Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1921-08-25
CHAPTER Ix-continued.

Came a silence that was heavy.
Each was depending upon the other to
make the advance. The two clansmen
stared at each other more and more
sharply, and soon shadows of bitter
ness began to creep into their eyes.
Then Major Bradley, guest of Ben
Littleford, strobe into the room with
a patrician and soldierly air, and he
understood the situation perfectly.
"Gentlemen," he urged, "shake
hands. Be friends"
They didn't. Neither seemed to
have heard the major. 1t angered Bill
Dale. His knowledge of these feud-
lists, these grown-up children, was not
yet very thorough. He went to his
feet. John Moreland, too, arose.
WED as well go, hadn't we?" Dale
clipped, and there was disgust in his
voice.
Il reckon we had" agreed More
land.
They walked out of the cabin, leav-
ing Major Bradley and Ben Littleford
gate Dale caught John Moreland's
sleeve and halted him.
"Why on EARTH" he demanded,
"didn't you make the break?"
''Bil Dale 1 went into his house y
Dale put his hands on one of the
weatherbeaten .gateposts and looked
over to where a bright star burned
like a beacon light above the pine
fringed crest of David Moreland's
mountain. He continued to look at
the star, his face gray, until it glim-
mered.
Then he began to blame himself
he was the hope of benighted peo-
pie, and he had foolishly lost his tenn
per at crucial moment He wondered
whether it was yet too late, and
turned his eyes toward his silent COM
panion. He saw that John Moreland
was looking toward the beacon star
The voice of Ben Littleford came to
them plainly because the night was so
very still; he was reading from the
Gospel according to Saint Mark,
preparatory to his bedtime prayer.
The two at the gate listened intently.
The way in which the illiterate giant
stumbled over the simplest words was
pitiful.
and placed il on the table beside him.
There was THE low shuffllng of feet
as half a dozen persons knelt at their
chairs. The prayer which followed
was much like John Moreland's own
bedtime prayer; it had in it less of
supplication than of thanksgiving.
And In the tail of it there were
words that were like bullets to the
mountaineer at the gate
Bless the good man who Is with
us here tonight. and all o. our kin
folks, and all o. our friends, and all
o. our inemies-and Specially the
Morelands. Aymen :"
Dale's hand came down hard on
John Moreland's shoulder.
You told me he wouldn't do iti'
The old clan leader hung his head,
like a man suddenly broken. He re-
piled not a word he seemed amazed
into speechlessness. He had been
wrong in his estimate of Ben Little
ford; he had lied about man who
had just asked the good Almighty to
bless him. John Moreland choked a
little and started toward the cabin.
He walked as though half blind across
the porch, and entered without knock
ing, and went in to Ben Littleford with
his right hand Outstretched.
LES begin anew" he said huskily.
Les be friends, yore people and my
people, you and mel
Littleford arose and CROPPED for his
Old-time enemy's hand, found II and
grasped 1t in both his own.
You're better an | am, John More
land he said-"you're id sight
better an 1 am"
When Dale left them, they were
talking over a great bear-hunt that
they had taken together score of
years before.
The moon, full and as bright as new
gold. had risen just under the beacon
star when Bill Dale reached the door
step of the cabin that was home 10
him. He faced about. The broad
green valley lay very serene and very
beautiful there in the mellow light.
There was no sound save for the gen.
tie murmuring of the crystal river.
You wonderful place." he said soft
ly, then added: MY own country