The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-02-02

their chairs, and SO did Bill Dale. John
Moreland's bedtime prayer was very
simple, and very earnest, and it had
in 1t more Of thanksgiving than of
supplication. And part of 1t certain
ly was uncommon -, ~
'BlesS the stranger with us here to-
night; and. all o our kinfOlks, and all
o our friends, anil our inimies.; the
misunderstanding the Littlefords.
Aymen - ,,s.- %%-. 22.9T't 81 = %s.s.
Dale was deeply impressed. He
heard Mrs. SlOreland dimIy when she
told him to, let her knOw-siie would
hear him If he called-if there wasn't
enough cover for his. bed. Then lie
found himself alone with the staIwart
CHIEF Of the Morelands. =s,.e, ~. +.
He stepped forward a1fl put. his
hand on the Mountaineers shoulder.
''HOw a man can go down on his
knees and pray for his enemies"
smiled Dale, SIS entirely beyond me.
Do you really mean it?' r ...'
81 fry hard to- Moreland said quick
ly. "In a-don'' that" he Went on. II
80 Ben. Littleford one. better. Ben
Littlefords the bell sheep o. the peo-
pie sWho lives acrost the river from
us, people we've hated TO- years and
years. Ben. he holds family prayers.
too, every night. He'd AK the blessin',
o the Lord on the stranger onder his
roof, but not Oh his iuimies, the More.
lands. Yes, try hard TO mean it, Bill
Dale" - 1850. 1..-t-.g'.
And that other enemy" mur1nured
Dale-;,nd he wondered why that
should bother him so much, why he
should feel that vague responsibility
about little man who killed your
brother, David" a. a'~..
II don't never pray. TO. him." inter
ruptcd the mountaineer, going a little
pale. Il hain't that nigh jufrect. A
man don't git so. good mt he axes the
Almighty to bless. the deril-or the
RATHER in the lalrels, Or the copper
head at waits Onder a bush To-. the
passin' o some bare legged child e
Dale WINGED, but Moreland didn't
notice it. Dale. ~ his hand fall from
the others shoulder: AToreland began
to speak again. - \
Il didn't tell We afore, Bill Dale. My
brother David, he was the hope O his
people. Heswas. better'n the rest Of.
US. The one big aim o his life was
to- educate lis all, the benighted. Yes,
we're benighted, and we know it. He
meant to do it with the coal he'd
found. AS I've done told We, we amt
never had the heart to sell the coal.
L. hope yen have a fine rest, Bill
Dale. I amt a.goin'' to: call We Mister
no more, Bill Dale!"' r.. E..
'Don't!" smilingly said the younger
man. Bill Dale is right. y'know.
Goodnight, John Moreland!" Is
Dale removed his shoes and outer
clothing, blew out the light, and went
to bed in the best rooms hand-carved
black walnut fourposter. :.
For a long time he lay there awake,
and stared through little window to.
ward bright star that. burned like n
beacon fire about the pine-fringed
crest Of David Moreland's mountain,
He believed he understood now why
his father had turned a greenish gray
when this coal property was mentioned
to him. He believed he understood
why his father had fatty refused to
investigate this VEIN. But, lie was
wholly at a loss to account for the
use of his own given name instead Of
Dale. e.. w ..- 3...,EE
Looking toward the mountain again,
lie spoke as though he were talking
to David Moreland himself:
It'll see it through for You, old man.
This shall be my country" ~ - 4
..r -. =. y .Ic,-tF. X .-.... W.
Continued in Next Issue)