Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1915-10-21

arms, she would have shaken her head
YEARLY on abstract resolves and come
into their embrace. But he was not
there.
In the quaint conversation OF the
Widow Everson and her sons Juanita
found SO much Of the amusing that she
had to school herself against too great
an appreciation of their utterly unin-
territorial humor. Though she was a
"fotched-on woman" to be taken on
probation, it was only a matter Of
hours before the family ca%pitulated. as
people in general had a fashion OF do
ing under the spell Of her graciousness
and charm. Jerry Everson, whom men
accounted surly, for the first time in
years brushed his shapeless hat and
remembered not to hang 1t on the
floor" and Sim Everson hied him into
the misty woods at dawn and brought
home squirrels for her first breakfast
in his house.
In the forenoon of her first day she
left the house and, crossing the tiny
garden where the weeds we're already
growing tall and rank enough to hint
of future ragged victory, she made her
way by a narrow trail that led to the
crest of the ridge.
Juanita was steering her course for
a patriarchal poplar that sent a
straight shaft heavenward at the rim
of the crest, opening its verdure like a
great flag, unfurled on a mighty para
pet. She knew that up there she
could look two ways across the divide,
and that her battle-ground would be
spread before her.
She looked to the east, and line after
line of hills melted into the sky. She
looked to the west, and there, too, they
rose, phalanx on phalanx, to dissolve
in a smoky haze that effaced the hori-
zon. 1t seemed as If in a majesty of
relentlessness they reached from sun
rise to sunset, and SO, as far as the
locked-in life of their people went,
they might.
She stood there a long while, and
finally she saw, where for a space the
road a near the brick house, un-
shielded by the woods, a struggling
little cortege. AT its front rode a
stoop-shouldered man in whom, ever
at that far distance, she thought she
recognized the missionary. Behind
him came a few horsemen riding in
two squads, and between the squads
crawled a "jolt-wagon" drawn by
mules, She knew that the Haveys
were bringing back to the frontier the
enemy's dead, and she ~shuddered at
the cold reality.
1t may have been three hours later
that Good Anse Talbot rode UP to
the Widow Everson's. When the girl,
who had returned long ago from the
crest, came out to meet him at the
door she found him talking there with
Milt McBriar, who had also ridden up,
but from the other direction.
"Anse Havey lows" the preacher
was saying, that he hes done fetched
home ther body of little Nash Watt,
an tibet Their boy was shot ter death
a layin' in Their la'rel a hundred PAGES
from the winder whar Cal Douglas was
a standin'!"
I've done already acknowledged
thet," declared Milt in a voice into
which crept a trace Of truculent sui
lenness.
The missionary nodded. II hain't
quite through yit, Milt," he went on
evenly, and the girl who stood lean
ing against the door-frame, caught for
an instant a sparkle Of zealot earnest
ness in his weary eyes.
"Anse is willin' ter take yore hand
on this truce. He's willin' ter stand
pledge tibet Their Haveys keeps faith.
But I'm a preacher of the Gawspel of
God, Milt, and I don't low ter be no
g%o-between without both of you men
does keep faith"
Milt McBriar stiffened resentfully,
and his dark brows drew together I'M
der his hat brim.
docs We doubt tibet I'll do what l
says?" he inquired in a voice too soft
for sincerity.
The missionary did not drop his
steady and compelling eyes from the
gaze direct. 1t was as if he were read
ing through the pupils of the other and
searching the dark heart.
Il aims ter see tibet We both starts
out fair, Milt," he said, still quietly.
"An' ter tibet end l aims ter admonish
We both on Their terms of this meetin'
atween ye."
For an instant Milt McBriar's sem
blance Of calm r~efectiveness slipped
from him and his voice rose raspingly.
did Anse Havey learn We tibet
speech?"
Good Anse Talbot shook his head
patiently.
mo. l told Anse Their same thing
I'm a-tellin' you. Neither Anse ner
Their four men that fetches Their body
will hev any sort Of weepon about
'em when they comes acrost tibet stile.
Ye've got ter give me yore hand thet
lone Of yore men hain't a goin' ter be
armed. I'm a servant Of Their Most
High Cod" For an instant fire blazed
in the preachers eyes and his voice
mounted with fervor. Fer years I've
done sought ter teach his grace an his
hatred Of murder ter Their people of
these hyar hills. When you two men
shakes hands on this truce | aims ter
be standin' by with a rifie-gun in my
hands, an eff l sees anything crooked
I'm goin' ter use hit"
The dark giant stood for a time
silent, then he gravely nodded his
head. Them terms suits me-" he
said briefly.
The two men walked down to the
fence and separated there, going in