Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1916-02-18

"EAN- " so .N SEAA1A - AN6k ~ ~
said curtly; but don't aim ter leave
thout seem me, too"
Several shaggy retainers were loung-
iag on the front porch. but as Good
Anse Talbot and Juanita turned in at
the gate these henchmen disappeared
inside They would all be there to wit.
ness her humbling. thought the girl.
L would please him to receive her
With his iaokal pack yelping derisively
ABOUT him.
Then she saw another figure emerge
rom the dark door to stand at the
threshold. and the flush in her cheeks
grew deeper. Bad Anse Havey stood
and waited, and when they reached the
steps Of the porch he came slowly for
ward and said gravely. Come inside"
He led the way, and they followed In
silence.
Juanita found herself in the largest
room she had yet seen In the noun.
tains-a roc dark at its corners de-
spite q shaft OF sun that slanted
through a window and fell on q heavy
table in a single band of light. On the
table lay a litter Of pipes, loose to-
baeco, cartridges and several books.
Down the stripe Of sunlight the dust
notes foated in pulverized gold, and
the radiance fell upon a book which
lay open, throwing 1t into relief. so
that as the girl stood uncertainty near
the table she read at the top Of a page
the caption, "Plutarch's Lives"
But she caught her breath in relief,
for the retainers had disappeared.
Bad Anse stood just at the edge of
the sun-shaft. with one side of his
face lighted and the other dark.
But If to the girl the whole picture
was one OF somber composition and
color, 1t presented a different aspect
to Bad Anse himself as the young
mountaineer stood facing the door.
We've done come ter hev speech
with ye, Anse," Talbot began. II
reckon we know what hits erbout."
The Havey leader only nodded, and
his steady eyes and straight mouth.
line did not alter their sternness Of ex.
preston.
He saw the stifed little gasp with
which the girl read the ultimatum Of
his set face and the sudden mist Of
tears which, in spite Of herself,
blurred her eyes. He pushed forward
a chair and gravely inquired: Hadn't
We better set down, ma'am?"
She shook her head and raised one
hand, which trembled a little, to brush
the hair out Of her eyes.
Palpably she was trying to speak,
and could not for the moment com
mand her voice. But at last she got
herself under control. and her words
came slowly and carefully.
"Mr. Hayey, l have very little reason
to expect consideration from you.
Even nov, Is.jt were, q question. oil
pleading Tor fd3self. would die nrst.
but 1t iaa't Inn she paased end
shook be- Bead. *you told me that |
mus ateas pAihe to you. Well
II rye N 1--we come to humiliate my
SELF. ghess I've come to surrender
Ills race ala not change and he die
: not answer. Evidently. thought the
: girl bitterly. she had not sufficiently
abased herself. After q moment she
went on in a very tired. yet a very
| eager voice.
You are a man Of action, Mr.. Ha
vey. I make my appeal to your man
hood. suppose you've g had g
L. dream that has come to mean every
. thing to you-but that's the sort Of
dream I've had. That little girl, Dawn
: wants q chance. Her little brother
wants a chance. I've humbled myself
to come and plead for them. II yot
take them away from me you will
smash my school. | don't underesti
mate your power now. Children are
just beginning to come to me, and l
you order these to leave, the others
! will leave, too, and they won't come
. back. 1t will kill my school. II that
your purpose, l guess it's no use ever
3 to plead. l know you can do it-ant
: yet you told me you weren't making
= war on me-"
s Il reckon" interrupted Brother Tai
bolt slowly, Eye needn't have no fea'
of tibet, ma'am. Anse wouldn't d.
8 tibet"
e But IL you aren't doing that" wen
on ~Juanita, Il want to make my plei
Just for the sake OF these children o
your own people. I'm ready to accep
t your terms. I'm ready to abase AM
humble my own pride, only, for God
Q sake, give them a chance to grow cleal
n and straight and break the shackle
d of illiteracy."
She waited for the man to reply, bu
he neither spoke nor changed expires
n sion, so with an effort she went or
unconsciously bending a little forwar'
n In her eagerness:
"If you could see the way Dawn ha
unfolded like a flower, the thirsty II
9 te%lligence with which she has drum
up what l have taught her; the wa
T. 1t has opened new worlds to her;
% don't think you could be willing t
d plunge her back into drudgery and Il
d norance. She Is a woman, or 500
If will be, Mr.. Havey. You don't nee
women in your feuds."
ID Again came the cautioning voice {