The Pulaskian., 1921-08-18

enough Most f@e, y'lnow, are neces sary evils, like chlA nheys anu run l spouts"
 Babe Littleford bIusbe T. He wen on, to hide her confusion, | eii 'ne about the rifles"
 You must shore keep 1t asA eeie'' she told him.
 T promise"
 Better put yore hook in. sos ef any body comes along
 Dale threw out an empty hook.
 T want to tell ye some other things fust, sos yell understand better when come to the part about the rifles. Babe began, looking thoughtfully l across the water to where a l1ingfisher sat in watchful waiting She contin- l ued slowly, choosing her words care fully, Il was brought up to hate them Morelands, butt don't think l do. My | people Is jest like the Morelands. The biggest difference ye can find is that one side mostly has grey eyes like you and tother side mostly has brown eyes like me. All but their everlastin nghtin', they're good people, Bill Dale. Each side, ye see, is brought up to hate t'other side. I'm ashamed to tell 1t, butt understand the fust plain words my Uncle Saul Littlefords last l baby said was these here: 'D-n John MorelandP It started long time ago, and it started over nothin'. Grandpap Ltttleford and John Moreland's pap | got in a dispute over whether Kain- lucky was in Virginny or Nawth Ga liner, and went to fightin' about it. Purity soon my Uncle Saul and Abner Moreland happened along and they went to fightin', too. Thank goodness, 1t was on Sunday, and none of 'em | didn't have their rifles with 'em What ever else we are or ain't up here, Bill Dale, We gen'ally respects the Sabbath day to keep it holy. :"
 T see" Dale muttered sympathet- ically.
 Eve seen my own mother set down in the floor and take her boys head | in her lap-oh, such big, fine boy he was while the blood run through her dress from a MoreIand's bullet. He 1 died with mothers arms and mine around him. It was all we could do fo' him, was to love him. I've seen sis | ters watch their brothers die from Moreland bullets, and young wimmen watch their sweethearts die, and wives watch their husbands die
 "I tell you, Bill Dale, them More lands never misses when they have even half fair shot. You'd be puff fectly safe in a-lettin' any of 'em shoot dimes from atween yore finger and thumb all day. And it's the same way with the Littlefords. They're fighters, too, every one, and they don't give in any more than the Morelands does.
 "Addie Moreland knows what it is to take her dyin' boys head in her lap, whilst blood run through her dress to her knees. His name was Charley, and he was bad he'd drink, and oncet he shot up Gartersgille. But Addie, she allus loved him better'n Gale or Luke. Wimmen like her allus loves l the worst boys the best; cause they need 1t the most, the worst boys does.
 Its the wimmen that pays, Bill Dale, when the's tightin' The wim- men O this valley is right now on needles; they're afeard the men'll find l their rifles. You can guess whar the 1 guns went to now, cain't ye? The wim- men hid 'em last night alter the men had gone to sleepl By good luck, they | had almost a whole night fo' it. You must be shore to keep it to yourself but I know ye will. Addie Moreland, she started the fdee. She got Granny Mo2eland to spread the word amongst the wimmen O my people. When the flghtin' fever sort O dies down the guns1l 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 it at all.
 Her voice brought him to himself.
 "What're you a-thinkin' about, Bill Dale?"
 Dale went to his feet. He saw that she was smiling, and he smiled, too.
 ''I was thinking" he said, "of the difference between you and some other women 1 know"
 Her clear brown eyes widened. And I reckon l seem purity no count, don't IT"
 NO, not at all. It 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 fiat tered. She began to like. Bill Dale at | that same moment.
 And Bill Dale told himself as he went homeward that he was beginning to like Babe Littleford. He did not l fight the feeling, because it somehow made the world seem a better place. Early the following morning Dale made ready for his journey to Cincin-