Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1921-09-15
CHAPTER XIV.
Thed.

beth LittlefOrd alighted from an after
noon train at the Hallway switch. She
was dressed in a smart and neatly
fitting suit Of dark blue, with lacey
white at her throat and at her wrists
she wore a hat Of dark blue relieved
by touch Of white. In one Of heI
strong and well.shaped, gloved hands
she carried a travelling bag of black
leather.
A big and sunburned young man In
boots and corduroys FASTENED to her.
He raised his broad-rimmed hat,
smiled, took the bag, and pressed her
hand as though he was very glad to
see her.
"Bill Dale" she cried jOyously above
the roar Of the passing train. "Bill
Dale, it's you'll"
"Sure, it's me ~ laughed Dale. "HOw
good you look! can hardly believe
it's yOu."
But 1t is" she smiled. "Tell me !:
what do you think the outcome O. your
trial Is going to be?"
Dale noted that her English had Inn
proved, and it was gratifying to him.
As for the trial
Il don't know" he said. But Ma
jOr Bradley thinks I'll come clear. He
believes that somebody that was hid
den on the moutainside above us shot
Ball to save me. By Heck limited that
he knew that this was the case; and
he intimated that would stand a bet
ter chance of acQuittal than anybody
else would stand, and that if re-
ceived a sentence the right man
would come forward with a confess
sion. have an idea that BY Heck
himself killed Adam Ball-that is, If
didn't do it."
"And Gale Moreland-wasn't 1t fine
for him to do what he done for you.
Bill Dale? How are you gettin' along
with the miner
First rate" Dale answered, bright
ening at once. Were shipping now.
And we're getting smashing price
IOE EVERY OuuCc VI IL
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 Gainesville, and
they're learning fast. When our Dor
rOwed capital Is paid back, the More
land families are going to buy farms
lying near Gainesville and go to them.
A big 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 Say!"
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. 1T is rather ex-
pensive, you know, on account Of the
boarding, and they can't afford to
send all their children. However,
Observation-Disclosures people will
have their chance for education, too"
"But 1t 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'git-I mean for.
get!-it all. If they make their learn.
In pay '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 ,gOT" Dale asked.
Elizabeth Littleford raised her head
with slight jerk and said rather awk.
wardly:
HAS the valley changed much2"
-Iot very much" answered Dale.
There's a new log church, where an
old minister named Ashby Cross
breaches the gospel Of straight walk.
Ing and 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 mine! The
TOrreys have gone back to Jerusalem
cove and Hatton's hell, and the Balls
are as quiet as mice. These, l 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 |
NE majestic Big Pine.
Dale pointed to a long, mOss-covered |
Slab Of brown sandstone.
Let's sit down there and rest he |
suggested. you're tired, Babe. l |
Enow. Don't mind my calling you |
Babe do yon9'
She looked at him as though she
rere surprised at his asking that They |
at down.
Bin Dale suddenly leaned toward her |
IA took one Of her hands: and he |
ldn't take Il as Jimmy Fayne had |
one a. though be were afraid Of It.
eKcu know I lore you, don't you