The Delta independent., 1915-06-18
CHAPTER vi.

CHAPTER vi.
Lescott had come to the mountains
anticipating visit of two weeks. His
accident had resolved him to shorten
It to the nearest day upon which he
felt capable of making the trip out to
the railroad. Yet June had ended;
July had burned the slopes from en-
erald to ruseet-green; August had
brought purple tops to the ironweed.
ana sulII ne IounQ nlmseII lingering.
And this was true although he recog.
nized a growing sentiment of disap'
proval for himself. In Samson he
thought he recognized twin gifts; q
spark of a genius too rare to be al
lowed to flicker out, and a potentially
for constructive work among his OWL
people, which needed for its perfectine
only education and experience.
Samson" he suggested one day
when they were alone, Il want you to
come East You say that gun is your
tool, and that each man must stick to
his own. You are in part right, In
part wrong. A man uses any tool bet
ter for understanding other tools. You
have the right to use your brains and
talents to the full"
The boys face was somber in the
intensity of his mental struggle, and
ihis answer had that sullen ring which
was not really sullenness at all, but
self-repression.
Il reckon a feller's biggest right if
ito stand by his kinfolks. Unc' Spicer's
.gittin' old. He's done been good tel
lme. He needs me here"
II appreciate that He will be Older
later. You can go now, and come bach
to him when he needs you more. Ii
what urged meant disloyalty to youl
ipeople, could cut out my tongue be
fore / argued for it. You must be
iheve me in that. l want you to be II
the fullest sense your peoples leader
/ want you to be not only their Sam
son-but their Noses"
The boy looked up and nodded.
II reckon ye aims ter be friendly
all right" was his conservative re
sponse.
The painter went on earnestly:
Il realize that am urging things Of
which your people disapprove, but it il
emily because they misunderstood thai
they do disapprove. They are too close
Samson, to see the purple that noun
tains have when they are far away. ]
want you to go where you can see
the purple. If you are the sort of mar
think, you won't be beguiled. Yor
won't lose your loyalty. You won't be
ashamed of your people,"
Il reckon l wouldn't be ashamed
said the youth. Il reckon there hainf
no better folks nowhar."
I'm sure of it. There are going te
be sweeping changes in these noun
tains. Conditions here have stood al
1mmutably changeless as the hill:
themselves for hundred years. THAI
day is at its twilight. tell you. j
know what I'm talking about. The
state Of Kentucky is looking this way
The state must develop. and it is here
alone that 1t can develop. Here art
virgin forests and almost inexhaust
ibie coal veins. Capital is turning
from an orange squeezed dry, and cast
ing about for fresher food. Capital hat
seen your hills. Capital is inevitable
relentless, omnipotent. Where 1t comes
1t makes its laws. Conditions thal
have existed undisturbed will vanish
The law of the feud, which militia ant
courts have not been able to abate
will vanish before capitals breath like
the mists when the sun strikes them
Unless you learn to ride the wavet
which will presently sweep over youI
country. you and your people will &c
under. You may not realize 1t, but
that is true. 1t is written"
The boy had listened intently. but al
the end he smiled, and in his expires
sion was something of the soldier who
scents battle. not without welcome.
II reckon If these here fellers ali
a-comin up here ter run things, an
drowned out my folks. hits right
good reason fer me ter stay here-an
holp my folks"
"By staying here, you can't helI
them. 1t won't be work for guns, but
for brains. BY going away and com
ing back armed with knowledge. you
can save them. You Will know how tc
play the game"
II reckon they won't git our land,
ner our timber, ner our coal, without
we wants ter sell hit. reckon eff they
tries thet, guns will come in handy.
Things has stood here like they is now,