The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1922-05-04

you and t'0ther side mostly has brown,
eyes like me. All but their everlastin',
tightin', they're good people. Bill Dale,
zach side, We. see, is brought up to-
hate t'other side. I'm ashamed to tell
1t, butt understand the fust plain
words my Uncle Saul Littleford's last,
baby said was these here: D--n John,
Morelandr 1t started long time ago,
and 1t started over nothin'. Grandpap,
Littleford and John Moreland'S pap
got In O dispute over whether Kahn,
lucky was in virginny or Nawth Ca,
liner, and went to fightin' about It.,
Purity soon my Uncle Saul and Abner'
Moreland happened along, and they,
went to tightin', too. Thank goodness
1t was on Sunday, and none OF EN-
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 it holy. :"
81 see," Dale muttered sympathet-
ically.
"I've seen my own mother set down
in the floor and take her boys head
in her lap-oh, such big, fine boy he
was while the blood run through her
dress from a Moreland's bullet. He
died with mothers arms and mine
around him. 1t was all we could do
TO- him. was to love him. I've seen SIS
tiers watch their brothers die from
Moreland bullets, and young w1mmen
watch their sweethearts die, and wives
watch their husbands die. !.
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 Littlefords. They're fighters.
too, every one, and they don't give In
any more than the MOrelands does.
"Addie Moreland knows what 1t 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 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 1t the most. the worst boys does.
"It's the wimmen that pays. Bill
Dale, when the's tightin'. 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, cain't We? The VIM
men hid 'em last night after the men
had gone to sleep! BY good luck. they
had almost q whole night TO 1t. You
must be shore to keep it to yourself
but l know We will. Addie Moceland
she started the idee. She got Granny
Moreland to spread the word amongst
the wimmen O. my people. When the
fightin' fever sort o. dies down the
guns'l all be brought back and put
whar they belong"
She arose and stood there smiling
down upon him. He was staring a;
the swirling water without seeing II
at all.
Her voice brought him to himself.
"What're you a-thinkin' about, Bill
Dale"
Dale went to his feet. He saw thai
she was smiling. and he smiled. too.
'I was thinking" he said, "of the
difference between you and some other
women know"
Her clear brown eyes widened.
"And reckon l seem purity no count.
don't IL"
mo, not at all. 1t 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
1t. He was not of the sort that HAT
| tered. She began to like Bill Dale at
| that same moment.
And Bill Dale told himself as he
| went homeward that he was beginning
to like Babe Littleford. He did not
fight the feeling, because it somehow
made the world seem better place.
Early the following morning Dale
made ready for his journey to Cincin-
/ natl. Having learned the evening be-
| fore that he was going, By Heck had
come to accompany him to the Half
| way switch.
The two set out. They had three
hours in which to cross David More
lands mountain before the arrival OF
Dale's train, and they walked lei
| surely.
They had not gone dozen rods
when there came from somewhere
down near the river the sound Of a