Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-04-07

parry this, and it was not attempted.
Paul stepped suddenly aside, and be-
fore his antagonist could recover him
self, caught him on the throat with his
right arm, and suddenly bending him
over his own extended knee, threw the
great mass of flesh to the ground with q
force that made quite an audible sound.
The rutlian lay there a minute or so
motionless.
"Thee hasn't killed him?" timidly
inquired the girl.
"No, MISS" said John PAUL, "but
I've given his backbone 4 jar that makes
him sick of fighting. Come, sir, get
up" he added, as the man began to
stir; ''pick yourself up and go, or III
give you more of it, and worse"
"I'm goin'," said the other, rising
slowly, and rubbing his "I'm
goin', boss. But l say, you amt man ;
you're C. steam-ingine, you are"
As soon rs the fellow had dragged
himself out Uf sight, John Paul took his
coat, and finding on inquiry that the
girls name was Rachel, gave her the
message of her aunt. He followed her,
at her request, to the house, where he
seated himself on the back veranda,
while Rachel, coat in hand, disappeared
in the kitchen.
In few minutes she came out.
"There is thy coat, friend, as good as
new; it was only ripped in the seam, not
torn, and Oh dear! There is that
vexatious Crumple in the garden
again!"
Paul looked, and saw that cow had
got into an inclOSure not meant for
browsing ground, and volunteered to
get her out. 1t did not prove an easy
job, however; and by the time he had
managed to overcome her dodges and
maneuyers, and finally got the brute
safely into the barn-yard, he saw the
farmer and his wife drive in, and knew
from her manner that Rachel was tell
ing them all about the fight. As he
came forward to reclaim his mendcd
coat, Mahlon Stacy met him with a
beaming cOuntenance.
"Thee has placed me under obliga-
ton again, friend Paul." he said. 81
hear thee was obliged to resort to force.
1t is against the principles of Friends,
but since thee had to do it, I'm glad to
learn thee did it well. A big man, too,
for / think the one we met with blood
on his face was the one thee dealt
with"
"There was no trouble in handling
him, sir. The matter is not worth
speaking of. | am only too glad to have
been of service to the young lady"
With these words he moved off.
"Stay, FRIEND" cried the farmer. "If
thee won't have compensation for thy
service, thee,ll at least grant us another
favor, and take supper with u.s."
The young man hesitated, but glanc.
ing at the women, said, "I-I am not
in fit condition for the table; L"
"If that's ALL" eagerly joined Nah
Ion, tive can arrange that. Come with
me-" And the young man was speedily
ushered into chamber, where his host
gave him shaving materials, and left
him, to hear more definite particulars
about the encounter, in which, like
many men of peaceful habits, he took a
deep interest.
At the supper table, John Paul, in
evading minute inquiry, let them know
that he lived in New York when at
home, and gave them some account OF
the metropolis, of which they had heard.
but never seen, and did it in q plain and
lucid way that showed he kept his eyes
open during his tramping.
After supper Mahlon Stacy and John
Paul sat on the veranda while the WON.
en-folk were clearing the table, and the
former, after two or three preliminary
hens, spoke his mind.
"Thee was looking for work, per-
haps, friend2"
"No, / can't say Sat was"
"Thee would tai. job if thee could
get one, maybep"
"That depends on what it is.''
"Can thee NOV
swell, sir, it j. new business for me
but I'll do the best can for you till you
can do better; and as for the wages,
we'll not differ on that"
"Then thee'N stay here, and well
tackle the south field Tomorrow" ex'
claimed the farmer, joyously. "Nao.
mi, thee'n get room ready for friend
Paul. He's going to help with the hay
So John took service with MahlOn
Stacy, or, as he put it to himself that
night, "I'm hired to Rachel's uncle, >
and he laughed at the same time n:
though it were the funniest thing posi-
BILE.
The hay-making was over in three
DAYS, but John, as they called him now,
remained. He evidently knew very lit
tie about farming, but took teaching
kindly. He developed a great knowl
edge of horses, their needs and wants
and altogether Mahlon was satisfied
with his raw hand. The fourth day il
rained so that outdoor work was
stopped. The farmer and John sat in
the kitchen, the farmer in rather
downcast mood. John watched Ra.
chefs motions for some time, as she
moved about gracefully, and then took
a book which lay upon shelf and be.
gan reading.
On Saturday John got two hours
leave of absence, and returned with q
bundle, which he carried to his room
The next day he came down to break.
fast in a new light suit. Mahlon made
no comments, but after breakfast asked
John if he would 60 with them to
Friends meeting, or to some other place
of worship, or would stay at home. 1--WE
90 to meeting, of course; but Rachel's
father was Episcopal, and Rachel goes
there. Then there's the Methodists and
Presbyterians."
~ shall go to the Episcopal church,
said John.
"Ah! Well, we drop Rachel at the
cross-road always, and thee can get out
there"
So John walked from the getting out
place to the church, which was mis-
sionary chapel, where the rector of an
adjoining parish gave service every
alternate Sunday. There were few at
tendants, and the coming of a fine look
ing young man made a sensation.
When service was over, however, and
they all came out, some one whispered
that the newcomer was Mahlon
Stacy's hired man," and the sensation
died out.
Absalom Browning was waiting in his
buggy.