The Ordway new era., 1921-10-14

and tried to find Bill Dale among the
builders. But the distance was TOO
great; 4 man down there WAS but
mere Speck. -. Before she went on
she removed her shoes and stockings.
Ii was hard for Babe Littleford 10 be-
come accustomed to wearing useless
shoes and stockings in warm weather
When she had reached the foot OF
the mountain. she didn't take the by
path her people had been wont TO use
in order that they might avoid CON
tact with the Morelands. There was
no need of avoiding contact with the
Morelands now. thank goodness
Then q voice hailed her from the
laurelS out at her right, the voice she
loved better than any other
Hello. Miss Littleford!'
Babe stopped and faced him, and
she hlushed furiously when she saw
him. He was coming rapidly toward
her with his hat in his hand. and his
brown hair was rumpled and damp
with perSpiration. She saw that he
was in boots and eorduuoys, the cloth
Ing OF a timber jack. and he looked
bigger in them; about his waist there
WIS cartridge-belt, from which hung
= big and dependable looking revolver
In 4 leathern holster.
Hello. Mister Dale," she mimlcked-
he shook her hand, then he dropped
to mosS-coyered log that lay beside
the narrow trail.
sit down here beside me" he said;
and he added: I've been going hard
all day. and I'm pretty tired"
She let fall her bundle and her
shoes and stockings. and obeyed.
why did you come back, Babel" he
asked as though he were displeased.
-CauSe.' she snswered-and she
corrected herself quickly, Il mean be
cause
No reason whatever" smiled Dale.
We'll" and her clear brown eyes
looked at him SqUarely, Z come back
because yore mother she said I would
De q burden 10 MIS- McLaurin, that's
why
Mrs NcLau-l1.~ said Dale; not
Ms McLaur.n."
a burden 20 MIS- McLaurln, and
amt a--9in' TO be burden TO no
body yehemently. In u softer voice.
she went on. Mrs. McLaurin and her
husband and her folks has done made
up friendly, Bill Dale. Mrs. McLau-
rims rap-I mean her father-he
brung EN- big lot O. silver
things.
"BiH Dale had a big time Every
body liked me but yore own maw-I
mean yore mother. Ny goodness
gracious-they dress awful fine, don't
they: Why. silk amt nothin'. But
whar al o. their money comes from.
shore CANT see. Say. l showed some
o Pats friends how to dance our old
hill dances, and the whole town was
crazy about 'em when l left. Jimmy
Fayne is awful good-lookin' and rich,
amt he, Bill: He liked me better'n
any Of 'em. less it was Pat herself
You know Jimmy, don't ye. Bul:"
Dale nodded. frowned. and turned
his sober gaze toward the toes of his
high laced boots Yes. he knew Jimmy
Fayne, and he held him in contempt
The pampered son Of wealthy cotton
speculator, weak, devoted TO high
nights, remarkably handsome to ro-
mantle and unsophisticated girls but
not to men and women who had cut
their Observation-Disclosures was Jimmy
Fayne
Babe Litrleford was speaking again:
Il 'cided to come back here, Bill
Dale, because / thought they might
need me here as well as because was
afeard l would be burden to Pat-I
mean afraid l would be 4 burden to
Pat. Seems Ike l CANT talk proper
at all I've tried and tried. I've spent
half o my time jest a-tryin' 10 talk
proper. Pat. she'd put down words l
mustn't say on sheet o paper, and
I'd study 'em. Afeard, shore, pap,
cause, amt, hain't-and all o them
And she'd put down the right words
with 'em SOS I'd know.
'Yore mother was the last 70 come
TO see me. BIZ. so this she says to
Pat. is the barbarian princess :" l
didn't know what that meant, but ]
'spect It's somethin' bad. l went into
the house, because 1 didn't want to
say anything, and her yore own moth
er. But l listened, and 1 heard her
say the rest. and this is it:
What will you do when the min
Innovation wears off. Patricia? she
says. She'll be a burden to you.
Patricia; you'll have a half-savage
person tagging after you. like lady
bearr
That's what 1t was she said Bill
Dale. I'm shore they do need
me here. and l ak ye this, Bill Dale:
Are you sorry to see me come back 2"
Perhaps they do need YOU" Dale
slowly stripped the tiny leaves from a
fern. But that is not sufficient rea-
son TO warrant your staying here. OF
course, I'm not sorry TO see you, Babe.