Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1922-08-10

1.-THE Boy" he Muttered-"Bii Dale;
Is He Yore Boy? Yore Name Was
Carlyle Then"
hand, take it ana press it-and she
saw John Moreland, his bearded
mouth jerking. give the answering
squeeze that meant something very
akin 10 forgiveness.
She ran out at the gate, ran mp 10
the giant hillman and put her arms
around his neck; she drew his great
brown head down ana kissed him Oh
the check And John Moreland let
his rife fail unnoticed TO the snow,
put his arms around her shoulders as
though she were his own daughter.
bowed his head and sobbed out a
few words she did not understand.
Night had fallen when they reached
Ben Littlefords cabin home. The girl
was welcomed with much joy; old
Dale was received with almost affec-
Tomato cordiality. A roaring fire was
soon going in the best room, ana old
Dale was given the cOsest of the
shccpskn-lned rockers. Zen Little
ford, washed scrupulously clean of
coal smut, sat near the guest Of honor
John Moreland. who was so thought
full that he seemed TO hear and see
nothing, sat close 10 Ben Littleford.
Suddenly Dale looked toward his
host and asked: "Where is~my SOM"
At that moment Dale the younger,
IN boots and corduroys, appeared in
the outer doorway and answered for
himself:
"Here he is, father Are you well?"
Dale the elder arose and their
hands clasped warmly. Young Dale
ihen shook hands with El,z@bcth, who
blushed in spite Of herself as she
faced him.
To hide her confusion; 8Elizabeth
turned TO the tall and lanky By Heck,
Who had come in behind Bill Dale.
How are you, By?' she greeted
k,m.
"Hongry," grinned by Heck. taking
her hand awl,wardly. Il never ct
hotlin' but couple o. baked 'possums
and a peck or two o. sweet 'taters 20
dinner and I've been as busy rs the
dev-as thunder a'doin' nothln' ever
Sence. DOM nothing shore-does make
me honery, M-M-M-Nliss Babe
supper was announced, and they
went into a long, loe-wallcd room that
served as both kitchen and dining
room.
Bill Dale sat beside his father and
talked of nothing but coal veins-big
and little coal veins, long and short,
broad and narrow, deep and shallow.
blue and black coal veins. Babe Lit.
teford. who wouldn't marry him, who
had come back to the hills TO torture
him with beauty that he had never
believed possible in any woman,
shouldn't know that lie was even
thinking Of her!
He talked coal With his father until
bedtime, and he was wiser in the ways
of the black diamond when niue
O'clock came. After Ben Littleford
had haltingly conducted family pray.
ers-and in this he mentioned even
the Balls, Turner's and Torreys-Bnl
Dale babe them all good night ana
started for his Office TO sleep, rolled in
a blanket on the floor. There was n
lack of beds at Ben Littlefords that
night.
a little later, John Moreland drew
old Ben out to the cabin yard. The
skies were clear, and the moon was
shining brghtly; everywhere there
was beauty and peacefulness.
"Bcn," softly, 1--WE got to bother We
a minute. as late as it is l wanted We
10 find me hammer and a chisel and
a lantern"
1--WE got 'em all three right thar
in the house, replied Littleford. but
whatn the name o. Torment and
thunderation do We want with a ham
mer and a chisel and a lantern, John,
old friend"
The answer came straightforwarGly
1t was the Moreland way.
I'm a-goin' up thar to whar pore
David he's buried at, and cut off some
them letters often the stone, Ben. /
CANT sleep ontel it's done. You can
guess what part I'm aEoin' to cut of,
CANT yep
Yes said Littleford. Babe told
me about what happened UP thar
afore dark. And I'm pow'fui glad
we're a-goin' to do it, John, old
friend"
lie went with Moreland TO the little
enclosure on the highest point OF
David Moreland's mountain. He held
the lighted lantern while Moreand
worked. They were there for hours.
When the work was finished David
Moreland's brother arose from his
knees in the snow, put the hammer
and the chlsel into his pocket and
spread open his cold, cramped fingers.
"Ef David could know" he said
YEARLY, IL believe he'd be glad 'at