The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1915-12-23

there won't be any Mc.Briars or
Haveys. Wen all be mountaineers
standin' together an hoidin' what God
gave us. God knows | hate Milt Nc.
Brisr an his tribe-hate 'em with all
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 to
ROD as. We want to be let alone, an
II We fight amongst ourselves It amt
nothin' to the way wen fight, shoulder
10 shoulder an back to back, against
the robbers from down below"
The man paused, and as Juanita
looked into his blazing eyes she shud.
dered, for 1t seemed that the killing
instinct Of which he spoke was burn
ing there. She thought of nothing to
say. and he continued:
It's war between families now-but
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 agains. the
rest. Thet's why Pm 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
make war on ye?" he suddenly de.
manded. Does a man fight children?
We don't fight the helpless up here in
the hills"
Possibly" she suggested with q
trace Of irony, when you learn that
I'm not so helpless you won't be so
merciful"
"Well wait till that time comes, :
said the man shortly. He paused for
a moment, then went on; "Helpiessl
Why, heaven knows, ma am pity ye.
Can't ye see what odds yere contend.
in against? Can't ye see that ye're
fghtin' 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
jail-house. Ye're singin' lullaby
| songs to the thunder Yes. feel right
sorry fer ye, but | amt a-hghtin' ye."
I'm doing none of those things"
she answered with 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
| 40 In lu
talk about the wild, free spirit OF the
mountain men. ! think that free men
will listen to that argument"
Anse laughed.
Change 'em!" he repeated, disre
garding the slur of her last speech
why, If ye don't give it up and &c
| back to your birds that pick at berries
do you know what will happen to ye!
I'll tell ye. Thar will be change, but
it won't be in us. It'll be in you
| You'll be mountainized.
"Ye 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 reckon yen
find the hills are bigger than you be
i How much land do ye need?"
"Why?"
Because | aim to see ye get 1t. Ye
say I'm SCARED of ye. | aim to show
ye how much I'm SCARED. | aim tc
let ye go your own fool way an fioun
der in your own quicksand. An II
nobody won't sell ye what ye wan;
let me know an. by Almighty God. III
make ye a 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
1t. Now just go as fur as ye feels in
clined an see how much | mind ye.
He turned abruptly on his heel and
went out, quietly closing the door be.
hind him.