Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1916-02-04

looked around II Jueu Ocul ONSA anu
whispered a name. There was a short
pause. after which the chief comment
ed: WALL, l reckon l don't need ter
tell yer what ter do now"
81 reckon l knows" confessed Luke
with a somewhat surly expression.
But Milt McBriar was paying no
attention. His face was d%arkening.
81 wish l could afford ter git the
real mani" he exclaimed abruptly. Il
wish l burst hev Anse Hayey kilt"
"Wall"-this time 1t was the un-
derling who spoke CASUALLY recE-
on l mought as we'll die fer a sheep as
a lamb. Shell l kill Anse Havey fer
YET"
The chieftain looked at him during
a long pause, then slowly shook his
head.
mo, Luke" he said quietly. Il
hain't quite ready ter die myself yit.
I reckon II l he'd We ter kill Bad Anse
thet's bout what'd happen. Jest git
Their lamb this trip an let ther old
ram live a SPELL"
So, one unspeakably sultry morning,
a few days after that informal session.
Good Anse Talbot arrived at the
Widow Everson's house. AS Juanita
Holland appeared at the door to greet
him he came at once to the point.
"Fletch McNash hes done been
kilt" he said. Bout twilight last
night, es he was a-comin' In from Their
barn somebody shot one shoot from
Their la'rel. I reckon hit'd be right
smart comfort ter his woman an
little Dawn eff We could ride over thar
an help tend ter Their buryin'. Kin
ye start now?"
Go! Juanita would 60 II 1t were
necessary to run a gantlet Of all the
combined forces Of the Haveys and
McBriars. Her heart ached for the
widow and the boys. but for Dawn the
ache was as deeply poignant as 1t
could have been for a little sister Of
her own. So with set face and hot in
d~ignation Juanita mounted for the
journey.
At last they reached the McNash
cabin and found gathered about 1t a
score Of figures with sullen and scowl-
ing faces.
From the barn came the screech OF
saw and rat-tat Of hammer, where
those whose knack ran into carpentry
. were f%ashioning the box which was to
serve in lieu Of q casket.
!, There was no fire now, and the
cabin was very dark. In a deeply
, Swallowed corner lay fetch McNash,
made visible by the white sheet that
;, covered him.
Juanita had come In silently, and
for a moment thought that no one
= else was there. The younger children
had been sent away, and the neigh
bors remained outside with rough
sense Of consideration.
There, in q squat chair near the
. cold hearth, sat Mrs. McNash, hel
r back turned to the room. She was
leaning forward and gazing aheat
with ~unseeing eyes. Dawn was kneel
ing at her side with both arms abou'
her mothers dropping shoulders.
> Juanita bent and impulsively kissed
8 the withered face. but the woman ONLY
stirred q little, like a half-wakenet
sleeper, and looked stolidly up. Ate
a while she spoke In the l~ifeless. far
away tone of utter lethargy.
g "Ef ye'd like ter see him, Jest III
k up Their sheet. He's a-layin' thar.
Then once more she sank back int
the coma of her staring at the heartl
b with Its dead ashes.
Then the door opened, letting In tw'
II men, and In them Juanita recognized
d Jeb McNash and Bad Anse Havey.
W At their coming Dawn looked VI
drawing away from the embrace O
! the older girl. and retreated silentl
\ to a corner, as though ashamed O
\ having been discovered In tears. Fo
\ a few moments there was silence |
\ the room, complete except for the ra
\ Of jobs pipe when he knocked out 1t
N ashes against the chimney.
Bad Anse stood with folded arms /
the dim light and gave no sign that b
had recognized the presence of tn
"furrin" woman.
The boy jerked his head toward tn
M hearth and said in a strained, har
N voice: "Set We a cheer. Anse," an
NJ after that no one spoke. jobs thi
N but muscular chest rose and fell t
N the swell of heavy breathing and hi
" face was wrapped black In a scov
Al that made his eyes smolder and hi
N lips snarl. Juanita had dropped bac
N to one of the beds with Dawn's fac
y buried in her lap.
Then, as II rousing from a Ion
: dream, Mrs. McNash looked up, an
! for the first time appeared to reali7
that her son and his companion ha
entered the place.
The dead Darkness left her pupil
and into them leaped a hateful fir
! Her voice came In shrill and hig'
pitched questioning: wall, Jeb. he
10 ye got him yit?"
The boy only shook his head ar
ed glowered at the wall. while his mot
H. er's voice rose almost to a scream.
"Hain't ye a goin' ter do nothin
ia Thar Laws yore pap what nuver harmt