The Delta independent., 1915-06-18
She nodded.

She nodded.
I've done told-ye," she said, wearily.
''thet l thinks ye ought ter do hit"
Lescott and Samson discussed the
matter frequently. At times the boy
was obstinate in his determination to
remain; at other times he gave way
to the yearnings for change and oppof'
tunity.
The dance on Saturday was to be
something more portentous than a
mere frolic. It would be q clan gath
ering to which the South adherents
would come riding up and down Mis-
cry and its tributaries from nigh
abouts' and over yon." From fore
noon until after midnight, shuttle, Jig
and fiddling would hold high. II rough.
carnival. But, while the younger folk
abandoned themselves to these diver
sions. the grayer heads would gather
in more serious conclave. Jesse Purvy
! had once more beaten back death. and
his mind had probably been devising,
during those bed-ridden days and
nights. plans of reprisal. According
to current report. Purvy had an
nounced that his would-be assassin
dwelt on Misery, and was marked
down" So, there were obvious ext
gencies which the Souths must pre-.
pare to meet. In particular, the clan
must thrash out to definite under
standing the demoralizing report that
Samson South. their logical leader.
meant to abandon them, at a crisis
H.. vn1, s-Ir
The painter had finally resolved to
cut the Gordian knot. and leave the
mountains. He had trained on Sam
son to the last piece all his artillery of
argument. The case was now submit
ted with the suggestion that the boy
take three months to consider. and
that, II he decided afiirmatively. he
should notify Lescott in advance OF his
coming. He proposed sending Samson
small library of carefully picked
books, which the mountaineer eagerly
agreed to devour In the interval.
Lescott consented. however. to re-
main over Saturday, and go to the
dance. since he was curious to c. ave
what pressure was brought to n on
the boy, and to have himself final
word of argument after kinsmen had
spoken.
Saturday morning came after a night
OF torrential rain. which had left the
mountains steaming under a reek of
fog and pitching clouds.
But, as the morning wore on. the
sun fought its way to view In scrap
of overhead blue. From log cabins
and plank houses up and down Misery
and its tributaries. men and women be-
gan their hegira toward the mill. Les
colt rode in the wake of Samson. who
had Sally on pillow at his back They
came before noon to the mouth OF Dry
hole creek. and the house OF VILE Nc
eager. Already. the picket fence was
lined with tethered horses and mules.
From the interior of the house came
the sounds Of fddling. though these
strains OF Turkey in the Straw" were
only by way Of prelude. Lescott felt.
though he could not say just what con-
crete thing told him. that under the
shallow note Of merry-making brooded
the major theme Of q troublesome
problem. The seriousness Was below
the surface. but mistakenly depressing.
He saw. too. that he himself was mixed
up with It In fashion. which might
become dangerous. when a few jugs
Of white liquor had been emptied.
While the young persons danced
and ''sparked" within. and the more
truculent lads escaped to the road TO
pass the jug, and forecast with youth
full war-fever "cleanin' out the Holl-
MANS" the elders were deep In ways
and means. II the truce could be pre-
served for its unexpired period OF
three years. II was. OF course. best In
that event. crops could be cultivated,
and lives saved. But. II Jesse Purvy
chose to regard his shooting as a
breach OF terms, and struck. he would
strike hard. and. In that event, best
defense lay In striking first Samson
would soon be twenty-one. That ne
would take his place as head Of the
:lan had until now never been ques-
ioned-and he was talking OF deser-
ton. For that q pink-skinned for
signer, who wore q womans bow OF
ribbon at his collar, was to blame.
The question Of loyalty must be square
ly put up to Samson, and It must be
done today. His answer must be den.
mite and uneQuivocal. As 4 guest OF
Spicer South. Lescott was entitled to
that consideration which - accorded
ambassadors.
None the less, the vital affair Of the
clan could not be balked by considera-
ton for q stranger. who. In the opin-
Ion of the majority. should be driven
from the country as an insidious mis-
chief-maker. Ostensibly. the truce still
held, but at no time since ite signing
had matters been 30 freighted with the