Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-10-14

soon going in the best room, and old
Dale was given the cOSiest of the
sheepskin-lincd rockers. Ben Little
ford, washed scrupulouSly' clean of
coal smut, sat near the guest of honor.
John MOreland, who was so thought
full that he seemed TO hear and see
nothing, sat close to Ben Littleford.
Suddenly Dale looked toward his
host and asked: "Where is my SOM?
At that moment Dale the younger,
in boots and cordurOys, appeared In
the outer doorway and answered for
himself: q
"Here he Is, father. Are you wellT'
Dale the elder arose, and their
hands clasped warmly. Young Dale
then shook hands with Elizabeth, who
blushed in spite Of herself as she
faced bin.
To hide her confusion, Elizabeth
turned to the tall and lanky BY Heck,
who had come in behind Bill Dale.
"How are you, By?" she greeted
him.
"Hongry," grinned BY Heck, taking
her hand awkwardly. 81 never ct
nOthin' but couple O. baked 'possums
and a peck or two O. sweet taters 70
dinner, and I've been as busy as the
dev-as thunder a'doin' nothin' ever
sence. DOin nothing shore does make
mo hongry, M-M-M-Miss Babe"
Supper was announced, and they
went into a long, log-waled room that
served as both kitchen and dining
room.
Bill Dale sat beside his father and
talked of nothing but coal veinS-big
md little. coal veins, long and short.
broad and narrow, deep and shallow.
blue and black coal veins. Babe Lit
tleford, who wouldn't marry him, who
had come back to the hills to torture
him with a beauty that he had never
believed possible in any woman,
shouldn't know that he was even
thinking of her!
He talked coal with his father until
bedtime and he was wiser in the ways
of the black diamond when nine
: o'clock came. After Ben Littlcford
had haltingly conducted family Pray.
ers-and in this he mentioned even
the Balls, Turner's and TorreyS-Bill
Dale babe them all good night and
started for his Office to sleep, rolled in
q blanket on the floor. There was
lack of beds at Ben Littleford's that
night.
A little later, John Moreland Crew
old Ben out to the cabin yard. The
skies were clear, and the moon was
shining brightly; everywhere there
was beauty and peacefulncSS.
Ben" softly, "I've got to bother ye
a minute, as late as it is. ! wanted ye
to find me a hammer and chiSel and
a lantern"
1--WE got 'em all three right thar
in the house." replied LittlefOrd. But
whatn the name O. Torment and
thunderation do ye want with ham
mcr and chisel and lantern, John,
old friend"
The answer came straightfOrwardly.
1t was the Moreland way. y
"Tm a-gvin' up thar to whar pore
David he's buried at, and cut Off some
them letters often the stone, Ben.
CANT sleep ontel it's done. You can
guess what part I'm a-gOin' to cut Off,
CANT ye!'
YES" said LitHeford. Babe told
me about what happened UP thar
afore dark. And Tn powful glad
we're a-goin' to do il, John, old
friend"
He went with Moreland to the little
enclosure on the highest point OF
David MOreIands mountain. He held
the lighted lantern while Moreland
worked. They were there for hours.
When the work was finished David
Moreland's brother arose FROM his
knees in the snow, put the hammer
and the chisel into his pocket and
spread open his cold, cramped fingers.
"Ef David could know" he said
YEARLY, II believe he'd be glad at
1 done it. Anyway, it makes the feel
better"
Ben LittlefOrd put a zig hand on
John Moreland's shoulder.
Yes" he agreed, "ef David could
know about it, he'd be glad at sc done
II. JOHN. The hain't no doubt o that.
And who can say he don't know about
it?"
Elizabeth learned Of it early on the
following morning. When breakfast
was over. she whispered to John k.
Dale that there was something She
had TO show him. She wouldn't tell
him anything in advance. SO lie went
with her to see for himself.
When at last they stood inside the
weathcrbeaten palings, Elizabeth
pointed and said:
"Look there, and thank God"
Dale looked and saw. The color left
his face, then came back. lie SHut his
oves swayed a little on his feet, op-
ened his eyes, looked and saw again
He turned to the young woman with
q great joy shining on his face.
~ haven't been so glad" he told