The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-01-12
PoPINJAY--A TRAGEDY.
HAI,TER 1.

/eb Stiokney and Ali Rensy had fought and vanquished every man of nerve in the neghborhood, but had never fought each other. This neglect, as ii was some times )okingly called, was not on account of friendship, for none of this companion able virtue existed between them. They had not fought because each knew that an enc ounter meant death, and neither of them had any particular longing to cast of the brooches of this world and wear the garments of the grave.
 There was a time in Ark ,nsaw, and not so long ago, either, when the bowie knife entered into the best of society, and into the flesh ofthe politician, oftimes. No gentleman's wardrobe was complete with ou, d bowie-knife, and when the announce ment was made that such and such a mer- chant had just received the latest spring styles of bowie-knives, there was gem eraily rush for the enterprising trades mans establishment. The spring and summer knife was usually light and fanciful, while the fall and winter outfit Was heavy with an idea to warmth.
 II was during those days tha, Leb S:iokney and Ali Rensy fourished in saw-log townships. Although they were educated and refined gentlemen, with good taste Tn matters of dress. ye, they made no pretense of following the fashions, and frequently exhibited the frossness to appear in May, wearing a winter knife. People were not meddle- some in those days, and little peculiar ities were not criticised as they now are. still the carelessness of these gentlemen caused remark.
 One night. at a full dress. or rather a fuil length ball, Stiekney appeared with the regulation swallow-t tail bowie. while Rensy only wore a very ordinary Prince Albert sticker. This wo4ld not have led tc serious results but for ta,tling young widow. comparative stranger in the country, and who, being unacquain,ed with the customs of the people. had caused several misunderstanding. during one of which highly respected young circuit rider was whi,,led beyond recog- ni,ion and recovery. This widow. while gaily Hitting around like dark butter fly of i'll omen, remarked to Rensy:
 ,k | your honorable contemporary
 ," To whom do you refer, madam, as my contemporary? l have many con temporaries, and many of them are honorable.
 :" Don't you know whom mean -
 T surely do not, Pray Gas, the radiance of explanation on your remark tha, l may no longer remain unintelli- gen,:7
 :" mean Ieb Stickney."
 And why IS he, more than scores of others, my contemporary
 :" don't know unless it be that in so- cial converse and popular gossip your names ind association"
 '' For which see no reason. Society can associate ones name with that of any popinJay. But enough of this. Do you dance? Come" and placing an arm around her, they wheeled away, his Prince Albert gleaming under the ,ich light of the tallow dip.
 When the waltz was ended, the young widow wen, to Stlckney and said
 "Lor', heard somebody talking about you '"
 Was il good, bad or indifferent?
 ' should think that it was rather in- different"
 Tell me what was said"
 "Oh, couldn't"
 "You must
 "WeIl, the person said that you were a popin:ay."
 Man or woman?'
 "Oh, can't ,ell:you that"
 "I insis'."
 Man..
 "What is his name?n
 "Oh, couldn't think of telling you thatn
 "I demand it
 @Mr. All. Reasy."
 Stickney excused himself after talking for few moments on miscellaneous and to him uninteresting subjects, and walked around to where Rensy stood, weaving hower in the bright tresses of a judges daughter, tapped him on the shoulder and said: