The state herald., 1915-06-18
CHAPTER vi.


felt capable Of making the trip out to
the railroad. Yet June had ended;
July had burned the slopes from en-
erald to russet-green; August had
brought purple tops to the ironweed,
and still he found himself lingering.
And this was true although he recog-
nized a growing sentiment Of disap-
proval for himself. In Samson he
thought he recognized twin gifts;
spark OF a genius too rare to be al
lowed to flicker out, and a potentially
for constructive work among his own
people. which needed for its perfecting
only education and experience.
Samson" he suggested one day
when they were alone, ~ want you to
come East. You say that gun is your
tool. and that each man must stick to
his own. You are In part right, In
part wrong. A man uses any tool bet
ter for understanding other tools. You
have the right to use your brains and
talents to the full"
The boys face was somber In the
intensity OF his mental struggle. and
his answer had that sullen ring which
was not really sullenness at all, but
self-repression.
Il reckon a feller's biggest right Is
to stand by his kinfolks. Unc' Spicer's
gittin' old. He's done been good ter
me. He needs me here"
Il appreciate that. He will be olds
lnfpr Won onp on pnu and nnuno hn ck
to him when he needs you more. II
what / urged meant disloyalty to your
people. could cut out my tongue be-
fore ] argued for 1t. You must be-
lieve me In that. l want you to be In
the fullest sense your peoples leader.
! want you to be not only their Sam
son-but their Moses"
The boy looked up and nodded.
Il reckon ye aims ter be friendly,
all right" was his conservative re-
sponse.
The painter went on earnestly:
Il realize that am urging things OF
which your people disapprove. but 1t is
only because they misunderstood that
they do disapprove. They are too close.
Samson. to see the purple that noun
tains have when they are far away. |
want you to go where you can see
the purple. II you are the sort Of mau
| think. you won't be teguiled You
won't lose your loyalty. You won't be
ashamed of your people"
Il reckon | wouldn't be ashamed"
said the youth. q reckon there hain't
no better folks nowhar."
I'm sure Of 1t. There are going to
be sweeping changes In these noun.
tains. Conditions here have stood as
immutabiy changeless as the hills
themselves for q hundred years. That
day h at its twilight. tell you. |
know what I'm talking about. The
state OF Kentucky is looking this way.
The state must develop. and 1t is here
alone that II can develop. Here are
virgin forests and almost inexhaust.
ible coal veins. Capital is turning
from I'M orange squeezed dry. and cast
ing about for fresher food. Capital has
seen your hills. Capital is inevitable,
relentless. omnipotent. Where 1t comes,
II makes its laws Conditions that
have existed undisturbed will vanish.
The law OF the feud. which militia and
courts have not been able to abaie,
will vanish before capitals breath like
the mists when the sun strikes them.
Unless you learn TO ride the waves
which will presently sweep over your
country, you and your people will go
under. You may not realize II. but
that is true. II is written"
The boy had listened intently. but at
the end he smiled. and In his express.
sion was something OF the soldier who
scents battle. not without welcome.
Il reckon n these here fellers air
a-comin' up here ter run things, an
drowned out my folks. hits u right
good reason fer me ter stay here-an'
help my folks"
by staying here. you can't help
them. II won't be work for guns. but
for brains. BY going away and com.
ing back armed with knowledge. you
can save them. You will know how TO
play the game"
ft'hoh ah'g Noh flt our lAnu.
ner our timber ner our coal, without
we wants ter sell hit. reckon Of they
tries thet, guns viii come In handy
Things has stood here like they Ia nov,
fer hundred years. reckon we kin
keep 'cm thnt.away fer spell longer '
Hut II was evident that Samson was
arguing against his own belief: that he
wne trying TO bolster up his resolu.
tlon and impeachcd loyalty. and that
ut heart he was sick TO be UP and 10.
Ing to n world which did not desplae
"eddication." After little. he waved
his hand vaguely toward down be.
low"
'Ef went down thar" he questioned
suddenly and irneleyantly. would I
hcv' ter cut my ha'rl"
MY dear boy" laughed Lcscott, I
can introduce you In New York studios
TO many distinguished gentlemen who
would feel that their heads had been
shorn n they let their locks get ns
.hAff ma xnufa In Na.x N..L 49,.