The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-12-22

Jeb had come to ye, like he came to
me, askin' the name OF the man he
sought to kill, ye would have said ter
him. 1t was so-and-so. but ye mustn't
harm him, because somebody writ in
book two thousand years ago that
KILN Is SIM An the hell OF II is
ye'd low such talk would satisfy him.
"Ye couldn't do no such wicked
thing as to stop an reflect that he's a
mountain boy. an that for two hun.
dred Jears the blood in his veins hes
been n cor n down to him full Of
grudge-nursin' an hate. Ye couldn't
make allowances for the fact that he
wasn't hatched iD lanyard to peck
at corncobs an berries, but in an
eagles nest-that he's a bird OF prey.
fe couldn't consider the fact that the
killin' instinct runs In the current Of
his blood an was drunk in at his moth.
er's breast. Ye'd just teach barnyard
lessons to young lagles. an that's why
yo might as we'll 60 home"
I'm grateful for this teachers
course" said Juanita hotly, "and I'm
not going home"
Anse Havey went on:
But l know that boy. know that
IL I'D talked thataway he'd just about
have gone out I'm the la'rel an got
somebody. Hit might not "a been the
right feller, and he might have found
that out later. reckon ye never had
father murdered, did ye?"
Hardly" answered the girl with a
scornful toss OF her head "You see,
wasn't reared among gun-fghters."
We'll. have" responded the man.
Il was In the legislature down at
Frankfort when 1t happened, a-helpin
to make, the laws that govern this
state. was fer them laws in theory
but when that word came l paired off
with Republican. SOS not to lose my
vote on the floor, an come back here
to these hills an got that feller.
reckon l ought to be ashamed to tell
ye that, but Pm so plumb ign'rant that
i can't feel IL. i knew how Jeb felt
an so I held him off with a promise to
wait. or course ye couldn't accept the
help OF man like that"
He turned and withdrew his hands
from his pockets. --."
I'm through" he added, "an' I'm
obleeged to ye fer harkenin' to me-"
There is something in your point
OF view, Mr.. Havey," she acknowl-
edged. "But 1t is all based on twisted
and distorted principle.
II don't think myself a saint. /
guess I'm pretty weak. My first ap-
peal to you was pure weakness. But
L stand for ideas that he world has
acknowledged to be right, and tor that
reason / am going to win. That is
why. although I'm girl, with none Of
your physical power, and no gun.
lighters at my back, you are secretly
afraid OF me. That Is why you are
making unfair war on me. stand for
the implacable force Of civilization
that must sooner or later sweep you
away and utterly destroy your domi-
nance"
For the first time Bad Anse Haveys
face lost its impassiveness. His eyes
clouded and became puzzled, surprised
II reckon don't hardly follow ye,"
he said. "If ye. wants it to be enemies
all right. but 1 amt never made no
war on ye. don't make war on wom-
enfolks. an besides / wouldn't make
needless war nohow. All I've got to
do Is to give ye enough rope an watch
ye hang yourself"
III you think that" she demanded,
with a quick upleaping of anger in her
pupils, why did you feel it necessary
to prevent my buying land? Why do
you coerce your vassals, under fear oil
death, to decline my offers? Why,
II my school means no menace, do you
refuse II standing room to start its
fight?"
The mans pose stiffened
who told ye Id hlndered anybody
from sellin' ye land?"
Wherever | inquire It is the same
thing. They must ask permission OF
Bad Anse Havey before they can do
as they wish with their own"
by heaven. that's another lie," he
said shortly. "But | reckon ye believe
that. too. / did advise folks hereabouts
against sellin' TO strangers, but that
was afore ye come"
He paced the length OF the room
while, then halted before her.
Some Of that property" he went
on. and this time his voice was pas
sionate In its earnestness, has enough
coal an timber on it to make its own
ers rich some DAY Have ye seen any
Of the coal-minin' sections OF these
hills? Well, go an have look. Ye
won't find any mountaineer richer fer
the development Yen find 'em plum
dered an cheated an robbed of their
homes by your civilized furriner. I've
done aimed ter perfect my folks