doin' fer himself an' takin' off ye all this the right to send down the water. It is n't summer." a legal question with this young sister, but a moral one. She has asked us here to consider this deed as one of right, and may the Lord bless the hand o' mercy!" He led the way about the thickets, and soon rode in where the trees were thinner. In a few moments there spread before the astonished gaze of the Valley men a large pond, deep and full. About it the grass was green and birds caroled gaily. Down the slope on the other side were splendid green pastures, deeply ditched and fed from the pond. Here many cattle grazed. "Thar air the hull black secret!" cried Pa Gladden. "It air no wonder thet our cricks air bone-dry. The water from them big springs hev all been turned in here, an' run over t' other way." "And they have kept his pastures up," said young Adam Imbody, furiously, "while our cattle suffered and we had to sell. He ought to be hung!" 66 "It's nothing short o' criminal!" shouted Doc Briskett. Smoots is a rascal, if ever one lived." "I'm sure it must be against all the law," broke in Henry Norman. "Lor or no lor, it air ag'in' the right," added Pa Gladden; "an' no sech wrong hev ever been done man by man sence this Valley war settled. He hez both corn an' water, an' we hev to starve our beasts an' actoolly suffer." "Don't say anything harsh before Sister Smoots," warned the elder; "for hers is the sorest heart here. She is waiting now to undo this mischief as well as she can, an' we must consider her feelings." True it was that Dellabella stood waiting for them. There was a cloud over the usual brightness of her face-one of grief and pain. It spoke more than words to the men who dismounted about her in silent sympathy; but only Pa Gladden laid his hand upon her arm. Elder Becks was more nervous and earnest than his wont. "My brethren," he began, "we have gathered together to witness what Sister Smoots and myself believe to be a destroying but righteous act. She believes that God meant the waters of these hill springs for the people below as well as for her father's cattle. She means to break the dams in the old waterways, and to let the water here run down once more. What has been done here has caused the fearful drying up of Marrowbone and Bear Camp and Little Dutch creeks below. She believes she has Dellabella took an ax from the hill man nearest her and looked bravely about her. Then she hesitated. "Pears like I should hev somethin' ter say, men," she hoarsely observed; "fer my pore mother hed all the money daddy paid fer this land, in the fust place. So it wull come to me in the end. I don't keer fer any money coming wrong-none at all." "Her don't," echoed a savage-looking hill man behind her-"her don't!" The girl took the ax from him and struck a firm and not unskilful blow at the top log of the dam in the old channel of Marrowbone. A young man sprang into the gully with a pick and pried out stones and clay. Down they came, and Dellabella's eyes grew bright. "Come on, men!" she cried. Come on, now, all o' ye!" Axes and picks flashed in the sunlight. Ben Dyke and Henry Norman worked with the rest, while the hill men tore and tumbled logs with strong hands. In twenty minutes the pond water poured over, and at last leaped down the hill, a broad stream, into its old channel, chattering over dry rocks and sweeping before it shriveled and shrunken leaves and seed-pods. No sound had ever been as sweet in the ears of Pa Gladden as that falling water. He fairly sobbed as he danced here and there and thought of the people and the cattle below. They would deem it a miracle at first, but soon they would know that it was only the miracle of God's love in the heart of a brave girl. Dellabella's excitement grew. "Come, men!" she cried, running before them through the woods. "I hev found all them dams; I hev hunted them all out. We must open up Bear Camp and Leetle Dutch, and mebbe before nightfall some o' them big empty pools wull hev water in 'em. The springs hain't dry. It hev been rainin' some'er's." Her cap was off and in Ben Dyke's pocket, her hair was tumbled, her cheeks were scarlet. "Dellabella, you are a real soldier!" cried Doc Briskett, moved out of his stolidity. "I swanny!" added Pa Gladden; "ef I jes had a darter like ye, I 'd be the most sot-up man in the settlement." 