Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1893-11-23
THE RIVALS.

q. L lIG III ' A1IC.
Through their own efforts Sang
Lumford and Matt King had stocked
a ranch. The ranch was small, but
their cattle were choice, and their
grass and water were of the best; be-
sides, they were hustlers, and their
expenses for hire were very small,
which increased their income consid-
erably.
At the time of which we write 80
miles in every direction from where
one lived was called neighborhood
in Texas. There were some who in
creased the distance to rs and even
100 miles, but these were few, and
their ponies were exceptionally good,
for the area of a neighborhood then
generally covered as much ground as
a man could ride over in day in one
direction without too much exertion.
The nearest neighbor to Sang and
Matt lived 10 miles away across the
river, and there, it is unnecessary to
say, they were frequent visitors as
long as the floods in the river would
allow them to cross over. Mr.. To
bins family was an interesting and
rather numerous one, with q lot OF
girls ranging in age from babyhood
to budding maidenhood. For year
Matt and Sang had watched pretty
Nellie Tobin grow and bud and blush,
until she had become in their eyes
the fairest and sweetest little maid
that ever lived.
It was not long, therefore, before
the two bachelor ranchmen began to
look upon each other as rivals for
the hand and heart of Nellie. AT
first it was all fun and merriment
the one joking the other about somI
little advantage he had gained on the
previous visit. Meanwhile they
worked all the harder and looked
after their interests closer, SO that
when they should bring Nellie home
there would be no lack of the where
withall to make her comfortable and
happy.
1t is unnecessary to say perhap:
that each had made up his mind tc
win Nellie for his own, neither one
thinking the other had even the
smallest chance of getting her.
Then came the spring freshet, ant
thev were confined to their own sid'
of the river-shut out, it seemed u
them, from all the rest of the world
It was then that the first discon
tent came between them. Both be
came cross as the proverbial bear
and the least thing that went wronI
the one would blame the other. 81
they had little quarreling spats AM
were as unhappy as only two un
reasoning fellows in love with tn
same girl could possibly be-
Sang was naturally quiet, with yer
little resentment in his nature ana 9
verv few words. He was big and III
Oainly. slow in his throughts an
movements, but giant in strength
} Usually he was easy to get aion
8 with and there were not a few wh'
3 behind his back, said that he was
coward at heart, for there had bee
times when the tears had sprung
Q his ewes when some drunken rowo
q had taken a fancy TO abuse hin
8 ONLY once had he been known to u
his great strength and assert mn
:, self and that was when 80 cal!'
!. desperate proposed to give him
? GOOD whipping with a quirt' Inc
Sang in a moment of excitemen
D had picked the fellow up at arm
|. length and flung him against q
]. side of a house with such force th
o when he recovered his senses al
q found no bones in his body were
e tually broken he had skunk away a !.
was never seen in that part OF l
country again.
Matt. ON the other hand, was siiia
Quick of motion and fiery IN temp
ement and was considered the m'
daring rider and the most exp
with the lasso of any rancher In u
mart of the country. de was qu
}. n take offense and as quick 10 4
. 2 sive after having eased his nina
{ 9ouring out a torrent Of words up
o the offender. r.s,
4 Taken altogether, Sang Luinlo UNI.
4. and Matt King were just about on
{. average with men one meets eve s'.i,
Ii where in everyday life wen sun sum
IL IL 70 each other and likely 70 max *
TO snecess of the business in when ana = ,
2. ss might engage, provided they dia "a
az fail in love with the same giri a'
y. One day when the river "as ','... a.
highest. and the two men Mel' l,
} miSerable y, as it is possible ior n,e, y ,