Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-12-23
lie stTaigRTened and his face hard

Juanita slowly drew back the hand
she had extended and her cheeks
flushed crimson. 1t was the first time
in her life that she had made an I'M
solicited proder of friendship-and it
had been rebuffed.
OH" she murmured in a daZed,
hurt voice in which was no anger.
Then she smiled. Then there's moth
ing else to say, except to thank you a
thousand times"
"Ye needn't have no uneasiness
about my tryin' to hinder ye' he as
sured her slowly. Il amt yoxr enc
my an / amt your friend. I'm just
lookin' on, an l don't have no faith
in your success"
Don't you feel that changes must
Gomez" she questioned a little timidIy.
They have come everywhere else"
They will come" His voice again
rose vehementIy. But they'll be made
my way-our way, not yours. These
hills sha'n't always be a reproaeh to
the state of Kentucky. They're goin'
to be her pride some day"
dinging at hir2 glance of absolute ad-
miration. = don't care who does it, so
long as it's done right. You've got to
see sooner or later that we're working
to the same end. You may not be my
friend, but I'm going to be yours"
I'm obleeged to ye." He spoke
gravely and, turning on his heel left
the room by the back door,
As chance would have it, Young
Milt rode by her place the next day.
She knew he would come back the
same way, and that afternoon, as he
was returning, she intercepted him be-
yond the turn of the road With the
foreign courtesy learned abroad, he
lifted his hat and dismounted.
Juanita had always rather liked
Young Milt. The clear fearlessness of
his eyes gave him certain attractive
ness, and his face had so far escaped
the clouding veil of sullenness which
she SO often saw.
At first she was little confused as
to how to approach the subject, and
the boy rolled a cigarette as he stood
respectfully waiting.
"Milt," she said at last, please don't
! misunderstood me. It's not because l
want to, but I've got to ask you to give
me promise. You see, l need your
help"
At that the half smile left the boys
lips and half frown came to his eyes
Il reckon know what We mean" he
said. Young Jeb, he's asked We ter
warn me off. Why don't Jeb carry his
| own messages?"
''Milt," she graveIy reminded him,
resting her hand for a moment on his
| coatsleeVe, its more serious than
that. Jeb ordered me to send his sis
ter back to the cabin. You are hay
ing an education. l want her to have
one. She has the right to it. I love
her very dearly, Milt, and if you are
a friend you won't rob her of her
chance"
The boys eyes flashed.
"An' ye're goin' ter send her back
thar ter dwell amongst them razorback
hawgs an houn' -dawgs an f1eas?" he
demanded spiritedly.
THAT depends on you. Jeb is the
head of his family. l can't keep her
without his consent. had to promise
him that you shouldn't visit her"
For moment the heir to the Nc
Briar leadership stood twisting the toe
Of his heavy boot in the dust and ap-
parently contemplating the little rings
! c,41 nod I0 L,;-
eyes and contemplatively studied the
crests of ridges softening with the
coming Of sunset.
At last he inquired, What hes Dawn
got ter say?"
Dawn hasn't said much" Juanita
fa1tered, remembering the girls TRADE,
then she confessed: you see, Milt,
just now Dawn is thinking of herself
as Havey and of you as a McBriar.
All I ask is that you won't try to see
her while she's here at the school
not, at all events, until things are diff
ferent.''
The boy was wrestling with youth
unwillingness to be coerced.
AN let Dawn think that her
brother skeered me off" he questioned
at last with note Of rising defiance.
Dawn sha'n't think that She shall
know that you have acted with a gen
tleman's generosity, Milt-and because
I've asked you to do it,
"Hain't I good enough ter keep COM
pany with Fletch McNash's gal?" The
lad was already persuaded, but his
stubbornness fired this parting shot
It's not question of that, Milt, and
you know it," declared Juanita Its
just that one of your people killed one
Of his. Put yourself in jobs place."
Still for while the boy stood there
scowling down at the ground, but at
last he raised his face and nodded.
It's a bargain, ma'am, but mind I
only says I won't see her hyar. Some
day I'll make Jeb pay fer it.
He mounted and rode away while
the lazy, hazy sweetness Of the smoky
mists hung sp1endidly to the ridges
and the sunset famed at his back.
Juanita never knew what details of
the incident came to Old Milt's ears,
but when next the head of the house
passed her on the road he spoke with
a diminished cordiality, and when she
stopped him he commented: '1 hear
ye're a-runnin' a Havey school over
thar now. Little Milt tells me 20