Mexico Missouri message., 1914-12-24


a declaration OF war. 1t was as though
he had posed her as the Spirit OF tho
Cumberlands
He waited until she should be
calmer.
You don't understand me, Miss
Sally. I'm not trying to take Samson
away from you. II a man should lose
girl like you, he couldn't gain enough
in the world TO make up for II. All
want is that he shall have the chance
to make the best of his life"
Il reckon Samson don't need no
fotchedon help ter make folks ac-
knowledge him." -
Every man needs his chance. He
can be a great painter--but that's the
least part OF II. He can come back
equipped for anything that life offers.
Here, he Is wasted"
"Ye mean"-she put the question
with a hurt quaver in her voice-"ye
mean we all hain't good enough for
Samson
mo. only mean that Samson wants
to grow-and he needs space and new
scenes in which to grow. 1 want to
take him where he can see more Of the
world--not only little section Of the
world. Surely, you are not distrustful
of Samsons loyalty? want him to go
with me for a while, and see life"
Don't ye say hit!" The defiance In
her voice was being pathetically tan
gled up with the tears. She was
speaking in transport of grief. Don't
ye say hit. Take anybody else--take
em all down thar, but leave us Sam
son. We needs him hyar. We've Jest
got ter have Samson hyar."
| She faced him still with quivering
| lips. but In another moment, with a
sudden sob, she dropped to the rock,
and buried her face in her crossed
arms. He went over and softly laid
hand on her shoulder.
Miss Sally" he began.
She suddenly turned on him tear
stained, Infatuated face. stormy with
blazing eyes and wet cheeks and
trembling lips.
| Don't touch me-" she cried; don't
We dare ter touch me! l haint nothin'
but a gal-but | reckon | could most
tear ye ter pieces. Ye're Jest pizen
snake, anyhow!" Then she pointed
tremulous finger off up the road. Git
away from hyar," she commanded Il
don't never want ter see ye again.
Ye're tryin' ter steal everything l
loves. Git away. tells ye!-git away
-begone!"
Think it over" urged Lescott. quiet
ly. See II your heart doesn't say am
Samson's friend-and yours" He
turned, and began making his way
over the rocks but, before he had
gone far, he sat down to reflect upon
the situation. Certainly. he was not
augmenting his popularity. A half
hour later, he heard a rustic, and.
turning, saw Sally standing not far on.
She was hesitating ut the edge OF the
underbrush, and Lescott read In her
eyes the effort 1t was costing her TO
come forward and apologize.
81 reckon reckon I've got ter ask
yore pardon" she said, slowly and with
labored utterance. He looked up to
see her standing with her head droop-
ing and her fingers nervously pulling a
flower to pieces.
81 reckon / hain't plumb fool.
knows tibet Samsons got a right ter
eddication. Anyhow, knows he wants
hit"
Education" said the man. isn't go
ing to change Samson. except to make
him finer than he is-and more
capable"
She shook her head. 81 hain't got
no eddication," she answered. Hits
a-goin' ter make him too good fer me.
reckon hits a-goin' ter jest about
kill me. :" Her lips twisted
themselves into pathetic smile again,
and her chin came stiffly up. but"
she added determinedly, tibet don't
make no difference. nohow."
Yet, when Samson that evening gave
his whippoorwill call at the Widow
Nillers cabin, he found detected and
miserable girl sitting on the stile, with
her chin propped in her two hands and
her eyes full of somberness and fore
boding.
What's the matter. Sally?" ques-
toned he, anxiously. Hes that low
down Tamarack Spicer been round
here tellin' ye some more stories ter
poster ye?"
She shook her head in silence.
Usually, she bore the brunt of their
conversations, Samson merely agree
ing with, or overruling, her in iordly
brevities. The boy climbed up and sat
beside her.
(ro BE CoNTINUED)
Wisdom From Thomas.