The Bienville Democrat. [volume] (Arcadia, Bienville Parish, La.) 1912-1980, 1921-08-25

had gone to sleep BY good luck, they ,
had almost whole night fo' it. You ,
must be shore to keep it to Yourself +
but | know We will. .Addie Moresand
she started the idee. She got Granny
Moreland to spread the. word amongst
the wimmen O my people. When the
tightin' fever sort @ dies down the
gunsll all be brought back and put
whar they belong"
She arose and stood there smiling
down upon him. He was staring at
the swirling water without seeing 1t
at all. ,r
Her voice brought him to himself.
"Whatre you a-thinkin' about, Bill
Dale?" g., H..
Dale went to his feet. lie saw that
she was smiling, and he smiled too.
81 was thinking" he said, "of the
difference between you and some other
women | know ....'- -
Her clear brown eyes widened.
And l reckon seem purity, no count
don't l?'
mo, not at all. 1t is-er. quite the
opposite, Babe. You make them ap'
pear unreal, artificial"
Babe Littleford's countenance bright
ened. She did not doubt that he meant
it,. He was not Of the sort that nat
tered. She began to like Bill Dale al
that same moment.
And Bill Dale told himself as ne
went homeward that he was beginning
to like Babe Littleford. lie did not
fight. the feeling, because it somehow
made the world seem a better place.
Early the following morning Dale
made ready for his journey to Clnclh-
natl. Having learned the evening De-
fore that he was going, BY Heck had
come to accompany him to the Hall
way switch.
The two set out. They had three
hours in which to cross David More
lands mountain before the arrival OF
Dale's train, and they walked lei
surely. :,
They had not gone dozen rods
when there came from somewhere
down near the river the sound OF q
rifle shot. Both stopped and faced
about quickly.
"pll be dadgummed eff the Little
fords amt found their weapons" ex-
claimed BY Heck. ''They have, igod'
as shore as dangit"
"How do you know? Dale's voice
was troubled.
~ shore know" and Heck narrowed
his gaze. "'At was Ben Littlefords
old As Winch. I'd know that gun ct
| beered it at the nawth pole. The
bari it's been cut off, and 1t don
o sound like other Winchesters."
, "Caleb Moreland was down near thf
river cleaning out the springnoust
ditch" Dale muttered, facing his com
/. panion. 4 think we'd better go back:
e Together they went back to tn
n cabin. John Moreland and his VIII
o and their son Luke were standing a
y the weatherbeaten front gate, Wit
their eyes turned anxiously toward tn
= river. Caleb was coming up through
: the meadow, and he carried his mai II
II his hand.
:, "Who fired that shot?" asked Dale
.Ben Littleford," John Moreland an
d swered readily.
= Two minutes later Caleb leaped tn
"a old rail fence on the other side OF IN
n road and approached them hastily. II
:. was breathing rapidly and his stron
:" Young face was drawn and pale-wit
" the old hate.
$. "Well," said his iron fatner' WIN
d. is it?" -,
Caleb held up his broad-rimme
NJ black hat and ran finger through
70 hole in the upper part Of the crown
4peak. =.
/, HE didn't miss!" snapped Jon
Moreland.
NO" quickly replied Caleb, y
didn't miss. He don't never miss. "
y know that, pap, as we'll as We kno
God made We. lie done it jest to sho
me he meant what he said. He to
o. me to 90 and tell you to gether !
i. > wore set O. rabbit-hearted heather
IT, and come down to the river TO lea
~ -, and.powder picnic, onless ye was
~ skeered to come! He said to tell
70. the wimmenfolks. had hid our gul
an and we'd lind 'em onder the hou
Nv floors"
-. John Moreland took it with ut
nj beaImness,. though his face was lit
H. male behind his thick brown bea1
nm He turned to his wife,. who looked
in, him squarely.
,le. "Addie, honey" said he, I'm migf
to sorry"
,on "Ef--ef you was much sorry, Jon
q. tire MARYLAND half SObbed