threw himself on his father and screamed +shrilly, dropping into the speech of the mountains: + +"No, oh, pappy, pappy, don't shoot him! He nuver got me ter leave +home; I went myself, and I'll go back with yer and stay all my life!" + +Frantically the boy clung to his father, pleading pitifully, while +Grace Trowbridge with all her strength pushed Mr. Polk back among a +quickly gathering crowd. Others joined her, and in the excitement of +the moment, both she and Mr. Polk were hurried into safety within one +of the school buildings and the door locked upon them. + +The town constable was on the ground, for his services were quite +likely to be needed in any public gathering, and before Jim Langly +realized what was happening, being wholly unfamiliar with the ways of +law and order, his pistol had been wrenched from his hand (something +unheard of in mountain ethics), and he was hurried from the scene like +an infuriated lion made captive. + +Breathless and spent, Grace Trowbridge found herself looking into the +face of her old lover when the door was locked upon them. She stood an +instant like a frightened bird driven to cover, her eyes gazing into +his, anxiety, relief, tragic intensity born of but one emotion in her +white quivering face,--and then the warm blood surged up with +returning realization of the years of estrangement between them, and +she wheeled for instant flight. + +But the door was locked, and baffled she faced him again, crying, "Oh, +Sam, let me out!" + +For answer he caught her in his arms and said, "Let you out, and away +from me? Never! I shall hold you fast instead. I love you, love +you, love you," he cried vehemently, "and what is more, you love +me!" He crushed her to him and the tense, spent figure relaxed in +his arms while love in full tide swept over them, after six weary +years of longing and restraint. Their separation had followed a +misunderstanding which now did not even seem to need explanation. + +"Sam," she cried at last, moving energetically away from him, "I can +never give up these blessed mountain children. You'll have to adopt +every one of them if you take me!" + +"All right," he said happily, "just as many of them as you please." + +Instantly both remembered Steve. + +"Oh, Sam, where is Steve? Do you suppose his father has carried him +off, and that we will never see him again?" she exclaimed in distress, +and a few moments later, when release came to them, their first +anxious inquiry was for the boy. + +No one had seen or thought of him in the excitement, and when the +story of Jim Langly's arrest had been told them, they searched the +grounds and buildings in great anxiety before they finally found Steve +in his room. + +When Mr. Polk opened the door the boy stood before him dressed in a +little ragged shirt and old pair of trousers he had worn for hunting +and with bared feet. The hopeless expression of the lost was in his +face. + +"I can't keep my promise to you, Mr. Polk," he said brokenly. "I can't +ever climb that mountain fer yer, but it is better fer me ter die on +the way than fer you to be killed." Correct speech had no part in such +despair. + +Mr. Polk drew the boy to him while Miss Grace stood without, her lips +tremulous and eyes full of tears. After a silent moment Mr. Polk led +the boy outside and put him in her arms. + +"Do you think we are going to give you up?" Mr. Polk said, striding up +and down the hall. "Not by a long shot," he went on with energy, and a +conviction for which he could not at the moment see any tangible +foundation. "This is all going to be fixed up,--just leave everything +to Miss Grace and me." + +The boy shook his head. "Ye don't know pappy," he said sadly. + +"I may not," returned Mr. Polk cheerfully, "but I know Grace +Trowbridge, and I am going to trust her to keep you here. Do just as +she says, son, and everything will come right." + +He left them to talk with the president of the school. They discussed +what should be done with Jim Langly. Mr. Polk greatly regretted the +man's arrest, but was compelled to admit it could not have been +avoided. He begged, however, that prosecution of the case be delayed +until every effort could be made to make Langly see that only good was +intended for his son. + +"Of course I must relinquish all claim to the boy," he said sadly, +"but we must by some means win the father's consent that Steve remain +here,--that is the important thing." + +So it was decided that Mr. Polk should leave, as his presence could +only infuriate the man, and the president gladly promised to do +everything in his power to win the father. + +For a week Jim Langly remained in the lock-up of the town. He had +wrenched his back severely in the struggle with his captors; then, +like a caged lion indeed, he had beaten the walls of his prison all +night without food or drink, and being a man of indolent habits, he +collapsed utterly next morning. The gaunt, haggard face with deep +hollows beneath the eyes, the giant figure lying helpless upon a rude +couch of the lock-up touched deeply the heart of Grace Trowbridge when +she went in to see him. In his blind fury he had not noticed her +especially the day before; and when, without saying a word, she +stepped lightly across the room and reaching through the iron bars +closed a rude shutter to screen the glare of the morning sun from his +eyes, then gently adjusted a pillow beneath his head and fed him a cup +of hot broth, he accepted it all like a wild, sick animal which in its +helplessness has lost all animosity to man. + +During the day she tended him unobtrusively, but with infinite +kindness, and next morning she found him better, but still willing to +accept her care. He even watched her with a far-away interest as one +would something unknown and yet strangely pleasing. By the third +morning she talked to him a bit as she smoothed his pillow, and smiled +as he ate her toast with relish. + +At last he said with an effort, "Whar's Steve?" + +"He is here," she said gladly, "just waiting outside the door for you +to ask for him. He has been there every day," she added softly. + +Then she stepped to the door and motioned for Steve. The boy came in, +still dressed in mountain fashion, for no amount of persuasion could +induce him to again put on the better clothes. This evidently met the +father's approval, for a look of bitter expectancy which had come into +his face faded at once as he saw the old trousers and bare feet. + +"Set down," he commanded feebly, but not unkindly, though he had +nothing more to say. + +The two stayed with him through the day, and gradually Grace, with +consummate tact, made conversation which included the three, though +Langly took little part. Then she read a stirring story which +compelled his attention and interest even though he had never heard +anything read aloud before. It was the first time in the mountaineer's +long life that he had ever been unable to rise from his bed and go his +way and the helplessness had softened his spirit like the touch of a +fairy's wand. As he listened to the sweet, cultured voice of the woman +while she read and saw Steve with quickened intelligence following +every word, he realized for the first time that the world held strange +things in which he had no part, but for which his boy was ready. + +At last Miss Grace turned to Steve and said in the most natural +manner, "My throat is getting tired; won't you read a little for us?" + +The boy looked at his father in quick alarm, but the gaunt face +betrayed nothing, and the reading went on in Steve's boyish voice. + +Several days passed during which Miss Grace and Steve had been +constantly with the prisoner, then his injured back was sufficiently +restored to permit of his being raised in bed to a sitting posture, +and Miss Grace felt it was time she tried to win his consent to +Steve's remaining at school. With woman's intuition she divined the +best method of approach. Steve was not there and she told with simple +pathos of the boy's love for his mother. Jim Langly had loved his wife +with all the mountain man's lack of expression, but the natural +portrayal of the boy's affection did not displease him. The old self +in fact seemed to pass out with that day of terrible fury and the +softer spirit which had taken its place seemed to linger. She went on +to tell how the boy's mother had longed for him to have a chance to +learn, and that only a few minutes before her death she had made him +promise to go where he could learn. + +"It was this," she ended, "which made Steve leave home and not the man +who sent the watch." + +Jim Langly lay silent a long while after hearing this, and then he +said: + +"I was agin that in her alive, I reckon I won't be agin her dead." + +After a little he inquired with resentment in his voice, "How come +that man whut give him the watch ter be with him here?" + +"The boy happened to find the man," she said, "and the man was good to +him when he needed a friend. But we will get Steve to tell us all +about it," she ended brightly, as Steve came just then to the door. +And with a glad heart the boy told all his story from the day he left +Hollow Hut till his father's appearance a few days before. + +The president of the school then visited Langly, told of the boy's +progress and begged earnestly that he be allowed to stay. Nothing was +said as to how the boy's expenses were to be met, and since Jim Langly +knew as little as a child about the cost of such things, he asked no +questions. When strong enough at last Langly walked out a free man, +the president having withdrawn all charges against him, and after +looking about the buildings with strange interest he started back to +Hollow Hut, with no good-bye for his boy after the manner of the +mountains, but with an understanding that when school closed Steve +should return to his old home for the summer. + +It was some two months later when Mr. Polk carried out this promise +which had been made the father, by taking the boy back to the woods +where they had first met. He expected to camp there for a few days' +fishing, and to arrange for Steve's safe return to the school in the +fall, as happy plans of his own for the autumn would probably prevent +his coming in person. + +When Steve left Mr. Polk he swung off down the well-remembered +mountainside with strange joy in his heart. He had felt a new kinship +for his father growing upon him since he could remain at school in the +freedom of parental consent, and shy thought had come of reading aloud +sometimes in the old Hollow Hut cabin from the pile of books under his +arms while his father smoked and listened, as he had in the beautiful +days when Miss Grace had tended him. + +But a few hours later he came slowly back up the same path with a +stricken look on his face. + +"Pappy's dead, too," he said brokenly, when Mr. Polk stepped forward +in surprise and alarm to meet him. + +The boy sat down upon a log, dropping his books in a heap beside him, +and his bent shoulders shook with sobs. + +Mr. Polk comforted him with silent tenderness for a time, then +gradually drew out the story of Jim Langly's short illness of a week +from a virulent fever and his burial two days before. + +Together they went again next day to the cabin. Mirandy had married a +few weeks previous and she and her husband were beginning family life +anew in the old place. She had been stirred somewhat by the events of +the year, and looked with interest upon Mr. Polk and Steve, the latter +showing plainly to her the touch of new surroundings, and when Mr. +Polk told her he wanted to take the boy for his own and educate him, +she said with a touch of bitterness: + +"Tek him erlong; he won't nuver know nothin' here." + +So the two who had seemed bound from the first by close ties went away +together, Steve to spend the summer at the school, where a few were +always accommodated during the vacation, and Mr. Polk to wind up his +business affairs in the South preparatory to a return to New York. He +had formerly been associated with an uncle having large railroad +interests in the East, who had often urged his return. He now proposed +to do so, taking advantage of opportunities still open to him. These +had been thrown away upon the breaking of his engagement with Grace +Trowbridge, six years before, to take a position with a southern +railroad and wander restlessly among new scenes. + + + + +X + +STEVE DEVELOPS A MIND OF HIS OWN + + +In the autumn Mr. Polk's happy plans materialized. There was a wedding +in a handsome New York City home, and Steve Langly arrived the day +before for the festivities. At the ceremony he and Anita Trowbridge, +the little sister of Miss Grace, were the attendants. They came in +first, Steve dressed as a page in a velvet suit which went well with +his clear, dark complexion, and little Nita, as she was called, +tripped beside him in delicate pink as a fairy flower girl. They stood +on either side of a beautiful fox-skin rug with a history, upon which +the bride and groom, slowly following, took their places to repeat the +sacred vows which bound them for life. + +Steve and Nita, as the only children, spent the evening together, +roaming about the house, Steve finding new interests everywhere. He +looked around at the rich furnishings and beautiful floral decorations +with appreciative eyes, seeming not at all out of place in such +surroundings. A feeling of awkwardness and timidity might have +possessed so poor a boy reared anywhere else, but mountain-born as he +was, he accepted man's magnificence with the same tranquil spirit that +he did the shimmering silver of a mountain sunrise or the gorgeous +colour-triumph of its sunset. But he did not understand Nita. She +tried her most grown-up ways upon him, chatting after the manner of a +little society belle, and while she was so pretty that he loved to +look at her as he would have looked at a beautiful flower, he did not +know what to say to her. Having talked of many things, and being an +ardent little lover of pretty clothes, taken in with appreciative eyes +the handsome costumes of the guests, she sighed at last and said: + +"Oh, I just love to go down Broadway, don't you, and see all the +handsome gowns on people as they pass, and look in at the store +windows!" + +"I don't know; I nuver was there," he answered with a touch of his +mountain speech, and then she laughed a silvery, childish laugh and +said: + +"You funny mountain boy," in a natural, frank way that made Steve +smile back and feel more at ease. + +After this they got on well as a couple of children, while Nita often +exclaimed, "You funny mountain boy." + +Mr. and Mrs. Polk called him their boy with a new sense of parentage +after their marriage, and wanted to make him legally their son, but +when it was proposed that he be known in the future as Stephen Polk, +he looked far off into space a moment, and then as though his spirit +had winged its way back into the wilderness of its birth, he dropped +into the old manner of speech and said: + +"I thank yer, but I was born Langly, an' I think I ought ter die +Langly." + +They said no more, and soon decided to send him back to the mountain +school for his preparatory work at least, largely because Mrs. Polk +was strongly convinced this was best for the boy; so, during the next +six years, he spent the school terms in the mountains and his +vacations in the north with his foster-parents. The last two summers +he took work in a city university with special courses in geology and +mining engineering, for Mr. Polk, knowing the rich treasures stored in +the Kentucky mountains, had brilliant plans for Steve's future, +dreaming of a time when the boy should be able to link these treasures +with northern capital. + +Mrs. Polk's dreams were of another sort altogether. She never lost +interest in the cause of education in these same Kentucky mountains, +and many were the talks she and Steve had about the progress being +made there and the needs constantly developing. Engrossed in business, +as Mr. Polk came more and more to be, he took no note of his wife's +indirect influence, while she did not realize that she was +interfering with plans of his. + +As Steve grew to young manhood Mr. Polk asked him as often as studies +would permit in summer to go down to the office. He liked to give the +boy a taste of the financial whirl, and it was intensely interesting +and exciting to Steve. He felt something of the same tremor of wonder +and delight over the inner whirl of gigantic machinery moving railroad +systems which stirred him when he felt the first rush of a passing +railroad train, and there was a certain eager desire to be a part of +it all. + +It was upon his sixth vacation visit that Mr. Polk turned to him one +day at the office as the boy's eyes glistened with interest and said: + +"I shall want you at my elbow in a few years now. I shall be too old +after a while to do all the things waiting to be done, and you +remember your promise to climb that mountain of success for me whose +heights I never shall be able to reach." + +But the youth of nineteen suddenly looked afar as the boy of thirteen +had done when it was proposed that he change the old name of Langly, +and a vision of rugged mountains and deep valleys which again spread +out before him were tracked by eager bared feet of poorly clad +children hurrying towards the few schools which here and there dotted +the wilderness. He was silent, for a definite conflict had begun in +his soul. + +Mr. Polk noticed the silence, and with a restless energy which was +growing upon him, said to his wife that evening when they were alone: + +"Look here, Grace, I am uncertain about Steve. That boy's unfathomable. +Here I have been counting upon his going into business, and I know +business appeals to him for I can see it in his eye, and yet when I +spoke to him definitely to-day he just looked off into space," he +ended in disgust. + +Mrs. Polk laughed. "Well, you know, I have never been an enthusiast +over money-making, and I don't believe Steve ever will be,--though he +may." + +"Why, look here," her husband said impatiently, "if he gets a good +knowledge of geology and mining engineering, as I mean he shall, he +can locate and open up some good mines in those Kentucky mountains +which will make us all rich." + +"Oh," laughed Mrs. Polk again, "that doesn't stir me a bit. But when I +think of every little yearning child of the mountains well shod, with +a clean kerchief in its pocket, and trudging away to school frosty +mornings, then I begin to thrill." + +"Of course," said Mr. Polk with impatient energy; "but money will help +bring that to pass." + +"Yes, but it isn't money alone that is necessary. They need an +apostle of education, one of their very own who shall go among them +opening their eyes to the world of knowledge and opportunity." + +"And you would like our Steve to be that apostle, as you call him, I +suppose." Looking at her intently a moment, he softened and added, +"Well, you are a dear, unworldly woman." Then in sudden justification +of himself, he went on: "I am willing he should be an apostle too, but +one with money, so he can bring things to pass." + +And he said no more to his wife, neither did he trouble Steve in the +least with definite propositions for the future, but in the late +summer of that year he remarked in a matter-of-fact way: + +"Well, Steve, it must be college now for the next two years at +least." + +Whereupon Steve looked very sober and finally said: "Mr. Polk, you +have been so good to me I cannot even talk about it. I do want to go +to college more than I can express, but great, strapping fellow that I +am, I ought not to accept your generosity any longer." + +"Now, son," said Mr. Polk, with the tenderness he had given the little +boy years before, "I want to do for you as I would for my own." + +Steve said huskily, "I appreciate it deeply, but you know I couldn't +give up my name, and it is just as hard for me to give up my +independence. If I go to college at your expense it must be with the +distinct understanding that I am to repay every penny spent for me. +Forgive me," he added with a smile, "I suppose it is my mountain blood +that makes me want to be free." + +Mr. Polk, looking at the strong young face, knew that he must yield, +and so the money was advanced for Steve's college expenses with the +understanding that it was a loan. + +The two college years were busy and profitable ones for Steve. He was +fond of study and the regular courses of the school led him into new +lines of interest while he still pursued his specialties of geology +and mining engineering. The companionship of young men and women of +inherited culture and opportunity of the best type was broadening and +a fine means of general culture for him. Among the young women with +whom he was thrown there developed no special interest for him, though +he often wondered why. He, however, came to smile as he questioned his +own heart or was questioned by chums, while he said, "We of mountain +blood are slow, you know," and he failed to note how certain memories +of soft yellow curls above a little white pinafore were so sacred that +he never mentioned them. + +He matured greatly in the two years, and at twenty-one was +broad-shouldered from college athletics, six feet two in height, and +his abundant dark hair with a suggestion of curl at the ends crowned a +fine, clean-cut, somewhat slender face which in repose was serious, +but possessed of a hidden smile which had formed the habit of flashing +out suddenly, transforming his face with a peculiar radiance. + +For the Christmas holidays of his last year at college he went home to +the Polks as usual and one evening sat at the opera beside Nita +Trowbridge in a little family party which included her. During all his +comings and goings of the school years he had seen Nita with almost +the familiarity of a brother. She was the child of middle age, petted +and spoiled and much of a society butterfly as she developed into +young ladyhood, though a very lovable one. Mr. and Mrs. Polk were +greatly attached to her, and though it had not been hinted at, Steve +knew that Mr. Polk would like nothing better than that they should +marry when he was established in business. How Mrs. Polk would feel +about it he was not so sure. Perhaps she doubted their congeniality of +tastes. + +As Nita sat beside him on this evening she watched Steve's rapt +enjoyment of Wagner's beautiful, weird melodies. Between acts she +said: + +"How intensely you enjoy music!" + +"Yes," he returned, throwing off the spell with an effort, "I do." And +then with a reminiscent flash the smile broke over his face. "I +remember well where I heard the first music of my life. It was when I +was twelve years old, and from a mountain fellow who had had no +training. But he simply made the banjo talk, as the darkeys would say, +and reproduced with skillful touch and thrilling voice a fox hunt +which fairly set me crazy. + +"Then the next," he went on, "was at a church, just a little later, +and never will I forget how the deep-toned organ stirred my soul to +the very depths." There was a quiet solemnity upon him as he said this +which Nita did not break for a moment. Then she said: + +"How barren the mountains must be! You will never want to go there +again, will you?" + +"Barren!" he exclaimed in return. "I wish I were an artist in word +painting and I would make mountain peak after mountain peak glow with +rhododendron and laurel, fill the valleys with silver sunrise-mist to +glorify their verdure for you, and then call out all the fur and +feathered folk and troops of mountain children from their forest +homes. You would not think it a barren country," he concluded with +smiling eloquence. + +"Perhaps not," she said slowly, "but to think of no good music, no +pleasures, no,--anything that makes up our delightful living here," +she ended. + +"That is true," he responded gravely, adding almost to himself, "but +it must be carried to them through work and sacrifice by somebody." + +Then becoming conscious the next instant of the brilliant scene about +him his smile flashed over his face again and he turned to her with: + +"By the way, did you see an account in the papers of the wreckage of a +car load of millinery in the Kentucky mountains a few days ago?" + +"No, I did not," she smiled back. + +"Well, there was a railroad wreck somewhere up there and a whole car +load of millinery was sent out upon the four winds of heaven. Big hats +and little, such as women know all about and men can't even talk of, +with all sorts of gorgeous flower trimmings, feathers and ribbons were +scattered through the woods, and they say barefooted mountain women +flocked from every direction and decked themselves in the latest +styles of head-gear." + +Both laughed over the picture and Steve added: + +"I suppose it would only need a procession of fashionable gowns +parading the mountains to transform our women, while the sight of +swallow-tails and silk hats might do as much for the men, for like +the rest of the world we take up the superficial with ease, +but"--sobering again--"to give our people a glimpse into the knowledge +contained in books, to waken us to life's highest harmonies and open +our eyes to nature's beautiful hidden colours, is going to take a long +time, and as I said, somebody must work and sacrifice for it." + +He searched the beautiful face beside him for sympathetic understanding, +but she only looked at him with wide eyes as the frivolous little +girl had done years before, not comprehending, while she wanted to say +again, this time a little wistfully, "You funny mountain boy." + +No conception of life translated into labour and sacrifice for others, +such as he had begun to battle with, had ever come within her range of +thought, and the starting of the music again was welcome to them +both. + +At the end of two years Steve was graduated, having been thoroughly +prepared upon entering college, and when he returned to his +foster-parents at the close of school they were greatly pleased with +their boy. On the second night after his arrival Mr. Polk sat with him +after dinner and smoked in great satisfaction. But it was of short +duration. Steve had had a letter from his alma mater, the Kentucky +mountain school, asking him to return as a teacher there the next +year, putting forth strongly the need and opportunity for good. He +had waited to talk the matter over with Mr. and Mrs. Polk before +deciding, though it was pretty well settled in his own mind. He handed +the letter to Mr. Polk. + +"Of course you will not go," said Mr. Polk, with decision, as soon as +he had finished it. "There is an opening for you in the office and I +am anxious for you to take hold at once." + +Steve looked afar again, as he had twice before when his fate was +about to be settled for him, and Mr. Polk stirred impatiently. But the +younger man turned at once, this time with that sudden smile upon his +face, and said ingratiatingly: + +"Mr. Polk, I am afraid I haven't any head for business,--I love books +far better. I feel a premonition that I shall be stupid in business." + +"Nonsense," said Mr. Polk, with quick irritation. "I don't believe it. +You have never been stupid about anything." + +"I do not know," Steve replied, serious again. "I have not been tried, +I admit, and I must confess that business had a certain fascination +for me as I have watched things stir in your office." + +"Of course, of course," broke in Mr. Polk. "I have seen it in your +face." + +"But----" said Steve as promptly, and with a compelling earnestness in +his voice that made the older man hold himself in restraint. "Mr. +Polk, I must tell you something before we go any further in this +matter. My barren boyhood has never faded from my mind. I cannot put +it from me. I live it again in the thought of every little child +hidden away in the mountains in ignorance and squalor. + +"There may be little ones of my own blood in the Hollow Hut home," he +added, and his voice dropped into a deep intensity which held them +both motionless for a moment; then, for relief, breaking it again with +that smile, he said: "I suppose it is the survival of our feudal +mountain blood in me which makes me ready to go back to fight, bleed +and die for my own." + +"It is simply a Quixotic idea you have gotten into your head that you +should go back to the mountains and spend your life trying to help +your people," Mr. Polk replied emphatically. + +"I don't deny you may be right," said Steve patiently, "but I got the +idea fixed when I was a boy there at school having privileges which +were denied so many, and you know one is very impressionable in early +youth, and I confess that though for many pleasant reasons I have +wanted to shake it off, I have been unable to do so." + +This roused Mr. Polk to instant combat. He rose and strode the +floor. + +Mrs. Polk stood in the doorway an instant just then, but wisely and +noiselessly slipped away. + +"That's all right to want to help your own, but the practical way to +do it is with money," he said vehemently. + +"I am not entirely sure," returned Steve slowly. "I confess I may be +mistaken--but I have thought and thought over this ever since you +first proposed two years ago that I should go into business with you, +and though, as I have said, I am still uncertain, I believe I ought to +go there and work for my people. It will be ten years at least before +I can do much in a monetary way, but I can begin teaching at once. +Besides," he hurried on before Mr. Polk could speak, "people there +need indoctrination,--inoculating so to speak, with the idea of +education as much as they need money, and no one can do this so well +as one of their own. Thanks to you, the best friend any boy ever had," +he went on, his voice breaking a little, "I have had advantages which +have fallen to the lot of few mountain boys, and I feel that my +responsibility is tremendous." + +"Yes," said Mr. Polk, "but I do not agree with you as to the best way +of meeting it. However," he ended hotly, "I see you are like most +young men of to-day whatever their obligations, you do not wish +advice." + +Steve was deeply hurt. "Mr. Polk," he said, "I would rather give my +right arm than have anything come between us. If it were a matter of +personal ambition, I would yield at once to your good judgment, +but--please understand,--let me make this clear,--I am not sure that +going myself to work among my people is the best way, but I simply +feel it should be tried first. If I should remain here a while, I know +I would never go there, and if I find that I am wrong in going, at the +end of two years I will gladly return to you for business." + +"If you go, Steve Langly, contrary to my advice and better judgment, +you go for good," said Mr. Polk sternly, pausing in his striding and +emphasizing with a stamp of his foot. + +Mr. Polk with his gentleness had always had a hot-headed, unreasonable +side to his nature. It was seldom in evidence, but it had shown itself +years before in his break with his sweetheart and it was showing +itself again with the boy whom he loved most devotedly. + +Steve bowed his head in silent, dignified acceptance. Following a +forceful law of human nature this unreasonable resistance (as he saw +it) was fixing him very firmly in his own resolution. But the thought +of all the older man had been to him rushed upon him again with +softening effect, and he said sadly at last: + +"I do not know how to make you understand, Mr. Polk,--but this need to +go back to my own and try to help them is something inborn." + +"I am afraid it is," said Mr. Polk curtly. "It is the mountain +shiftlessness in you." + +Steve rose with flashing eyes and heaving breast, but remembering +again, he controlled himself, and sat down. His voice was cool and +crisp, however, as he said a moment later: + +"I have no intention of forgetting my debt to you, Mr. Polk, and you +have a right to know what are my prospects for paying it." He named +his salary, which was very meagre, and then added, "But my wants will +be few,--and I have found that my pen promises to be a pretty good +earning implement." This he added with reluctance, for he had not +meant to tell it. "I shall pay you as soon as possible," he ended. + +"Just as you please," said Mr. Polk again curtly, and strode this time +out of the room for the night. + +Steve soon followed, going to his room with a sense of desolation that +was akin to the desolation of his boyhood in the wilderness. He felt +that he must leave New York at once, for he could not stay longer with +self-respect under the roof which had been home to him for so many +years. What "little mother," as he had come to call Mrs. Polk, would +say he did not know, but his heart warmed when he thought of her, and +comforted at last by the feeling that she at least would not +misunderstand him, he fell asleep towards morning. And in his fitful +dreaming her sweet face was strangely crowned with soft yellow curls +and she wore a little white pinafore! + +The next day Steve had a long talk with Mrs. Polk. She had heard of +the trouble from Mr. Polk, and had done all in her power to bring +about a change in his state of mind. Failing utterly and knowing his +tenacity when an idea was once fixed, she could not encourage Steve +with the hope of any immediate change. Neither could she urge the +young man to abandon his purpose, for she felt that he alone must +decide his future, and though in her heart she approved his course, so +deeply was she grieved over the alienation between him and Mr. Polk +that she held it in restraint. She knew that she had helped to shape +his determination, and woman-like was fearful now she had made a +mistake. + +When Steve said that he must go, she did not try to keep him, but her +eyes were brimming with tears when he tenderly kissed her good-bye, as +he had always been in the habit of doing, and she pressed a roll of +money in his hand, whispering, "It is my own." + +"No, no, little mother," he said with determined good cheer, "I do +not need it. I was very economical the last few weeks at school, for I +had forebodings of trouble; then,--I earned some money writing little +stories for boys, the past year." + +Scarcely noticing the last remark she hesitated a moment, wanting to +insist that he take it, and yet reluctant. Then she held him by the +shoulders with her slender hands, and said earnestly: + +"If you ever need, you will let me know, will you not?" + +"I certainly will, dearest little mother in the world," he said, his +own eyes glistening with tears. + +There was a formal leave-taking with Mr. Polk at the office, and then +he went his way back to the mountains of his birth. + + + + +XI + +EXPERIENCE + + +As the train carrying Steve southward reached a point where rugged +peaks began pushing majestically up into the distant firmament he felt +again the old thrill of the mountaineer's love of the mountains, while +his trained eye noted with keen pleasure new details of line and +colour. Then, when the railroad trip was over and he neared the end of +the forty-mile wagon ride, bringing the little tower surmounting "The +Hall" of his alma mater in sight once more, his face lit up with +tender joy, for the old place had meant more to him than schools do to +the average boy. Sweeping his eye back over a landscape where purple +heights were tipped with sunset gold in the distance, giant beeches +held aloft their summer leafage in the valleys and mountain +flower-favourites bloomed in glorious June profusion everywhere, he +inwardly exclaimed, with sudden reverence: + +"That is God's part, the fashioning of this beautiful setting," and +then turning again to the group of school buildings, "and this is +man's,--the bringing of humanity into harmony