The Adair County news. [volume] (Columbia, Ky.) 1897-1987, 1921-10-18
CHAPTER Xxx
The End of Il All.

ne Emo 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 a 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.
viii you go to my son and tell him
l wish to see him?" he said. And he
a6ded under his breath: 81 think ii is
best that they should know"
Elizabeth heard that which he had
said to himself as we'll as she heard
that which he had said to her. Should
know! 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 to Bill Dale's office.
Dale sat with his elbows on his desk
and with his head in his hands. To
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?"
Your father wants you" in a low
voice. He's 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 it.
Bill Dale, l 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 FayneT'
'NoT
He arose and put on his broad
trimmed hat. I'll admit" he smiled
that I'm worse than Il granny woman
for pOking my nose into other peoples
affairs-when are you going to marry
Jimmy, BabeY
The answer came quickly: Never
"Neverw
Never" repeated Elizabeth, very
quietly.
"NeyerY pursued Dale.
Never" cried Elizabeth, exasper
ated.
Goodness laughed Dale. You're
dramatic, or vehement, or both. May
walk home with you, Babe?"
'Yes, sir" promptly, "if you wan
to-"
They set out across the snow-cov
cred meadows, and neither spoke an
other word until they had reached
Ben LittIefOrd'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 al
inside door.
please close it, Elizabeth" he re
| quested, and she obeyed. Now 81
down. I've got something to tell tn
three of you. And 1 fancy it will in
terest all Of you"
The two who had just come in too
chairs at the freside. After a me
ment, John K. Dale began:
you've often wondered, Bill, abou
that savage streak-as you choose t
call it-that is in you. You inherite
it. Much of that which we are, it
claimed, is Inherited, and it must b
correct; like begets like, of cours,
But there is no savage streak in yoI
Bill. You are hot-headed, that's al
Your virtues overbalance that, by IA
had a greater love for honesty an
fair play, or a greater hatred for a
that is hollow and false, or more cou
age to stick up for that which seen
to be right, than you. Now III te
you hcw you came by those fine qua
tiles and the hot-headedness-"
Elizabeth Littleford sat wide-eyet
tense, half GREATNESS. If he meant
tell it, why didn't he tell It'll Why di
he beat about the bush like that?
"Bill, this is hard for me. 1t bring
back terrible thing. You know abol
David Moreland. i. When I awoB
that morning and found him lyin
dead at my crazed, drunken hands,
wished that l, too, were dead. {.
That great and silent wilderne'
smothered me. imagined that coul