The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1888-10-04
THE RIVALS.
by JOHN p. sJOLANDER.

let u shake hands and be friends"
"Thaps it,
Thsir hands met in a firm grasp.
They looked iuto each others faces,
one with merry twinkle in his eye and
q broad smile over his joviaI features:
the other, with glance long drawn
out, grave ard solemn, that seemed to
cast shadow of gloom on everything
about the scene.
"You'I do your best, and pll do my
best. That's what we've agreed on,
amt IT, Zip Tf5ins2"
'That's it, Ben Button, ard which,
ever OF US wins, the other shall bear no
i'll will2
"Just so, Zip"
'And everything except murder shall
be counted fair"
'Eh?"
'And murder, too, if you are willing
to take the consequences"
"Say, Zip, hold Ont
80 il I should lut you out of my
way right here" continued ZIP without
seeming to notice the Interruption, aad
drawing a small pistol out OF his boot
leg as he spoke, land it would ncv.r be
found out on me, why it would be al
right"
'But Zip, say"
Cor if l were found out" Zip still
continued, raising the pistol higher and
hi cher till it pointed straight for Ben's
breast, "and I were willing to take all
the risk to get clear, which think I
am ready to do, why that too, would
be all right"
'HeIlo, Ben, where arc you going"
shouted Zip, as the former turned and
ran down the road at what seemed to be
almost breakneck speed, frequently
casting scared and anxious glances be-
hind him.
Ben, however, did not top to answer,
but kept straight on unit, he was lost to
sight in bend in the road, while Zip,
bonding almost double with laughter,
sent peal after peal of merriment ring
ing out on the balmy evening air.
'Oi all the chickens in christendom
Ben Button takes the worm" cried Zip,
broad grin still on his face, as he also
turned and walked away.
Zip Titkins, full of life, fun and frol-
ic, had for the last few weeks bcen
playing rival to Bea Button in the af-
fections of Melinda Spratt. Ben was
seriously in love with Melinda; Melin-
! da's young heart was fond of Zip, and
Zip, homeless, careless, fun-loving rover
that he was, had never thought that
reached into the future for an hour.
Ben and Zip had met il the road ac-
cidentally. Ben was on his way o the
Spratt homestead to lay further siege to
Melinda heart.
For the last few days Ben had had
but one thought, and that was how to
get rid Of Zip as a rival So, when he
met Zip, he pleaded from the fulIness
of his heart and in the most persuasive
language he could command, that Zip
would rcIinquish all claim to Melinda S
heart and hand.
Zip, in pure fun, feigned love also,
and with well-asumed earnestness tried
in turn to prevail upon Ben to with
draw from the race. Neither, however,
would give in. As a last resort they
finally agreed that each should in q fair,
friendly way, be permitted to plead his
own cause with Melinda, and let her
decide.
With Zip, so far, it was only good
joke, and as such he had made the most
of it, as has been seen.
Ben Button with regularity spent two
evenings of the week at the Spratt domi-
cile. With Melinda he made very slow,
if any, progress into favor; with Mrs.
Spratt, however, he won golden opin-
ions and stood in high grace.
Since the compact letween Ben and
Zip the latter had visited Melinda but
once, and then she had, il a very shy
and sweet wy, teasingly upbraided him
for having tried to take the life of her
constant admirer, Ben Button.
'And would it break your heart, Me-
| linda, if he were to die7' asked ZIP,