Mountain advocate. (Barbourville, Ky.) 1904-1935, 1916-01-14

bated long, he might not be able to
control his men. He looked up--to
see little Miltt who was lighting back
the crowd at the door and locking
them out. Beyond the panels could
be heard loud swearing and the impa.
tent shutting OF many feet
What shall we do. SON." inquired
the older man OF the younger His
voice had note OF appeal and break.
ing power.
When Young Mlt had ridden out
OF Peril no feudist in the hills had
borne heart fuller Of hatred and
hunger for vengeance. but that was
because of his father. Now his father
was free. For Luke Thixton he had
profound contempt lie saw In the
situation only game OF wits In which
Anse Havey was winner.
We'll" he replied with a grin he
could not rcpress. hit looks right
smart ter me like thar haint nothin'
to do but ride on back home an try
again next time"
That counsel in the end prevailed
Outside there had been q short. sharp
struggle with mutinous spirit. These
men had come for action and they did
not want to ride back foiled, but the
word of Old Milt had stood unchal-
ienged too long to fail now. Yet he
led back grumbling following and
/ bore = .tscounted power. They could
not forget thar,.. .usvey had worsted
him. @E%, e., - ..
So the spirit OF the men who had
come to fight vented itself In the yell
and the random shots to which there
was no reply. and again a train OF
horsemen we're on their way into the
hills,
When It was air over and Juanita
sat there in her empty school she was
realizing that, after all, the desperate
moment had only been deferred and
must come with absolute certainty
Christmas was only two days on and
her gun.rack was empty. When she
had come home there had not been
single weapon there.
There would be no Christmas tree
now! The beribb6ned packages lay In
q useless pile, Had school been In ses-
sion, she knew that the desks would
have been as empty as the gun.rack
The whole turtlelike life had drawn in
its head and the countryside lay as
though bcsleged.
On Anse Havey's book-shelves were
new volumes, for Juanita was feeding
his scant supply, and a softer type Of
poetry was being added to his frugal
and stern repertoire. A number Of
men left the mountains and went into
exile elsewhere. These were the wit
nesses who must testify against Luke
Thixton and whose lives would not
have been worth a nickel had they
stayed at home.
Then came Christmas day itself,
bleak and soggy with the thaw that
had set in and the moody dreari1css
of the sky. The sun seemed to have
despaired and made its course spirit.
lessly from dawn to twilight. crawling
dimly across its daily arc.
Brother Anse Talbot came oyer tn
the school and found both women sit.
ting alphabetically by an untrimmed fr
tree amid litter Of forgotten pack.
ages. The children OF Tribuiation
were having the sort OF Christmas
they had always had-a day OF terror
and empty cheerlessness.
Hit seems like right smart pity
fer them children ter be plumb, tee
totally disappointed" unused the old
preacher "S'pose now ye put names
on them gewgaws an let me Jest
sorter ride round an scatter en-"
You dear old saint" cried Juanita.
suddenly reused out OF her apathy. ,
But you'll freeze to death an get
drowned In some ford"
"Thets all right" the preacher an.
swercd briefly. Il reckon | kin 60
ther route"
II took Good Anse Talbot three
days OF battle with quicksand and
mire 20 finish that mission. At each
house he told them that Juanita Hol- .
land had sent him. and the girl was
cononized afresh in hearts old and
young. back III roadless coves and on
bleak hillsides.
Every evening found Anss Havey
seated before Juanita's hearth, study |
ing the flicker OF the freight on her !
face Every detail OF her expression !
became to him as something he had
always known and worshiped.
Some day Malcolm would come back /
and marry her-and then--at that
point had Anse Havey refused to fol.
low his trend OF thought further. He
only ground his teeth.
"Ye damn fool" he told himself.
That amt no reason Why ye shouldn't
make tho most OF today. She's right
here now an she's sun an moon an |
star shine and music an sweetness"
She did not know, and he gave her
no hint. that In these times. with piots
and countcrplots Matching on both
sides OF the ridge. ne never made that
journey IN the night without inviting
death. He was walking miles through 4