with the perfection of +His handiwork." + +He had been unable to throw off entirely the depression which had +followed the rupture with Mr. Polk, and deeply stirred emotionally as +he had been in parting with Mrs. Polk, it required this spiritual +interpretation of school life to restore his equilibrium. + +But the battle involved in the step he had taken was by no means +fought in that one flash of high conception. Being a wholesome, +normal fellow with an ordinary amount of selfish desire for comfort +(though he had seemed to follow a Quixotic idea into the wilderness), +he found himself at once missing the luxuries of life to which he +had become accustomed. All through the summer he travelled about on +horseback,--sometimes on foot,--stopping often at little squalid +cabins, and often also at meagre homes where housewives wrung his +heart with their pathetic effort to be thrifty and cleanly on almost +nothing, and everywhere he tried to inoculate the people with the idea +of education. On the whole his experience proved more of a hardship +than he had believed possible with his early mountain bringing up. +He discovered that he had a decided liking for individual towels, and +was quite capable of annoyance when obliged to bathe his face in a +family tin wash-pan,--or temporarily idle skillet where wash-pans +were unknown,--while his predilection for a bath tub with hot and cold +water on tap had become more fixed than he had suspected. + +"Have I already grown too fastidious to be helpful to my own people?" +he asked himself in disgust. Then he squared his shoulders and set his +lips in fresh determination. But, a moment later, with that sudden +smile upon his face, he also resolved to compromise a bit with +hardship. He stopped at the first wayside store and invested in towels +which he learned to wash and dry at convenient times. This gave him +pleasant independence, and since his bedroom had always been fixed in +the open,--for from the first he could not bring himself to sleep in +crowded rooms where whole families took their rest,--he could make his +morning toilet without offense to his hosts, while a soapy plunge in +some mountain stream became a luxury he would not readily forego. And +always, whatever the hardship, there was the compensation of +barefooted boys and girls held spellbound, and often fathers and +mothers as well, while he unfolded the wonders of a world which lay +beyond the mountain's rim, and always he had the advantage of being +able to assure them that he, too, was mountain bred. + +So, with contending against many things distasteful on one side, and +exhilaration while little hands clung to his as his had clung to Mr. +Polk's that long ago day in the heights about Hollow Hut, the summer +passed and he began his work as teacher. + +He had long known that he would enjoy teaching, and took up his +duties with keen interest. Fortunately for him he had little conceit +or pedantry, which would have been a fatal handicap for him as teacher +among his own people, simple-hearted though they were. He organized +his work with straightforward earnestness and quiet ability and things +usually moved smoothly in his class room. But many old difficulties in +the life of the school with which he had seen the teachers battling +when he was a pupil promptly presented themselves afresh to test the +tact, skill and wisdom of the young teacher. Some boys still came to +school with well-developed taste for tobacco and liquor which parents +still indulged, and passing mountaineers often good-naturedly +fostered. Having helped to battle with these things as a boy he knew +somewhat how to handle them. But another matter of which he took +little note in his student days, but which had nevertheless always +been a difficult problem, was love-making in the school. He was sorely +puzzled how to wisely handle this. + +"Little mother," he wrote Mrs. Polk, "my chief difficulty is laughable +in a sense, but from another point of view it is really a stupendous +problem! One old mountaineer said to me last summer, 'Them schools is +the courtin'est places in the world.' I begin to think he was right, +and it is not always the superficial flirting and love-making which is +a part of your coeducational schools,--a thing simply trivial and +naughty,--but often tragic passion instead, quite in harmony with the +title of Dryden's play, 'All for Love, or the World Well Lost'! + +"Really, these children of the woods hear the call to mate as +naturally as the birds in the trees, and knowing nothing of Fifth +Avenue brown stone fronts or cozy cottages at Newport, they want to +leave school, gather twigs and build their nests at once. And +sometimes one feels as guilty in breaking up such prospective nests as +when molesting a pair of birds! + +"Am I getting to be something of a sentimentalist? Well, I assure you +I am not going to let it grow upon me. I bear sternly in mind that, +like the first pair of human beings in the Garden of Eden, they have +really eaten of the tree of knowledge and know some things which they +ought not to know,--having some secrets from the rest of mankind which +are not at all good for them,--while the things they need to know for +higher, better living are so numerous, that I ruthlessly break the +tenderest hearts, and insist on study and discipline; for nothing but +education, mental, moral and spiritual, will ever bring the greatest +people in the world, the people of the Kentucky mountains, into their +just inheritance! You see how completely identified I am again when I +indulge in Kentucky brag,--which is not so different after all from +the brag of other sections, and I promise not to let this grow upon me +either, for work and not brag is before me, as you know. I want you to +see, however, that I continue to feel the mountaineer is worth working +for. + +"But to return to the love-making. Tragedy and comedy are in evidence +enough to lure me into the field of romance, but the practical +hindrances to daily school work are too absorbing for great indulgence +of my pen. Ardent swains pay open court to their sweethearts, +promenading halls and grounds together and even pressing suit in the +class room! While frequently the crowning difficulty in the whole +matter is the pleased approval of parents! Early marriage, you know, +is most common in the mountains, girls of twelve and thirteen often +taking up the duties of wives and the great desire of parents for +their daughters is usually to get them early married off. + +"But,--I suspect this is all familiar to you," he reminded himself, +"and still I must tell it to you,--and let you laugh over a recent +experience I have had with a pair of lovers. + +"You may be sure that I have lectured most earnestly and scientifically +upon the evils of tobacco and liquor for the young, and also have set +forth as tactfully and convincingly as I know how the fact that a +school is not the place for lover-like attentions, beseeching them to +give themselves wholly to the business of acquiring knowledge while +they are here, with all the eloquence of which I am capable. But, in +spite of this, as I was leaving my recitation room at the close of +school a few days ago I noticed a girl, Alice Tomby, lingering with Joe +Mott, one of her admirers, and stepping outside I found another admirer +of hers standing beneath a near-by tree, with clenched fist and +blazing eyes. + +"I knew that a typical mountain tragedy was quite possible and +stopping casually a moment to look at my watch, I turned and went back +to find the girl and her beau in a most lover-like attitude. + +"I threw my shoulders out to their broadest, and walked with all the +dignity I could summon to my desk where I stood before them a moment +in silence. Their sheepish faces were a study for the cartoonist, and +I wanted to laugh more than I can tell you, but I finally said +gravely: + +"'Miss Tomby and Mr. Mott' (the use of the last name with Mr. or Miss, +which is unusual in the mountains, is always most impressive), 'you +are guilty of breaking a rule of the school. You must remain and write +twenty times each the sentence I shall put upon the board.' + +"Then an old song came suddenly into my mind and I wrote without +quiver of lash or hint of smile the silly lines: + + "'Frog went courting, he did ride, + Sword and pistol by his side.' + +"'That!' said the fellow, looking startled, while the girl hung her +head. + +"'Yes, that,' I replied in perfect seriousness. And the two wrote the +lines under my most calm, most dignified eye till they were thoroughly +disgusted with themselves and one another. When at last they went out, +the girl tossed her head and ignored both her crestfallen and her +jealous lover. With books under her arm she went alone straightway to +the boarding hall. + +"The story of the discomfited lovers is spreading in the school, and +the quotation of 'Frog went courting, he did ride,' hilariously given +is quenching the ardour of many an amorous swain. Possibly a little +wholesome humour may after all be more helpful than stern enforcement +of rules, and you know if there is one thing more than another we +mountain folks lack, it is a sense of humour! So, even on general +principles, it will do no harm to cultivate it. + +"However, with all this cruel separation of tender hearts perhaps I am +in a fair way to become a cynical old bachelor instead of a +sentimentalist." + +He was determined to write cheerfully, for he knew that she constantly +grieved over the alienation between Mr. Polk and himself, so his +letters usually held bright accounts of his work, though sometimes he +let her have a glimpse of the struggle which went on in his heart. + +He wrote once after a contest with himself over natural desire for +more congenial surroundings: + +"Little mother, when things seem too sordid and commonplace and barren +for endurance, as I confess they have a way of doing at times, I do +crave a look into your dear face. But as I am too far away to see you +clearly, I remember how you came down here and worked with dauntless +courage and good cheer, and I take heart again. Then several things +recently have contributed to make me ashamed of faint-heartedness, and +I really think I am going to develop some stronger fibre. + +"The pathos of the mountain desire for 'larnin" has come to me +overwhelmingly lately. A woman came on foot forty miles over the +mountains last week bringing her daughter and seven others of +neighbours and friends to the school only to find there was no room +for them. But so great was the mother's distress and so appealing her +sacrifice and hardship in making the trip that one of our lady +teachers took the daughter into her own room rather than see the +mother disappointed. A few days later two boys came in having driven a +pair of lean goats over thirty miles hitched to a rude cart, which +held all the earthly possessions they could muster, the old father and +mother walking behind,--all hoping to buy entrance to the school for +the boys. They, too, were disappointed, for we are full to overflowing +this year. Then to cap the argument for stout-heartedness on my part, +I went for a stroll yesterday afternoon and came across a boy who is +making one of the bravest fights for an education that I ever saw. I +found him putting his shoulder to great boulders on the mountainside, +rolling them down and then setting himself to break them in pieces for +use in paving our little town,--for you must know that under the +influence of the school it is beginning to strive for general +improvement. The boy, whose father is a worthless fellow, works at +rock-breaking till he earns enough to go to school a while; then, when +the money is gone, he returns to work again with a pathetic patience +which has stirred me deeply. + +"So, mother mine, when I long for a sight of your face,--and an +old-time hand-clasp from Mr. Polk, as I assure you I too often do, or +when I crave the feast of books and the quiet student atmosphere of a +city library, I am simply going to think on these things in the +future." + +The second summer in the mountains came on and was a repetition of the +first. The school was getting more pupils than could be accommodated, +it was true, but Steve felt that contact with the thought of education +would help to further the general cause. Then, journeying about +through the wilderness was also a means of gathering fresh material +for his nature and hunting stories for boys. + +There was a distinct drawing towards the Follets in his subconscious +mind, the real objective of which he would scarcely admit to himself. +He put from him suggestive pictures of curls and pinafores which +memory and flitting dreams still flashed before him at times. He meant +to go there some day for he wanted to express his gratitude for all +the kindness of the past, but the time had not yet come. He must not +for the present be diverted in the least from the purpose which was +occupying him. He must repay Mr. Polk,--that was the thought which +dominated him, and to that end he was frugally gathering all the money +he could. As he had carried the fox skin through the wilderness when a +boy, so now he carried the thought of that debt in his mind, and no +robber in the form of pleasant indulgence should prevent him from +meeting his obligation. + +The second session passed, and he had learned how to handle his +difficulties with better success, while his method of teaching was +more definitely marked out and he found more leisure for the use of +his pen. Fresh, bright stories with the breath of the mountains in +them began to find ready sale, and occasionally as his pen dipped a +bit into romance it brought more than ordinary returns. Upon the tide +of this success came a strong temptation: Why not go to a distinctly +literary atmosphere and make a business of literature? He felt an +inward assurance of making good and a longing for the work which was +almost overpowering. Money for the debt must continue to accumulate +very slowly when so much time must be given to the daily business of +teaching, for which he was very poorly paid, and he could not know +freedom until that debt was paid. In literary work, too, he could +combine the cause of mountain need with his daily task with equal +effectiveness in both directions, for could he not portray with great +pathos the mental, spiritual and material poverty of his people? And +he stifled for the moment something within him which cried, "Others +might do that, but never one of our own!" Beside all this it was +probable, as Mr. Polk had said, that money was more sorely needed for +schools than personal service and he believed by giving himself to +literary work he could earn it. He had never been perfectly sure that +giving his life to teaching and personal work among his people was the +best method of helping them, so he need not feel chagrined by any +inconsistency. + +So great was the temptation which came to him at this crisis that he +determined when the session closed to go for a visit to Mirandy's +family and from there to the Follets, with the thought that he would +not like to leave the mountains without seeing them, and it would +doubtless be best to go east for his literary career. In this +satisfactory justification of the latter visit he allowed himself the +freedom of pleasant reminiscence about the spot where life first began +to really unfold for him. + +"Little Nancy," he said to himself, "why she must be nineteen now, +clothed in long frocks and maidenly dignity, I suspect,--but I +certainly hope she still wears the little white pinafores." And his +eyes grew misty with a tenderness which he would have classified as +brotherly, had it occurred to him to question himself. Then he smiled +suddenly and said, "Yes, I must go and see about those pinafores +before I leave the mountains." + +He made the visit to Hollow Hut first, and in the ease of a saddle +seat he reached the old familiar wood by a much more direct trail than +he had followed when a boy. He halted his pony at last by the great +boulder where Tige lay buried. The tragedy of his grief on that +long-ago morning when he had touched the stiffened body of his old +friend came back to him with such vividness that, in spite of "Time's +long caressing hand," he could not "smile beholding it." He hitched +his horse close by with a sense of the old dog's nearness and +protection, for he meant to camp on that spot during his stay as he +used to do when a boy. Then he went on foot down the mountainside to +his old home in the hollow, little dreaming, as he passed along its +rocky fastness, that a "still" was hidden there. + +It was just dusk of an early June day, and cool shadows dropped their +soft curtains about the old log house as he walked towards the door +unannounced. He stopped a moment at the grave of his father and +mother, and then followed noiselessly the little worn path to the +cabin. As he drew near, he saw the fitful light of blazing pine-knots +on the hearth and caught the sound of boisterous laughter. Reaching +the door he stood a moment in the shadow of the outer darkness, before +stepping into the light. Then,--what he saw transfixed him! White to +the lips he watched a moment. + +A group of men, Mirandy's husband among them, surrounded a little +fellow about six years old, who, having been made reeling drunk, was +trying to walk a crack in the floor. The little victim swayed and +tottered and struggled under the hilarious urging of his spectators. + +[Illustration: "Hit's Champ fer his pappy"] + +Steve's first mad impulse was to snatch up the wronged child, and, if +necessary, face the half-drunken men in battle. But this would be +worse than useless his second sober thought told him, for there stood +Mirandy looking carelessly on from the kitchen door behind. The child +was doubtless hers, and the father was taking part in the revolting +deed! What