The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1892-09-05

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hanging her head in modesty at calling
him for the first time by his given name.
"Of course, Mandy, if it's a secret l
don't want to hear it; it's none of my
bizness nc how, | reckon, is it, Mandy?
and Sans arm began cautious jour
ney around Miss Mandy's apron strings.
Mandy (unconsciously, no doubt help
ed Sans arm along little by leaning
toward him, as she answered:
swell, Sam, guess you won't tell
anybody if / tell you. Van Jones's ben
tryin his best to get me to have him,
and jest p'intedly told him he couldn't.
He then wanted to know if l thought
more Of some one else, and told him it
didn't consarn him. l had ter threaten
to call pa before he'd leave. He were
powerfully disap'inted when give him
no for an answer. I've allus thought
purity well of Van as friend, but I'm
afraid il his dander's up he'll do some
thin mean"
sAnd what did you refuse Van fer,
Mandy?'' said Sam as he gave the girl
sly squeeze.
Glow kin yer ask, Sam? Didn't yer
know kase why? Kin a woman marry a
man she don't luv?"
'Then yer didn't luv Van, Mandy, is
that fac, an couldn't yer if he'd mar
ried yer"
'.No, Sam, never could" and Mandy
looked at the floor as she spoke.
MANDY, if yer don't and can't luV
Van, and yer amt luvin anybody else,
how, er-an-er-humph would yer like
ter
'.Like ter what?' softly asked Mandy.
GAS WIS goin on ter say, Mandy"
and he took one of her hands in his as
he continued, Gas I wus goin on ter say
if yer don't luv Van, and yer have told
him to go, how'd it be if er-I-er-wus
ter AK Here Sam stopped stock still,
as if he was unable to proceed any far
Their.
Mandy beamed encouragingly on him
and smiling one of her sweetest smiles,
said:
What wus yer goin ter say, Sam?
Yer needn't ter be bit uneasy, Sam,
fer won't say word about it ter any
body, if it's secret"
"Well, as l wus a-sayin, Mandy, if
yer don't like any other teller better
than yer do me-would er-er-yer mind
o. havin me:' and Sam broke down COM
pletely.
Mandy turned as red as a hollyhock,
and it seemed to Sam that the weight Of
her shoulder increased as it rested heavi-
ly against him. Whether he feared
that he could not thus support her
weight or that she would fall, he sud-
denly clasped her in his arms. She
threw her arms around his neck and
sweetly whispered in his ear. 81 luv yer,
Sam, and I'll have yer"
A pair of wicked eyes cleaned through
the single, uncurtained window at the
picture. The eyes were those of Van
Jones.
''Ah! yer there, are yer, blast yer!'
he ground between his teeth. "Well,
I'd like ter kill yer both, but I'll not do
it tonight. But know what can do;
can Spite the beauty of this yer fine
mare o his'n. He'll never know who
dun it," and walking to where Sans
mare stood patiently awaiting her mas
ter's return, he whipped his knife from
his pocket and in another instant cut off
both of the poor animals ears close to
her head.
''There now" he growled to himself.
"Sam Gray, know that'n almost kill
yer when We see it. 1 wish to God ii
would" and the brute skunk off in the
darkness to his den.
When Sam Gray on the following
| morning discovered the Disagreement OF
his best horse-by the loss Of both hel
ears-he was the maddest man in "sever
states" Yet he held his tongue. Sam
was not a man to make threats. He wa;
reticent fellow and kept his trouble:
| to himself. But he was mad, and in his
| heart he swore to be revenged on the one
who had perpetrated the outrage. The
first person whom he suspected was Var
| Jones' He knew his rivals dastardly
| nature full well.
| He took out his claspknife and care
fully examined its edge. 1t seemed Il
be satisfactory. Without saying wore
to any one he leisurely walked int
| VANS shop. The latter was pumping
away at his bellows.
"Van," he began, "ye've cut off my
mares ears, and I've come here to SETTLE
with yer"
81 didn't do anything of the kind, San
Gray, and yer know it" snarled Van.
81 didn't come ter argy with yer
Van. Git down on yer knees" and a
he spoke Sam threw the cold muzzle O
his pistol in Vans face.
"Good God! yer not goin to kill me
air yer, Sam!" piteously cried the cring
ing coward as he sank to his knees
Lord, Sam, don't kill me! Fer mere,
sake, take that pistol away from m.
headr'
eyer didn't have any mercy on m,
mare, Van. But yer needn't ter b.
afraid. I amt ter goin to kill yer, Blu
I've great mind ter. I'm just goin t,
trim them ears O. yers like yer trimmed
the mares"
With the pistol still leveled at Van
head, Sam drew his knife from hi
pocket, opened it with his teeth, ant
with two rapid strokes the mans ear
lay upon the ground. Turning to tn
Mortified wretch, who seemed hardl,
conscious of his condition, Sam said
THAT makes us even up ter date, Van,
and left the shop.-Arkansaw Traveller