Tombstone epitaph., 1917-01-21

haveys- we'll all De mountaineers standin' together an holdin' what God gave us. God knows 1 hate Milt Me Briar an his tribe-hate 'em with all the power of hatin' that's in mean I'm a mountain man. But Milt's peo- pie an my people have one thing in common. We're mountain men. an these hills are ourn. We have the same killin' instinct when men seek to rob us. We want to be let alone, an If We fight amongst ourselves 1t ain't nothin' to the way we'll fight. shoulder to shoulder an back to back. against the robbers from down below"
 The man paused. and as Juanita looked into his blazing eyes she shud- dered. for it seemed that the killing instinct of which he spoke was burn ing there. She thought of nothing to say. and he continued:
 Its war between families now-but when your people come-come to buy for nothin' and fatten on our starva- ton, We men of the mountains will forget that, an I reckon we'll fight to- gether like all damnation against the rest Thet's why I'm counselin' folks not to sell needless"
 Then you did not forbid your peo- pie to sell to mel" inquired the girl.
 Why, in heavens name. should I make war on ye?" he suddenly de- manded. Does a man fight children? We don't fight the helpless up here in the hills"
 Possibly" she suggested with a trace of irony. when you learn that I'm not so helpless you won't be so merciful."
 wen wait till that time comes," said the man shortly. He paused for moment, then went on: Helpless! Why, heaven knows. ma'am, I pity ye. Cant ye see what odds ye're contend In against! Can't ye see that ye're fghtin' Gods hills and sandstone an winds an thunder? Cant ye see ye're tryin' ter take out of mems veins the fire in their blood-the fire that's been burnin' there for two centuries? Ye're like a little child tryin' ter pull down tail-house. Ye're singh lullaby songs to the thunder. Yes, feel right sorry fer ye. but ain't a-fghtin' ye."
 I'm doing none Of those things" she answered with a defiant blaze in her eyes. I'm only trying to show these people that their ignorance is not necessary; that it's only part of a scheme to keep them vassals. You talk about the wild. free spirit of the mountain men. think that free men will listen to that argument"
 Anse laughed.
 Change 'em." he repeated, disre- garding the slur Of her last speech. Why. If ye don't give it up and go back to your birds that pick at berries, do you know what will happen to ye? I'll tell ye. Thar will be a change, but 1t won't be in us. It'll be in you. You'll be mountainized.
 "Ye can't live where the storms come from an where the rivers are born an not have their spirit get into your blood. Ye may think we're in partners with God. but l reckon yell find the hills are bigger than you be How much land do ye need?"
 Why"
 Because aim to see ye get 1t. Ye say I'm scaired of ye. I aim to show ye how much I'm scaired. aim to let ye go your own fool way an fioun- der in your own quicksand. An if nobody won't sell ye what ye want let me know an. by Almighty God. I'll make ye free gift of farm an I'll build your school myself. Thet's how much I'm scaired of ye. I've tried to be friends with ye. an ye won't have it Now just go as fur as ye feels in. clined an see how much I mind ye"
 He turned abruptly on his heel and went out. quietly closing the door be- hind him.