Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1922-04-06


was his big chance!
II was almost shutdown when Dale
returned from his visit TO the coal
ven-Big Pine mountain hid the sun
"a II little after three IN the afternoon
lie borrowed fishing rod and min
now pail, which made his going TO the
river seem proper enough TO John
MOreland, and set out to meet Babe
Littleford. He was glad that nobody
expressed Il desire 10 accompany him.
lie found Ben Littleford's daughter
where he had found her twice before
sitting on stone the size of a small
barrel she was fishing with an UNI
baited hook. which was equal TO fish
Ing not at all. and she seemed pleased
when she saw him coming. He sat
down on the stone at her side. She
moved over little shyly. and tried 10
cover her feet with her calico skirts.
Needn't bother To hide them"
laughed Bill Dale They're pretty
enough Most feet. y'know, are neces-
sary evils, like chimneys and rain.
spOuts."
Babe Littleford blushed. He went
on. to hide her confusion, Tell me
about the rifles"
You must shore keep 1t a secret"
she told him.
81 promise"
Better put yore hook in. SOS eff any
body comes along"
Dale threw out an empty hook.
II want TO tell We some other things
fust, SOS yen understand better when
| come to the part asout the rifles
Babe began, looking thoughtfully
across the water to where a kingtisher
sat in watchful waiting. She contin-
ued slowly, choosing her words care
fully, II was brought up 10 hate them
Morelands, butt don't think do. My
people is jest like the Moreands. The
biggest difference We can find is that
one side mostly has grey eyes like
you and t'Other side mostly has brown
eyes like me. All but their eyerlastin'
tightin', they're good people, Bill Dale.
Each side, We see. is brought up TO
hate t'other side. I'm ashamed 10 tell
it, butt understand the fust plain
words my Uncle Saul Littleford's last
baby said was these here: Oh John
Moreland! 1t started a long time ago,
and 1t started over nothin'. Grandpap
Littleford and John MOreland's pap
got in dispute over whether Kahn
lucky was in Nirgnny or Nawth Ca
liner, and went TO fghtin' about x.
Purity soon my Uncle Saul and Abner
Moreland happened along. and they
went TO fightin too. Thank goodness,
it was on Sunday, and none of 'cm
didn't have their rifles with 'em. What
ever else we are or amt up here, Bill
Dale, we gen'ally respects the Sabbath
day to keep IL holy. :"
IL see" Dale muttered sympathet-
Ically.
1--WE seen my own mother set down
in the floor and take her boys head
I'm her lap-oh, such big. fine boy he
was while the blood run through her
dress from Moreland's bullet. He
died with mothers arms and mine
around him. 1t was all we could do
ters watch their brothers die from
Moreland bullets, and young wmmen
watch their sweethearts die, and wives
watch their husbands die. q.
81 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 Llttlefords. They're lighters.
too. every one, and they don't give in
any more than the Morelands does.
"Adde Moreland knows what ii is
20 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 Gainesville But Addie,
she allus loved him better'n Gale or
Luke. Wimmen like her allus loves
the worst boys the best; cause they
need II the most. the worst boys does.
ats the wimmen that pays, Bill
Dale. when thes iightin'. The VIM
men o. this valley is right now on
needles; they're afeard the men'll find
their rifles. You can guess whar the
guns went TO now, CANT ye? The VIM
men hid 'em last night after the men
had gone TO sleepl BY good luck. they
had almost a whole night 70 1t. You
must be shore to keep it TO yourself
but | know We will. Addie Moreland,
she started the idee. She got Granny
Moreand to spread the word amongst
the wimmen o. my people. When the
nghtin' fever sort o. dies down the
guns'll all be brought back and put
whar they belong
She arose and stood there smiling
down upon him. lie was staring at
the swirlIng water without seeing 1t
at all.
Her voice brought him TO himself.
"what're you a-tbinkin' about, BID
Dale2"
Dale went to his feet. lie saw thai
she was smiling. and he smiled. TOO.
81 was thinking" ne said "of inc
a,nereace between you and some other
women i know" ,.,
rtar clear brown eyes wluehe"'