The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1921-12-30
Xxx
The End of It All.

- -'A VI T's
The sun shone very brightly that
day, and the now began to melt on
the places that were not shaded.
When he returned with Elizabeth from
the crest of David Moreland's noun
tain, John X. Dale took a rocker be-
fore the fire and sat there thinking,
thinking, until the midday meal was
announced. When the midday meal
was over. he resumed his chair and
sat there thinking, thinking, until the
afternoon was half gone.
Then he called Elizabeth to him.
"Will you go to my son and tell him
l wish to see him?" he said. And he
ADDED under his breath: II think 1t Is
best that they should know"
Elizabeth heard that which he had
said to himself as we'll as she heard
that which he had said to her. Should
know Know what? She had a sud-
! des wild fear that Mrs. Dale had
broken her promise never to breathe
q word Of the truth concerning the
Adam Ball affair. Nevertheless, she
put On her hat and her gloves and
went to Bill Dale's Office.
Dale sat with his elbows on his desk
and with his head in his hands. To
all appearances, he was Of
the presence of the girl in the door
way.
She spoke. ''BilI!"
He sat up straight and faced her.
He seemed surprised.
well, Babe?"
Your father wants YOU" in a low
voice. Hes got something to tell
you that-that will make you think
almost nothing Of me !"
Young Dale frowned. "What is it?"
I'D rather he'd tell you about it.
Bill Dale, 1 don't think l could bear
to tell you myself"
She turned and was about to hasten
away, when he called to her:
wait !'-and she waited.
HAS It," he asked, anything to do
with your marriage to Jimmy Fayne?'
"No!"
He arose and put on his broad
VA AoL. IL uhlill, he SLnllCu,
that I'm worse than a granny woman
FOR poking my nose into other peoples
aifairs-when are you going to marry
Jimmy, Babe?"
The answer came quickly: Never"
Never"
Never" repeated Elizabeth, very
quietly.
"Never?" pursued Dale.
Never" cried Elizabeth, exasper-
ated.
Goodness! !" laughed Dale. you're
dramatic, or vehement, or both MAY
1 walk home with you, Babsr
"Yes. SIR promptly, "if 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 q before the fire,
and near him sat silent John More
land. Old Dale motioned toward an
inside door.
please close II, Elizabeth" he re-
quested, and she obeyed. Nov sit
down. I've got something to tell the
three of you. And l fancy ii will In
terest all Of YOU"
The two who had just come In took
chairs at the fireside. After a mo
ment, John X. pale began:
you've often wondered, Bill, abou,
that savage streak-as you choose tc
call it-that Is In you. You inherited
IL. Much Of that which we are, il Is
claimed, Is inherited, and it must be
correct; like begets like, of course
But there Is no savage streak In you
Bill. You are ~hot-headed, that's oil
Your virtues overbalance that, by far
l have meyer seen another man wht
had a greater love for honesty ant
fair play, or a greater hatred for MI
that Is hollow and false, or more cour
age to stick up for that which seem.
to be right, than you. Now I'll tel
you how you came by those fine quail
tiles and the hot-headedness-"
Elizabeth Littleford sat wide-eyed
/. tense. half breathless. II he meant t,
I tell 1t, why didn't he tell 1t! Why die
he beat about the bush like that?
> "Bill. this is hard for me. 1t bring,
I back a terrible thing. You know abou
!. David Moreland. -. When l awok,
e that morning and found him lyini
dead at my crazed. drunken hands,