The Jones County news., 1921-09-15
CHAPTER XIX.


pu the UoOr OF the flcnly-iuEhlshcu
library Of the Dale home near west
window, Miss Elizabeth Littleford sat
reading by the fast fading light Of an
early March afternoon Somehow she
liked TO sit on the floor, and always she
liked TO read for one thing books
helped her to forget that she was
lonely.
There were footsteps behind her,
soft footsteps because OF the thick vel
vet carpet; then a low voice inquired
"Aren't you afraid you will injure
vour eyes t1tznhcthf Better have q
| light, hadn't you, dear2' The old coal
king turned towurd the switch on the
wall.
"Now She answered quickly. 'Tm
through reading for today, and ! like
this twilight"
Her Improvement in speech and In
manners had gone on at surprisingly
rapid rate She rarely spoke with any
but the simplest words, but she never
fell into anything more than bare sem
hlnnce Of the old drawling hill dialect
unless 1t was while she was under the
stress Of some strong emotion.
She closed the book and looked up
with eyes that were like the first stars
in a summer sky Her beauty was
wonderful; 1t was finer aud sweeter
than Il had ever been before.
Old Dale stood looking thoughtfully
into her upturned face lie was lit
tie pale. and he seemed troubled and
uneasy.
Elizabeth shook her head you're
Worrying again!'
He dropped into nearby chair,
leaned slowly forward and let one
hand fall gently on her thick and silky
chestnut.brown hair.
q WISH" he said as though TO him
seelf shat | had a daughter like yeu.
He took his hand from her head lay
4 back wearily in his chair and closed
1 his eyes. Then he bent forward again
"rhe Movelands, Eizahe,h--they'vC
moved away from the settlement
haven't they"
"Yes; Bill Dale has done wonderful
things for themw the girl answered,
John X. Dale was silent for a mo
ment after which he said suddenly :"
want 70 see my son; there "a somethin.
must tell him. win you so with me
Elizabeth"
"Of course, rll so with you.'
She thought she knew what It wa
that stirred him. BY intuition, supple
mented by BIZ Dale's occasional eryp
tie utterauces, and pieced out by hill
tradition, Elizabeth littleford gradu
ally had come into possession Of tn
old coal mans grim secret.
Neither Of them knew that Joh
Moreland was then visiting his believe
) old hills for the sake OF some shooting
: The following day John X. Dale an
5 Elizabeth Ilttleford allghted from
I northhound passenger train at th
Halfway switch The mountains wer
covered with three inches OF snow, an
!, the hemlock and pines bore heavy bui
+ dens Of the beautiful white stuff bu
= the air was still. and 1t wasn't yer
cold.
a You'd get your clothing all blac
d on the coal train" Dale said TO HI
companion, $50 you'd rather walk owe
i wouldn't youg Anyway. the train ism
/. here. I'm good for six miles think
" 'Ycs." smiled Ben Littleford
" daughter rd rather Waikiki your
sure that six miles won't be too niue
t for YOU"
) Together, with the girl leading Il
h way. they set out across David Nor
h lands mountain The old trail Shove
p not one footprint ahead OF them;
a was not SO much used now. They sal
:. little. Each thought their own thought
n and neither cared TO speak them
a the other.
Just before they reached the mou
l. tain's crest. they passed group
n snow-laden pines that concealed bi
d hrown-bearded man who had be,
stealthily following the trail OF lol