Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1922-10-13
A Fight or a Foot
Race
By MARTHA M. WILLIAMS


8. 1872. by Mcclure Newspaper >,ud!ca,.
Laumir dropped relns to applaud
his own minStrelsy uproariuu>ly. Bat
not because he also had got IA hand
some horn in. he was cold. sober
wiih;tl In merry mood. Moon shining
was not his vocation, but merely one
OF his humorous accomplishments. like
hddling, out-jumping and out-wrestlins
concerted newcomers, aud raising the
tune ut revival IL Sister Andrews
failed &c show up. That happened
rarely-like other rarites il WAS the
more welcome. Said the irrr>ercut
"N"thin' but pig could out >Queai
i"r some few even adding ina; To
do il, pig would have to be sound.
hbie-bodied, and In fine voice. All
such Joe latimir rcproved severely.
Tain; right ter make fun a. II"
sort I" rr'igion,' he said. And be-
lie>ing that she can sing is her re-
liri"n."
Clearly Joe WAS Il tolerant person.
He had need to be-BruSh Creek
neighhorhootl 81 ahounded in edged
personalities, the hair-triyrrr opiu-
ions, notwithstanding q scum If rroy-
ress rested on its surface, in the
form OF clubs of every sort. COM
munity undertakings. demonstration
agents, rallies of all sorts. even now
and then close approach to a
pageant, though never so called. In
the annual fall parade Of county
schools. The bone and sinew Of the
region merely tolerated these frills.
hut 1t fell hard for good roads-such
help In getting otherwhercs when
otherwheres was advisable. This pre-
supposed autos, which were no longer
sights, albeit none so plenty eNccr,
among the timber folk or those who
had bottom land to supplement- their
hillSideS and upland plateauS.
bad men In full flower were con-
spicuously absent. Potential ones?
That admitted of debate. Born thirty
years earlier, Joe Latimir might have
toted a gun quite as matter Of
course. AS things stood he rarely
went armed with anything more deadly
than the songs he made up to suit all
occasions. Socially they were dead
Her than bullets. Joe had never read
"CerNantes Smiled SPANS Chlvalry
Away Thus he was doing something
OF the kind In the Twentieth century
with no spur OF imitation.
Two things hailed him to the Pan
ton dance against his inclination. Ono
wore skirts md answered to Molly
Duke: the other feeling that If he
stayed away things might go wrong
and in mighty ugly fashion Molly
Duke had nimble tongue, feet as
nimble, pretty wit. n prettier face.
along with heart that knew not the
feel OF fear. Joe had settled IL with
himself to marry HEREAFTER she had
her fling, and was ready to be tanned.
He could tame her now--but It would
be hard. tedious wOrk-besides. he had
n sense that it would leave IL scdi-
ment of unappeased longing which
later might flame dangerously. All
this inarticulnte psychology and com.
rlexes are still afar from Brush
Creek. "A filly's bettern half broke
when she's run herself dead tired"
said Joe to his inner self-therefore
he let Molly play unhindered.
That had been safe enough before
Jake Dyer came back from outside
wearing yellow shoes. green hat, a
fancy haircut. silk shirts. scent on
his handkerchief and worId-weary
air. Naturally anything 50 resplendent
had 1t own way-for little while. at
ieaSt. He introduced successfully the
heSlta<lon, one-step, tango and fox
trot, bat when he ventured on the
shimmy Ma Meechum brought him up
with round turn. Eff yer britches
binds We, git somewhars else ter
wriggle 'em looser," she said point
eo'S. Ihunderous applause, led by
Joe l.aitmr. No wOnder-.Jake had
been dancing with Molly. She stood
divided between confusion and resent.
ment, her cheeks scarlet, sparks at
bottom or her eyes. Jake grinned nj
nsr engagingly, saying with his best
03Wi --EEkgzzEs 1sssssssss1.sssss@
Lei do II again M"il-these here
haysee!S need lots of brrakin'-but
they'll lie caiin' up the new dance in
the least little while" Thcrcupon Joe
caught him neatly under tie chin with
blow that sent him rccliny. and in re
bound from the corner If the chimney
shelf to the hoCr. Again the crowd
hpplauded-.Ioe all >ickcn,d ot ths
sound. Angry as he was, he knew
he had made mistHkc-AIulIy ius,ic.
lively stood for and 10y the under dog.
WIN all the gathering thus laughing
hoS'i'ely at him, Jake was sure of her
reckless defense.
lie was not mistaken. With q mo-
ton hnlf leap. half slide. She wns he.