could he do? He knew they would brook no interference. + +With hard-won self-control he stepped upon the threshold, courteously +lifted his hat and bade them "Good-evening." + +Instantly the men turned and pistols clicked, for they thought him a +revenue officer; but Mirandy, looking into his still boyish face which +had caught the light, while his unfamiliar figure was in shadow, +exclaimed: + +"Don't shoot! Hit's Steve, my little buddie Steve!" And she stepped +across the room to him in a way which showed she was capable of being +stirred into action sometimes. + +The men looked uncertain, but Mirandy's husband, peering into Steve's +face a moment, said: + +"Yes, that's right, hit's Steve Langly, though I'd nuver knowed ye in +the world," and the other men dropped back. + +The child in the centre of the room looked about with dull eyes, then +dropped to the floor in a pitiful little drunken heap. + +With his heart wrung to the point of agony, Steve stepped forward and +stooping down lifted it tenderly to his breast. In the old home that +little boy represented himself, as he used to be. When he could speak +he said in a voice which trembled upon the silence: + +"This is my little nephew, is it not?" + +And Mirandy cried out sharply to her husband, without answering the +question: + +"Ye shan't nuver do that no more," and the men slunk out one by one, +ashamed, rebuked, sobered, though they could not have told why. + +Steve turned as they left and sat down, still holding the child to his +breast. Then gently releasing his hold with one hand he tenderly +pushed back the damp hair from the little swollen face, while Mirandy +stood by, the tears dropping down her cheeks,--a thing most unusual +for a mountain woman. And she said again passionately, "Champ shan't +nuver make him drunk agin." + +"What is his name?" asked Steve at last. + +"Hit's Champ fer his pappy. The bigges' one--he's outdoors +some'eres,--he's named Steve," she said in mollifying tone. "He was +borned the nex' winter atter you was here, an' you'd been sech a +likely lookin' boy I thought I'd name him fer ye." + +"That was good ev you, Randy," said Steve dropping tenderly into the +old form of speech. "I'll be glad ter see my namesake. Air the two all +ye hev?" + +"No, thar's the baby on the bed; she's a little gal," Mirandy replied +dully. "Then there's two on 'em that died, when they was babies. We +women allus gits chillun enough," she said, in a whining voice +peculiar to the older women of the mountains which she had already +acquired. + +Steve remained a month and it was the most trying time of his life. +When he learned of the "still," which he did very promptly, despair +for Mirandy, her husband and the children filled his heart. Champ +Brady was always under the influence of his "moonshine," and Steve +knew it was perfectly useless to try to dissuade him from making or +using it. Mirandy had his own distaste for it, but she had been +accustomed to the thought of its free use all her life, and how could +he make her listless mind comprehend its danger for her children? Not +trusting her emotion and passionate protest the day he came, he talked +with her earnestly many times and made her promise to do all she could +to keep the children from it. + +He took the two little boys, Steve and Champ, with their dog, every +day up to the old haunt by Tige's rock, where he camped every night. +He had brought picture books with him, illustrated alphabets and +one-syllable stories with the thought of possible need for them. And +the brown eyes of the two little fellows, so like his own in the old +days, as he well knew, in their blankness and wonder, gave eager +response to new things. He called the spot "our school," and the two +little pupils soon learned their letters, while in a month's time +little Steve was reading simple stories telling that "The dog is on +the mat," and "The cat is on the rug" with great exhilaration, and +spelling out laboriously more complex things. + +But Champ Brady was restless under the visit. He told Mirandy +frequently that he had no use for a fellow who hadn't enough stuff in +him to drink good liquor when it was put before him; and Steve, +knowing well his state of mind without hearing any expression of it, +went sadly away from the cabin at Hollow Hut for the third time. + +After a last earnest talk with Mirandy, he took the little boys to the +old spot where they had kept school and he had camped for the month +and put into the hands of Steve the second a German silver watch which +he had also brought with the thought of a boy in the old home again as +a possibility. + +"This little shining ticker will tell you each day that you are going +to make big, strong men who know things one of these days. You will +listen to it always, will you not?" he said, and each in turn, as he +was held up in the tender arms, promised earnestly with queer aching +in their little throats. Then Steve set them down and rode away, +looking back again and again with a waving hand at the two sober +little figures as long as they were in sight. + +"Oh, God of the wilderness," he cried, when at last he saw them no +more, "Thou didst come and comfort me when I wandered here alone; oh, +now give me assurance that Thou wilt watch over these two of my own +blood and bring them into the light." + +The prayer went up in despair akin to that of his boyhood's desolation +and again, after a time, a sense of comfort and peace flooded his +soul, while, in its full tide, a fresh resolve was fixed upon him: + +"I will give my life to the work. Not money alone, please God, if I +should make it, but my daily breath and life and vigour shall go for +the uplift of my people of the mountains!" + +And he smiled to think that literature should ever have appealed to +him, for a sense of linking himself to the Almighty God to whom he had +prayed had come to him in the holy stillness of the wilderness, making +anything else seem trivial beyond compare. + +He did not go to the Follets as he had intended, but made his way +slowly back to the school, stopping at cabins here and there as in +previous summers, chatting with the people, getting into their life +and giving them visions as no alien could have done. + +On this trip he passed a great coal mine and here he spent a couple of +weeks watching the work with great interest. He carefully examined the +various strata of the excavation and studied the practical working of +the mine with keen intent, his college course having given him ample +preparation for its intelligent comprehension. + +Suddenly a bright thought struck him. + +"Look here," he said to himself, "why not locate a mine here in the +mountains, as Mr. Polk used to talk of my doing, buy the land for a +few hundred dollars, as I am sure I can in some localities, and then +make it over to Mr. Polk? He will know how to handle it, and if it is +valuable will certainly make it pay. With another year's work I can +have the money, and by that means I can cancel that debt with one fell +stroke, perhaps," he went on jubilantly,--and if it proved to do so +many times over, he would only be the more rejoiced, he thought. + + + + +XII + +LOVE'S AWAKENING + + +Full of this happy inspiration Steve went back to his work, determined +to gather during the year a sum sufficient to make his purchase, so as +to be ready for the next vacation when he would be free to go +prospecting. Under the stimulus of this good hope he worked with great +absorption, only allowing himself the recreation of a weekly letter to +Mrs. Polk, which he never failed to send, continuing to put into it +all the interesting and amusing things which came into his work,--and +they did come in spite of the seriousness of his life. + +Oftentimes in brooding thought he went back to the little Steve who +was duplicating his own early life in the old home. He had considered +mountain educational work hitherto in the large; he began now to think +of it from the nucleus of the home. How he would like to see the old +spot of his boyhood redeemed by an ideal home life! And the thought +touched many latent springs of his manly nature, calling forth dim, +sweet visions of domestic love and beauty. + +But he hushed nature's appeal peremptorily, he thrust back the +visions with the firm decision that he had no leisure for dreams, and +continued his many-sided work through another winter with accustomed +constancy. It was in the early spring of that year when an unexpected +telegram came to him from Mrs. Polk. It read: + +"Meet Nita and myself at L---- to-morrow, 7 A. M. train". + +How the brief message thrilled him! He had plodded so long alone. He +sprang up from his place at the breakfast table where the message had +been handed him, his eyes shining and his step buoyant. Securing leave +of absence from school duties for a couple of days, he went at once to +hire a team which would take him forty miles over the mountains to the +railroad station. + +Forty miles! With a good team and a buoyant spirit they seemed little +more than so many city blocks. To look into the face and talk once +more with the "little mother" would renew his enthusiasm for his work. +She must have known that he was growing dull and spiritless with the +lingering winter days,--she had such a wonderful way of divining +things. His eyes grew misty with tender recollection of her. + +And Nita,--beautiful Nita Trowbridge,--when she should step out in the +early morning light, it would be like flashing his glorious mountain +sunrise upon some artist's masterpiece! And he was hungry for the +beauty and grace and charm of the city which she embodied. Yes, it was +true, there was no denying it! And fast and faster sped the retreating +miles under his joyful expectations till the journey was ended, a +night's refreshing sleep had passed and he stood at last at the little +station, restlessly pacing up and down the platform, with eye and ear +strained to detect the first hint of the incoming train. + +Next he was rushing into the rear sleeper! + +"Little mother!" + +"Steve!" were the greetings as he took Mrs. Polk in his arms while the +eyes of both brimmed with tears. Then turning quickly to Nita, he +greeted her with less demonstration but with equal warmth. + +Catching up their hand-bags he hurried them out, for through trains +show scant respect for mountain stations, and leading the way to his +waiting vehicle he helped Mrs. Polk in with easy confidence, then +turned to Nita. What was it about her that made him instantly +conscious that the spring wagonette was very plain, the newness long +gone and that the horses, with abundant manes and tails, lacked +trimness and style? He started to apologize for his turnout, then +quickly set his lips. If he must begin apologizing here, where would +it end? + +"This is just a mild forerunner of the heights before you," he said +laughingly, as he carefully helped her mount the high step before +which she had stood uncertainly. + +But the trip proved equally delightful for them all. The mountain air +was bracing, the morning panorama spread out before them, gloriously +beautiful as it always was, brought constant delighted exclamation +from both Mrs. Polk and Nita while Steve found fresh enjoyment in +their pleasure. + +The little cabins which came into view on the way, standing bare and +barren by the roadside, or looking out from forest recesses where +there was hardly a road to follow, or clinging to some lofty "bench" +upon the mountainside, all were fronted by poorly clad children gazing +in solemn, open-mouthed interest while the strangers passed. + +"Dear little things," said Mrs. Polk, "they stand in mute appeal to us +to open a path for them out into our world,--to take them into the +fold of our larger brotherhood." + +Steve looked back into her bright, earnest face with kindling eyes, +while Nita turned from one to the other with the old childish wonder +again in her face. These mountain folk were a new species to her, +interesting and amusing perhaps, but from whom she instinctively +shrank. Not that she was in the least disdainful, she was of too +sweet a nature for that, but she had no conception of a divine bond of +human kinship which could ever include her and them. + +They spent the night at a mountain village, breaking the long drive +for the ladies, and the next day reached the school where Steve +daily gave his best, and which was so dear to Mrs. Polk. During +the two days following, as during the trip, Steve made them as +comfortable as possible, still making no apologies for anything, +and indeed no apology was necessary, for Mrs. Polk had known what to +expect, and the royal hospitality which glorified it, while Nita +accepted the one with simple good taste and the other with real, if +not genial, appreciation. The visit was full of interest for Mrs. +Polk as she noted the growth of the work, and Nita went about +through school buildings and grounds, her beauty and tasteful +attire making her a most observed visitor. Nor did she fail to show +interest in the work, thoroughly courteous and kindly, and yet +which somehow seemed detached. + +As Steve followed her with admiring eyes and sincere regard, he could +not help seeing most clearly that she could never fit into the +mountain landscape. He thought whimsically of Mr. Polk's dreams for +her and himself and knew that though he could have remained in her +world and found happiness, she could never have come into his. His +early intuition had not been at fault; she would never touch the +height, breadth and depth of universal womanhood with its vision and +its sympathy. + +Just before leaving, the two visitors spent a recitation period in +Steve's class room, and so eager was he to reveal the best in his +pupils that he did not dream he was also putting forth the teacher's +best. + +When the pupils had filed out and the three stood alone, Mrs. Polk +made a gay little bow, and said with glistening eyes: + +"Bravo, Sir Knight of the Mountains, you have certainly won your +spurs,--though they be of civilian make!" + +He smiled in return, brought back to a consciousness of himself, but +turning from it instantly again, he inquired: + +"And what do you think of my brother knights?" + +"They are equally fine," said Mrs. Polk warmly. + +"They are indeed," joined in Nita, "but how you have penetrated the +hopeless exteriors of these people, as we saw them on our way here, +found the germs of promise and developed them, will always remain an +unfathomable mystery for me," she declared. "I confess I understand +your skill less than I do that of the sculptor who makes the marble +express beauty, thought and feeling,--and his work would be infinitely +more to my taste. I think nothing more distasteful than contact with +people can be,--and when it must be daily----" She shrugged her +shoulders in conclusion expressively. + +Steve smiled back at her for he knew she did not think of him as one +of these people with whom she could not bear the thought of daily +contact. + +"Now confess, don't you get dreadfully tired of it all?" she +persisted, looking with real appeal into his face as though she would +draw him away from it if she could. + +"Unspeakably, sometimes," he smiled back again, then looking beyond +her over the mountains he added simply, "but I belong here." + +And uncomprehending as she would ever be, she turned at last lightly +away and walking to the outer door stepped out upon the campus, +leaving her sister and Steve for a little talk alone, which she was +sure they would like. + +When she was gone, Mrs. Polk laid a hand upon Steve's arm and said +softly: "Some day, Steve, everything will come right," looking +expressively into his eyes, and he knew she meant between himself and +Mr. Polk, a subject that had not been mentioned since she came. "I +catch beautiful prophecies sometimes of all this human desert +blossoming as a rose," she went on with her old gay enthusiasm, "and I +am fully persuaded now, as I never have quite been since you left us, +that you have chosen your work wisely. I had to come at last and see +for myself. + +"But are you going to live your life alone, Steve, dear," she asked +after a moment wistfully, "with no sweet home ties?" + +"I do not know, little mother," he said gravely. His mind went +instantly to the old cabin home and little Steve, but he couldn't tell +even her of the family life there now,--nor yet of the mystic vision +which had intruded upon his brooding thought. + +His sudden smile flashed over the seriousness of his face as he +replied at last, "I have been too busy and too poor to think about it +so far." + +She did not smile in return, but catching both his hands in hers she +looked up at him with motherly insistence, and asked: + +"Have you never loved any dear girl? Is there no sweet face that +sometimes steals into the little home which nestles always in every +true man's innermost heart?" + +Her strong mother-love had surely lent her a mystic's insight and +compelling power! + +Instantly into the dim outline of the vision of his brooding thought +which he had hitherto constantly thrust aside, came with a +distinctness that startled him, a childish face framed in yellow curls +above a little white pinafore! + +He caught his breath with the vividness of it, then pulled himself +together and looking down into the dear eyes of the woman who had been +more than second mother to him, and who thereby had won the right to +question him, he said with a curiously puzzled look: + +"Why, I do not know,--perhaps so,"--then, as she still looked intently +at him, "you have startled me. I have become such a stupid grind, I +guess I need waking up. I will commune with myself, as I have never +done before, and let you know what I discover," he ended more +lightly. + +She knew that a revelation had come to him in that moment and was +content without further questioning. With a last gentle, loving +pressure for his hands she released them and they walked out together +to join Nita. + +Their team was soon ready and after another long, pleasant drive Steve +was watching the departing train from the little station platform. He +felt keen regret as it bore his friends out of sight, but he turned to +his team for the homeward drive with a strange exhilaration in his +heart. He had hardly been able to wait for that communion with +himself, and when the opportunity came there was no uncertainty in +its tenor. + +"Of course I love Nancy Follet! I have loved her ever since I first +set eyes upon her sweet little face,--and it has come before me always +in any stress of mind or heart as though to tell me she was always to +have part in my life. And yet I have been so dull I did not +understand. She preempted my heart from the first and that is why I +did not love beautiful Nita Trowbridge,--why I have never been able to +look at any girl with a spark of interest since." How he loved to +linger over the revelation which had come to him! It was like having +emerged from a desert into a land flowing with milk and honey. Little +Nancy! She had been so gentle, so confiding, so eager to help him with +things,--she would be his dear helper in the work of his life,--and +the work would thereby be glorified beyond measure! Under the spell of +his tender musing the forty miles again sped by unheeded and he was +back once more at the schoolroom door. + +It was well that his tasks for the year were well-nigh over, for he at +once became consumed with the desire to see Nancy in the maturity of +her girlhood. He promptly decided that he would go as soon as school +closed and win her promise before he went on that prospecting tour. In +the meantime his mind continued to hover over the hours they had +spent together as boy and girl. He went to mill once more walking +beside a little fairy figure on old Dobbin's back,--he caught the +fragrance of shy flowers which nestled in cool woodland depths, and +memory let softly down the bars into a holy of holies as the little +girl said again in her sweet innocence, "Steve, let's build us a house +in this wood and live here always." He mounted the rugged steeps of +Greely's Ridge, her strong protector, while she reached down once more +a timid little hand to hold his tightly,--and suddenly he was startled +with remembrance of the character of that ridge. It must have held +minerals! Coal, yes, coal,--he was sure of it! There was the piece of +land he had been wanting to find! + +And so with buoyant, twofold hope he started as soon as school was out +towards the Follet home, having deposited in the bank a sum which he +felt would be sufficient to purchase the Greely Ridge, should he find +it as valuable as he suspected and no one had preceded him in its +discovery. + + + + +XIII + +OLD TIES RENEWED + + +It was mid-afternoon of a late June day when Steve stopped at Mr. +Follet's store. He wondered if his old friend would be there. Yes, the +door was open, and for a moment Steve stood on the platform in front, +his tall figure erect, his head bared as he looked reverently towards +the little home which had opened the world of books to him. Then Mr. +Follet's high voice rang out from the dark depths where dry-goods and +groceries rioted in hopeless confusion as of old. + +"Hello, stranger, what's the time o' day?" + +Steve stepping forward put out an eager hand, and cried: + +"Mr. Follet, don't you know me?" + +But the man only stared, coming forward into the light of the +doorway. + +"Never saw you before," he declared at last; "or if I did, can't tell +where under the cano_pee_ 'twas." + +Steve laughed with keen enjoyment at hearing the familiar old +expression, and said eagerly: + +"Don't you remember Steve, little Steve Langly who worked for you one +summer?" + +"Steve!" exclaimed Mr. Follet; "of course I do; nobody at my house +has forgotten him, not by a jugful,--but this ain't Steve!" + +"This _is_ Steve though, Mr. Follet,--the same Steve, with just as +grateful a heart for you and Mrs. Follet as I had the day I left you +about a dozen years ago." + +"Well, this does beat me," said Mr. Follet. "We'll lock right up and +go over to the house. My wife and Nancy will be powerful glad to see +you if they can ever think who under the cano_pee_ you are." And he +stepped briskly about locking up, and then the two walked over to the +house. + +Mrs. Follet was seated on the piazza with some light sewing when they +came up, and to Mr. Follet's excited introduction of Mr. Langly she +made polite but unrecognizing acknowledgment, and her husband was too +impatient to delay his revelation. + +"Why, ma, you don't tell me you don't know Steve," he exclaimed. + +"Steve," returned Mrs. Follet bewildered. + +"Why, yes! little, old, scrawny, mountain Steve," exclaimed Mr. +Follet, "who did everything that was done here one summer!" + +Then Mrs. Follet slowly grasped the astonishing thought that little +ignorant Steve and the fine-looking young man before her were one and +the same, and gave him gentle, motherly greeting. + +"Where's Nancy?" went on Mr. Follet, impatiently. + +"She's gone with Gyp for a gallop," returned Mrs. Follet, "but she +ought to be back any minute now." And by the time they had exchanged +brief accounts of the years that had passed since they last met, Nancy +was seen swaying gracefully down the road upon her pony's rounded +back. She waved gaily as she passed the porch not noticing the +stranger who was somewhat screened by hanging vines, and then she +turned into the lane which led to the stable. + +Steve's eyes glistened at the vision of the girl which time had so +charmingly matured, and starting up he exclaimed: + +"Let me meet her at the stable where I used to help her on and off old +Dobbin's back," and with a bound he was off the porch and striding +towards the lane. + +Nancy had slowed her pace along the shady driveway, and Steve, going +noiselessly through the grass, was at her side when she was ready to +dismount. + +Smilingly he held out his hand for her to step upon, his glowing eyes +lifted to hers. Startled she drew back, her eyes held and fascinated, +however, by his intent gaze. + +For a long instant they gazed, and then she breathed: + +"Oh, Steve!" + +Had the meeting occurred otherwise, she probably would never have +taken the tall, broad-shouldered, handsome young fellow for the Steve +of her childish memory, but she only saw and recognized those brown +eyes lifted to hers as they used to be in the old days when he took +her from Dobbin's back, with the same tender light in them. + +"Yes, Nancy, it's Steve!" he exclaimed joyfully. "And you knew me +after all these years!" + +A smile that held something sweet and sensitive flashed assent, and +then in reaction from the stir of undefined feeling, which she was not +ready to acknowledge, her eyes danced with sudden humour. Keeping her +saddle she glanced behind her to the pony's back, and said: + +"Where are our bags of meal?" + +Steve laughed in responsive gaiety, and in spite of himself let his +eyes rest upon her in kindling admiration. + +"Oh, I see good grist which the mill of time has ground for you," he +said, and put out his palm again for her to step upon. + +But she, flushing with girlish surprise at his ready gallantry, which +showed how completely the little mountain boy had been lost in the +cultured man, drew back once more and with equal quick wit said, +laughing: + +"You will certainly find it has, and in good, substantial material if +you try to take my weight in your hand." + +"The same mill has ground out for me an adequate amount of muscle," he +declared, adding with a hint of pleading in his voice, "You must let +me renew old times," and without further protest she lightly touched +his hand with her foot as she sprang from the pony's back. + +"Weight doesn't count with so light a touch as that," laughed Steve, +and started to lead the pony into the stable, when a coloured boy +stepped up to care for it. + +"You see we keep a groom these days," said Nancy. + +"Yes; what style the mountains are taking on," returned Steve, as +Nancy gathered up the long skirt of her riding habit, and the two +walked together through the grass to the porch. + +"To what an astonishing height you have grown," said she with naive +charm, looking up at him. + +"You have done equally well," he returned, measuring with his eye her +slender length; then he added with his sudden smile which held the +whimsical quality of old friendship, "Please tell me,--where are the +curls?" + +"Oh, they are tucked snugly away out of sight," said she demurely, +with a pretty gesture which straying tendrils had made habitual, and +the warm colour rising again to her face. + +"There should be a law against carrying curls concealed," said he. + +By this time they were at the porch, and as they resumed the family +exchange of items of interest from each side, Steve and Nancy sitting +on the steps as in the old days, he saw the fair dream-structure of +the past few weeks in the beginning of complete realization. + +In the evening as Mr. and Mrs. Follet, Steve and Nancy sat again on +the porch enjoying the night air after a warm day, they talked +interestedly of old times and the changes which had taken place. +Steve found that Crosscut, the little flag station over which Mr. +Follet presided, had expanded into a small straggling town with a +meeting-house, school of uncertain sessions and a thriving saloon. + +As they chatted pleasantly a young man turned into the gate and came +up the path with a debonair swing that proclaimed him much at home. + +"Howdy everybody," he said jauntily, and Nancy rose with pleasant +greeting for him. Then turning to Steve she introduced Mr. Colton to +Mr. Langly. + +Steve met the newcomer with quiet courtesy, while Mr. Colton responded +with cordiality of the "hail-fellow-well-met" type, and immediately +seated himself beside Nancy with an air of proprietorship. + +Very soon Mr. Follet in the course of conversation turned and +addressed Steve by his first name. + +"Steve!" exclaimed the visitor. "Didn't Miss Nancy introduce you to me +as Mr. Langly? Are you Steve Langly who visited Louisville with a Mr. +Polk some ten or twelve years ago?" + +"I am," said Steve with much surprise. + +"Is that so?" returned Mr. Colton with enthusiasm. "Well, I am Raymond +Colton!" + +"Indeed," exclaimed Steve heartily. "Well, this is pleasant." + +"I should say so," returned Raymond. "I tell you, old fellow, we never +forgot that lickin' you gave us at our school--served us right and did +us good." He launched into a hilarious account of that experience +which everybody enjoyed, and there was a little pleasant, general +conversation. Then Raymond suddenly exclaimed: + +"Miss Nancy, where's your banjo?" and went at once for it. + +"I tell you, Steve, she can play on the old banjo and sing as no one +else ever did," he said as he returned and laid it in her lap. + +Nancy turned to Steve with a quick flush which showed even in the +moonlight and protested: "I really don't know a thing about it, only +what father taught me when I was a little girl." + +And Mr. Follet said excitedly, "You see, Steve, she was so lonesome +after you left I had to get the old thing down to cheer her up. I +hadn't played any on it since I was a young fellow courtin' her +mother. I don't believe I'd ever got her without that banjo," he added +and laughed with great good humour. "Nancy don't think much of it," he +went on. "She thinks it's nothin' beside the piano, but Raymond, here, +is like me, he thinks it beats the piano all hollow." + +"Sing 'Robin Adair,'" put in Raymond, and Nancy began striking soft +minor chords for a little prelude. Then a rich, contralto voice, low +and clear, told the tender old story of Robin Adair and his love, +which the banjo echoed with little improvised hints of the air. +Raymond and Mr. Follet called for one song after another of the old +favourites, Raymond often joining in with a fine tenor, which +harmonized perfectly with Nancy's contralto. At last she sang of her +own accord "The Rosary." + +There was an exquisite pathos in the beautiful, heart-breaking notes +that stirred Steve deeply. What depth of feeling, as well as maidenly +reserve and charm, his little Nancy had developed! The curls and +pinafores were gone, it was true, but as he watched her sweet, +expressive face in the moonlight and felt the fullness of her sympathy +and understanding in the singing, he said to himself, "I am willing to +lose them for this!" + +"Miss Nancy, please don't ever sing that any more; it gives me the +shivers," said Raymond and was seconded by Mr. Follet. + +"It's bedtime for old folks, anyhow," the latter went on, and added, +"I guess Steve's tired enough to go, too," and though Steve was not +ready to admit this, Raymond gave him gay good-night and he followed +his host to the little attic room where he had slept as a boy, and +which Mrs. Follet had made ready for him, because he had insisted that +it was just the place for him. The house was small and he knew +somebody must vacate comfortable quarters if he slept elsewhere. + +But once in the old bed Steve did not find fair memories crowding +about as he had anticipated. Even the echoing sweet songs lost their +melody. Indeed he could think of nothing but the fact that Nancy and +Raymond Colton sat together on the front porch, left there by her +parents as though he had special rights. A midnight thunder-storm +caught up his perturbed thought with noisy energy. + +"But why not!" he exclaimed sadly for the hundredth time to his +rebellious heart. "You certainly have no claim." + +But that lately aroused, throbbing fountain of love's pulsations +replied with vehemence: "I have! I have loved her every moment since I +first looked upon her as a little girl, and I love her in her sweet +maturity with all my soul. She is mine!" + +So the wordy war went on between his good sense and his yearning +heart, banishing every dear, cherished memory and postponing sleep +till the wee morning hours. + +Next day after the breakfast dishes were done, Mrs. Follet proposed +that Nancy take Steve for a ride with Gyp and the family horse over to +the Greely woods, their old favourite haunt, and this exactly suited +Steve, for, in spite of the night's disturbance, nothing could please +him more than an opportunity for companionship with Nancy alone, and +he was still impatient to see if his memory of that rugged ridge of +woodland was correct. + +He went out at once to saddle the horses. It was a crisp, cool, clear +morning after the storm, and Nancy soon appeared in a trim riding +habit and cap with deep visor to shade the eyes. The severe lines and +dark blue of her costume made charming contrast to her softly rounded +face, with its delicate colouring and the stray yellow tendrils of +hair which were always slipping out from the fluffy braids which +bound her head. She surely was fair to look upon, and when Steve had +assisted her to mount in the old way,--holding out his hand and she +stepping upon it in laughing ease,--she sat her pony with the graceful +poise of the true Kentucky girl, making a picture which less partial +observers than Steve could not have failed to find full of charm. They +cantered off briskly down the road. + +When they reached the wood Steve grew keenly reminiscent, as had +become his habit the last few weeks. Forgetting Raymond completely, +the past came back to him vividly; he seemed to feel again Nancy's +confiding trust in him,--and he yearned to know how clearly she +remembered. He looked often upon her as she rode beside him, the two +horses touching noses in the narrow path, but the delicate face +revealed nothing. + +"Do you remember," he said at last, "what a veritable slave you made +of me in this old wood?" + +She laughed brightly and replied, "Why no, I haven't any such +recollection." + +"Well, you knew even then just how to do it," he returned with a bit +of insinuation. "You would look up at the tallest, hardest tree to +climb and see some high-hanging blossom which you coveted, and I +immediately scaled the tree's height to lay the blossom at your +feet." + +She laughed again and her cheeks this time flushed a rosy hue, +unaccountably disconcerting to her. + +"But that, after all, was as it should have been," he went on after a +moment, smiling. "We men need your bidding to send us to the heights, +always." + +"I do not agree with you," she said, recovering her poise instantly; +and summoning a girlish perversity, she led him straightway from +sentiment to the substantial. "Each one must mount up in his own +strength, like these splendid old trees, without prop or help, only +the light from above to draw it upward," and a very demure look +crossed her ever-changing face as she finished the little speech. + +"You are right," said Steve smiling and remembering Mrs. Polk's lesson +from the giant beech so long ago. "And yet, after all, many things +help the tree in its growth besides the light from above,--the sun. +There are the winds and the rain, and"--he paused a moment,--"its +mates. Don't you know a tree rarely stands alone unless man has cut +down its companions. They like comradeship. I believe they are +dependent upon it in ways we do not know." + +"How stupid of me to forget I was talking with a professor," said +Nancy archly. + +"And worse still for me to forget that I was trying to enlighten the +lady who initiated me into the world of books," replied he promptly, +yielding to her mood. + +"Oh, how lovely that graceful, clinging vine is," she exclaimed, +ignoring his retort and pointing up to a vine covered tree, while +Steve thrust back into the secret place of his heart all the cherished +memories which the old wood held for him, realizing decidedly that +Nancy was no longer a shy, timid little girl ready to place her hand +in his, but a young