The Bienville Democrat. [volume] (Arcadia, Bienville Parish, La.) 1912-1980, 1921-08-11
CHAPTER u
In the Cup.

II Dale found the humble home Of his
.,onntalneer host a home in the fullest r
sense Of the word. p
At the monday meal, he met Mrs. II
roreland and the sons Of the house A
Nd, and they were exactly as he had r
nictured them. Mrs. Moreland was h
auiet, motherly, always smiling, as r
straight and real as her husband. The
aons, Caleb and Luke, were as much I
alike as the fingers on your hands;
they we're tall and broad-shouldered, t
sreyeyed and brown-haired.
Before shutdown Dale had become
acquainted with the rest Of the More
,lands and he liked them, every one.
lie was at the cabin of his hosts gray
od father and mother for long time.
When supper was over John More
,,nd lighted the big glass lamp in the
| lat room, and the family and their
/ nest gathered there to spend the eve
/ niog. Then the lanky moonshiner and
Ais mother came in.
/ Granny Heck had the sharp features
! and the stopped, thin figure Of a witch.
she wore a faded blue bandana about
4 her white head, and she carried a long
hickory staff; there was reed
! stemmed clay pipe in her mouth, and
her dark calico skirt had tobacco
/ pocket in 1t.
Her son preceded her into the room.
he walked to the center table, faced
bout, and said with low and airy
weep Of his right hand:
B "Bill, old boy, this here's nav. Nav,
lie tells fOrchunes." \
$50 this here" creaked Granny
geck, looking over the brass rims OF
spectacles, "is Mr.. Bill! Well,
Il! jest thought to myself at I'd
come up and see We, Mr.. Bill, and tell
yore forchune.'
She dropped into the rocker that
Caleb had placed for her.
"Addie," she said to the smiling Mrs.
lioreland, twill We bring me cup half
full o coffee grounds?'
When the cup came, the fortune
teller took 1t and shook it and patted
It, all the while muttering mysterious
words that she had learned from the
old Indian, Cherokee Joe - which
served her purpose very well.
Il see she mumbled more or less
sepulchrally, % pow'ful good-lookin
gyurl in a caliker dress, with her hair
a.hangin' away down her back. A bare
footed gyurl, with big, purity eyes
She's a.standin' on a low cliff, a-peep
III IN at you through the laurels, MIR
/ Bill This is in the past. i. 4
I'm the future she went on slowly
Il zee this here as plain as daylight
8 through a knothole; a awful big man
with curly black hair and curly blacl
beard, and with eyes like a cliff
hawks; and / see you, too, MIR. Bill
and / see a fight, a master fght--Lor
ia mussy, what fight! But you'll
marry the gyurl after all, Mr.. Bill"
Dale laughed. The old woman ma
described Babe Littleford. But VIII
vas the "big, dark man.? Some fe
low who had lost his heart to tn
mountain girl, perhaps.
When the HeCks had gone, job
Moreland leaned forward and touchH
biz guest on the knee. \
"That thar big man mentioned !
tellln' yore forchune," he said, "migl
~ been Black Adam Ball. Black Adar
he lives with his pap and mother
lew mile up the river. AS big
! skinned boss, he is, and plumb o
godly strong. He's been a.beggin' Bal
Littleford to marry him TO year
two, and she won't listen to HIM.
"Ef ever We do hat to fight Bla'
ADAM" John Moreland went on, Z"
want to fight him with a two-ey
shotgun and buckshot. He's the mea
est man on earth; snake.br0th al
pisen vine Is religious aside o hi
But ontel ye begin a-makin' love
Babe Littleford, l reckon the amt
danger o you a-havin' trouble WI
Black Adam; and you amt likely,
take 1t, to make love to Babe"
but Babes the best one O. the l
tlefords," declared Luke.
John Moreland reached for
Battle-Ground old family Bible.
opened the Book at random.
"Its about time we was a.goin'
our rest, and we'll 60 jest as soon
we've had prayers, Mr.. Dale"
When half chapter from st. NJ
thew had been labOriously but rev
emily read. the MOrelands knelt
their chairs, and so did Bill Dale. u
Moreland's bedtime prayer was v
simple, and very earnest, and 1t
a It more Of thanksgiving than
duplication, And a part Of 1t cert
" was uncommon
BLESS the stranger with US here
night, and all O our kinfOlks, and
y our friends, and our inimles,
Lithefortls- specially the Llttlefo
Aymenr'
Dale was deeply impressed.
heard Mrs. Moreland dimly when
told him to LET her kn0w--she w
hear him If he called-if there wa
J enough cover for, his bed. Then