Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1916-03-17

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rife.
Anse looked up and spoke slowly:
Il reckon 1t wouldn't profit We much
to harm US, Milt. We amt armed. an
1t would bring on a heap Of trouble"
Outside ros an angry chorus Of
voices. The news that the Jail was
empty had gone through the crowd.
For a time the McBriar stood there
debating his next step. The town
seemed at his mercy. Seemed! That
word gave him pause. The way home
lay through Havey territory. which
might near twenty miles of solid
ambush. Anse Havey sat too quietly
for Mills ease of mind. Was he bait
ing some fresh trap?
The old intriguer felt baffled and at
sea. He had grown accustomed to
weighing and calculating with guileful
elaboration. He baked at swift and
impulsive action. Moreover. II he de-
bated long, he might not be able to
control his men. He looked up-to
e little Milt, who was fighting back
the crowd at the door and locking
them out. Beyond the panels could
be heard loud swearing and the impa-
tient shutting Of many feet.
What shall we do. SOM" inquired
the older man Of the younger. His
voice had a note of appeal and break
ing power.
When Young Milt had ridden out
Of Peril no feudist in the hills had
borne a 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
a profound contempt. He saw in the
situation only a game OF wits in which
Anse Havey wal winner.
We'll" he replied with a grin he
could not repress, hit looks right
smart ter me like thar hain't nothin'
to do but ride on back home an try
again next time"
That counsel in the end prevailed.
Outside there had been a short. sharp
struggle with a 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 nov Yet he
led back a grumbling following and
bore a discounted power. They could
not forget that a Havey had worsted
him.
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 were on their way into the
hills.
When It was all 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 off and
her gun-rack was empty. When she
had come home there had not been
a single weapon there.
There would be no Christmas tree
now! The b%eribboned packages lay in
a useless pile. Had school been In SEES
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 besieged.
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 we're 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 dreariness
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 over to
the school and found both women sit.
ting alphabetically by an untrimmed fir
tree amid a litter Of forgotten pack
ages. The children of Tribulation
were having the sort Of Christmas
they had always had-a day Of terror
and empty cheerlessness.
"Hit seems like a right smart pity
fer them children ter be plumb, tee
totally disappointed" unused the old
preacher. "S'pose now We 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"
"Thet's all right" the preacher an.
swered briefly. II reckon I kin 60
Their route"
1t took Good Anse Talbot three
days of battle with quicksand and
mire to finish that mission. At each
house he told them that Juanita Hol
land had sent him. and the girl was
~canonized afresh in hearts old and
young. back in roadless coves and on
bleak hillsides.
Every evening found Anse Havey
seated before Juanita's hearth, study
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