Los Angeles herald., 1892-05-29
EVEN UP TO DATE.

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EVEN UP TO DATE.
81 can't help how much yer love me-
Van; can't marry yer, and you'd just
as well look at matters in reasonable
way"
ssBut why, Mandy? There amt no
other feller yer thinkin' more Of than
yer air of me, is there?"
"rm talkin fair and squar' to yer,
Van Jones. I've always liked yer as a
friend, but if yer want to keep friendly
with me yer'll have to stop this talk
right here. I've told yer that / didn't
love yer, and, more'n that, never could,
an as to lovin or thinkin more of some
body else that's somethin don't think
consarns ye in the least"
.sOh, come now, Mandy, don't put me
off in this here way. If yer friend to
me it won't take yer long to love me.
I've been mighty nigh crazy fer ye fer
the last three year. I've got so ! can't
work fer thinkin of yer in the day ner
sleep fer thinkin of yer in the night.
There's lots O. other girls in Chincapin
Holler, but yer takes the shine out of all
of 'em. They're no more like yer than
. dishrag's like silk handkerchief. In
my eye yer as far above 'em as Pilot
Knobs above Cowskin Flat I'd give
my mansion in the New Jerusalem fer
jest one kiss O. them purity little red
lips O. yer's." So saying, Van tried to
draw Mandy toward himself, but Mandy
with flashing eyes arose to her feet, and
as she did SO gave him smart slap in
the face and said:
"Van Jones, yer fooll Ye take yer
self right off from here or Ill call pa.
I've been a-tryin to reason with yer as
friend, but | see yer amt got no sense.
Thar's the door, and don't yer never
come back here again."
But Mandy
Don't Mandy me-pa!''
Van did not stop to meet sspa," but
took up his hat and, with scowl on his
face and an oath in his heart, left the
house. He was an i'll visaged feii0w.
His features wore the unmistakable
marks of cruelty, cunning and sensual
ity. His face was dark naturally, but it
was colored deeper dye by the smoke
of his forge, for Van was the black
smith of Chincapin Hollow. His burly
black head was set upon a thick neck
and thus fastened to herculean trunk.
He had all the characteristics of cruel
and ferocious being. He wended his
way slowly up the Hollow, muttering
curses as he went.
81 know who she's stuck on; its that
darn Sam Gray, but by thunder I'll get
even with 'em," he hissed between his
teeth. "She wouldn't own to to it, but
I've had my eye on him, confound him."
It was lovely Sunday evening in the
month of September, in that part Of Ar
kansas called the Boston mountains.
The sides of the mountains were covered
with luxuriant chincapins, scrubby oaks
and trailing, heavy laden muscadines.
The scenery in Chincapin Hollow was
delightful to one in frame of mind to
enjoy it, but Van Jones saw none of its
beauties, in fact it is doubtful if he ever
was conscious of them.
If he took any further notice of them
at all it was as rock, water and brush.
He soon reached his shop, which stood
some distance up the hollow. It was
an old log building, whose caving roof
bore a striking resemblance to a sway
back horse. The tottering chimney Wis
ible above the gable had the rakish air
of a battered silk tile on a drunken
sailor The door, hung on a single
hinge, and being partly open, exposed
the interior of the building to view.
The tools were lying promiscuously
around, and it was evident that Van was
not neat shopkeeper. He entered the
building, still bitterly cursing his luck
and swearing vengeance against his
rival.
''I'll get even with him if it takes fifty
years." he snarled. HE shant marry
Mandy Piggin because he's got good
farm and a horse or two more'n I've
got. I'll get even with him if I've got
to burn his barn or pizen his well. I'll
let him know that the man he's buckin
agin in this business amt no slouch,"
and a diabolical scowl settled over his
features as he ceased muttering and
drew from his pocket a large clasp
knife, which he proceeded to sharpen
upon a grindstone.
While Van was thus occupied the sun
was slowly sinking. Long shadows fell
across the Hollow. Gradually the dis
tant mountain tops were wrapped in
roseate mists, and over the valleys float
ed purple vapors. The shadows begin
to deepen in the Hollow, and finally the
last ray of light vanishes from the noun
tains peak. First one bright star and
then another rises in the east, peering
down into the shadows below. Slowly
the heavens become decked with the
myriads of bright scintillating gems Of
night. 1t is calm, delightful night in
early autumn; the pure mountain air,
like an ethereal elixir, exhilarates and
cheers both man and beast.
In the starlit night man on horse
back is seen slowly riding toward JEFF
ferson Piggin's house. He seems to be
in no hurry, for he allows the splendid
mare he is riding to choose her own
gait. He rides up to the front of the
picket fence surrounding the house,
throws the bride over one of the pickets,
and knocking gently at the door is met
s