woman who would need to be wooed before she was +won,--even though there were no Raymond. + +"What had he expected anyway?" he reiterated sternly. "That she would +be waiting his coming, all ready for the plucking?" He straightened +himself in the saddle. He had long since learned how to work and wait +for things he wanted; he could do it again. + +He led the conversation away from the personal. They talked of nature, +each finding under the spur of companionship many new interests in the +old wood; and being a devoted nature lover, Steve was pleased to find +that Nancy had added to her tender interest in the feathered folk much +information as to peculiar characteristics of varying species. It was +an easy transition from nature to nature's interpreters, the poets, +and the two found mutual interest in recalling some choice things of +literature. She had spent four years at a fine old Kentucky college, +graduating in June with high honours. There was still a sweet +seriousness about her as in the little Nancy of old, in spite of her +girlish gaiety, and while the years of study had brought her an +unmistakable breadth and culture, there was also a quaint freshness of +speech and manner that made her especially attractive. Steve found +keen satisfaction in the conversation, for the girl understood his +view-point and yet had fresh conceptions of her own which she knew how +to express. + +He said to himself as he studied her (which having put aside the +personal he could now do), "She has the New England alertness of mind +inherited from her mother without the New England reticence, and from +her Kentucky father, eccentric as he is, she gets the vivacity and +charm which is the Kentucky girl's birthright." + +And yet in the midst of his enjoyment an insistent despair of heart +returned as he recalled a certain good fellowship in her attitude +towards Raymond, which was missing with him. Obtuse as lovers usually +are, it never occurred to him that this was one of the best of +symptoms in his favour! + +They had gone in leisurely fashion through the wood, but the tall +trees began to drop away at last, and they went down the slope till +the old mill stood before them in soft, quaker-gray upon the bank of a +turbulent, rushing mountain creek. The big, wooden wheel had fallen +from its place and the old mill itself was fast dropping into complete +decay, but the trees in fresh summer green still hung affectionately +over it. Just beyond the mill nestled the gray log cabin with its +porch across the front; and, yes, there was Tildy pacing back and +forth at her spinning-wheel just as she used to do when Steve and +Nancy were children. She was of the thrifty type of mountain women, +always cleanly, always busy, making the most of the meagre means at +hand. To the young people it was as though some magic lantern had +flashed before them a scene from the past, and the two turned +involuntarily to one another with a rush of something tender upon +their faces. + +Without speaking they rode to the door, and before Steve could +dismount Nancy had sprung from the saddle, caught up her skirt, and +was warmly shaking hands with the old woman, whom now she did not +often see. Steve quickly followed, and with the air of an old friend +also, put out his hand cordially to Tildy. + +She took it doubtfully, saying: + +"Howdye, stranger?" + +[Illustration: "Tilda pacing back and forth at her spinning-wheel"] + +"Why, don't you know me, Mother Greely?" Steve asked. + +"I shore don't," she replied, pushing her spectacles up on her nose +and peering earnestly through them. "No," she said finally, "I nuver +seed ye afore; leastways I ain't no recollection of hit ef I ever +did." + +The old man, who with the old mill had fallen into decrepitude, then +came slowly hobbling out, an inquiring look on his kind old face. +Tildy turned to him, raising her voice shrilly, for he heard with +difficulty and asked: "Nat, have ye ever seed this young man afore?" + +"No," the old man returned after searching scrutiny. + +Then Steve said: "Don't you remember an old gray horse that used to +come to the mill with a little girl in white pinafore on his back, two +bags of corn behind her, and a tousled, brown-haired boy of about +twelve walking beside her?" + +"And the little girl was always on the verge of starvation, and only +molasses cakes could rescue her," put in Nancy laughing. + +"Nancy and Steve," exclaimed the old woman, and then with the +intuition of her sex for romance, she further exclaimed: "An' ye hev +done got married!" + +"No," Steve hastened to say; but the old man, more accustomed to his +wife's shrill voice, caught her affirmation, and failed to hear +Steve's denial. + +"Well, now," said he, rubbing his hands together, greatly pleased, +"Tildy and me allus said ye'd marry some day; ye was jes' suited to +one another." + +Nancy hated herself for flushing so unreasonably again, and Steve, not +daring to look towards her, was hurrying to the rescue, when the old +woman with a swift, keen glance at both, broke in with: + +"No, pap, no they hain't," piped shrilly into the old man's ear. + +His face dropped with evident disappointment, and there was an +embarrassed moment for all of them. + +"Mother Greely," said Nancy gaily, determinedly recovering herself, +"have you got any of those molasses cakes you used to give us when we +came over?" + +"Wal now, I think I hev," said the old woman, rising as quickly as her +stiffened limbs would let her. + +Steve looked down at Nancy as Tildy went in, smiled, and said: + +"Shall we sit on the door-step, as we used to?" + +Nancy's eyes did not meet his, and she turned her head to hide that +provokingly rising colour as she sat down in a matter-of-fact way. + +When they rode away from the mill, having made the aged couple happy +with the renewal of old times, Steve again with eager yearning +strained his inner vision for a glimpse into her heart, but she +betrayed not the slightest consciousness of the embarrassing episode. + +As the horses went leisurely back along through the wood, Steve and +Nancy talked gently of the two old people with their wondrous mountain +combination of barest poverty, dense ignorance, keen intelligence, +simple kindliness and gentle dignity,--qualities which the young folks +were now prepared to recognize. + +"It is curious how like two people grow from constant association," +said Steve at last, musingly. "The resemblance between the old miller +and his wife is striking, isn't it?" + +"Yes, it is," returned Nancy; "the shape of face and type of feature +is the same in both, and as for expression, each might be a mirror for +the other." + +"It would be interesting to know which had most influenced the other," +said Steve; "whether she has conformed to his type or he to hers." + +"Old Nat and Tildy certainly furnish a good opportunity for study of +that problem," said Nancy, "for there has been little except the +influence of each upon the other to leave its impress." + +"The subject is an interesting field for the aspiring investigator," +Steve went on. "I wonder that some fine-spun, scientific theory has +not already been advanced,--but it only remains another formidable +matrimonial hazard," he ended with his sudden smile. + +"It does indeed," laughed Nancy. "Wouldn't it be dreadful to think of +growing daily more and more like some people?" + +"And on the other hand," promptly returned Steve, "how delightful to +think of growing more and more like certain other people," turning to +her with a light in his eye. + +"But then there is the uncertainty,--which is most likely to influence +the other," said Nancy, switching dexterously away from hinted +personal application, and then with a dash of daring gaiety, adding, +"When you marry a girl with a crooked nose, will yours begin to crook +likewise, or will hers take on your symmetrical lines?" + +"But I am not going to take one with a crooked nose," said Steve, +smiling significantly in spite of himself. + +"Perhaps not, but the question remains,--which is most likely to +conform, a husband or a wife," said Nancy, shying back to the abstract +again, with pretty positiveness. And then she called gaily, as she +touched Gyp with her whip and started both horses off on a brisk +canter, leaving the wood for the road, "Please let me know if you +solve the problem, so I may be relieved in mind or forewarned." + +As she dashed on slightly ahead of him, spirit and beauty in every +line of pony and rider, Steve said to himself with a quizzical smile: + +"How cleverly she manages to keep me at arm's length. Oh, little +Nancy, where did you learn such tactics?" and he did not know that +"such tactics" were sure forerunners of surrender. + +As for Nancy, she stood a little later by her bedroom window. The +trim, smart riding-habit was laid aside and a little light muslin of +almost childlike simplicity had taken its place. She stood looking out +at nothing through brimming tears, with flushed cheeks and quivering +lips. + +"I do blush so horridly when I am with him, and I'm afraid I say +things I shouldn't. Oh, what makes me, when I do like him so much!" + + + + +XIV + +"ALL RIGHT, SON" + + +After dinner Steve walked over to the store with Mr. Follet, talked +with him a little, and then strolling up the street afterwards, he was +joined with great cordiality by Raymond Colton. + +The talk was breezy as was inevitable with Raymond. He had graduated +at a great northern university in June, had any amount of _sang froid_ +and had as yet caught no glimpse of life save as a field for +pleasure. + +"What do you think of Miss Nancy?" he inquired enthusiastically. +"Isn't she the prettiest thing going? I have seen them north, south, +east, and west, but I honestly believe I never saw a sweeter flower +growing than Nancy Follet!" he went on without waiting for Steve to +answer his question, so a smile was all the response which seemed +necessary. + +"I came here," went on Raymond, "to look after a land proposition for +father. They say there's lots of valuable coal and iron ore about +here. I've dipped a good deal into that sort of thing at college and +father sent me up to make some tests for him, and if I found anything +rich to take up a 'claim' instanter. I've been here three weeks and I +haven't done a thing yet. Miss Nancy has fascinated me so, I haven't +had eyes for sordid things. But there's plenty of time; no danger of +anybody's rushing in ahead in this sleepy little burg." + +"I'm not so sure of that," returned Steve quietly. "You never know +when somebody may slip in ahead of you. Business competition is a very +lively thing I've been told, though I confess I don't know much about +it," he ended easily. + +"Well, I've been getting a good bit of experience in business here and +there, and I can tell that there's nobody hanging about here that has +much business go." He had no intention of being personal and Steve +bowed, smiling remotely. + +After some more desultory talk they separated and Steve went back to +join Nancy on the porch where he thought he would find her. + +Raymond looked after him with a half smile. + +"Poor old Steve," he said to himself, "he's caught already, and the +worst of it is, I am afraid he's got the best chance. She's a dear +little chum with me, loves to sing to my tenor and laugh at my +foolishness, but I noticed last night the blushes were for him." And +his handsome face set into unusual, firm lines as he went on: "But I +am going to win her! I'll do it in spite of him. To-night I'll walk +off with her whether or no, and he'll think his case is lost, for he +doesn't know girls, I can see that." And with restored confidence he +went over to the store to visit Mr. Follet. He and Mr. Follet were on +fine terms, and he spent an hour or so at the store every day. They +seemed in fact to have some project in common requiring much +consultation. + +Evening brought Raymond again to the Follet porch, and after a little +music and general talk, turning to Mrs. Follet he said: + +"Mother Follet, won't you let us children, Miss Nancy and me, go for a +little walk together? It is so hard for us to sit still." He said it +with mock childishness that was irresistible, and without waiting for +Mrs. Follet's consent, he laughingly grasped Nancy's hand and made off +with her, whether or no. + +Steve could not see the laughing but real protest in Nancy's face, and +his lips set firmly as he watched her white frock swaying gently up +the long, straggling street. + +Mrs. Follet then went in and Mr. Follet, turning to Steve, began in +pleased excitement: + +"Raymond's mightily in love with her, ain't he?" and went on without +waiting for a reply, "I can't tell about her,--you never can tell +nothin' about girls, anyway, you know, and she's just wrapped up in +her piano music. She spends hours thumpin' on what she calls +classical music, but I wouldn't give it for one tune on the banjo. +She's been begging me to let her go to New York and study, but Lord, +she knows as much now as any woman under the cano_pee_'s got use for, +I think, and I've told her she can't do it. Raymond says, though, she +ought to go, and that he'd like nothin' better than to give her the +chance. His folks have got money, I reckon, and he can do it all +right. If anything'll help to get her that will." + +Steve laughed in reply with as good grace as he could, and soon +followed Mrs. Follet to bed as one of the "old folks" before the +"children" returned. + +It was evident enough that he did not count with anybody except the +Greelys as a possible suitor for Nancy, and his sturdy heart chafed in +almost bitter protest. Again sweet memories played truant in the small +attic chamber. "And little Nancy has musical aspirations," he thought. +"With the life I have chosen I could never gratify her. It is +absolutely hopeless for me,--I have nothing to offer her. I am old and +staid, anyway," he said finally to his rebellious heart. "I have known +the responsibilities of life too long, and Nancy is made only for +joy." + +The next morning, putting aside his depression sternly, Steve went on +horseback alone, taking the same road he and Nancy had taken the +morning before. He lingered again in the Greely woods, this time on a +prospecting tour testing here and testing there carefully. + +When he at last rode up to the little one-roomed log cabin the old +folks again made him welcome. After chatting a goodly length of time +with them, and getting his voice well pitched for the old man's +hearing, Steve asked if Mr. Greely would not like to sell off some of +his land. + +The old man looked surprised at the question, for no coal fields had +then been opened up in that part of Kentucky, so that he was not aware +of the value of coal bearing land. + +"Wal, course I would, but nobody would want ter buy hit. Thar's only +this patch the cabin and mill sets on what's any a'count, an' that I +want ter keep long's me an' the ole woman lives." + +"I am sure you are mistaken about that, Mr. Greely. I think all that +woodland ridge is good land, and I would like to own it. Will you and +Mrs. Greely think it over, give me a price on it by to-morrow and let +me have the first chance at it?" + +Astonished beyond measure the old man looked helplessly at his wife. + +"Why, Steve, give me what ye think hit is wuth, if you really want +hit." + +"Mr. Greely, I must tell you frankly that I cannot give what I think +it is worth, but I can pay you more a thousand times than you can ever +get out of it, for you are too old to attempt anything with it, and +there are no children. I think it can be made to yield returns in ways +of which you do not dream or I wouldn't buy it, but I do not _know_ +and I am making a venture in buying it." + +The old man thought a minute, then said: "Wal, I know as much now +about hit as I will ter-morror and you can have hit fer a hundred +dollars, ef ye kin pay that much." + +"No, Mr. Greely, I can't take it for that," said Steve smiling; "it +will be worth much more to me if it is worth anything. I am willing to +venture more on it," and he named a much larger sum than the one +asked. + +The old man could not speak for amazement. He had never heard of any +one in "them parts" having so much money at one time and the trade was +practically closed at once. + +He left the old folks feeling like millionaires and felt immense +satisfaction himself that the deal had progressed so well. If the old +couple should live in luxury, as they might conceive the word, for the +rest of their lives, they could never spend that sum in the +mountains. + +Steve knew the lay of the land for miles around and he felt sure +there was nothing so valuable as the Greely Ridge with the railroad +lying not far from its base. + +Asking the Follets if he might leave his traps there for a few days he +went at once in the afternoon to the county seat to take the necessary +steps for the transfer of the land, and found the title perfectly +clear. + +With elation over the assured deal and happy expectation of more than +cancelling his debt, he telegraphed Mr. Polk what he had done. A reply +came promptly back saying, "I will be on at once and bring expert." + +It was with mingled feelings that Steve thought of the meeting as he +busied himself with the details completing the transaction, going over +with a notary public for the old folks to sign the papers, getting +everything ready for Mr. Polk's signature as purchaser since he was +coming and one transfer would be sufficient. He did not stop at the +Follets, but returned at once to meet his old friend. + +When Mr. Polk stepped from the train and looked again upon the boy he +had loved as his own, he put an arm about him, as he used to in the +old days, and said: + +"How are you, son?" + +"Well, thank you," answered Steve, and both voices trembled a +little. + +That was all, but it restored the old frank relations. They talked +with great