Licking Valley courier., 1921-08-25

A minute Of silence; then:
"I'll hurry along with it, John More
land. had one fine friend back there.
1t was Robert McLaurin, reporter
on the city's leading newspaper. My
parents didn't take to him because he
was worker, and not fOp. Mother
wanted Pats cousin, poor dear Har-
ry' Clnvering, for my best man. Poor
dear Harry and had Il hghl once
upon a time, and IL had whipped
him; and didn't like him. chose
Bobby McLaurin for my best man, and
l wouldn't give him up.
ut was only when we met before
the chancel in big crowded church
that fully realized the tragedy of 1t
for Pat. saw that her face was a
clean white, and that her eyes held
the shadow Of something that was
very terrible. turned my head and
saw the same shadow in the eyes of
my greatest friend, Bobby McIaurln.
knew then. Bobby and Patricia loved
each other, John Moreland! Bobby
didn't have any money to speak Of,
and that had held them apart
at had been the finest thing In the
world McLaurlns acting as best man
for me. There was friendship for you!
] couldn't take from them their one
chance Of happiness. 80.
81 couldn't see anything else to do,
so ran. | went home, pulled Off my
wedding rig and put on the clothes
I'm wearing now, threw some things
into a bag and hurried down to the
union station. found that | could
have my choice between a hier for
Atlanta and the - the train that
brought me here. | bought passage to
Atlanta, but | never meant to use It;
] meant to take the other train and
! pay cash fare. In doing that,
! hoped to lose myself from them. |
wanted to 90 unhindered to some
country where I wouldn't be consid.
cred "a savage, y'know.
~ went out to the traln-shed, and
hadn't been there q minute when
Bobby McLaurin came. ! asked him
how he knew where to find me. He
| said:
"I thought you wouldn't care to
stay here after doing what you did,
and wanted to say goOd-by, Bill He
always called me that, and 1t made
me feel like a man. Then l put my
bag down and took him by both shoul-
! ders and told him this:
"Look here, Bobby, I'm going to
give you some advice, and you take
1t. You steal Pat and marry her. Steal
Pat and marry her If you have to live
| in hole In hillside. You're as good
as any Of them, and lots better than
most of them. You can work your way
to better salary. You see,' | told
him, we get about what we deserve
In this world. Most Of us don't deserve
much
II asked him II mother was badly
cut up. He said she was; that she had
tainted. Dad swore aloud, he said
there in church. told Bobby good-by
and got aboard the train without say.
Ing anything about where ! was 60
ing-but didn't know myself where
was going, at the time.
"NOw you've heard 1t. Every word
was truth. If you'll trust me with the
coal, I'll make this land my land, your
people my people. I'll suffer with you
when you suffer, and be happy with
you when you're happy; and when you
fight, I'll fight with you"
The Moreland chief arose, and Bin
Dale arose. The hillman put out hiE
hand, and Dale gripped 1t.
II believe In ye, Bill" said J5hI
Moreland. "Fo' another thing, Tv
seed We fight. You can work tht coal.
He looked toward the closed inne
door and called, "ob, Addis; you ant
the boys can come back ndw.r
Out Of the night a face appeared a
one OF the small windows. It was {
feminine face and handsome Fathel
! than pretty. Two slender, sinburnet
hands grlpped the winhSw-ledge nerv
ously. The face presse1 closer to tn
glass, then Disappeared, Soon after
ward the outer door OF the guest
room opened. and Ben Llttleford'
daughter entered. Her skirts wer
dripping wet.
Mrs. Morelgnd arose and went to