The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1915-01-02


gittin' old. He's done been good ter
me. He needs me here"
Il appreciate that. He win be older
later You can go now, and come back
TO him when he needs you more. If
| what 1 urged meant disloyalty to your
people, could cut out my tongue be
fore argued for it. You must be-
lieve me in that 1 want you to be in
the fullest sense your peoples leader
want you to be not only their Sam
son-but their Moses"
The boy looked up and nodded
Il reckon ye aims ter be friendly,
all right" was his conservative re-
Spouse.
The painter went on earnestly:
Il realize that am urging things of
which your people disapproVe. but it is
only because they misunderstood that
| 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 man
1 think, you won't be beguiled. You
won't lose your loyalty. You won't be
ashamed of your people,
Il reckon 1 wouldn't be ashamed"
said the youth. Il reckon there hain't
no better folks nowhar.''
I'm sure of it. There are going to
be sweeping changes in these noun
tains. Conditions here have stood as
inmutably changeless as the hills
| themselves for a hundred years. That
day is at its twilight. I tell you,
know what I'm talking about. The
state of Kentucky is looking this way.
The state must develop, and it is here
alone that it can develop. Here are
/ virgin forests and almost inexhaust-
ible coal veins. Capital is turning
! from an orange squeezed dry, and cast
ing about for fresher food. Capital has
seen your hills. Capital is inevitable
relentless, omnipotent. Where it comes,
it makes its laws. Conditions that
have existed undisturbed will vanish
The law of the feud, which militia and
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 waves
which will presently sweep over your
country, you and your people will go
under. You may not realize it, but
that is true. 1t is written"
The boy had listened fntently, but at
the end he smiled, and in his express
sion was something of the soldier who
scents battle, not without welcome.
st reckon if these here felIers air
a-comin' up here ter run things, an
drowned out my folks, hits a right
good reason fer me ter stay here-an'
holp my folks
by staying here, you can't help
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 to
J play the game"
81 reckon they won't git our land,
ner our timber, ner our coal, without
we wants ter sell hit I reckon eff they
tries thet, guns will come in handy.
Things has stood here like they is now
, fer a hundred years. reckon we kin
keep 'em that-away fer a spell longer
But it was evident that Samson was
arguing against his own belief; that he
: was trying to bolster up his resoIu.
ton and impeached loyalty, and that
at heart he was sick to be up and go
ing to a world which did not despise
dedication" After a little, he waved
his hand vaguely toward down be-
low"
EFF went down thar he questioned
suddenly and irrelevantly, would |
hev' ter cut my harp"
'My dear boy" laughed Lescott. I
can introduce you in New York studios
to many distinguished gentlemen who
would feel that their heads had been
shor1 if they let their locks get as
short as yours. In New York, you
might stroll along Broad way CARRIED in
turban and burnouse without great
ly exciting anybody. 1 think my own
hair is as long as yours
Because" doggedly declared the
mountaineer, 'I wouldn't allow nobody
ter make me cut my ha'r."
''Why?" questioned Lescott, amused
; at the stubborn infection.
81 don't hardly know why" He
paused, then admitted with a glare as
though defying criticism: Sally likes
hit that-away-an won't let nobody
dictate ter me, that's all"
The leaven was working, and one
night Samson announced to his uncle
from the doorstep that he was study.
in erbout goin' away fer a spell, an
SEEM the world"
The old man laid down his pipe. He
cast a reproachfuI glance at the
painter, which said clearly. though
without words;
81 have opened my home to you and
offered you what had. yet in my old
age you take away my mainstay.''
, Il lowed you was a-studyin' erbout
thet, Samson" he said, at last I've
done Their best fer ye 1 knowed.
kinder lowed tibet from now on ye'd do
the same fer me. I'm gittin' along in
years right smart. 80
Uncle Spicer." interrupted the boy.
Il reckon ye knows thet any time ye
needed me I'd come back"
The old mans face hardened
, EFF ye goes" he said, almost sharp
". Il won't never send fer ye. ANY
time ye ever wants ter come back, ye
knows ther way. Thar'n be room an
victuals fer ye hyar"
81 reckon I nout be a heap more
useful eff l knowed more"
I've heerd feIlers say that afore,