Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-12-30

I've decided that you nave got TO be
my friend, whether you want to be or
not-and what decide upon must be-"
Bad Anse Havey stood looking into
her eyes with the disconcerting steadi-
ness of gaze that she always found it
difficult to sustain, but his only re-
Spouse was a sober I'm obleeged to
ye."
Perhaps that letter, with its old re-
minders had brought back q little of
the old sells innocent coquetry. She
stood with her gloved hands in the
deep pockets of her sweater jacket
with his coat hanging from her Shout
ders. About her deep-violet eyes and
sensitive lips lurked subtle appeal
for friendship-perhaps, though she
did not know it-for love.
81 have behaved abominably to you,
Mr.. Havey," she confessed. It's nat
ural that you should refuse me forgive
ness" For a moment her eyes danced
and she looked up, challengingly, into
his face. But it's natural, too, that
should refuse to let you refuse. We
are going to be friends. | am going to
smash your old feud to splinters and
Pm going to beat you. and just the
same we are going to be friends"
Again his reply was brief.
I'm obleeged to ye.'
eYou have been very good to me,
she went on, and the note Of banter
left her voice; "and you refused to let
me thank you"
For a moment he was silent, then he
repIied awkwardly: Il reckon it's pref.
ty easy to be good to you" After that
she heard him saying in very soft
voice:
One Of the first things L remembers
Is being fetched uR here by nanny
when l was a spindlin' little chap. She
used to bring me up here and tell me
Indian stories. Sometimes my pappy
came with us, but mostly it was just
my nanny an NE"
Your father was a soldier, wasn't
hep" she asked.
yes. He was captain in Morgan's
command. When the war ended he
come on back here an relapsed l
reckon I'd oughter be right smart
ashamed Of that, but somehow I'm tor
able proud of it. He lowed that what
was good enough for his folks was
good enough for him"
He broke off suddenly and smile
came to his face; a remarkably naive
and winning smile, the girl thought.
Striking an attitude, he added in
tone of mock seriousness and perfect
lOWland English, without a trace of
dialect: Il beg your pardon, Miss Hol-
land. / mean that what was sufficient.
ly good for his environment appeared
adequate to him"
The girls laughter pealed out in the
cool air, and she said with an after
note of surprise: why, Mr.. Havey,
you didn't speak like a mountain man
then. I thought l was listening to a
'furriner'
He nodded his head and the smile
died from his lips. Into his eyes came
the look of steady resolve which was
willing to fight for an idea.
81 just did that to show ye that /
could If l wanted to, reckon l could
talk as good English as you. l reckon
ye won't hardly hear me do it no
more"
But why?" she inquired in perplex-
ity.
81 reckon it sounds kinder rough an
ign'rant to We, this mountain speech
Well, to me it's music. It's the
language of my own people an my own
hills. | loves it. It don't make no
difference to me that it's bad grammar.
Birds don't sing SO sweet when ye
teaches 'em new tunes. To my ears
the talk of down below is hard an I'M
natural. / don't like the ways nor the
speech of the fat countries. I'll have
none of it. Besides, l belongs here, an
if didn't talk like they do my people
wouldn't trust me-" He paused q mo-
ment, then added: I'D hate to have
my people not trust me. So if ye don't
mind, l reckon I'll go on talkin' as
learnt to talk
She nodded her head. "I see," she
said quietly.
What do We aim to call this SCHOOL,"
he asked suddenly.
why, l thought I'd call it the Hol,
land school," she answered, and when
he shook his head and said Don't do
it," she colored
Il didn't mean to name it for my.
self, of course" she explained Il
wanted to call it after my grandfather
He always wanted to do something for
education here in the Kentucky hills"
L didn't mean to find no fault with
the name of Holland" he told her
gravely. That's as good name as
any. But don't call it school. Call
it a college,"
But" she demurred, cts not going
to be a college It's just a school"
Again the boyish smile came to his
face and seemed to erase ten years
from his age. His manner Of speech
made her feel that they were sharing
a secret.
THAT don't make any difference"
he assured her. Mountain folks are
all mighty proud an touchy.
shouldn't be astonished if some gray.
haired folks came to study the primer.
They'll come to college all right, but
it wouldn't hardly be dignifed to go to
school If you want to get 'em We must
needs call it a college"
The girl looked at him again and
said in a soft voice: You are always
teaching me things I ought to know.
Thank you"
Juanita stood as he left her and