The Bienville Democrat. [volume] (Arcadia, Bienville Parish, La.) 1912-1980, 1921-11-17

anu WIN MS neaQ III MS nanuS. IL
all 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.
"Well, Babe?"
"YCur father wants you" in q low
voice. Hes got something to tell
you that-that will make you think
almost nothing of me-"
Young Dale frowned. "What is It"
I'D rather he'd tell you about 1t.
Bill Dale, don't think l could bear
to tell you myself"
She turned and was about to hasten
away, when he called to her:
"Wait and she waited.
HAS it," he asked, anything to do
with your marriage to Jimmy Fayne"
NO"
He arose and put on his broad
rimmed hat. "I'll admit" he smiled,
that I'm worse than a granny oman
for boxing my nose into other peoples
affairs-when are you going to mary
Jimmy, Babe"
The answer came quickly: "Never.'
Never"
"Never," repeated Elizabeth, YER!
quietly.
"Never" pursued Dale.
"Never!" cried Elizabeth, exasper
ated
"Goodness" laughed Dale. "YOu'rt
dramatic, or vehement, or both. Ma!
I walk home with you, Babe?"
Eyes, SIR, promptly, If you wan
to-"
They set out across the snow-cov
cred meadows, and neither spoke an
other word until they had reaches
Ben Littleford's log house. The cir
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 a
, inside door.
"please close it, Elizabeth he rt
ouested, sand she obeyed. "Now e.
down. I've cot something to tell tn
three of you. And | fancy it will il
terest all of YOU"
The two VINO had just come in toe
chairs at the firesidS After a IN
ment, John K. Dale began:
/ you've often wondered, Bill, abo7
that savage streak-as you choose
call it-that is in you. You inheritt
IT, Much of that which we are, it
claimed, is inherited, and 1t must
! correct: like begets like, of cOurs
I But there is no savage streak in yo
Bi] You are hot-headed, that's a
Your virtues Overbalance that, by fl
! have never seen another man W
} had a greater love for honesty al
I fair play, or a greater hatred for
\ that is hollow and false, or more COT
! age to stick up for that which seel
4 to be right, than you. SNow I'll t
I YOU how you came by those fine gu
\ tiles and the hot-headedness-"
! Elizabeth Littleford sat wlde-ey'
tense, half GREATNESS. If he meant
i tell it, why didn't he tell it! Why
q he beat about the bush like that!
"Bill, this is hard for me, 1t brll
81 hack terrible thing. You know abb
n David Moreland. =. When | awe
/ that morning and found him ~
dead at my crazed, drunken hands
wished that l, too, were dead. I.
J That great and silent wilde.s
smothered me. imagined that co
e; hear voices calling to me, saying
as "CaIn! Cain'
"They came from the laurel thick
from the trees overhead, from
~. ground, from everywhere. You SCI
~ wasn't all bad, even in my wilde
days. Then thought of the law,
l ran. -.
~, ~ but the cry of child from
D. cabin / was leaving halted me bel
' av | had gone thirty yards. David Nj
ell lend's wife had left him with a o
'"' only a few weeks old, which Oil
:, pay any particular attention to U
Inc that morning, that black morning.
eth that time there was no other nc
for miles around. couldn't leave
Child there to die Of starvation, a
I'll killing its father. So l went back
MS cot the baby, and all Its clothing,
w took il away with me. left 1t {
I'LL farmhouse down In the 0wland,
''tn went to another city, and started
-, afresh. -.
o'u "But later l married, and she
after that l went to the farmer
a.e persuaded him to let me adopt
:, ~. child. brought it up as my own,
&C. &C. educated it, as a sort Of compensa
n.y. =. And l came to love it. But 1t
!. ~ = years before my wifyloved 1t.
y didn't like children then. But she
now. She is paying now, and !
paying. Don't you understand, I
don't you understand"
There was choke In his yoic'
that ward the last. Bill Dale went II
on feet. His eyes were wide, but he
aed. not seem unhappy; and for that I
rom beth was grateful. John Morelan'
4 A~A al p&S%N