The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-08-01
JOHN WALTON'S REVENGE.
lie Heaped Burning Goals on His
Prosecutors Head.

boy OF about his own & and his sister
of s. The contrast between their out
ward appearance was striking. Oscar
was Of light complexion, and looked like
a petted child of the aristocracy. He
held a club in his hand, which, it might
be judged from his scowling face, he
would not be unwilling to use.
John Walton, who confronted him
without fear, was a stouter boy than
Oscar. His complexion was dark, his
hair, black as the ravens wing, hung
I'VE his forehead. His clothing was
coarse and well worn, his pants were
tucked up nearly to his knees, and shoes
and stockings were luxuries Which he
dispensed. His little sister, terrified by
Oscars rude manner, chung to her brother
in alright.
s'Don't be scared of him, Lizzie" said
John. "He won't dare to touch u.s."
won't I, thought" said Oscar, clutch
ing his stick tighter.
"Not if you know what is best for
yourself" said John, looking fxedly at
him.
"You have no business here, you
beggar," said Oscar ~furiously.
II am no beggar," said the barefoot
boy proudly.
'sIhis is my fathers land. Can you
deny that?' demanded Oscar.
81 know it is, and / suppose it will be
yours some day."
"Then, why have you intruded here?:"
~ did not suppose it would do any
harm to pick a few berries, which would
otherwise decay on the vines"
.sThen you know it now. FONT care
for the berries, but 1 don't want any
beggar's brats on my fathers place.
''Stop there, young master" said John
firmly. "You called me a beggar and I
did not care much, but if you call my
mother by that name you'll be sorry
SIP" said Oscar contemptuously. "What
will you do?"
.'Ill beat you with that stick you hold
in your hand"
Then ! do call her a beggar," said
Oscar ~furiously. "What are you going
to do about it?'
you'll see."
John Walton let his sisters hand fall,
and springing upon Oscar wrenched the
stick from his hand, laid it over his
back with sharp emphasis three times,
and then flung it into the pool hard by.
Leaving his young enemy PROSTATE he
took his terrified sister by the hand and
saying, "Well go home now, Lizzie"
walked qdietly away.
Oscar picked himself up, mortified and
furious. He would have pursued John
and wreaked instant vengeance upon
him if he had dared, but in the hands of
the young savage, as he mentally char
acterized him, he had felt his W utter
inability to cope with him, and resolved
that vengeance should come in another
shape.
my father should turn the beggars
out Of house and home,' he muttered.
II wish they might starve."
The father of Oscar Ronalds was the
proprietor Of a handsome house and
large landed estate, including several
tenements which he rented out. In the
poorest of these lived John Walton and
his mother. They lived poorly enough;
how it would be hard to tell, but at all
events they lived and never sought
help.
When John told the story of his en-
counter to his mother she was disturbed,
fearing that trouble might come of it.
So, indeed, it did.
The next morning Squire Ronalds,
with his stiff, erect figure, was seen ap-
preaching the widows cottage.
Mrs. Walton opened the door.
won't you come in, Squire Ronalds?"
she said n~ervonsly.
"No, madam, I have but a word to
say, and that is soon said. Are you
aware that your boy grossly insulted my
son Oscar yesterday
''He told me that Oscar called, me
names, and he knocked him down. He
has a nasty temper"
"Your son is a ~ruffian, ma'am."
"Not so bad as that. He is a good
boy to me, Squire Ronalds."
ut is o pity he cannot treat others
with proper respect"
"Do you think he was wholly to
blameY'
Certainly he was. My son caught
him t~respassing on my land, and very
properly ordered him off. I don't care
to argue the matter. If he will apollo
gize to Oscar I will let it pass. Other
wise, as your months up today, I shall
require you to leave this tenement"
John, who had been inside and heard
what had been said, came forward look
ing resolute and self sustained.
~ shall not apologize to Master Oscar,
sir" no said. ssIt is he who should apol-
ogize to me-"
"AnosAgize to you! That would look
well, would it notg' said the squire scorn-
fully.
sit would be right" said John firmly.
"You are an impudent yonng rascal"
"Mother," said John quietly, "there is
no use listening further. I shall not
apologize, and am ready to take the con-
sequences. Don't be alarmed. I'll take
care of you"
"You must leave this house to-mor-
row. roared Squire Ronalds, in a very
undignified rage, stamping his gold head
ed cane upon the ground.
Every WE'LL" said John. "Good day,
sir" and closed the door, leaving the
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