The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-12-09

and his nature was such that he could
not resist the temptation of Slightly
exulting over his vanquished rival.
Paul would have passed on, but Pear
son prevented him.
II did not know you had returned,
Mr.. Markham" Pearson began, "and l
suppose you have been back bat a
short time
Il returned last night" Paul replied
''Onlv last night? You have been out
to your fathers. suppose, to-day?'
Il don't know that it is anything par
ticularly to you where l have been"
Paul answered little angrilv, for he
was in no mood to have his affairs
meddled with, and especially by one
who was little more than a stranger.
''Oh, of course not" said Pearson
with Q light laugh. Though think I
could guess where you have been were
I to try. How are the Greens coming
on?'
The tone in which this question was
asked together with the ieerlng manner
of the speaker implied direct insult,
and Paul took it as such. lie had,
moreover. had an intimation Of Pear
sons visits to Green's, ard he now as
sociataG him in some way with Louise's
conduct and felt inclined to hold him
responsible ior it. He was sensitive,
and it required but ittle to ls.isc his
temper, and it was rot strange under
the circumstances that Pearson's words
stung him, and that he should reply
sharply.
If the Greens are anything to you"
said he, "and you arc anxious to know
how they arc coming on, I suppose you
have the privilege Of going there to find
out for yourself"
Thanks" replied Pearson, 81 shall
do as you suggest, and hope, in fac: l
think my reception there will be differ
ert from yours. v
The next instant Paul had lost all
self-control, and with all his strength
put into his S-E2 he gave Pearson such
stroke with, lis fist chat it sent him roll
ing to the ground limp and apparently
ifelcss.
Paul did not wait to see what had
been the extent OF the damage of his
stroke, but galloped on, leaving Pear
son to the care Of a couple Of men who
at that momen. drove up in a wagon.
''Is he dead?' asked cne of the men
as the other bent over the listlcss body.
II think not" said the other, but he
got terrible lick, sure, and it vii! take
him few days to get over it. We had
better get him back to town II we can,
as there is no place near here to leave
him"
Guess we had" replied the first, "but
wonder who that man is that hit him.
saw him strike"
so did l. But whoever he is, you
may bet don't want him to strike me.
Ny. but that was an awful lick, and I'd
about as soon be struck by lightning as
that mans arm"
wonder what it was about, any
how?"
II don't know, and I guess it don't
concern us what it was about. Let's
get this chap in the wagon and haul
him to town He needs some sort Of at
tention."
They raised Pearson up to put him in
the wagon, and he opened his eyes and
looked about him.
Where am I, and what has hap
pened?" he asked in a weak voice.
You're right here" said one Of the
men, and it looks as though that chap
who hit you come nigh taking your
head off, he gave you terribly black
eye, sure"
: Slowly Pearson began to recall what
shad happened to him, and he grew an
cry and tried to spring up. But he
found that he had sustained a greater
injury than he had thought. One of his
limbs had caught under him when he
fell, and had been thrown out of posi-
ton. With a cry OF pain he sank back
to the ground.
Course Paul Markham" he muttered.
"He has put me in nice pickle, and
laid me up for 4 week, perhaps, when
there is not 4 day to lose"
The men got hin in the wagon, and
within an hour left him in bed in his
room at Magic City.
ITO be contls1ad.