interest about the purchase and went as soon as possible +with the expert to get his opinion upon it. When careful tests of the +property had been made, the expert was enthusiastic. + +"I believe it will prove to be a rich coal deposit, and if well +managed ought to bring you a small fortune." + +That night when they returned to the little "hotel," so named, Mr. +Polk and Steve talked long and interestedly over plans for developing +the mine. Mr. Polk had pretty well-defined ideas for the immediate +organization of a company and the beginning of operations. + +Finally he turned to Steve and said: + +"Son, I have grown since you left,--I hope, some wiser, and that +little woman made me see before I left home that I had no right to +dictate to you what you should do with your life. I know you have +worked hard these three years, or you never could have saved money +enough to buy this piece of land, even at so small a price, and I +don't doubt you have done good at the same time. But I still feel that +you might do just as good work perhaps by earning money for the cause +you are so greatly interested in, so I am going to make a proposition +to you. Suppose you take the oversight of this mining business, +handling the money and seeing that everything goes straight. We could +well afford to pay you a good salary for this service and give you +some shares in the company too. Then you can live right here and exert +your influence upon your people, as you call them, at the same time." + +Steve listened intently, and the thought of money, and Nancy and music +lessons, while he remained in the mountains, made his brain whirl. + +Finally he put out his hand. "You hev allus been kind an' generous ter +me," he said uncertainly, with emotion which carried him back for an +instant to the old-time speech. Then lifting his head he smiled and +added, "Let me think of this till to-morrow." + +Mr. Polk agreed, and they separated for the night. + +It was again a time of sore temptation for Steve. All night he tossed +and thought. In spite of recurring depression he had not given up hope +of winning Nancy. Her desire for musical advantages had been the most +discouraging thing of all, however, and if he accepted this offer, he +could hope to give her what she wanted, while since Raymond was not +accepted he felt free to win her if he could. He pictured the future +with increasing exhilaration, as the night approached its zenith, the +time of keenest mental activity; and then, as the ebb came with the +waning hours, suddenly a little figure reeled and staggered as it +tried to walk a crack in a cabin floor, and springing from bed Steve +strode to the window, and looked out upon the silent, starry sky. + +"Oh, God," he said, "keep me from temptation;" and after a time he +went back to bed firm in the old resolution that whatever the +sacrifice involved, he would give himself, and not money alone, to the +work. And then he slept. + +Next morning he smiled his sudden smile as Mr. Polk looked keenly into +his face, and said: + +"I guess I am incorrigible, Mr. Polk,--I can't see it except in the +old way." + +"All right, son," said Mr. Polk quietly, and when they separated it +was with a warm hand-clasp as Mr. Polk exacted a promise that Steve +would visit them his first opportunity. "'The little mother' longs to +see her boy," he said affectionately; then added, "Some day we hope to +be in shape to help you with your work." + +When he was gone Steve left for the Follets again. A great peace had +come upon him with the renewal of his resolution, and his heart leaped +at the prospect of seeing Nancy again. + +"How long it seems since I left her," he laughed to himself, and the +thought sprang to his mind from out the ever active realm of human +hope: "Perhaps I shall win her yet by some miracle!" + + + + +XV + +FLICKERING HOPE + + +It was with keen satisfaction that Steve caught a glimpse of Nancy's +white dress out under the trees upon his return to the Follets. He +hurried over to the bench where she sat. + +"Is there anything more satisfying than these Kentucky mountains?" he +said, with enthusiasm, as he seated himself beside her. "There is +something that constantly assures me I belong to them." + +"I have wondered that you were not captured by the city with all its +allurements," said Nancy. + +"No," returned Steve, "though perhaps I might have been at first had +not my little foster-mother been loyal to Kentucky mountain need. But +my experience the past three years as teacher has made it impossible +for me to ever get away from the outstretched hand of Kentucky +mountain children," and his voice dropped into deep earnestness. + +"I can understand how you feel," said Nancy after a little silence. "I +could not help being interested in the school when it was opened here. +Little children came trudging in from the most barren cabin homes, +wide-eyed, and eager to 'larn,' and grown-up men and women tramped +barefoot miles and miles every day to try to get some of the 'larnin' +they'd heard about. Then they would plod away with the utmost patience +trying to read and write. It was intensely pathetic. Nothing has ever +touched and interested me so much as some supply work I have done for +our school," she added, a light upon her face, which thrilled Steve's +heart anew. What a help she could be to him in his chosen work! + +"I am so glad you have felt the appeal of mountain need," said he, +struggling to keep the thrill out of his voice. And then he told her +of his hopes and plans, of the dream he had of a new school within +reach of Hollow Hut, a region to which new possibilities were about to +come, he had learned at the county seat, through a projected railroad +line. Of how he hoped to have help in the work from Mr. and Mrs. Polk +and perhaps other capitalists of the north, and she was most +interested, most appreciative, showing all the sweet seriousness of +little Nancy of old. + +But this long talk of some two hours which revealed again congenial +tastes and ideals of life for the two only served to make Steve's +heart more intensely rebellious when, after supper, Raymond walked in +once more with his debonair proprietorship of Nancy. As it happened +she had just stepped out under the trees to get a bit of fancy work +left there in the afternoon, and Raymond joining her, barricaded the +way to the house, insisting that the "old folks" were glad to get rid +of them, till she laughingly sat with him there. It had been purely +accidental, her going out just then, and she remained with inward +protest, but Steve could only see in it complete surrender to the +ardent suitor. + +Mrs. Follet had not yet come out and Mr. Follet turned to Steve, +laughing in a pleased way. + +"I don't mind telling you, for I know you are interested," he said +confidentially, "that Raymond told me this morning he was simply crazy +about her, he couldn't wait any longer, and was going to pop the +question to-night. I s'pose there ain't much question about it though, +for I reckon she's as much in love as he, though,--as I said, you +never can tell." + +And he little suspected that what he said seemed to Steve the +death-knell to his hopes. + +Mr. Follet continued loquaciously: "Raymond's the greatest fellow I +ever saw. Everybody likes him. Why, he's in with the moonshiners about +here hand and glove, and they're powerful offish. Never saw anything +under the cano_pee_ like him. He has big plans too, about some of the +land round here which he says is full of coal. He's looked a little +at the Greely Ridge; he thinks that's the finest piece, but he hasn't +been over it carefully yet--been too much in love, you know," and he +laughed contentedly. + +Steve made conventional reply, and admitting he was quite tired, went +to the little attic for another restless, unhappy night. + +If the good fairies had only visited his couch and whispered their +story of what was going on under the trees, how sweet would have been +his sleep! But they did not. + +Next morning Steve announced at the breakfast table that he must be +leaving the following morning; a few days off from work for pleasure +was all he could take with good grace. + +Mr. and Mrs. Follet expressed their regret, while Nancy's eyes were +upon her plate. Mr. Follet was complaining of some sciatic pain, but +tried to throw it off with his usual nervous energy. + +"Nancy," he said, "you haven't taken Steve over to Borden's Cave, +which has been discovered since he was here. Why don't you go this +morning?" + +"Why, I should be glad to," responded Nancy, and Steve, feeling that +her agreement was upon the basis of the old family relationship +between them, made no excuse, though he did not doubt, with the +fatality of anxious lovers, that the engagement had taken place. The +two started off with Gyp and the family horse for a three mile canter, +and Steve's spirit rose with the exhilaration of it in spite of +himself. + +The cave proved to be a most interesting rock formation and when they +had examined it, Steve pointing out some curious scientific facts, +they sat down in the quiet woods upon a fallen tree trunk, while the +horses grazed. + +Nancy looked up at him when they were seated, and said naively: + +"How much you have learned in these last busy years!" + +"Have I?" said Steve, his eyes brightening. "I am especially glad you +think I have used my time well, because I can never forget that it was +you who taught me my letters,--even how to spell my name," and he +turned kindling eyes upon her. + +"Did I?" she said, laughing and flushing. + +"Yes," he returned, and a bit of tenderness crept into his voice. "I +will never forget how you did it, how picturesquely you characterized +the various letters for me, how you thought curly S the very prettiest +letter in the alphabet, and how disappointed I was when I found my +poor name did not hold a single letter which belonged to yours," and +there was such deep pathos in the last words, as he looked far into +the distance, that she stirred uneasily and could make no answer. + +After a moment he went on: "I suppose I read in it, even then, a +prophecy of our future, how yours must be separate from mine. There +could be nothing in common." + +And still she was dumb; not a word came to her lips. But he seemed to +need no reply; a sad meditativeness was stealing upon him which made +him oblivious for the moment of his surroundings. + +But suddenly setting his lips firmly, he turned and said with forced +lightness: + +"What a bear bachelorhood makes of a man! I have spent so much time +alone the last few years that I am already acquiring the bad habit of +thinking my thoughts aloud sometimes. Forgive me, won't you?" And he +turned to her with more in the tone than the simple words could +convey. + +"I have nothing to forgive," said she, but with an effort,--which he +misinterpreted. + +Then gathering her wits she repeated, "I have nothing to forgive, but +everything for which to thank you. My starting you in the life +intellectual cannot compare with your finding me hanging by a mere +thread from a tall tree top and restoring me to the life physical, +without which my brilliant intellectual attainments would have been as +nothing," she ended gaily, breaking the tension which both had felt. + +The talk continued to drift near the sacred realm of the heart, +however, until the sanctity of engagement was finally touched upon. + +"An engagement is to me a very sacred thing," said Nancy with sweet +seriousness, in response to something from Steve. "I have never +understood how it could be lightly entered into with only the basis of +a brief, gay acquaintance." + +Was not that just what she had done? "Oh, consistency, thy name is +certainly not woman," thought Steve bitterly. He said: + +"Oh, yes, that is good theory, but it is generally overwhelmed by +practice when a gay cavalier comes along and takes the maiden heart by +storm." + +"Perhaps so, with some," returned Nancy quietly, "but so far as I am +concerned I do not believe I could be deceived into thinking that a +brief, gay acquaintance was sufficient assurance for the binding of +two in the tenderest tie of life, when their tastes and ideals might +prove to be totally at variance." + +Steve's heart leaped within him. Was she trying to tell him +something,--to undeceive him with regard to Raymond and herself? +Impetuous words rose and trembled on his lips, while the thought raced +through his brain that it would not be dishonourable to ask if there +were the least hope for him. He would not utter another word if she +said the sacred tie was already entered into with Raymond. + +But Nancy, in the yielding and yet withdrawing which is characteristic +of woman and man never fully understands, plunged into a new topic. +Frightened at the plainness of her revelation and almost seeming to +divine his purpose, with her brightest talk she led him far afield. + +Steve, however, baffled though he was, found memory of that shy look +coming back to him insistently, till he suddenly, firmly determined as +they rode home once more that Nancy Follet should have the opportunity +of accepting or refusing him before he left the place! + + + + +XVI + +IN THE CRUCIBLE + + +When Steve and Nancy reached home they found Mr. Follet in bed +suffering intensely with sciatic pains. He fretted constantly, +declaring he would get up whether or no by afternoon. He was obliged +to make a trip into the country for a load of hay, able or not, that +evening, he said. Steve offered to go for him, but Mr. Follet +impatiently declared that nobody could do it but himself, as there was +some other business to be attended to at the same time. + +The pain continued so severe, however, that getting up was an +impossibility, and about seven o'clock after fretting and fuming for +hours, occupying Mrs. Follet and Nancy continually, he said to his +wife: + +"Go tell Steve to come here." + +Mrs. Follet obeyed and brought Steve in from the porch where he sat +supposedly reading, Nancy being busy then with the supper dishes. + +"Now you go out, ma, and don't come back till I tell you," said Mr. +Follet querulously, and his wife went wonderingly. + +"Steve," said Mr. Follet as soon as the young man entered, "I know I +can trust you, and I am going to get you to do some important business +for me." + +"I will certainly do anything for you, Mr. Follet, with great +pleasure, and I appreciate more than I can tell you the fact that you +feel you can trust me," said Steve warmly. + +"Well," said Mr. Follet, a little uneasily, "this is mighty partic'ler +business I've got. The fact is," he went on with nervous energy, "a +part of the world is getting so good it ain't content with just being +good itself but is bound and determined that the rest of the world +shall do just as it says, and there's a good bit of difference of +opinion about what goodness strictly is." + +Steve listened a little surprised at the homily. Then Mr. Follet went +on: + +"I ain't ever cared anything about liquor myself, though I could have +had all I wanted all my life long, but I am willing other people +should make it, and have it, or sell it, all they want to." + +Steve looked more surprised and his lips settled just a little into +firmer lines, but Mr. Follet failed to notice it. + +"Now, old Kaintuck, which has always been the freest state in the +Union, has got a passle o' folks turned loose in it just like the +folks I was telling you about. They're so good themselves they ain't +satisfied till they make everybody else do just as they say. They're +making laws in the towns that no liquor can be sold, and I tell you +men of old Kaintuck ain't goin' to stand that and I don't blame 'em," +he concluded vehemently. + +Steve started to reply, his lips growing firmer, and his eyes taking +fire, but Mr. Follet gave him no chance. + +"Now, I promised some fellows that I would meet 'em to-night,--and +bring home a load of hay," he ended with an excited laugh. + +"A load of hay with whiskey enclosed?" asked Steve, instantly +suspecting. + +"Yes," said Mr. Follet, delighted with Steve's quickness, "that's the +idee. Then I unload it in my barn and ship it as I please to these dry +towns. I'm in for the law as a general thing," he added quickly, "but +I believe in folks having their rights." + +"Well, Mr. Follet," said Steve, going to the foot of the bed and +leaning hard upon it, "we must understand each other at once. I do not +agree with you as to our rights. I do not think we have the right to +destroy ourselves or others with any weapon whatsoever, the pistol, +the knife, poison or whiskey. I am with the law in every particular," +he said firmly. + +"With the law," exclaimed Mr. Follet excitedly, "when it says a man +can't do with his own corn on his own place what he wants to do with +it? A man's got as good a right, in my mind, to put up a still and +make whiskey out of his corn as his wife has to gather apples and make +pies!" he concluded, fairly quivering with excitement. + +Steve held himself quietly, and said gently: + +"Mr. Follet, you are too ill for me to discuss these things with you +now. I see we look at them from totally different points of view." + +"There ain't but one point of view," shrilly returned Mr. Follet, "and +that's the point of view of man's rights. Why, it won't be long till a +man can't milk his own cow without the government standing round to +watch her switch her tail and tell him how to do it,--all ready to +grab the money if he sells a little to a neighbour!" + +"Well, Mr. Follet," said Steve, looking steadily but kindly in the +enraged eyes of his opponent, "there is one thing that we do agree +upon, and that is, every man has a right to his own opinion," and the +kindness in Steve's eyes merged into his sudden smile, which stemmed a +little the rising tide of Mr. Follet's wrath. + +After a somewhat subdued pause he turned to Steve appealingly: + +"But you will