The Delta independent., 1915-06-18

was Trying 10 UOlSl0T up ulS TeSOlu
tion and impeached loyalty, and that
at heart he was sick to be up and 60
ing to a world which did not despise
dedication" After little, he waved
his hand vaguely toward down be
low"
"Ef went down thar" he questioned
suddenly and irrelevantly, would !
hev' ter cut my ha'r?"
my dear boy" laughed Lescott,
can introduce you in New York studios
to many distinguished gentlemen who
would feel that their heads had been
shorn if they let their locks get as
short as yours. In New York, you
might stroll along Broadway garbed in
turban and a burnouse without great.
ly exciting anybody. l think my own
hair is as long as yours"
Because" doggedly declared the
mountaineer, 81 wouldn't allow nobody
ter make me cut my hair"
'Why?" questioned Lescott, amused
at the stubborn infection.
II don't hardly know why" He
paused, then admitted with glare as
though defying criticism: Sally likes
hit that-away-an' l won't let nobody
dictate ter me, that's ALL
The leaven was working, and one
night Samson announced to his uncle
from the doorstep that he was study
in erbout goin' away fer spell, an
seein' the world"
The old man laid down his pipe. He
cast a reproachful glance at the
lint coid CLEARLY thnu0h
without words:
81 have opened my home to you and
offered you what l Lad, yet in my old
age you take away my mainstay."
81 lowed you was a-studyin' erbout
thet. Samson" he said, at last. I've
done ther best fer ye l knowed.
ninuer 'IoweQ tnet from now on yea 90
the same fer me. I'm gittin' along in
years right smart. :"
Uncle Spicer," interrupted the boy,
II reckon ye knows thet any time ye
needed me I'd come back"
The old mans face hardened.
EFF ye goes" he said, almost sharp
ly, Il won't never send fer ye. Any
time ye ever wants ter come back, ye
knows ther way. Thar1l be room an
victuals fer ye hyar."
II reckon l mout be a heap more
useful ef l knowed moreH
i've heerd fellers say that afore.
Hit hain't never turned out thet way
with them what has left the mount
ings. Mebby they gets more useful.
but they don't git useful ter US. Either
they don't come back at all. or mebby
<ho,, boo oIr ,,n 30 10 - 1oI
tions-an' ashamed of their kinfolks.
Thet's the way, I've noticed. hit gen.
ally turns out"
Samson scorned to deny that such
might be the case with him, and was
silent. After a time,. the old man went
on again in weary voice. as he bent
down to loosen his brogans and kick
them noisily off on to the floor:
THE Souths hev done looked to ye
a good deal. Samson. They lowed they
could depend on ye. Ye hain't quite
twenty-one yet, an I reckon l could
refuse ter let ye sell yer prop'ty. But
thar haint no use tryin' ter hold a
feller when he wants ter quit. Ye
don't low ter go right away, do ye?"
II hain't plumb made up my mind
ter go at ALL" said the boy, shame
facedly. But. ef l does go, hain't
a-goin' yit. l hain't spoke ter nobody
but you about hit yit."
Lescott felt reluctant to meet his
hosts eyes at breakfast the next morn.
ing. dreading their reproach. but, II
Spicer South harbored resentment. he
meant to conceal 1t, after the stoic's
code. There was no hint of constraint
In his cordiality. Lescott felt, however,
that in Samson's mind was working
the leaven of that upspoken accuse.
tion of disloyalty. He resolved to
make a final play, and seek to enlist
Sally in his cause II Sally's hero-wor.
ship could be made to take the form Of
ambition for Samson, she might be
brought to relinquish him for a time,
and urge his going that he might re.
turn strengthened. He went down to
the creek at the hour when he knew
Sally would be making her way thither
with her milk pail, and intercepted her
coming.
AS she approached, she was singing,
and the man watched her from the dis.
tance. He was landscape painter and
not master of genre or portrait. Yet,
he wished that he might before going,
paint Sally.
Miss Sally" he began. I've discov.
cred something about Samson"
Her blue eyes flashed ominously.
"Ye can't tell me nothin' bout Sam.
son." she declared, "withouten hits
somethin' NICE"
ITS something very NICE" the man
reassured her.
Then. ye needn't tell me, because
already knows hit" came her prompt
and confident announcement.
Lescott shook his head, obviously.
"SamSon Ia a Raniuan he said