The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-09-27

he's gone for more most lkely.' SAYS I, Il
haint nothing to do with him and don't cal
late to have if he let's me alone. You can
trust me for a peacabe life, can't you janet?
She said yes but she wanted me to know he'd
been drinking. Pretty soon 1 went over
where Betsy was.
Ben" says she, 81 want you to do me
favor. Don't get into no row with Slab Evans
tonight. He's been drinking and can see
he's real spiteful and ugly. Siah Evans amt
nothing to me, and never was ard never will
be. Twill tell you all about it going home to-
night" At that tell you Strengthened up
about two inches. "Then I'm going to see
you home tonight" ''Well,' says she laugh
ing, 81 believe Pve asked you to, but what
l meant was I'd tell youthe first chance get
that folks has put my name along side O.
Siah Evans good deal more than what
they'd any call to. and mo'e'n what thank
'em for. I've been obliged to have some pref
ty plain talk with him, and he feels cross.
and now want you to promise me you'll
keep away from him, and don't have no quar-
reling with him. I'd rather dance with you
than anybody here, but don't ask me more'n
once or twice more, and, if he crowds on
you, don't strike him whatever he says or
does. You'll promise won't you?' and so
promised and told her I'd do anything I'M
der the sun she wanted me to, and would do
my best to keep clear of Siah Evans, and 1
had pretty hard time of it l tell you. She
went OH for drink every little while, and
the peacable. l was, the sarcier he got.
Liquor couldn't beave him, but it done
worse'n THAT, made him think was 'fraid of
him.
At last we had Virginy reel which was al
ways the last dance. Siah took Betsy to the
head of the hall and / danced with Jane
again. He looked as ugly as pison every
time he came acrost me.and guess he didn't
see much maple sweet in my face, but there
wasn't word passed between us along the
first OF it no way shape nor manner. He'd
been talking pretty earnest with Betsey, and
all to once, as soon as ever the dance was
through, he stepped right out into the middle
OF the floor and sung out, hold on! I've got
word 10 say thai want you all to hear.
amt going home with Betsy Beach tonight
and there amt nobody else that is. should
like to see the man that'll darst to try it on
and looked over to me backern stack o.
black cats. By that 1 stepped onto him.
Says l Siah Evans, Pm going home with
Betsy Beach, and if you take her name on
your lips again tonight, or any other time in
my hearing in mlsbehaven way, Til kick
you clean up into the top of your hat, and 1
want you to understand 1 mean just what l
say. I've promised not TO strike you, but
you behave or I'll make short wasted man
of you just as sure as you live. I've took
more filings and SARGE from you % night than
l ever thought | should ta6e from any live
man, and that's nobody's business but
mine, but you quiz Stating her name round
You begun this here, and 1 want it settled
here, OF you can step out door and settle it
just as you re a mind to. Pm going home
with Betsy Beach TO night, and every night
henceforth and forever if she'll let me, and I
want to know what you're going to about it,
The more [ said the madder got 1 could
see his fists double up and great vein come
out on his forehead, same as d seen before
when we'd been pulling fingers or wrastlng.
He stood SO about half minute, and I guess
he remembered some of them old times and
see hadn't got much smaller, for all to once
he whisked around and made dart out. and
that was the last see of him for month.
never spoke 10 him nor he to me afterwards,
and pretty soon he went to Californy and new
er came back. To that ball got my team
into easy shedding. and deserved it, for it
had been bare ground and an awful hard
road good ways back. 1t want long before
paid Jane back to mother and its been first
rate O. doing ever since.