The herald., 1918-01-03
At The P1ayhOuSeS 81
The GALLY FEUD
BY lola FORESTER.

Bruce Farraday had been away
from home for so long that he had ac-
tually underestimated the manners
and customs Of Halsey Gap.
He had been home from Rudemeir
college about four days. The family
had given him to understand that
they expected all things of him, and
especially that he should run for rep
resentative the next autumn. There
had been a Farraday in the state
legislature from the Gap section ever
since West Virginia had walked her
own path to statehood. Since the
death Of Bruce's father fifteen years
before. the Gally family had con-
trolled the seat. Bart Gally had gone
up for two terms and Wallace had
followed In his footsteps.
He rode down the mountain road to
the little village after mail, loving
every foot Of the way. 1t had been
years since he had walked that road
to school. When he came to the old
familiar crossroads, with Its cairn
Of rock supporting an old sign post,
he drew rein. Many time he had lOi-
tered there waiting for Nance Gally to
come along on her way to school.
What had they cared for feuds in
those days! She was six, he bare
ly ten. Resting now In his saddle,
while the Captain cropped the sweet
clover and sorrel by the roadside, he
remembered the day Of their great
quarrel. He had called her redhead on
the way home from school, because
she had walked with her cousin Wal
lace instead of him. There had been a
fight and Wallace, a strapping, black
browed youth of fifteen, had beaten
him before her eyes.
The sound Of horses hoofs canter-
him from reverie. 1t was Nance. She
rode her sorrel mare like a boy, her
short curls flying in the morning
breeze. AS she rode, she was singing
Dixie at the top Of her lungs, until she
caught sight of the silent horseman,
and stopped short.
Bruce raised his cap in neighborly
greeting, noting approvingly the vivid
beauty of her young face and spark
ling eyes.
"Good morning, Miss Nance" he
said. at seems like old times to be
waiting here for you. You're looking
mighty WELL"
She tossed her head in quick resent
ment.
81 reckon you can keep your compli-
ments to home, Bruce Farraday. We
amt askin' anythin' from any Of you
In the complimentary line"
She rode on, never looking behind.
1t was that afternoon that he gave
Matt Crawford, local boss of the Dem
ocratic caucus, permission to use his
name for nomination at the coming
elections.
you've got to step lively and look
both ways at once" said Sister Belle,
when the campaign was in full swing.
The next day there was a confer
ence between Bruce and Matt Craw-
ford. Briefly Bruce outlined his plan
Of action. On the Farraday property
there was large old mica mine, I'M
worked since the death of his father.
Ever since his arrival he had secretly
been probing its possibilities, and felt
fairly sure of his ground.
"Matt," he said, 81 know a chap with
capital, who went to Rudemeir with
when 1 say so. Let's open them now
and hire all the available men. Get
them on one-year contracts, with Op-
ton of renewal"
Matt grinned appreciatively.
II think I'm looking at our next rep
| resentative," he said.
| The mine was a success. Boys and
men from all districts through the val
ley and mountains flocked to work in
stead of remaining idle through the
summer and autumn, waiting for the
Gally mills to open.
Election day told the story. When
the votes were counted in the little
room back of the post Office old Judge
Pinkus stroked his Vandyke happily.
II reckon you're beaten, Wally," he
remarked through his little glass graf
Ing ut the stamp window. Nance heard
the words, too, as she stood by the
window. With a muttered oath her
cousin rushed past her out into the
little square where men were cheering
for Farraday. Blind with fury, he
shot out his fist at Bruce, but fell as
Bruce caught him with a counter blow
on the point of the chin.
Bruce leaped to the old oak stump.
"Fellow-citizens of the Gap, this Is
the end of the Gally feud. Right here
Wallace and have settled old scores,
and I want to tell you it's time the
Gap Joined the march Of progress and
buried the feud forever. You shake
hands with me, Gally; il you don't I'll
beat you up until you do, for were
going to be friends from this day On"
Wonderingly the Gap behelt the two
shake hands as Bruce left the stump.
A minute more, and he was beside
Nance, where she stood apart from the
others.
"Can help you on your horse?" he
asked. "Tm going to see you home"
Nance lifted her tear-wet face to his.
capitulation in her eyes.
| "Im mighty Glad Won won Rruce~