Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1915-12-15

lnere won't be any Mc-Briars or
Haveys, Wen all be mountaineers
standin' together an holdin' what God
gave US. God knows l hate Milt Nc.
Brlar an his tribe-hate EN- with ali
the power Of hatin' that's in mean
I'm mountain man. But Milt's peo
pie an my people have one thing In
common. We're mountain men, an
these hills are ourn. We have the.
same KILN instinct when men seek tt
rob US We want TO be let alone, an,
II We light amongst ourselves it ami
nothln' to the way wen fight, shouldes
TO shoulder an back to back, againss
the robbers from down below" d
The man paused. and as Juanitd
looked into his blazing eyes she shucs
dered, for it seemed that the 6illinn
instinct Of which he spoke was BURT
ing there. She thought Of nothing It's
say, and he continued: ,
It's war between families now-bu.
when your people come-come to buy
for nothin' and fatten on our starva-
ton, we men of the mountains will
forget that, an reckon Well fight to-
gether like all damnation against the
rest Thet's why I'm counselin' folks
not to sell needless"
Then you did not forbid your peo-
pie to sell to me?" inquired the girl.
why, in heavens name, should l
make war on YEP" he suddenly de-
manded. Does a man fight children?
We don't fight the helpless up here in
the hills
Possibly" she suggested with a
trace of irony, when you learn that
I'm not so helpless you won't be so
merciful."
We'll wait till that time comes"
said the man shortly. He paused for
a moment, then went on Helpless!
Why, heaven knows, ma am, l pity ye.
Can't We see what odds ye're contend
in against? Can't ye see that ye're
fightin' Gods hills and sandstone an
winds an thunder? Can't ye see ye're
tryin' ter take out of mems veins the
fire in their blood-the fire that's been
burnin' there for two centuries? Ye're
like little child tryin' ter pull down
jailhouse. Ye're singin' lullaby
songs to the thunder Yes, feel right
sorry fer We, but l amt a-fightin' ye."
I'm doing none of those things"
she answered with a defiant blaze in
her eyes. I'm only trying to show
these people that their ignorance is
not necessary; that it's only part of a
scheme to keep them vassals. You
talk about the wild, free spirit of the
mountain men. l think that free men
will listen to that argument"
Anse laughed.
Change 'em!" he repeated, disre-
ga. ding the slur of her last speech.
why, if we don't give it up and go
back to your birds that pick at berries,
do you know what will happen to ye?
I'll tell We. Thar will be change, but
it won't be in US. It'll be in you.
You'll be mountainized.
Eye can't live where the storms
come from an where the rivers are
born an not have their spirit get into
your blood. Ye may think ye're in
partners with God, but l reckon yell
find the hills are bigger than you be.
I, How much land do We need?"
"Why?"
Because aim to see We get it. Ye
say I'm SCARED of We. l aim to show
We how much I'm SCARED. | aim to
let We go your own fool way an fioun-
der in your own quicksand. An If
nobody won't sell We what We want
let me know an, by Almighty God, I'll
make We free gift of farm an III
build your school myself. Thet's how
much I'm SCARED Of ye. I've tried to
be friends with ye, an ye won't have
it. Now just go as fur as We feels in
clined an see how much l mind ye.
He turned abruptly on his heel and
went out, quietly closing the door be-
hind him.
CHAPTER XII.