Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-10-20
TIMES REPUBLICAN, MARsHA1ITowN IOWA: OCTOBER 1915

ness. But I'm not going 70 let you be
my enemy any more" she went on.
1--WE decided that you have 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 1t
difficult to sustain, but kis only re-
spouse was Q sober I'm obleeged to
ye."
Perhaps that letter, with its old re-
minders had brought back little of
the old self's 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.
Il have behaved abon1inably to you.
Mr.. Havey," she confessed. Its nat
ural that you should refuse me forgive
ness" For 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
I'm going to beat you. and Just the
same we are going to be friends"
Again his reply was brief.
I'm obleeged to ye."
"You have been very good to MS"
she went on. and the note Of banter
left her voice: "and you refused to let
me thank you"
For moment he was silent. then he
replied awkwardly: II reckon it's pref
ty easy to be good to YOU" After that
she heard him saying in a very soft
voice:
"One of the first things remembers
is being fetched up here by nanny
when 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 me-"
"Your father was a soldier. wasn't
he?" she asked.
eyes. 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 tot,
able proud of it. He lowed that what
was good enough for his folks was
good enough for him"
He broke of suddenly and smile
~ mo tn y Is vi n h1yy noivn
and winning smile, the girl thought.
Striking an attitude, he added in a
tone of mock seriousness and perfect
lowland English, without q trace Of
dialect: Il beg your pardon. Miss Hol-
land. l 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 . mountain man
then. I thought, 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.
II just did that to show ye that !
could. II I wanted to, reckon I could
talk as good English as you. reckon
ye won't hardly, hear me do it no
more" 'A9@t.
"But why?" she inquired in perpl<x-
ity.
IT reckon 1t 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. l loves it. It. don't make no
difference to me that it's bad grammar
Birds don't sing SO sweet when We
teaches 'em new tunes. To my ears
the talk Of down below is hard an un-
natural. don't like the ways nor the
speech of the nat countries. I'll have
none Of 1t. Besides, belongs here, an
If didn't talk like they do my people
wouldn't trust me-" He paused mo-
ment, then added: I'D hate to have
my people not trust me. So II ye don't
mind, reckon I'll 60 on talkin' as
learnt to talk"
She nodded her head. II see." she
said quietly.
What do ye aim to call this school?"
he asked suddenly.
"Why, l thought I'd call it the Hol-
land school,: she answered, and "hen
he shook his head and said Don't do
it," she colored.
II didn't mean to name it for my.
nh4 lot
wanted to call 1t after my grandfather.
He always wanted to do something for
education here in the Kentucky hills"
II 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
1t a college"
"But." she demurred,~ Its not going
to be college. It's just 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. l
shouldn't be astonished II some gray
haired folks came to study the primer.
They'll come to college all right, but
It wouldn't hardly be dignified to go to
school. II you want to get 'em We must
needs call 1t a college,"
The girl looked at him again and
said in soft voice: you are always
teaching me things I ought to know.