St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1871-11-17

right al last" But Ralph's own iaitl
was weak, and his words sounded hol
low and hypocrilcal TO himself Woul,
God indeed bring things out right?
lie sat musing good while, trying tc
convince himself OF the truth of what h,
had .last been saying to Shocky-tha
God would indeed bring things out at
last. Would it all come out right il
Bud married Hannah Would it al
come out right ii he were driven from
Flat Creek with q dark suspicion upon
lis character Did God concern him.
self with these things Was there any
God 1t WIS the same old struggle be-
tween Doubt aud Faith. And when
Ralph looked ur, Shocky had departed.
In the ucXt hour Ralph fought the old
battle OF Armagcddon. shall not de
scribe it. You will fight it in your own
way. No two alike. The important
thin@ Is the End If you come out as
h dill, with the doubt gone aud the
trust in God Victorious, it matters little
Just what shape the battle may take.
Since Jacob became Israel there have
never been two such struggles alike, save
in that they all end either in victory or
defeat
1t was after twelve o'clock on ihat
Christmas day that Ralph put his head
ont the door oi the school house and call
ed ont: ''i:ud, I'd Ike to see you"
Bud did not care 10 see the master,
Ter he had inly resolved 10 thrash lin"
and have done with him Bnt lie could
not back out, certainly not in the sight
OF the others who were passing along the
road with him.
Il don't want the rest Of You" said
Ralph in :; decided way, ~ he SAW that
Hank and one or two others were re-
solved to come also.
"Ihonght may be you'd want sumo
body to see far play" said Hank aS hr
went off shecpishly.
"lf did, you would he the last one
| should ask, said Ralph. '.Thcrc'S no
unfair play in Bnl, and there is in YOU. -
And he shat the door.
''NOw looky here, Mr.. Ralph Hart
sUok, SaId Bud. You don't come no
gum games over me with your salt sod
der and all that. I've made up nv
mind. You've got TO premise TO leave
these ere d;@gin>, "r I've cot To thrash
YOU"
You'll have To thrash me, them"
said Ralph, turning Il little pale, but re-
memberln" the hull-dug. But you'll
tell me what lis all about, won't You -
You know well enough Folks say
you know more bout the robbery at the
Dutchman's than You Ortcr. But don't
believe them. Fer them rs says il Is
liars AMI thieves lleir>rl,r, Ta'in't fer
none of that. And slant tell ven
what II IS fer 50 now il yJu went
travel, why take of your COS; and eit
ready fer Il thI:l>hin"''
The master took oil hi, coat and show
ed liz slender arm~. Bud laid his of,
and showed the physique ota prilr-iigIIt-
cr.
"lou ant a-gcin to ii.ht alr - S;,ld
Bud.
Not uAlc>S you mahc me.
''Why | could claw yon aII up
Il know that
"Wr!l, you're III, griilir~t teller ever
did see, and # you'd jest KEEP oti my
ground wouldn'i ;.-tonchcd you. But
amt a ON lu he cut cut hy no icllrr
u ll'in' 'h"ut thr.-Lin' him IN AN inch
OF his lie. luu -,t wanted To .it out
of this Flat Crick way. We're low
lived set here in Flat Crich And |
says 10 myself, I'll uy to by soncthin'
more nor Pete Jones, and dad, and these
other tr.iln'. guol-irr-nurthin. ones bout
here. And wl!cn !ou come says, rher's
one ASH help NE. And what do yuu do
with your book larnin and town man
hers but start right ont 10 git away the
gal that Id picked ont, when Id picked
her out k;,>e | thought, not bsin' Flat
Crick born herself, she might help fci-
Ter 10 do better. Now won't let no
body cut me out without "iNin' 'em tie
best thra-hin' its in these ere aims 10
"ivc."
But | haven't tried to cut YOU out
"IOu can't fool ne.
"Bud, listen To me, and then thrash
once. When | found You had some
claims, | gave her up. Not because
was afraid of You, tor ! would rather
have taken the worst thrashing YOU can
give me than give her up. But haven't
spoken to her since the ni4ht OF the first
spelling school.
"lou lie - said Bad, doublin. his
iisls.
Ralph grew red
''Iou Was a-wailin' ola her last sun
day right aiorc my eyes, and a-tryin' to
kctcl ny attention too. 80 when you're
ready, say So
''Bud, there is some mi-understand-
ing" Harlsook spoke slowly and felt
bewildered, Il tell you that did not
speak to Hannah last Sunday, and you
know didn't
''IIanner :" Buds eyes grew large
"IIanner - Here lie sasped for breath,
and looked around 'IIanner lie
couldn't get any further than the name
at first. why, plague take it, who
said Hammer ?"
"Mirandy said you were courting
Hannah said Ralph, feeling round in
vague way TO get his ideas together.
"Mirandy. Thunder, You believed
Mirandy, Well. Now loo!y here,
Mr.. IIartsook, ef you was to say that
my sister lied, I'd lick you till yer hide
wouldn' held shucks. But say atwixt
you and me and the gatc-post, don't you
never believe anything Mirandy Means
says. Her and marin has set themselves
like fools TO git you. Hammer. Well,