Licking Valley courier., 1921-10-27

else would stand, and that if re-
ceived u sentence the right man
would come forward with eoHfes'
sion, have an idea that BY Heck
himself killed Adam Bsll-that. is, II
I didn't do it."
"And Gale Morelahda-wasn't u fine
for him to do what he done for you,
Btff Datef-How are you gettin' along
nth the miner"
"First rate. Dale answered, bright
ening at once. "Were shipping now.
And we're getting a smashing price
for every ounce Of it."
II see," said the young woman. He
went on:
"All Of the boys and girls Of the
MOrelands, except the very little ones,
are In school at Cartersville, and
they're learning fast. When our bor-
rowed capital ID paid back. the More
land families are going to buy farms
lying near Cartersville and 90 to them.
A biz lowland farm close to good
schools and good little town-well,
there are worse places on earth. Pity
poor David Moreland can't know about
it,.
I'D sayW
She, hung her head. She was think
ing, as she had SO often thought be-
fore, Of her own benighted people.
"And the LittlefordsT she muir
INJURED. 1t had slipped past her lips.
Dale and the Morelands owed the Lit
tlefords nothing.
Dale understood, and he gave her
a sympathetic glance.
"A few Of the boys and girls Of the
Littlefords are going to school In Car
tersville, perhaps one from each fam
ily," he told her. ut Is rather ex-
pensive, you know, on account Of the
boarding, and they can't afford to
send all their children. However,
think--ultimately-yOur people will
have, their chance for education. too"
But II won't do much good to edu-
cate one out o. each family said Eliz-
abeth. They'd come straight back
here when they got through with their
schoOlin', and soon fo'glt-I mean for
get lit all. II they make their learn
In ppy 'em anything, they'll have to
stay where they can use It."
She began to stare absently toward
her well-shod feet.
"Are you ready to gor Dale asked.
Elizabeth Littleford raised her head
with slight Jerk and said rather awk-
wardly; y
HAS the valley changed muchY'
Mot very much" answered Dale.
There's new log church, where al
old minister named Ashby Cross
breaches the gospel of straight walk
Ing aud human kindness every Sum
day. Henderson Goff isn't here any
more, but he sent me his address In
case We wanted to sell the minel The
Torreys have gone back to Jerusalem
cove aud Hatton's hell, and the Balls
are as quiet as mice. These, believe,
are all the changes worth mentioning"
Together they set out and walked,
without saying much, to the crest Of
David Moreland's mountain, and there
they halted. The autumn sun, great
red ball of fire. was Just setting beyond
the majestic Big Pine.
Dale pointed to long, moss-covered
slab Of brown sandstone.
\ LET'S sit down there and rest" he
suggested. "You'rs tired. Babe,
know. Don't mind my calling you
Babe do your
| She looked at him as though she
were surprised at his asking that. They
sat down.
Bill Dale suddenly leaned toward hei
and took one Of her hands; and he
didn't take 1t as Jimmy Fayne had
done--as though he were afraid Of 1t
"You know love you. don't you
Babef
I've been bellevln' It," she told hin
aftera moment of painful silence. She
was q trife pale now. "Rut it-Bil
Dale, It somehow don't seem Just righl
for you to love me- Because I'm sucf
Ia pore little nobody. I'm as ignoran
as sin; and ! haln't-haven't even go
good manners. But-but II you love
II you're sure you do, tell me whyl
There came another minute Of pain
full silence.
Because" said Dale, speaking slow
~, 'you have always seemed to b,
one Of my own kind. You seem real
, to me. was so sick Of artificislltle
In women that loved you the momen
| saw you. know you are primitive
: but ] am primitive. too. And yol
weren't calling yourself 'Ma-a-am-mah
to q id poodle.
Major Bradley" he went on, "feel
sure that | win be acquitted. II
turns out like that, I want you 4
|. marry me at once. Tell me-will you
] Babef
{ How boyishly impatient he was. Wa
!, he AFRAID he would lose her by walt
8 ingi ...
I "YOu love me, don't you, Baber b
4 pursued.
e She faced him with the suddeI
}, queer light Of tragedy In her eye!
But she didn't speak He pressed he
70 hand until II hurt and demanded:
"You do, don't you. Babef
YES" she told him, In voice tina
he barely heard. r.-.
d "Then why won't you marry mel"
i She didn't answer. She wOuldn
= answer.
Q
p The day Of the trial dawned clea
y with the snap Of autumn In III
i; air. The courthouse was filled to II
d capacity within fifteen minutes afte
r the doors were thrown open. Ever