The Ordway new era., 1917-01-19

haint got no license ter stop ye, ne
said curtly; but don't aim ter leave
'thout seeln' me, too.
Several shaggy retainers we're ioune-
ing ON the front porch. but as Hoou
Anse Talbot and Juanita turned IN al
the gate these henchmen disappeared
inside They would all be there to wit
ness her humbling. thought the giri'
1t would please him to receive her
with his jackal pack yelping derisiVeiy
about him.
Then she saw another figure emerge
from the dark door to stand at the
threshold. and the flush in her cheeks
grew deeper. Bad Anse Havey stoou
and waited, and when they reached the
steps Of the porch he came slowly Tor.
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 room dark at Its corners de-
spite a shaft OF sun that slanteu
through a window and fell on a heavy
table in a single band of light On the
table lay a litter of pipes. loose To-
bacco, cartridges and several books
Down the stripe OF sunlight the dust
notes foated in pulverized gold, and
the radiance fell upon book when
lay open. throwing It into relief 80
that as the girl stood uncertainty near
the table she read at the top OF 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, it 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. i
reckon ye 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 stifled 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
chair and gravely inquired; Hadn't
ye 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. Havey. have very little reason
- expect consideration from you.
Eten now. II it were o question OF
pleading for myself. would die first,
/ but II isn't that" She paused and
shook her head. you told me that
must fail unless came to you. Well.
| I've conceive come to humiliate my
self. guess I've come to surrender"
| His face did not change and he did
not answer. Evidently. thought the
| girl bitterly. she had not sufficiently
| abased herself. After a moment she
went on in a very tired. yet a very
eager voice.
You are a man of action. Mr. Ha-
| vey. | make my appeal to your man
hood. | suppose you've never had a
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 a chance Her little brother
wants chance. I've humbled myself
to come and plead for them. II you
Ske them away from me you will
mate your power now. Children are
| Just beginning to come to me. and II
you order these to leave. the others
will leave, too. and they won't come
| back. 1t will kill my school. II that's
/ your purpose. | guess it's no use even
to plead. l know you can do it-and
| yet you told me you weren't making
war on me-"
Il reckon" interrupted Brother Tai
bott slowly. "ye needn't have no fear
/ of thet, ma'am. Anse wouldn't do
| thet"
But If you aren't doing that" went
on Juanita. Il want to make my plea
| just for the sake OF these children of
your own people. I'm ready to accept
your terms. I'm ready to abase and
humble my own pride. only, for Gods
sake. give them chance to grow clean
and straight and break the shacklev
| of illiteracy."
She waited for the man to reply. but
he neither spoke nor changed express
sion, so with an effort she went on.
unconsciously bending little forward
in her eagerness:
III you could see the way Dawn has
unfolded like a flower, the thirsty in.
telligence with which she has drunk
up what ! have taught her; the way
1t has opened new worlds to her;
don't think you could be willing to
plunge her back into drudgery and ig-