66 She's got trouble ahead o' her," gasped Ben Dyke. "I know old Keppel, fer I worked fer him. Think about to-night." "Not ter-night!" cried the excited girl. "Not ter-night, but ter-day. I'm goin' ter sell the old corn ter make up. Pa wull find out thet the Smootses air not ter be shamed in this county for ever and ever. Keppel Smoots's darter air goin' ter sell Keppel Smoots's corn at a fair price ter all the Valley folk." "But we will see her through," asserted Doc Briskett; we will see her through it. Such deeds are only done in centuries, Ben. Our children will tell of Dellabella as long as these hills endure. Go on, Dellabella; sell the corn and open up the dams. It will even up things-by the eternal right, it will. Jee Whillikins! I never knew you had it in you." "I know that old man," sullenly added Ben Dyke. "The water air runnin' down Leetie Dutch a'ready!" cried Dellabella, hysterically. "Oh, Pa Gladden-oh, elder, and ye all think o' them women an' children an' cattle an' colts down below! I kin jes feel their feelin's in me, an' I jes hev to cry, ef ye 'll excuse me.” And cry Dellabella did, with the grave men standing over her as uncomfortable in their minds and hearts as possible. Only Pa Gladden seemed to understand that the weeping was out of sheer excitement. He jumped about, no whit anxious. ag'in' all the folks ye hev-even in meanness. Daddy air all I ever had." Pa Gladden choked. "The hull endurin' Valley loves ye now, Dellybella," he said very tenderly; "an' when this story rides cl'ar through-waal, I do think they wull all be namin' ye in public prayer." Dellabella's great eyes lighted up. "Then I'd be sot up accordin'," she said solemnly. "Why, it would be 'mos' enough ter make a pusson nooky, would n't it?" "Your head is on your shoulders too squarely for that to happen," replied Doc Briskett, decidedly. "We don't think now that any praise or blame will ever upset the mind of such a soldier as you are. Well, captain, what comes next?” Dinner," promptly replied the girl. "Ye see, I laid this hull thing out larst night. Ye air to hev yer dinner, an' long erbout thet time them fust wagons 'll be comin' fer corn. I left word all 'long when I rode down the hull way t' other mornin'. I said thet I'd sell the corn at a fair price to them thet kim up. Thet wull help even things up." "Yer paw wull kill ye, Delly bella," warned Ben Dyke. "He meant ter hold till midwinter, anyhow, fer the biggest price. He'd git it." Dellabella scorned him with a look. "I declar', I b'lieve ye 're turnin' coward, runnin' them street-keers," she flashed. "An' why did n't ye stay in Chicagy, Ben, 'stead o' botherin' an' spendin' yer money to kim back to the hills? I'm countin' on a row, -hit air shore to come,- but daddy won't murder me in cold blood with so many men erroun'-naw! Hit 'll be when I'm here alone, ef he ever does hit at all. I know daddy right well- better 'n ye do. "Let 'er cry it out, doc. Let 'er cry it Hit means that I got to go, an' go fur out, Ben." "Who's holdin' 'er back?" roared Ben Dyke. "No one 's got a better right ter cry than she hez.” In a few moments, during which the gurgle and plash of falling waters was heard, Dellabella looked up with an April face of smiles and tears. "Thar, I'm all right now!" she exclaimed. "I hev thort erbout this proceedin' so long it kind o' dammed up my ideas. I kep' wonderin' ef I hed spunk enough to kerry it through. It air orful bad to go enough. I knowed thet all the time. So don't ye lose yer speerit, Ben Dyke. We air all goin' ter tackle Aunt Sheby's dinner on the porch afore any skrimmidge comes. Ye kin eat easy. Daddy won't git home fer three hours at the airliest. Ye can't skeer me, Ben Dyke. Somethin' inside o' me air doin' this, an' I 'm followin', thet air all. Now come ter dinner, all o' ye." III "IT stan's ter