The spectator., 1922-01-24

sary evils, like chimneys nnd rain spouts!'
 Babe Littleford blushed He went on, to hide her confusion, "Tell me about the rifles
 You must shore keep 1t secret she told him.
 "I promise"
 Better put yore hook in, sos ef any body comes along"
 Dale threw out an empty hook.
 "I want to tell ye some other things fust, sos yell understand better when 1 come to the part about the rifles, Babe began, looking thoughtfully across the water to where kingfisher sat fin watchful waiting. She contin- ued slowly. choosing her words care fully, Il was brought up to hate them Morelands, butt don't think do. My people is jest like the Morelands. The biggest difference ye can find Is that one side mostly has grey eyes Ike you and t'other side mostly has brown eyes like me. All but their everlastin nghtin', they're good people, Bill Dale Each side. ye see, is brought up to hate t'other side. I'm ashamed to tell 1 it, butt understand the fust plain | words my Uncle Saul Littlefords last baby said was these here: D-n John Moreland! It started long time ago. and it started over nothin'. Grandpap ! Littleford and John Moreland's pap got in dispute over whether kain- lucky was in Virginny or Nawth Ca liner, and went to tightin' about It. Purty soon my Uncle Saul and Abner Moreland happened along. and they | went to fightin' too. Thank goodness 1t was on Sunday, and none of 'em didn't have their rifles with em. What | ever else we are or ain't up here Bill Dale, we gen'aly respects the Sabbath l day 10 keep it holy. =. ."
 II see" Dale muttered sympathet- ically.
 Eve seen my own mother set down in the floor and take her boys head in her lap-oh such a biz, fine boy he was i--while the blood run through her | dress from Noreland's bullet. He died with mothers arms and mine around him. It was all we could do fo' him. was to love him. I've seen sis ters watch their brothers die from Mareland bullets, and young wimmen watch their Sweethearts die, and wives watch their husbands die.
 "l tell you. Bill Dale, them More lands never misses when they have even half fair shot. You'd be puff fectly safe in a-lettin' any of 'em shoot dimes from atween yore finger and thumb all day. And It's the same way with the Littlefords. They're fighters, too, every one. and they don't give in any more than the Morelands does. "Addie Moreland knows what it is to take her dyin' boys head in her lap, whilst blood run through her dress to her knees. His name was Charley, and he was bad he'd drink, and oncet he shot up Cartersville. But Addic, she alluS loved him better'n Gale or Luke. Wimmen like her allus loves the worst boys the best; cause they need il the most, the worst boys does.
 Its the wlmmen that pays, Bill Dale, when the's fightin'. The vim men O this valley Is right now on needles they're afcard the men'll find guns went to now, cain't ye? The vim men hid 'em last night alter the men had gone to sleep! By good luck, they had almost n whole night fo' it. You must be shore to keep it to yourself but l know ye will. Addie Moreland, she started the idee. She got Granny Noreland to spread the word amongst the wimmen Q my people When the | hshtin' fever sort O dies down the gunsll all be brought back and put whar they belong"
 She arose and stood there smiling 1 down upon him. He was staring at the swirling water without seeing IL at all
 Her voice brought him to himself.
 "What're you a-thinkin' about Bill Daler
 Dale went to his feet. He saw that she was smiling, and he smiled, too.
 "l was thinking" he said. "of the difference between you and some other women l know"
 Her clear brown eyes widened. 
 And reckon l seem purity no count. don't li"
 No, not at all. It is-er. quite the opposite, Babe. You make them ap- pear unreal, artificial"
 Babe Littleford's countenance bright ened. She did not doubt that he meant
 it. He was not of the sort that flat tered. She began to like Bin Dale at that same moment.
 And Bill Dale told himself as he went homeward that he was beginning 10 like Babe Littleford. He did not fight the feeling. because 1t somehow made the world seem better place
 Early the following morning Dale made ready for his journey to Cincin- neti. Having learned the evening be. fore that he was going, Ky Heck had
 come to accompany him to the Half
 ..l.