Licking Valley courier., 1921-11-24

She spoke. "Billr
He sat up straight and faced her.
He seemed surprised.
swell, Babe?"
",YOur father wants you," in q low
voice. Hes got something to tell
you that-that will make you think
almost nothing Of mep
=. Young Dale frowned. "What is it?"
I'D rather he'd tell you about It.
Bill Dale, / don't think I could bear
to tell you myself"
60 She turned and was about to hasten
away, when he called to her |:
"WaitT-and she waited.
HAS It," he asked, anything to do
with yeur marriage to Jimmy Fayne"
"Now
He arose and put on his broad.
trimmed hat. "rll admit" he smiled,
that I'm worse than a granny woman
for poking my nose into other peoples
affairs-when are you going to marry
Jimmy, BabeT
The answer came quickly: "Never."
"Neverl"
"Never," repeated Elizabeth, very
quietly.
"Neverf" pursued Dale.
"Never" cried Elizabeth. exasper-
ated.
Goodness laughed Dale. you're
dramatic, or vehement, or both. May
walk home with ysu, BabeT"
"Yes. sir" promptly, "f you want
to-"
They set out across the snow-cov-
cred meadows. and neither spoke an.
other word until they had reached
Ben Littleford's log house. The girl
looked at him queerly as they en-
tered. After he knew
Old Dale still sat before the FIRE,
and near him sat silent John More.
land. Old Dale motloned toward an
inside door.
aPlease close It. Elizabeth" he re.
auested, and she obeyed. 'Now sit
down. I've got something to tell the
three Of you. And fancy 1t will In.
terest all Of you"
The two who had Just come In took
chairs at the areside. After q mo-
ment, John K. Dale began:
"You've often wondered, Bill, about
that savage streak-as you choose to
call it-that is In you. You inherited
1t. Much Of that which we are, It Is
claimed. is inherited. and II must be
correct; like begets like. Of course.
But there is no savage streak In you,
Bill You are hot.headed, that's all.
Your virtues overbalance that, by far,
! have never seen another man who
had q greater love for honesty and
fair play. or q greater hatred for all
that Is hollow and false, or more cour
age to stick up for that which seems
to be right. than you. Now III tell
You how you came BY those ane quail.
tiles and the hot-headedness--"
Elizabeth Littleford sat wide,eysA
tense, half breathless II hs meant d
! tell II why didnt hs tell III Why did
hp beat about the bush like thati
"Pil. this 10 hard for me. II brings
back terrible thing. You know about
David Moreland. E. When I awoke
that morning and found him lying
dead at my crazed. drunken handA
wished that I, too. were dead.
That great and silent wilderness
smothered me, | Imagined that could
hear Voices calling IA me. saying
"'Cainl CainP
rThey came FROM the lAurs, thickets
from tho trees overhead. from the
ground, from everywhere. You see,
wasn't all bad, even In my Wildcats
days. Then thought Of the law. ant
I ran.
"But the cry Of a child from the
cabin was leaving halted me befor,
l had gone thirty yards David More
lFpa's wife had LEFT hin With q bab,
only 4 few weeks Aid, which | didnN
pay any particular attention to until
that mornipg, that black merplpg. A
that time there was 10 atheF hous,
far psles around, ! eauldnf leave thu
child thare to die Of starvation, aftel
killing Its father. So went back anC
got the baby. and all its clothing. ant
took II away with me. I left Il at {
farmhouse down In the lowland, ant
went to another city, and started III,
afresh. :.
But later I married. and shprtl!
after char | went "a the farmer an'
persuaded him to lot me adopt tn,
child. | brought Il w ~ my own, an'
educated II, "a q sort Of compensation
And I Oa.ne to love It But Il wa
years before my wife loved II. Sh,
didn't like children then. But she doe
now, She is paying now, and m
paying, Don't you understand, Bill
don't you understand"
There was a choke 10 his voice tC
WaEd the last. Bill Dale went to hi
feet HS eyes were wide, but he dl
not seem unhappy; and for that Ellis
beth was grateful. John Morelaud W
as still. with his bearded, vlkiRa fac
"a eSprpsalapleSS ~ though he ha
knpwn II all along.
"And so really am In my ow
countryw cried Bill Dale. II am
Moreland and the Morelands rsall
are my own peoplel"
"Yes, YOU are IN your own countr
and you 4 Re Newfoundland yol
INnIikr Annh nn nnnn ihran \ 4