Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1921-07-21
CHAPTER II
In the Cup.

Dale found the humble home of his
mountaineer host a home in the fullest
sense of the word.
At the monday meal, he met Mrs,
MOreland anu the sons of the house
.sold, and they were exactly as he had
pictured them. Mrs. MOreland was
quiet, mOtherly, always smiling, as
straight and real as her husband. The
sons, Caleb and Luke, were as much
alike as the fingers on your hands !;
they were tall and brOad-shouldered,
grey-eyed and brown-haired.
Before sundown 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
old father and mother for long time.
When supper was over John More
land lighted the big glass lamp in the
best room, and the family and their
guest gathered there to spend the eve
ming. Then the lanky moonshiner and
his mother came in.
Granny Heck had the sharp features
and the stopped, thin figure of witch.
She wore a faded blue bandana about
her white head, and she carried long
hickory staff; there was a reed
stemmed clay pipe in her mouth, and
ner dark calico skirt had a tobacco
pocket in 1t.
Her son preceded her into the room.
He walked to the center table,, faced
about, and said with low and airy
weep of his right hand:
"Bill, old boy, this here's nav. Nav,
she tells forchunes."
so this here" creaked Granny
Heck, looking over the brass rims of
her spectacles lis Mr.. Bill Well,
veil l 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.
Moreland, will We bring me cup nalf
full O. coffee grounds"
When the cup came, the fortune
teller took it 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.
II see," she mumbled more or less
sepulchrally, "a pow'ful good-lookin' |
gyurl in a caliker dress, with her hair |
Ia-hangin' away down her back. A bare |
footed gyurl, with big, purity eyes. |
She's a-standin' on low cliff, a-peep- |
in at you through the laurels, Mr.. |
Bill. This is in the past. =.
'In the future" she went on slowly,
through a knothole; a awful big man,
with curly black hair and curly black
beard, and with eyes like cliff
hawks; and | see you, too, Mr.. Bill;
and l see fight, master fight-Lord
Ia mussy, what fight But you'll
marry the gyurl after all, Mr.. Bill"
Dale laughed. The old woman had
described Babe Littleford. But who
was the "big, dark man.? Some fell
low who had lost his heart to the
mountain girl, perhaps.
When the Hecks had gone, John
Moreland leaned forward and touched
his guest on the knee.
"That thar big man mentioned in
teilin' yore forchune," he said, Knight
ma been Black Adam Ball. Black Adam,
he lives with his pap and mother a
few mile up the river. AS big as
skinned boss, he Is and plumb on
godly strong. He's been a-Beggin' Babe
Littleford to marry him fo' a year or
two, and she won't listen to HIM.
EFF ever We do hat to fight Black
Adam" John Moreland went on, I'VE
want to eight him with q two-eyed
shotgun and buckshot. He's the mean /
est man on earth saake-broth and [
pizen vine Is religious aside o. him.
But ontel We begin a-makin' love to {
Babe Littleford, l reckon the amt no |
danger o. you a-havin' trouble with 8
Black Adam; and you amt likely, l 7
take 1t. to make love to Babe"
but Babes the best one o. the Lit c
declared Luke. I
John Moreland reached for the
old family Bible. lie {
opened the Book at random. t
"It's about time we was a-goin to t
our rest, and We'll go jest as soon as a
we've had prayers, Mr.. Dale" t
When BALI chapter from st. Mat q
thew had been laborlously but rever- h
emily read, the Morelands knelt at a
their cha rs, and so did Bill Dale. John v