Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1921-08-05
A minute of silence; then:

1t was Robert McLaurin, reporter
on the citys leading newspaper. My
parents didn't take to him because he
was Il worker, and not a fop. Mother
wanted Pats cousin, poor dear Har-
ry' Clavering, for my best man. Poor
dear Harry and / had a fight, once
upon a time, and II had whipped
him; and | didn't like him. | chose
, Bobby McLaurin for my best man, and
wouldn't give him up.
st was only when we met before
the chancel in a big crowded church
that fully realized the tragedy of it
for Pat. saw that her face was
cean white, and that her eyes held
the shadow of something that was
very terrible. l turned my head and
saw the same shadow in the eyes of
my greatest friend. Bobby McLaurin.
knew then. Bobby and Patricia loved
each other, John Moreland Bobby
didn't have any money to speak of,
and that had held them apart.
ut had been the finest thing in the
world, McLaurin's acting as best man
for me. There was friendship for you!
couldn't take from them their one
chance of happiness. -.
II couldn't see anything else to do,
so ran. went home, pulled off my
wedding rig and put on the clothes
I'm wearing now, threw some things
into a bag and hurried down to the
union station. l found that | could
have my choice between a f1ier for
Atlanta and the - the train that
brought me here. ] bought passage to
Atlanta, but never meant to use 1t;
| meant to take the other train and
! pay a cash fare. In doing that,
hoped TO lose myself from them.
wanted to go unhindered to some
country where wouldn't be consid-
cred "a savage, y'know.
II went out to the train-shed, and
| hadn't been there a minute when
Bobby McLaurin came. l asked him
how he knew where to find me. He
said:
~ thought you wouldn't care to
stay here after doing what you did,
and | wanted to say good-by, Bill He
always called me that, and it made
me feel like a man. Then l put my
bag down and took him by both shoul-
ders and told him this:
"Look here, Bobby, I'm going to
give you some advice, and you take
it. You steal Pat and marry her. Steal
Pat and marry her if you have to live
in hole in a hillside. You're as good
as any of them, and lots better tNan
most Of them. You can work your way
to a better salary. You see,' | told
him, we get about what we deserve
in this world. Most of us don't deserve
much
II asked him If mother was badly
cut up. He said she was; that she had
tainted Dad swore aloud he said,
there In church. I told Bobby good-by
and got aboard the train without say
ing anything about where l was go
ing-but l didn't know myself where
| was going, at the time.
Nov you've heard 1t. Every word
was truth. If you'll trust me with the
coal, I'll make this land my land, your
people my people. I'll suffer with you
when you suffer, and be happy with
you when you're happy; and when you
fight, I'll fight with you"
The Moreland chief arose, and Bill
Dale arose. The hillman put out his
hand, and Dale gripped 1t.
Il believe in We, Bill" said John
Moreland go another thing, I've
seed We fight. You can work the COAL"
He looked toward the closed inner
door and called, "Oh, ,Addie; you and
the boys can come back now.''
Out Of the night q face appeared at
one Of the small windows It was a
than pretty. Two slender, sunburned
hands gripped the window-ledge nerv-
ously. The face pressed closer to the
glass, then disappeared. Soon after
ward the outer door of the guests
room opened, and Ben Littleford's
daughter entered. Her skirts were
dripping wet.
Mrs. MOreland arose and went to-
ward the young woman. She knew
that only something of great impor-
lance could bring a Littleford into her
home In this fashion.
"What's the matter, Babe?'
Babe Littleford gave no attention
to Mrs. Moreland. She went on to
Bill Dale, walking softly on bare feet.
"Black Adam is a-goin' to kill you
tonight, Bill Dale"
"That so?'' Dale's smile was rather
grim. "How did you find that out,
Miss Littlefordw
II found 1t out, all right. AS he
went off from the river this mornin',
I made'fun of him; and he patted the
stock Of his rifle and said he'd git you
through a window! He was at our
house this evenin' to help fix pap's
gun, and when he left he started this