reason," sighed Pa Gladden, depositing himself on the end of the porch after the long table was deserted"it stan's ter reason that the gov'ment must feed its fightin' men. I've hed a meal ter be set down with a mark on the side o' this house, an' I don't keer now how soon old Kepp comes lopin' up thet road an' the war Ben Dyke war blowin' erbout begins." Doc Briskett was walking restlessly about, smoking a small brown pipe. "You ought to be able to circumvent him, pa. I never knew you to be at a loss." "It's hit me kind o' onexpected-like," returned Pa Gladden; “but I have been perusin' several idees while chewin' the cud out here. Old Keppel must suttinly be come up with. I got a glimmer now and then, but it hain't gathered inter a steady light yet." He whittled on a long, thin sliver until he made an excellent toothpick. After using it vigorously he looked up. "I eenymost lose sight o' the middle in the endin'," he began, with a smile. “One thing air plumb suttin sure. Ma Gladden air been actoolly pinin' sence Persephone went up ter Billy's pa fer a visit. I feel 'bleeged to take Dellybella hum fer to keep her company. Thar's been no countin' on her temper." Doc Briskett laughed so that he dropped his pipe. "That was a foregone conclusion, you dear old father-man," he said; "but from the way Ben Dyke and the elder are holding solemn converse over by the barn, I would n't be surprised if there would be a wedding-cake to bake." "I would admire!" quoth Pa Gladden, ecstatically. "If thar air one thing would raise Ma Gladden's feelin's plumb ter the skies, it 'u'd be a weddin'. Women-folks air death on fun'rals an' weddin's, an' Drusilly's hanker air arter love affairs." "Whatever is decided had better be decided quickly," added the doctor, "as Farmer Smoots will show up here before time to feed the stock, or I miss my guess." Pa Gladden sauntered over to where Dellabella was waiting on the hill men and Aunt Sheba with all her accustomed cheerfulness. "Lord's child," he observed tenderly, "ye suttinly air well able to consult yerself regardin' yer own sweet self. Air ye meanin' ter come 'long home with me arter the comin' skrimmidge, or hev ye got another idee?” Dellabella set down a steaming dish of pork and cabbage. "I had n't been botherin'," she said, 'sence thar air allers shelter on the hills fer a hill gal in trouble. It's mortal kind o' ye, Pa Gladden." "Mebbe Ben air calkilatin' ter git ye a job in Chicagy, way he acts up," observed pa, with a twinkle in his eye; "but I don't think, Lord's child, thet the Valley an' the hills 'll ever be jes the same ef ye leave us." Dellabella flushed, but smiled. "I would cut a fine figger in a big city! Whut would I do thar? Dike out, an' set in a winder1 ter watch the keers go by? No, Pa Gladden; we air free folk hyar, an' free we must die. Ben hain't been improvin' none. He hev 'most lost his nerve, an' air thin ez Job's turkey. Ef Ben warnts a hill gal, he must drop them buttons an' numbers, an' put on hill closes, an' live hill ways. Thet air all on airth I got ag'in' Ben Dyke. He air too upstartin' sence he went ter Chicagy, an' expects me ter run like a skeered houn' pup 'cause I opened them cricks. I done it, an' I'll stan' by it." "I don' feel called to mix up in Ben's courtin' none," observed Pa Gladden, "specially with sech Lord's gunpowder ez ye shorely air, Dellybella. Thet air meant fer a pure compliment, an' ye must take it ez nothin' else. I war erbout ter remark thet I wull stan' ter yer back onless ye prefers Ben Dyke. 