Okolona messenger., 1921-10-06
CHAPTER xlx-con.Inasd.


10 hear the man whom he knew al
q X. Carlyle say that which he hat
said. Il had never entered hi
ID that John X. Carlyle could b'
~.
pen the great and bitter desire fol
enge rushed into his brain again
his head went down, and his keer
1 eye looked along the sights ant
he kneellng mans breast. His trig
finger began slowly to crook
Until this instant Elizabeth Little
had been as one frozen, had beer
figure carved In stone. Now she
Ang to her feet and went between
reland and his ancient enemy.
Put at gun dOwn-wait ontel tell
John Moreland, what I've got to tell
she cried tensely, lapsing into the
dialect in her excitement. While
eland stared, she went on:
wasn't Newton Wheatley at put
be money to start yore coal mine
n; It was this man here And the
ander Crayfield Coal corp'ratiOn-
u has been a-payin' you two prices
pre- cOal--that was this man here
Hayes was hls-his ally through 1t
And he's sorry, John MOreland,
man is-so sorry that he wants to
and cain't ye see 1t, John More
caught her breath again and
led tearfully: 'Oh, he don't
We to be killed, and ef he did
e too good q man to kill him.
done paid-you don't know, like
how he's paid. You mustn't
that And you mustn't fO'get
Dale, his son. Put down that gun,
MOrelandl YOre people is saved,
David wanted 'em saved. Now
On't 60 and s-s-spOil it all, TO-
salKel'
big mountaineer's eyes were
with amazement, for Elizabeth
fOrd's every word had borne the
of truth. He was too dazed to
tand her allusiOn to Bill Dale
old enemy's son. The rifle came
rom across the palings, and its
bod butt found a place In the
beside John Moreland's foot.
aly John X. Dale arose and
close to him, and then from
!. Dale's soul came pouring the
anguish Of remOrse that had
Il through the years. The tor
e words flowed on, while the
Rineer stood rigidly regarding
lth strange light In his pierc-.
81.
can't ask you to forgive me-"
Finished brokenly. II don't ex-
forgiveness; my crime was too
But can't you, for the sake Of
Dy, let me keep on trying to
for my sinT'
b MOreland looked long and
pingly into the face of the plead
nan before him. The bitter
He that was going on within him
nlrrOred on his rugged coun-
be. But gradually the bitterness
his huge frame trembled; he
hand slowly down on the others
ler.
e boy" he muttered-"Bill Dale:
yore boy? Yore name was Car
Ahen-"
boy, yes-my boy, Bill Dale.
is an old family name.l My
was at the head of a big coal
tn; he sent me down here In
to get line on the Moreland
Maybe he thought the price |
DE high II It were known that |
ptedNlt; / don't know. IL can't |
ber." b
LlttIeford's daughter was
hg closely, hoping against hope, |
& to heaven with all her heart;
Pn she saw John K. Dale put |
ht hand up to John Moreland's
take It and press lt-and she.
John Moreland, his bearded |
jerking, give the answering /
ke that meant something very
forgiveness.
ran ont at the gate, ran up to
ant hiIlman and put her arms
his neck: she drew his great
head down and kissed him on
k And John MoreIand let
fall unnotlced to the snow,
arms around her shoulders as
she we're his own daughter,
bis head and sobbed out
tls she did not understand.
had fallen when they reached
Iief0rd's cabin home. The girl
elcomed with much joy; old
fns received with almost affec-
eordlaIlty. A roaring fire was
ng IN the best room. and old
g given the cosiest Of the
n-lIned rockers. Ben Little
ashcd scrupuIously clean Of
Ii sat near the guest Of honor.
Qreland who was so thought
ne seemed to hear and see
sat clole 70 Hen Littleford.
hlg Dale looked toward his
asked; "Where is my sohGr
moment Dale the youngers|
and c0rduroys, appeared ia
doorway and answered for
e e. father. Are you wellT'
e elder arose, and their