Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1921-12-01
CHAPTER Xxx
The End of IL All

The sun shone very brightly that
day. and the snow began to melt on
the places that were not shaded
When he returned with Elizabeth from
the crest OF David Moreland's noun
tain. John X. Dale took n rocker be
fore the fire and sat there thinking.
thinking. until the midday meal was
announced. When the midday meal
was over. he resumed his chair and
sat there thinking. thinking, until the
afternoon was half gone.
Then he called Elizabeth to him.
"Will you 90 TO my son and tell him
i wish 10 see him?" he said And he
ADDED under his breath: 81 think II Is
best that they should know"
Elizabeth heard that which he had
said to himself as well as she heard
that which he had said to her. Should
knowl Know what? She had sud-
den wild fear that Mrs. Dale had
broken her promise never TO breathe
a word Of the truth concerning the
Adam Ball affair. Nevertheless. she
put on her hat and her gloves and
went I'D bliI DGle y once.
Dale sat with his elbows on his desk
and with his head In his hands. 70
nll appearances, he was unaware OF
the presence OF the girl in the door
way.
She spoke. "Bill!"
He sat up straight and faced her.
He seemed surprised.
swell. Baber'
"YOur father wants you" in a low
voice. Hes got something to tell
you that-that will make you think
almost nothing OF mel"
Young Dale frowned. what is it?"
I'D rather he'd tell you about II.
Bill Dale, don't think / could bear
to tell you myself"
She turned and was about TO hasten
away. when he called to her:
swat l"-and she waited.
"lIas It," he asked. anything to do
with your marriage to Jimmy FayneTT
"No!"
He arose and put on his broad
trimmed hat ''Tll admit" he smiled.
that I'm worse than granny woman
for poking my nose into other peoples
affairs-when are you going to marry
Jimmy, BabeT
The answer came quickly: Never"
"NeverI"
Never" repeated Elizabeth. very
quietly.
"Never?" pursued Dale.
"Never!" cried Elizabeth, exasper-
ated.
"Goodnessl" laughed Dale. You're
dramatic, or vehement, OF both. May
l walk home with you. Babe?"
Yes, SIR promptly, IF you want
to-"
They set out across the snow-cov.
cred meadows. and neither spoke an
other word until they had reached
Ben Littleford's log house. The girl
looked at him queerly as they en-
tered. After he knew
Old Dale still sat before the fire.
and near him sat silent John More
land. Old Dale mOtioned toward nm
inside door.
please close II, Elizabeth" he re-
Quested, and she obeyed. Now sit
down. I've got something to tell the
three OF you. And ! fancy II will In
terest all OF you"
The two who had just come In took
chairs at the fireside. After n mo-
ment. John X. Dale began:
You've often wondered. Riu ahou,
that savage streak-as you choose 10
call it-that is in you. You Inherited
IL. Much of that which we are. II Is
claimed. is inherited. and II must be
correct; like begets like, Of course.
But there is no savage streak in Won.
Bill. You are hOt-headed. that's all
Your virtues ovGsbalance that. by far.
] have never seen another man who
had greater love for honesty and
fair play, or greater hatred for nil
that is hollow and false, or more cour.
age 10 stick up for that which seems
TO be right, than you. Ney IN tell
you how you came by those fine quail.
itles and the het-headedness~
Elizabeth Littleford sat wide-eyed,
tense. half breathless. II he meant to
tell II, why didn't he tell It'll Why did
ne beat about the bush like that7
Bill. this IL hard for me. II brings
back terrible thing. You know about
DAVID Moreland. ). When / awoke
tnat morning and found him lying
oead at my crazed, drunken hands, ]
wished that l. too. were dead. =.
That great and silent wilderness
smothered me. I imagined that could
near voices calling to me. saying
"Cainl CainP
They came from the laurel thickets.
rom the trees overhead, from the
ground, from everywhere. You zee.