Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1884-07-05


That night she could not sleep until
she had decided upon future course oil
action.
The next day, being Saturday, Mar
garef spent at home in household cares,
which she shared with her mother; but
she scarcely spoke word all day.
In the evening she went to the ORA
per's and bought few ribbons and other
little articles, for there was some object
now in being pretty. On Sunday she APP
peared In church dressed with more than
her usual care; and she may be forgiven
if she was not quite so attentive to the
sermon as she should have been, for there.
at a distance, sat Joseph TEegear, look
ing at her with his great blue eyes, max
ing her blush, and inspiring her with the
desire of sinking through the floor.
On leaving the porch, after dismisslng
her flock, Margaret found Joseph Ire
gear and Tom Polglaze pretending to
read the inscriptions on the tombs.
At the sound of her step Tom raised
his head and advanced with friendly
nod, while Joseph remained still, but
fixed those great blue eyes on her.
Good morning, Tom, she said, in
differently. Glow are you?n
Polglaze was replying as they neared
Tregear, when Margaret stopped.
Tregear still held back, trembling in
his heart and apprehensive of his rival.
Margaret, however, was so apparently
calm that he was beginning to think her
heart as hard as her native rocks, when,
nodding an adieu to Polglaze, she very
naturally and very quietly put her hand
on Tregear's arm, and said:
81 am very sorry kept you waiting;
| can now only spare you half an hour
for a walk"
1t was the first time she had ever shown
a preference, and Polglaze now knew
that he, too, was tout of the race"
His face changed to an ashen hue, and
he tottered off with detected looks, but
with clenched fists.
Tregear squeezed the small hand that
had been so unexpectedly put on his
arm, and led Margaret away for the
promised walk, which, it need scarcely
be said, was unconsciously heightened
into an hour.
When Margaret once more arrived
under her parents roof it was not alone
that she came. Henceforth, another had.
also right to join her there.
Tregear knew the price that must be
paid for Margaret's love. He knew that
Polglaze would not give her up without
a contest.
Nor was it long before the battle was
commenced, for that very evening, as
Tregear was leaving the house of the
Powheles. he was attacked by his rival.
4 III
Joe Tregear, you've crossed my steps,
and now I'll be revenged on you"
SO saying, Polglaze struck a blow
which would have felled an ordinary
man.
But Tregear was quite a match for
him, and the two fought long and des-
perately, until separated by rural po-
liceman, who threatened them with legal
proceedings.
OF course Margaret was one of the
first to hear of the battle. Distressed
beyond measure, she went to her lovers
parents, where she found him in a most
condition.
A few words soon explained the posi-
ton of affairs, when Margaret burst into
tears, and blamed herself for showing
her preference so stupidity.
Margaret" replied her lover, ''do not
take it to heart. Id rather betighting him
again than see your tears.
Leave me alone a minute. Let me
overcome this"
''Yes, dear heart" said Mrs. Tregear,
Don't you take on in this way. These
tinmen are regular vighters; hut this
Tom Polglaze is the mortaciousest
vighter that ever | zee"
. Yes, Margaret, that's true / knew
that the day gained your love | should
find an enemy. But cheer up, cheer upl
/ fancy ne viii not attack me again in
hurry, for know that he does not at
this moment look bit handsomer than |
do"
And so saying, he laughed the matter
lightly away, until Margaret, too, began
to smile through her tears
On the following day, when the two
rivals went to the mine, their appearance
caused many jeering, contemptuous re-
marks, for the tinmen were in hopes of
goading them on to renew the battle.
Polglaze had, however, found an adj
versary worthy of his strong arm, and was
not so ready to strike the first blow as he
had been the night before. He con-
tented himself, therefore, with doubling
his fists and saying that the time of ven
geance would come.
Months passed away, however; Ire
goze recovered from its unwonted excite
ment, and matters took their usual course.
The mines were worked, old seams were
used up, and new veins opened out; but,
though the battle had not been renewed.
Joseph Tregear and Tom PolgfaZe had