Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1921-08-25
In the Gun.

In the Cup.
Dale found the humble home OF his
mountaineer host a home In the fullest
sense Of the word.
At the MONDAY meal, he met Mrs.
Moreland and the sons Of the house
hold. and they were exactly as he had
pictured them. Mrs. MOreIand was
quiet, motherly, always smiling, as
straight and real as her husband. The
sons. Caleb and Luke, were as much
alike AZ the fingers on your hands; ;
they were tall and broad-shouldered,
gres-eyed and brown-haired.
Before .sund0wn Dale had become
acquainted with the rest Of the More
lands, and he liked them, every one.
He was at the cabin Of his hosts gray
old father and mother for a long time.
When supper was over John More
land lighted the big glass lamp in the
best room. and the family and their
guest gathered there TO spend the eve
ming. Then the lanky moonshiner and
his mother came In.
Granny Heck had the sharp features
and the stopped, thin figure Of q witch.
She wore O faded blue bandana about
her white head, and she carried q long
hickory star: there was a reed
stemmed clay pipe In her mouth. and
her dark calico skirt had q tobacco
pocket in Il.
Her son preceded her into the room.
He walked to the center table, faced
about, and said with a low and 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. SIS Mr.. BIni Wen,
Welt jest thought to myself at I'd
come mp and see ye. Mr.. Bill, and tell
yore f0rchune."
She dropped into the rocker that
Caleb had placed for her.
"Addie." she said TO the smiling Mrs.
Moreland. "will ye bring me n cup half
full o coffee grounds?"
When the cup came. the fortune
teller took Il and shook Il and patted
Il. all the while nuttering mysterious
words mat she had learned from the
old Indian. Cherokee Joe which
served her purpose very well.
Il see," she mumbled more or less
sepulchrally. "a pow'ful gOod-lOokIn'
gyurl In a callker dress, with her hair
a-hangin' away down her back. A bare
footed gyurl, with big, purity eyes.
She's a-standin' on n low cliff, a-peep-
In at you through the Iauxels, Mr..
Bill. This Is In the past. =.
In the future" she went on slowly
Il see this here as plain rs daylight
through q knOthole; a awful big man,
with curly black hair and curly black
beard. and with eyes like a cliff
hawks; and 1 see you. too. Mr.. Bill;
and l see a fight, q master fight-Lord
IA mussy. what a fight But you'll
marry the gyurl after all. Mr.. BILL"
Dale laughed. The old woman had
described Babe Littleford. But who
was the big, dark man"f Some fel-
low who had lost his heart TO the
mountain girl. perhaps.
When the Hecks had gone. John
Moreland leaned forward and touched
nls guest on the knee.
That thar big man mentioned IN
tellin' yore fOrchune," he said, "mIght
ha' been Black Aeam Ball. Black Adam.
he lives with his pap and mother 4
rev mile up the river. As big as
skinned boss. be Is. and plumb on
godly strong. He's been a-beggln' Babe
LittiefOrd to marry him 70 a year or
two. and she won't listen to him.
"Ef ever re do haf to Hght Black
ADAM" John Moreland went on. Eve
want TO fight him with a two-eyed
nhotgun and buckshOt. Hes the mean
est man on earth; snake-broth and
pizen vine IL religious aside o. him.
But ontel ye begin a.makin' love to
Babe Lsstleford, reckon the aln't no
danger o. you a-havin' trouble with
Black Aaan.i- and yea-ain't likely. I
take 10. to make love TO Babe"
"But Babes the best one o. the LIT.
tiefords." declared Luke.
John M0reland reached for the
Battle-Ground old family Bible. he
opened the Book at random.
tits about time we was a-gosn' 20
our rest. and we'l go Jest as soon an
we've bad prayers. Mr.. Dale"
When half a chapter from 81. Mat
thew had been laboriously but reyer-
emily read. the Morelands knelt at
their chairs. and 80 did Bin Dale. John
Moreland's bedtime prayer was very
simple. and very earnest, and Il had
In tt more OF Thanksgiving than of
supplication. And a part OF Il certain
~ was uncommon
Bless the stranger with Us here To-
might, and all o. our kinfolks. and aIl
oCr friends. and our inimies. the
Litfiefords-'specially the Littleferda
AymenI"
Dale was deeply impressed. he
heard Mrs. M0reland dlmly when she
told him TO let her know-she would
hear him II he calIed-If there wasn't
enough cover for his bed. Then he
found himself alone with the stalwart
chief Of the Morelands.
He stepped forward and put his
hand on the mountaIneer's shoulder.
How q man can 20 down on his
@%4N Rt@y AoE hA8 S1SAulS1s
smiled Dale. els entirely beyond me.
Do you really mean itT"
Il try hard TO-" MOreland said quick
". In a-doin' that" be went on, Il
30 Ben Littleford one better. Ben
Littleford's the ben sheep O. the peo-
pie who lives acrost the river from
uA people we've hated TO years and
4eara Ben. he holds family prayers,
xoe axaEx night. HQ.d * tina -hleasip'
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