The Southern herald., 1916-02-25

there won't be any Mc-Briars OF
HaVeys. We'll all be mountaineers
standin' together an holdin' what God
gave us. God knows l hate Milt Nc.
brlar an his tribe-hate EN- 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
rob US. We want to be let alone, an
II We fight amongst ourselves it amt
nothin' to the way we'll fight, shoulder
TO 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 it seemed that the killing
instinct Of which he spoke was burn
ing there. She thought of nothing to
say, and he continued:
Its war between families now-but
when your people come-come to buy
for nothin' and fatten on our starva-
tion, we men Of the mountains will
forget that, an l reckon well fight to-
gether like all damnation against the
rest. Thet's why I'm 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. docs man fight children?
We don't fight the helpless up here in
the hills"
Possibly" she suggested with a
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
moment, then went on: Helpless!
Why, heaven knows, ma'am, l pity ye.
Can't ye see what odds ye're contend
In against? Can't ye see that ye're
fightin' Gods hills and sandstone an
winds an thunder? Cant 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
a jail-house. Ye're singin' lullaby
songs to the thunder. Yes, feel right
sorry fer ye, but amt a-fightin ye."
I'm doing none Of those things"
she answered with a 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
scheme to keep them vassals. You
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, II ye don't give it up and go
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.
Eye 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 yell
find the hills are bigger than you be.
How much land do ye need?"
"Why?"
Because I aim to see ye get it. Ye
say I'm SCARED of ye. l aim to show
ye how much I'm SCARED. aim to
let ye go your own fool way an foun-
der in your own quicksand. An If
nobody won't sell ye what ye want
let me know an, by Almighty God, I'll
make ye free gift of a farm an I'll
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 l mind ye."
He turned abruptly on his heel and
went out, quietly closing the door be-
hind him.