The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1921-08-18
CHAPTER -


IN the Cup.
Dale found ne humble home ~ his
fD0uutaineer h0.f horne In TIE fullest
sense % the word
At the noDDday Desi. BE- met Mrs.
Norelsnd and the sOEs % the house
hold. and they vsre e1scfiy ~ b. had
pictured them. Urs NDreiand was
quiet. mo,heriy. aivays smiling. a.
straight and rel A. her husband. The
ems. Caleb and Luxe. were o. much
alike a. the singers o. pour hands
they were tai and iOuidered-
grey-eyed and bros n-hhire1l.
Before sundgHn Dale had become
acquainted with fhe rest ~ fhe More
lands. and be- liked them every one.
lie was at the cabin of biz hosts gray
old father aud mother f0r long time
When supper Was over John More
land lighted the big glass lamp iu the
best room. aud the family and their
guest gathered there 10 spend the eve
ming. Then the lanky mOOnshinef aud
his mother came In.
Granny Heek tad the sharp features
She wore faded blue handana about
her white head. and she carried a long
hickory stan: there was reed.
siemmed clay pipe IN her mouth. and
her dark calico skirt had tobacco
pocket In H.
Her son preceded her into the room.
He walked 10 the center table. faced
about. ana said with a low aud airy
sweep OF his right hand
''Bill. old boy. this here's NAV. Nav.
she tells forchunes."
$50 this here" creaked Granny
Heck, looking over the brass rims of
her spectacles. Els Mr. Billi Well,
well / jest thought To- myself at Ia
come up and see ye Mr.. Blll. and tell
yore forchune.'
She dropped lnto the rocker that
Caleb, had placed for her
"Addle." she said to the smiling Mrs.
Moreland, will ye bring me a cup half
fun o. coffee groundsf"
When the cup came. the fortune
teller took It ana shook II nud patted
II, all the while muttering mysterious
words that she Tad learned from the
old Indian, Cherokee 10. - which
served her purpose very well.
Il see" she mumbled more or less
seprlchrally. N powful goOd-lookln'
gyurl In cnllkcr dress. with her hair
a-hangin' away down her back. A bare
footed gyurl, with big. purity eyes.
Shes a-stnndIn' on q low clift a.peep-
In at YOU through the laurels. Mr.
Bill. This Is In the past. ...
"ln the future" she went on slowly.
Il see this here a. plain as daylight
through q knothole awful big man.
with curly black hair and curly black
beard, and with eyes Ike "A Gift
hawks; and ! see you. too. Mr.. Bll
and see FIGHT. master hght-LOrl
Ia mussy what n fight But youll
marry the gyurl after an Mr.. Bill"
Dale laughed The old woman had
described Babe Littleford. But who
was the big dark man"i Some fel.
low who had lost his heart to the
mountain girl, perhaps
When the Hecks had gone John
uoreland leaned forward aud touched
his guest on the knee.
That thar big man mentioned In
tsllin yore forchune," he said. might
hh' been Black Adam Bail. Black Adam,
he lives with his pap and mother a
few mile up the river. As big ns
skinned hoHs, he Il. and plumb on.
godly strong. He's been a-beggin' Babe
Llttlefori 10 marry him 10 u year or
two, and she won't listen TO h.m.
"Ef ever ye do haf 10 fight Black
Adam" John Moreland went on, I'VE
want TO nght him with two.eyed
shotgun and buckshot. He's the mean.
est man IN earth; snnke.brolh and
plzen vine Is religious aside o. him
But Ontel ye begin a.makln' love 10
Babe Llttleford, reckon the nln't no
danger o you a-hnyln' trouble with
Black Adam; and you ain't likely. /
take II, TO make love 10 Babe"
But Babes the best one o. the Lii
tIefords." declared Luke.
John Moreland reached for the
ieatherbound old fnmily Bible. Ae
opened the Book at random
"It's about time we was a.gon' to
our rest, and we'li go jest MS soon as
we've had prayers, Mr.. Dale"
When half chapter from ST. Mat
fhew had been lnbOriOusly hut reycr.
ently read. the MOreIands knelt at
their cbslrs. and so did BIN Daie JoAn