go and get this load for me,--you will have no +responsibility about it. I have never had anything to do with +moonshiners before," he went on, "but Raymond got in with 'em and +thinks it would be a huge joke to send a lot of their whiskey to his +friends in these 'dry towns,' and that prohibition business has riled +me so that I promised I would help pass the stuff along. Raymond's +going to hang around the saloon and the station to see that the coast +is clear o' government men, while the thing is goin' on." + +"No," said Steve instantly and firmly when Mr. Follet was through, "I +cannot do it, Mr. Follet, greatly as it grieves me to refuse you a +favour. I feel that whiskey, the knife and the pistol have been +Kentucky's greatest curses, especially among the people of the +mountains. I would lay down my life, if necessary, for mountain folks, +but I long instead to spend it for them in replacing the pistol and +the knife with the book and the pen, and in cultivating among them a +thirst for knowledge instead of drink," said Steve with quiet passion +which held Mr. Follet's unwilling attention. Then he added: + +"Understand me, Mr. Follet, I do not attempt to decide for you what is +right or wrong, I only know that I cannot do this thing you ask and +keep my self-respect. I must live within the laws of my country even +if I should feel sometimes that they are unjust, and I can never take +even a remote part in the distribution of whiskey in the land I love," +he concluded earnestly. + +At this Mr. Follet fairly shouted in a sudden access of rage. He was +all the more angry for the moment because in the light of Steve's +clear statement he not only felt that Steve was right, but that he +himself was wrong. + +"Then leave my house this instant with your contemptible idees about +Kentucky's rights, and don't dare to stop and speak to my wife or my +daughter." + +"It is your house, Mr. Follet; I will do just as you say," Steve +replied. + +Mr. Follet reiterated shrilly: + +"Go on out of my house then, and don't you ever come near it again." + +Steve bowed and left, not even stopping to get his travelling bag; in +fact he forgot he had one, and only caught up his hat from the porch +as he passed out. + + + + +XVII + +FRUITION + + +Mrs. Follet and Nancy knew that something very exciting was going on +between Mr. Follet and Steve and both were exceedingly anxious. When +silence took the place of heated discussion they could bear it no +longer and went to Mr. Follet's door. + +Mrs. Follet had never seen her husband so wrought up before, though he +had always been of an exciteable temperament. She did not dare ask a +question, but busied herself doing little things for his comfort while +Nancy brought in his supper, which he had not wanted earlier and still +querulously refused to touch. + +A terrible silence settled upon them all. Nancy sat on the porch in +distressed wonder over what had happened between her father and Steve, +while Mrs. Follet, equally anxious, sat silently by the bed of the +restless man. She proposed to get a neighbour to go for the doctor, +but Mr. Follet wouldn't hear of it. Hours passed by and then Mr. +Follet suddenly started up in bed. + +"My God," he cried wildly, "they'll kill him!" + +"Who?" cried his wife, starting up also, while Nancy's white face at +once appeared in the door. + +"Why, Steve," screamed Mr. Follet. "He's gone, and I don't doubt he +went straight to old man Greely's for the night. If he did, he's cut +across the woods and run into some moonshiners. They'll take him for a +government man and shoot him soon's they lay eyes on him!" + +He paused for breath, and Mrs. Follet and Nancy were too appalled to +speak. + +"Do something," screamed Mr. Follet; "I can't have the boy's blood on +my hands!" + +Then Mrs. Follet with her gentle strength made him quiet down enough +to tell them particulars, and she learned that Mr. Follet was to have +gone after a load of hay, and coming back would stop at the edge of +the wood leading to old man Greely's, walk into the woods a piece to +meet the men, and then, if the coast was clear, they'd hide the liquor +in the hay load. At the end she said: + +"You must go, Nancy----" + +"Yes," cried Mr. Follet, "you must go, child, and save Steve. Jim +Sutton will know you. They won't touch you, and they'll believe +you. I was a fool ever to have anything to do with that moonshine +business!" + +But Nancy was already out of the room flying for the stable. There was +no thought of riding habit or saddle. Throwing a bridle over Gyp's +head, she sprang upon his back and like the wind the two rushed forth +into the midnight stillness. Would she be in time to save him? It had +been so long since he left the house. Oh, would she be too late? She +urged Gyp wildly on and on, along the road directly towards the Greely +woods, where she would find the moonshiners, and perhaps,--oh, +perhaps! God only knew what else she might find. + +Every throbbing pulse beat became a prayer that she might be in time +to save him. + + * * * * * + +Meanwhile Steve, upon leaving Mr. Follet, had not gone out into the +street, but crossing the lawn into the driveway he went past the +stable to the wood back of the house from whence he had come so many +years ago. His mind and heart were in a tumult. He scarcely thought +where he was going till he suddenly became conscious that he was in +the old wood where he had rescued Nancy so long ago. Little Nancy! And +he had loved her ever since consciously or unconsciously. But she was +completely lost to him now,--that was final. The fair dream-structure +which had risen anew that afternoon had fallen again in a tragic +moment's space. The mountain blood in Mr. Follet would never forget +or forgive. He must leave the place forever. He was adrift again in +the world. There would never be tender home ties for him,--he could +never love another, no one could be a part of his very self like +little Nancy. He dropped down upon a little seat which he had fixed +there for her in the old days, and was lost in depressed thought, +taking no note of how long he remained. + +The stillness of the wood quieted him finally, as it had always done, +and he remembered his old friends the Greelys. They would be glad to +have him come in for breakfast in the morning, and for the night he +would sleep in the Greely woods. He would feel very near to Nancy +there, for that spot was hallowed by her memory as no other for him. +He rose and made his way over into the road which led to the wood. + +It was a brilliant moonlight night, and he walked on under the +majestic beauty of the firmament with quieted spirit. + +Suddenly, as he had almost reached the wood, he heard rapid hoof-beats +behind him and paused to listen, for it was a little-travelled road. +Nearer and nearer they came, and then he could distinguish a white +dress fluttering in the wind from the flying animal's back and knew +the rider must be a woman. The speed of the horse began to slacken as +she was almost upon him, and he saw that it was Gyp and Nancy! + +She also had recognized him, and the next instant she sprang from the +pony and stood beside him. + +"Oh, Steve," she panted, "they will kill you!" and stretched her +shaking hands out to him. Her agitation was pitiable. Unconsciously he +drew her instantly within his arms, while he said with equal +unconsciousness: + +"Why, Nancy, darling, what do you mean?" + +For answer she dropped her head upon his breast and sobbed convulsively. + +He held her close, stroking her face and soothing her with tenderest +words of love till she was able to speak again. + +"The moonshiners that father was to meet, Steve,--they are in the +Greely wood, and they will think you are a revenue man and kill you +sure," she said brokenly. "You were going there, weren't you?" + +"Yes," he said gravely. + +"Father thought you would and sent me for you. Oh, it was dreadful, +the terror of it," she said shuddering and sobbing anew. + +Again he soothed her with caresses and whispered, "But, sweetheart, +you know I am not going there now,--not when I can hold you like +this." And she nestled in his arms at last in quiet happiness. + +Finally she lifted her head and smiled up at him. He turned her face +up to the moon's full light and looked longingly into it. + +"Nancy, do you love me?" he said. + +"Oh, Steve, I've always loved you, I think," she softly replied. + +"And it never was Raymond?" he went on insistently, his voice taking +on a resonant ring. + +"Not in the least," she returned. Then smiling demurely at him she +said, "Oh, Steve, you weren't nearly so stupid in learning your +letters!" + +And he punished her with kisses. + +"Do you remember," he said at last tenderly, looking over at the +Greely wood, "that you asked me when a little girl to build a house +for you and me over there where we might live always?" + +"Yes," she said with a touch of sweet reluctance, "I confess I have +always remembered that childish speech,--with an intuitive knowledge +that I shouldn't have made it, I suppose." + +"While I have always treasured it consciously or unconsciously," he +returned, with eager joy creeping into the tenderness of his voice. +"You were a blessed little prophetess, for it is here under the shadow +of the old wood that love has at last built for us the fairest, +holiest structure earth ever knew." + +Then they remembered the hour of the night and the anxiety of her +father and mother, and started back down the road, Nancy saying she +would like to walk a little and Steve leading Gyp, who had been +unconcernedly grazing by the roadside. + +After a time the lover went on again joyously: + +"We have equal right to one another now, have we not, sweetheart, for +if I saved you from possible death at the moment of our meeting, you +have probably saved me from a tragic end to-night. It is the way of +our mountain life," he added, his voice taking on a note of sadness; +"our joy must always be mingled with tragedy until we learn the +beautiful ways of peace." + +Then he stopped again and turned her face up to the moonlight once +more. + +"Will you be content, dearest, to help me in the work I have +chosen,--it will probably mean sacrifice,--the giving up of your +ambitions." + +She smiled back with a low, "More than content, if I may be always +with you." + + * * * * * + +The next day Steve met Raymond on the street, and the latter was more +serious than Steve had ever seen him. + +"Well, old fellow," he said with an attempt at a smile, "you've licked +me again. I know all about the sale of Greely Ridge and your narrow +escape last night. Those two things, I admit, show me I am a good +deal of a fool, and something of a cad as I used to be. I want you to +know that the business with the moonshiners is all off. The other +victory you've won over me I can't talk about. I acknowledge you +deserve her though, more than I do, and I wish you luck." + +Before Steve could reply he went on: "You got some hard knocks when +you were a boy, Steve, and they did you good. That is when we need +them most. These are the first real blows I have ever had. I've always +been in for a good time and had it, but I don't believe it pays. +Father is going to be no end put out with me about the loss of that +coal land. I'm going home and make a clean breast of it,--then I am +going to clear out. I've decided this morning to write Mr. Polk and +see if he has any chance for me there. I know he will give it to me, +if he has, for father's sake." + +"That is just the thing," said Steve heartily. "I feel sure he can +take you in, and the game of business is so interesting there, I know +you will like it, and I believe you will make good." He extended his +hand with the last words and Raymond took it with a warm clasp. + + * * * * * + +Mr. Polk's mine was promptly opened up and proved to be a valuable +property. In the formation of his company some shares had been placed +in the name of Stephen Langly. At the end of two years they began to +yield good returns and Steve felt that this, with the income from his +work, would make comfort assured for Nancy. Then came a wedding in the +Follet home, and just before the company arrived for the ceremony Mr. +and Mrs. Polk, her eyes shining as of old, slipped into the little +parlour and placed on the carpet, for the bride and groom to stand +upon, a beautiful fox-skin rug with a history. + +Mr. Follet coming in a moment later nudged his wife excitedly and +said: + +"Can you tell where under the cano_pee_ you ever saw that before?" +while she nodded smiling assent. + +It caught the eye of Steve as he entered with Nancy on his arm, and he +took his place upon it with firm, glad step. + +Mr. and Mrs. Polk were obliged to hurry away as soon as the +congratulations were over, in order to get back to New York in time +for the wedding of Raymond and Nita Trowbridge,--Raymond having well +fulfilled Steve's prophecy of making good. + +In the fall four years later when the mountains glowed with unusually +brilliant colour, as though nature had caught the glory tints of +fresh, bright hope for her people, Steve and Nancy opened a new +school. Its well-equipped, modern buildings crowned the old wooded +mountain of Steve's boyhood, and Steve the second, a sturdy boy, came +daily with little Champ to school. The "still" had passed away with +the passing of Champ, the elder, in a mountain fight, and a new day +had dawned for Hollow Hut. + +THE END + +Printed in the United States of America + + + + +RECENT BOOKS OF WORTH + +AGNES SLIGH TURNBULL + +FAR ABOVE RUBIES + +Heart Stories of Bible Women. + +Second Edition. Illustrated, $2.00 + +Chicago Evening Post: "Here at last are Bible women revealed through +the sympathetic, creative imagination of a woman, who with great +dramatic sense lifts one out of the present into Bethsaida and +Capernaum." The Bookman says: "There is poetry of spirit, deep, clear +understanding, and fine revelation. Imaginative--yes, but fine +spiritual imagination of woman's heart in the moving drama of familiar +Biblical scenes." + +JOHN D. FREEMAN + +Author of "Fan of Belseys," Etc. + +KENNEDY'S SECOND BEST + +A Story of the Great Northwest. $2.00 + +"A moving, deeply-stirring story, the scenes of which are chiefly +amid the broad acres of the ranch-lands of Alberta. A novel of +interest and power, about the Northwest which Ralph Connor made +familiar--delightful humor, mingled tragedy, comedy and +romance."--Springfield Republican. + +ANNE S. LEE + +WHEN ROME REIGNED + +A Story of the Dawn-Time of Christianity. + +Illustrated, $1.75 + +"A story of the dawn-time of Christianity. It has its love story and +its chapters of excitement worked in with such historic background as +to give a running commentary on those fateful and perilous +times."--Bookman. + +JUVENILE + +DILLON WALLACE + +Author of "The Lure of the Labrador Wild," "The Gaunt Gray Wolf," +"Grit-a-Plenty," etc. + +THE WAY TO BURNING MOUNTAIN + +A Boy's Story of Adventures in the Great Canadian Wilderness. + +Illustrated, $1.75 + +"Boys who love stories of courage and adventure will enjoy Dillon +Wallace's latest. The characters are real boys and the book opens +up a life that will be new to most of our boys, and is decidedly +worthwhile."--C. E. World. + +WORKS ON MISSIONS + +BELLE M. BRAIN (Compiler) + +Compiler of "Love Stories of Great Missionaries," etc. + +From Every Tribe and Nation + +Fifty New Missionary Stories. $1.50 + +This new compilation of missionary stories tells of inspiring lives of +Christian converts on the foreign field. Workers in Sunday Schools, +missionary meetings, and mission study classes, and also preachers of +missionary sermons, will find them very usable and effective. Miss +Brain's earlier popular books of missionary stories foretell an +extensive use of the new volume. + +AMY CARMICHAEL + +Author of "Things as They Are," etc. + +Raj, Brigand Chief + +A Robin Hood of Southern India. Illus., $2.50 + +A true story of adventure, outlawry, persecution and endurance +centering around Raj, a young athlete of southern India, well-born and +prosperous, who though innocent of crime, fell into the hands of the +native police. Almost incredible in spite of its truth, the book is +thrilling in every incident and in every sense of the word. + +MAUDE WHITMORE MADDEN + +Author of "In the Land of the Cherry Blossoms," + +Young Hearts in Old Japan + +Japanese-American Interpretations. + +Illustrated, $1.50 + +The color, the fragrance, the delicacy and the indefinable charm of +Japan--all these are in this new vivid and alluring volume by Mrs. +Madden. The captivating chapters vibrate with human interest. This is +a book to enlarge one's understanding of the Japanese, to increase +one's admiration for them, and to quicken one's appreciation of the +value of Christian missions among them. + +HOME MISSIONS + +JOHN T. FARIS + +Author of "Making Good," etc. + +The Alaskan Pathfinder + +The Story of Sheldon Jackson. + +New edition, with introduction by Dr. John A. Marquis, Gen. Sec. +Presbyterian Board of National Missions. Illustrated, $1.50 + +"Dr. Sheldon Jackson did a pioneer work in Alaska that can never be +repeated and that will not need to be done again. The story is here +told with all its adventure and romance, and as Dr. Marquis says in +concluding his Introduction, 'Missionary, Explorer, Educator and +Social Builder, his story must never be forgotten."'--Presbyterian +Banner. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Boy from Hollow Hut, by Isla May Mullins + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOY FROM HOLLOW HUT *** + +***** This file should be named 30356.txt or 30356.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/0/3/5/30356/ + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/old/30356.zip b/old/30356.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..50c5fb3 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/30356.zip |
