Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1916-02-25

urs the laurel made no sound, The
oth, men. waiting at their separated
posts We're equally invisible and noise
less, hut some intangible premonition
had ONE to the shadow which had
lost i.self In the impenetrable black
ness md began its retreat with its OBJ
tect U accomplished.
Yolag Milt went back to his house
In theeold mists Of dawn. No shot had
been lrcd. no face recognized, but the
Have and the McBriar both knew
that be school had been saved by
their ONT vigilance.
ScAs days later the news Of that
nigh watch leaked through to Jerry
Eveeson. who bore the tidings to Juan
ia, md she wrote a note to Anse Ha-
vey asking him to come over and let
her express her thanks In person.
Tie mail rider brought her q brief
reply penned In a hand OF copybook
cars.
I Cont AXE any credit. 1 only did What
any other man would do, and young Milf
McLriar did as much as l did. Thank
him II you want TO, 1t would only be
awkward for me to come over there,
Respectfully. ANsE HAVEY.
Gle Milt McBriar heard Of his sons
par n the watching of the school and
brooGad blackly as he gnawed at the
stem Of his pipe, but he said nothing.
The Soy had been sent away to college
ant md had every advantage. Now
he b 4 unwitringly but none the less
surel. turned his rifle on one Of his
"a thu $ hirelings bent on his fathers
wor( or the oil-soaked kindling had
beeEia 4 at Old Milt's command.
TSthng lid not tend to make the
leaN Y The McBriars partial to the
inntN @tionS from down below.
% day, WIEN Juanita went down to
the host Office. which nestled unob-
trus! ely behind the single counter Of
the shack store at the gap, she found
a letter directed In a hand which set
her aeart beating and revived many
old memories.
She climbed to the crest, sat down
under the poplar. and began to read
the letter from the man she had sent
away.
He said that he had made a sincere
effort to reconcile himself to her deci-
sion which exiled him. The effort had
failed. He had been to the Mediter-
ranean and the East. His letter con-
cluded:
Can you not find 1t In your heart to be
touched by my devotion Not only happi-
T ness, but peace dwells where you are,
I and I am coming to you.
I DO not forbid me-, for l am coming any
way. l am coming because l must; be-
cause l love you.
She sat for a long time gazing of at
the distances and shivered a little In
the bite Of the raw air. Then she
, looked up and saw a figure at her side.
. It was Bad Anse Havey.
He bowed and stripped of his coat,
! which, without asking permission, he
th-ew around her ~shivering shoulders
eIdnC asfEi 10 intruJs on ye." he
salt slowly. u didn't know We was w
. here. Do ye come often?"
!. Very often" she answered. folding
: the letter and putting 1t back into Its
envelope. when | first came to the
Widow Everson's l discovered this
u tree, and 1t seemed to beckon to me tc
come up. Look" She rose and point
o ed off with a gauntleted hand. Il car
u stand here and see the Notifications o.
y my two enemies. There Is your place
. and there is Milt McBriar's."
. She smiled with unconscious arch
ness. "But I'm not going to let you bt
my enemy any MORE" she went on
I've decided that you have got to b.
N my friend, whether you want to be OF
not-and what decide upon must be.
Bad Anse Havey stood looking int
her eyes with the d~isconcerting steadi
ness of gaze that she always found |
difficult to sustain, but his only re
Spouse was a sober I'm obleeged t
ye."
q. Perhaps that letter. with its ole re
minders had brought back a little o
the old self's innocent coquetry. Sh'
: stood with her gloved hands in thu
a deep pockets Of her sweater JACKIE
with his coat hanging from her shoul
II ders. About her deep-violet eyes an
sensitive lips lurked a subtle appea
N FIR friendship-perhaps, though sh
cid not know it-for love.
81 have behaved 'abominably to you
IL lir. Havey," she confessed. Its mai
O. ,ral that you should refuse me forgive
ct hess" For a moment her eyes dance
D. ind she looked up. challengingly, int
W lis face. But It's natural, too. that
TO should refuse to let you refuse. w
C. ire going to be friends. l am going t
In mash your old feud to splinters an
I'm going to beat you, and Just tn
ID same we are going to be friends"
OF Again his reply was brief.
~ "I'm obleeged to ye,"
I'd "You have been very good to me
n. she went on, and the note Of bante
te left her voice; land you refused to Il
d. me thank YOU"
For a moment he was silent, then h
ho replied awkwardly: II reckon It's pre-
a. ty easy to be good to you" After tn;
er she heard him saying in a very SO
voice:
- - A. ILL.,