'T ain't often yer Pa Gladden gets pitted up ag'in' a city feller ez to takin' keer of a gal; but, ye see, I am so cl'arly impressed thet ye air the Lord's own thet I do think ye air right in yer feelin's erbout the city." "Line up!" cried Doc Briskett, as the sound of wagon-wheels drew nearer. “Line up, men!" It was only Balsy Omerod and his hired man, however, come for a load of corn that he needed badly, and for which he paid a good price. But when Balsy had loaded up and heard the strange story, he sent his load home and stayed with the grave group that hung about the house porch, smoking and discussing the situation with a feeling akin to awe. Nor was he the only Valley man that came and heard and stayed to protect the hill girl 1 "Dike" means to "fix up" in hill language. To "set in a winder" is the height from the expected fury of her miserly and an' onaccountable things thet air destroyin' drunken father. STRANGE as it may appear, for once old Keppel Smoots arrived at home sober and on foot. One of his horses had gone dead lame, and the other was so tired dragging the load for many weary miles that the farmer was forced to leave both to rest. He accepted the offer of a neighbor to give him a lift home, and climbed the hill directly in the rear of the three corn-cribs near the top. It was a busy scene he came upon. A wagon was loading corn at one of the cribs, and half the men were there. The other half guarded the road, and every one was on the alert for the sound of wagon-wheels. At the crib stood Dellabella, her hat off, her apron gathered up and sagging heavily with the money she had taken in during the afternoon. Even Keppel Smoots's slow wits could at once divine one thing. Dellabella was selling his precious hoard, his corn that every day became more precious. A mad fury at once seized him, but a second thought checked him. What were all these men doing on Marrowbone? Never before had such an assemblage set foot there. Something had happened, and that grave enough. He dared not go forward, he would not go back. Terror and cupidity at once held him. In this plight Pa Gladden saw him, and at once called the attention of those near him to the fact. "He suttinly hain't got no weepon," said Pa Gladden, easily; "but he hev got an oncert'in an' ongodly black-snake whip. Close up roun' Dellybella, boys, an' I'll step over and let in a leetle light to his darkened mind." us soul an' body. We came up ter see ef whut war whisperin' war true." He gave the doctor a great nudge. "You are brought to judgment, Smoots," broke in Doc Briskett; "you have let in fever all along Little Dutch by cutting off the water. You have n't money enough to pay the damages the law will give the Valley people. It looks that way.' " "I suppose you thought nobody would climb up to find out your sin," broke in Adam Imbody; "but the eye of the Lord was on you." Mein Gott!" ejaculated the old man, his hands shaking as if with palsy. "Vait till I gets de man dot makes me dis trouble. Mebbe it vor not a man." "Maybe it was," said Doc Briskett, “and many men. There are over a dozen of us that saw and know about the pond and ditches, Smoots. You 've destroyed yourself.” Dellabella had been anxiously eying them, but now dismissed the man loading corn and walked nearer them. "Vat vor my gal sellin' my corn fer?" the farmer asked, and again terror and fury fought in his bleared eyes. So people cannot be so hard on you," said Pa Gladden, gently. “Ef they don't hang ye high ez Haman, er drown ye, er fire ye, it air yer good gal thar thet saved ye. Ye air suttinly the only man I ever had an itch ter see swung up, but ye air Dellybella's pa, an' I can't tech ye on thet ercount." The unexpected again happened. Ben Dyke had been watching the road and quite out of sight. He now came rapidly across to the group, fearing for the girl. Old Keppel Smoots cast one look at him and fairly groveled. "De depity sher'ff-mein Gott!" he screamed. Now de lor gits me, an' sent dat Ben Dyke fer me! Ach me, ach me, I'm de dead man, I 'm de dead man, Dellybell'!" They had all forgotten Ben's uniform. "It air a good thing fer ye it hain't any other depity sher'ff," quoth Pa Gladden, 'Vat you folkses vants on de hill?" he dryly; "but Ben air thet much of a friend faltered. Pa Gladden saw the situation at once. His eyes twinkled, but his voice was stern. "Quare doin's up here, Mr. Smoots. We Valley folks hev been informed of strange ter Dellybella, mebbe he kin git ye off a leetle easy. He likes the gal, an', if she would hev him, ye would stan' a squar' chance ter git this matter simmered down. Ben, go easy on him till ye gits her mind. |