The Bienville Democrat. [volume] (Arcadia, Bienville Parish, La.) 1912-1980, 1921-11-10
CHAPTER XIX.
A Perfect Cross.

CHAPTER XIX.
A Perfect Cross.
On the floor Of the richly-furnlsneu
library Of the Dale home, near "esl
window, Miss Elizabeth Littleford sat
reading by the fast fading light OF an
early March afternoon. Somehow she
liked to sit on the floor, and always she
liked to read; for one thing, DOCKS
helped her to forget that she was
lonely.
There were footsteps behind her'
soft footsteps because Of the thick vel
vet carpet; then low voice inquired:
"Aren't you afraid you will ln1ure
your eyes, Elizabeth? Better have
light, hadn't you, dear?" The old coal
king turned toward the switch on the
wall. .,,..,
"No,n she answered quickly. I'm
through reading for today, and ! like
this twilight"
Her improvement in speech anu IN
manners had gone on at a surprisingly
rapid rate. She rarely spoke with any
but the simplest words, but she never
fell into anything more than bare sem.
blance Of the old drawing hill dialect
unless it was while she was under the
stress of some strong emotion.
She closed the book and looked up
with eyes that were like the first stars
in summer sky. Her beauty was
wonderful; It was finer and sweetel
than it had ever been before.
Old Dale stood looking thoughtful!
into her upturned face. He was a III
tle pale, and he seemed troubled AM
uneasy. .y..,,-
Elizabeth shook her head. Your
worrying again" :.
He dropped into a nearby chal'
leaned slowly forward and let on
hand fall gently on her thick anu SIX
chestmt-brown hair.
81 WISH" he said as though 10 hlll
soelf shat I had a daughter like you
He took his hand from her head Ia
hack YEARLY in his chair and close
his eyes. Then he bent forward asal
"The Morelands, Elizabeth-they'
moved away from the settlemen
haven't they?'
eyes: Bill Dale has done wonderf
y things for them" the girl answered
John X. Dale was silent for a m
- ment, after which he said suddenly:
" want to see my son; there is some a
must tell him. viii you 60 with n
* Elizabeth"
=, =. "Of course, I'll go with YOU
She thought she knew what 1t "
that stirred him. By intuition, supp
mented by Bill Dale's occasional CRY :
cx tic utterances, and pieced out py
I'll tradition, Elizabeth Littleford graz
ally had come into possession OF
nv old coal mans grim secret
= Neither Of them knew that Je
Moreland was then visiting his belo,
It's old hills for the sake Of some snoot'
rtv The following day John X. Dale
HE F,izabeth Littleford alighted from
Il northbound passenger train at
Halfway switch. The mountains "
covered with three inches OF snow
il. the hemlock and pines bore heavy
,re. dens Of the beautiful white stun
ire. the air was still, and it wasn't
cold. - :,
o,re eYou'd get your clothing all o.
Won on the coal train" Dale said to
companion, $50 you'd rather wax .
nal, wouldn't you? Anyway, the train
o1d here. I'm good for SIX miles, tn !.
10 !" eyes" smiled Ben Llttie1(
rs, y daughter. 'rd rather waikiki y
sure that six miles won't De TOO =
lit for you" ,,.,
20 Together, with the girl n ,eaa,n :
9TH ~ vay, they set out across David I \
Mich lands mountain. The old tran !. sn'
,n.v. not one footprint ahead OF then
mod mo- was not 50 much used now. Iney
moo little. Each thought their own 'nou
j = and neither cared to speak Tue
It on the other. ..,.d tho !
Just before they reached tne
, .,. tain's crest they passed sro'
nan snow.laden pines that concealed
.nd brown.bearded man who nag
stealthily follow inE IT, uan g !