Goose Creek Folks: A Story of the Kentucky MountainsBush, Isabel Graham
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Goose Creek Folks: A Story of the Kentucky Mountains
Bush, Isabel Graham
Kentucky -- Fiction; Mountain life -- Fiction
Talitha’s heart was heavy indeed as she climbed the stairs to her room.
She found Gincy in a corner weeping piteously over the few belongings
gathered in a little heap. Talitha knelt beside her and put an arm
tenderly around the thin, bowed shoulders.
“Put your things right back, Gincy,” she said, “you’re going to stay
after all. I’ve just seen Mrs. Donnelly.”
Gincy looked up in astonishment that at first was too great for words.
“You don’t mean hit?” she gasped at last, clutching her friend’s arm.
“Sure I do,” Talitha nodded with a smile. Her own burden lightened
wonderfully at the sight of Gincy’s radiant face and suddenly dried
tears. She left the girl putting her belongings back in drawers and
closet with a joyful haste. Gincy had not even inquired how this
transformation had been wrought; it was enough for her to know that she
was not to be sent home.
Talitha’s next duty was to find Martin and make known her resolution.
After a long search he was discovered in the library with a pile of
reference books before him. He looked up with shining eyes. She knew
how he rejoiced in the opportunity for another year’s work. It would
take away half his pleasure to learn that she would not be there to share
it, still she was confident that he would see the wisdom of her resolve.
At a sign from her he followed wonderingly out back of the building to a
seat under one of the large trees of the campus where they would be
unnoticed.
“How’s Gincy coming on? She isn’t getting homesick a’ready, is she?” he
inquired.
“Gincy! Not much; she’s pleased as can be with everything here. That’s
what I came to see you about.” Talitha paused and looked down at her
folded hands, while Martin sat staring at her in bewilderment. “Mrs.
Donnelly came to see me this morning,” she went on presently. “She told
me that Gincy must go home, that there is no place for her. So many
girls have come this fall the rooms are crowded.”
“Go home!” repeated Martin indignantly. “Oh, we can’t let her; she
mustn’t.”
“Of course not. She’s been crying till she’s ’most beat out, but I’ve
been thinking it over and Gincy’s going to stay. I’ve just seen Mrs.
Donnelly again—”
“Well, I’m mighty glad!” Martin gave a long breath of relief. “How did
you manage it, Tally?”
“I’m going home instead,” she answered calmly.
“You!” Her brother sprang up excitedly. “Tally, I won’t hear to it!”
“Yes, you will. Sit down, Mart, you’d do the same thing if you were in
my place, you know you would. I’m not going to be selfish. Gincy’s
never had any chance and I’ve had a whole year here. Maybe I can come
back again some time, but if I knew I couldn’t I should go just the
same.”
“But you can’t go home alone,” Martin objected.
“Yes, I can. I’ll take the train to the Gap and I’m not afraid to walk
the rest of the way.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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