The Ordway new era., 1916-12-29


wearily on abstract resolves and come
into their embrace. But he was not
there.
In the quaint conversation Of the
Widow Everson and her sons Juanita
found 30 much Of the amusing that she
had to school herself against too great
an appreciation of their utterly unin-
tentional humor. Though she was
"fotched-on woman" to be taken on
probation, 1t was only q matter of
hours before the family capitulated, as
people In general had fashion Of do
Ing under the spell Of her graciousness
accounted surly, for the first time in
years brushed his shapeless hat and
remembered not to hang 1t on the
floor" and Sim Everson hied him into
the misty woods at dawn and brought
home squirrels for her first breakfast
in his house.
In the forenoon of her first day she
left the house and, crossing the tiny
garden where the weeds were already
growing tall and rank enough to hint
of future ragged victory. she made her
crest of the ridge.
Juanita was steering her course for
a patriarchal poplar that sent a
straight shaft heavenward at the rim
OF the crest, opening its verdure like
great flag. unfurled on a mighty para
pet. She knew that up there she
could look two ways across the divide,
and that her battle-ground would be
spread before her.
She looked to the east, and line after
line of hills melted into the sky. She
looked to the west, and there, too, they
rose. phalanx on phalanx, to dissolve
in smoky haze that effaced the hori-
zon. 1t seemed as II in a majesty of
relentlessness they reached from sun.
rise to sunset. and SO. as far as the
locked-in life OF their people went.
they might.
She stood there a long while, and
finally she saw, where for space the
road ran near the brick house. un
shielded by the woods. struggling
little cortege. At its front rode a
at that far distance. she thought she
recognized the missionary. Behind
him came a few horsemen riding In
two squads, and between the squads
crawled "jolt-wagon" drawn by
mules. She knew that the Haveys
were bringing back to the frontier the
enemy's dead, and she shuddered al
the cold reality.
It may have been three hours latel
that Good Anse Talbot rode up tc
the Widow Everson's. When the girl
who had returned long ago from the
crest. came out to meet him at the
door she found him talking there will
Milt McBriar. who had also ridden up
but from the other direction.
"Anse Havey lows" the preacher
was saying, that he hes done fotchet
home ther body Of little Nash Watt
an thet ther boy was shot ter deatl
a layin' in ther la'rel a hundred pace
, from the winder whar Cal Douglas wa
a standin'!"
i've done already acknowledge
thet," declared Milt in voice int
which crept a trace Of truculent sui
lenness.
The missionary nodded. Il hahn
quite through yit, Milt." he went Of
l evenly, and the girl who stood lear
ing against the door-frame, caught TO
an instant a sparkle of zealot earnest
ness in his weary eyes.
"Anse is willin' ter take yore han
. on this truce. He's willin' ter stan
.. .. pledge thet ther Haveys keeps faitf
. But I'm a preacher of the Gawspel G
God. Milt. and l don't low ter be n
go-between without both of you me
2 does keep faith"
Milt McBriar stiffened resentfull!
l and his dark brows drew together vi
der his hat brim.
Does ye doubt thet I'll do what
u says?" he inquired in voice too sol
for sincerity.
The missionary did not drop hi
steady and compelling eyes from tn
l. gaze direct. 1t was as If he were reat
ing through the pupils of the other an
searching the dark heart.
II aims ter see thet ye both start
t out fair, Milt," he said, still quietl.
t "An' ter thet end I aims ter admonis
n ye both on ther terms Of this meetil
atween ye."
It For an instant Milt McBriar's sen
blance of calm reflectiveness slippe
8 from him and his voice rose raspingl,
n "Did Anse Havey learn ye th'
speech7"
Good Anse Talbot shook his hea
# patiently.
h mo. told Anse ther same thin
n I'm a-tellin' you. Neither Anse nj
l. ther four men that fetches ther boo
II will hev any sort of weepon abo'
'em when they comes acrost thet still
o Ye've got ter give me yore hand tn
Q none of yore men hain't goin' ter
g armed. I'm a servant Of ther Mo
II High God" For an instant fire blaze
d in the preachers eyes and his voi'