Licking Valley courier., 1921-11-24

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:
"Here he is, father. Are you wellY
Dale the elder arose, and their
hands clasped warmly. Young Dale
then shook hands with Elizabeth, who
hlushed In spite Of herself as she
faced him.
To hide her confusion. Elizabeth
turned to the tall and lanky BY Heck,
who had come In behind Bill Dale.
"How are you, ByT she greeted
him.
'Hongry." grinned BY Heck, taking
her hand awkwardly. II never Ell
nethiR' but couple o baked 'possums
and peck or two O. sweet 'taters To-
dinner, and I've been as busy as the
dey-as thunder a'doin' pothip' ever
sence. DOM nothing shore does make
me hongry, M-M-M-Miss Babe"
Supper was announced, and they
went into long, log-walled room that
served as both kitchen and dining
room.
Bill Dale sat beside his father and
talked Of nothing but coal veins-big
and 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 haFl
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 Littleford
had haltipgly conducted family pray.
srs-and In this he mentioned even
the Balls, Turner's aAd Torreys-Bill
Dale bade them all good night and
started for his Office to sleep, rolled In
q blanket on the floor. There was a
lack Of beds at Ben Littleford's that
night.
A little later, John Moreland drew
old Ben out to the cabin yard. The
skies were clear, and the moon was
shining brightly everywhere thars
was beauty and neapefulness.
"Ben;" softly. "Ivs got to bother ye
q minute, as late as II is. wanted ye
to find me hammer and a chisel and
q lantern"
I've got 'em all three right thar
In the house." replied Littleford. But
what'n the name o. Torment and
thunderatlon do ye want with a ham.
mer and chisel and lantern. John,
| aid frienaq''
The answer same straighttorwardly
II was the Moreland way.
I'm a-goin' up thar to whar pors
David he's buried at, and cut off some
them letters often the stone, Ben.
CANT sleep ontel It's done. You car
guess what part I'm a-goin' to cut OF
saIn't YER
Hages," said tIttlefprd. Babe telt
me aBont what happened up tha'
sfore dark. And I'm pow'ful glac
yeFe a-goin' 10 Do II John, OLD
,tvtend,"
He went with Moreland to the little
enclosure on the highest point Of
David Morelands mountain. He held
the lighted lantern while Morelant
worked. They were there for hours
When the work was finished Davlt
MOrelands bf0theF arose from hi'
knees ln the snow, Rnt the hammer
and the chisel into bis pocket, ant
spread open bis cold, sramped fingers
"Ef David c8pld kn9g," he sale
YEARLY y believe he'a be glad a
I done It, anyway # makes me fee
betteF.n
Ben Llttlefora pat q big hand Of
A John Moreland's shoulder.
"Yes," he agreed, "ef David coult
know about 1t, he'd be glad at ye don,
II, John. The haln't no doubt o that
And who Gun say he don't know abou
ltf
Elizabeth learned Of # early an th'
follawlng mprRpg, When breakfas
was over she whispered to John :
Dale that there was something sh
had to show him, She wouldn't tel
him anything In advance. SO he wen
with her to see for himself.
t When at last they st0HI inside tn
weatherbcaten pallngs, Ellzabet
pointed and sNId;
NigQk lbeFp' and mans NoaF
Pale lQaked apd saS. qhe cpIQr lef
his face, then came hack He 81 i hi
eyes swayeh y little on his fesf, or
eped bis eyes, lpRked and saw pgaIl
liz turned lp the young womaR wit
n great jpy shlHInv IN his Sgp,
~ haven't heen so glad" lhe toll
her, "for twenty-five years"
The chisellng AWAY of The lo'Ser iiv
lines had not only oblitera,ed III
curse; Il had loft ap almost perfeC
cross 'Phen lohn MorelNpt's bar,
cold aud tlreless hunds had gone