The Call of the Cumberlands

But as they stood, their arms gripping each other, each heart pounding

on the other's breast, it was with a pulsing that spoke in the torrent

their lips dammed, and between the two even in this farewell embrace

was the rifle which stood emblematical of the man's life and mission

and heredity. Its cold metal lay in a line between their warm breasts,

separating, yet uniting them, and they clung to each other across its

rigid barrel, as a man and woman may cling with the child between them

which belongs to both, and makes them one. As yet, she had shed no

tears. Then, he mounted and was swallowed in the dark. It was not until

the thud of his mule's hoofs were lost in the distance that the girl

climbed back to the top of the stile, and dropped down. Then, she

lifted the gun and pressed it close to her bosom, and sat silently

sobbing for a long while.

"He's done gone away," she moaned, "an' he won't never come back no

more--but ef he does come"--she raised her eyes to the stars as though

calling them to witness--"ef he does come, I'll shore be a-waitin'.

Lord God, make him come back!"