Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1921-09-23
CHAPTER XII
BY Heck Keeps a Secret.

Wu0u iouGFlH 4Ulu IOWCAS anu lnC
others had been gone for. half an hour,
Elizabeth Littleford sat up in the 81
lence 1t was great and heavy silence
that lowered there over the north end
of David Moreland'S mountain. There
was not even the drumming Of vel
lowhammer, not even the saucy chat
tering of boomer squirrel, not even
the twittering of q bird. Not leaf
stirred anywhere. Everything seemed
lifeless 1t was almost as though she
were the sole inhabitant of the world
Then she thought. 1t was noontime,
and the officer and his prisoner would
doubtless halt at John Morelands
cabin for the monday meal and If
she fastened she would get to see Bill
Dale again.
So she ran like doe through the
green woodland, through the tangle OF
laurel and ivy and over the moss
covered stones, across a shoulder OF
David Moreland's mountain. She was
barefooted, and her dress was a sim
pie garment Of white-dotted blue
calico, and her long brown hair flowed
behind her like the hair of young
witch-because Of the excitement OF
the morning, she had forgotten to give
it it's usual daily plating.
AS she drew near to the Moreland
leaders home, she saw Bill Dale and
the sheriff walk out at the gateway
and mount their horses. Major Brad
ley came out, and he, too, mounted his
horse; and she was glad that he was
going along. There was great crowd
all the Littlefords were there, and al
the Morelands, and old Granny Heck
the fortune-teller. On every face Babe
saw signs Of sympathy and sorrow
Her eyes filled. She was so glad thai
they, too, loved him. 1t was worth go
ing to jail to know that one was loved
like that! Not that it didn't hurt tt
see him going to jail, Of course. Jai
and horror are words that mean the
same to the mountain dweller.
She went on to tell him good-by
She knew it would be hard, but she
steeled herself; she would be Little
ford. and strong. He saw her coming
and he turned his bay horse and rode
to meet her. She stopped and clasped
her hands, with her arms down full
length, and tried to smile at him.
ssYou promised me-" he said gently
F"that you'd go back to Patricia and
finish your education"
II keep my promises" was the quick
reply, "jest like every other Littleford
that ever lived kept their promises.
would ha' went back this mornin'
eff it hadn't ha' been"
And there she broke off abruptly
After a silent moment, she continued
sadly, half tearfully: "And yet-ant
yet--the's not a bit o. use in me
a-goin' back now!"
"Why?" Dale was smiling, and she
was glad to note that he did not ap
pear to be grieving over his misfor
tune.
"'Cause the amt" simply.
'But you'll go?'
EYES," she said, sin the mornin' III
60"
He bent toward her and held down
his hand. "Good-by, little girl hope
it will come out all right, and I be
lieve it will"
Babe slowly lifted her hand to his
Her eyes were downcast.
"Good-by," she told him brokenly
'And l hope it will come out all right
too--God knows / do, Bill Dale"
Thus they parted. Dale rode back
to the sheriff and Major Bradley, and
minute later the three of them start
ed for the lowland and Cartersyille
jail.
When a bend in the dusty ox-wagon
road had hidden them from view
Elizabeth Littleford turned homeward
Her mother followed her.
The younger woman dropped to the
stone step at the vine-hung front
porch with the air of one who is very
tired. plucked full-blown marigold
and began absently to tear it's petals
slowly apart. Mrs. Littleford looked
out across the meadows, sighed.
Sm0OtnoQ DICK HeT gray na1r with
both hands, and sat down beside her
daughter.
st wouldn't worry about 1t, Babe,
honey" she finally said. Then she
too plucked marigold and began to
tear it's petals slowly apart. EFF he
killed Adam Ball, it was to save him.
self. He's a good man, honey. l think
he's about the best man 1 ever seed.
Babe"
"No, he never killed Adam Ball to
save hisself even," Babe replied.
'sHe's a fighter, but he amt no killer.
Listen, mother, it might ha' been this
away:
HE is ahind Of tree, and Adam is
ahind of another tree. Adam shoots
at his hat and he Ghoofc o+ 6orn,.