Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1893-12-23

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fuu Of hate to preach Ire gospel Of
love.
But couldn't you let the love for the
many overcome the hate Of the once
. the blacksmith asked
no ! threw personal inclination
and a mother ycarning on the side of
love Of the many. but there stood the
hate, defying everything
we ali know who the object Of hate
is said the blacksmith
"Oh I suppose Won DO for there has
never been any conccalmeut Of it. All
his friends and al my friends know g.
And vet to tell you the truth, : don't
know ynv hate him. II has been q
mystery 70 me nearly all my life Bat
remember that about the first lucid
Thought I ever had was the idea that
he bad been born merely to annoy me
His annoyance, tAoagh- was always Of
passive kind. have never been able
70 call him 20 account for anything
that De has said or done Aad this
make, me hate him atill more. Well,
boys. take care Of yourselves
he rode away, turned 10 the right
and gaiiopod down the county road.
Tie had not gone far when he saw,
short distance ahead a man sitting on
horse talking 20 a girl who had
brought a gOurd Of water from a house
near by Podsley knew the man and
he rode past him without turning his
head, but the girl must have seen that
he cast hard look, for she drew back
from the fence and laid something in
an undertOnc. Podsley rode on Bill
lings' horse soon came cantering after
him. The road abruptly dipped down
and crossed a small stream Podsley
halted TO let the horse drink. Billings
RODE into the stream and halted.
Bright weather were having" said
Billings
Yes, rather But don't think that
a little rain would do any harm"
mo, except to some weakling who
might chance to get wet"
That's a fact" Podsley rejoined
and, by the way, there are weddings
In this neighborhood
Yes, / know Of one"
"And ! know Of one"
'"Then there must be two"
81 know Of but one.
They rode out Of the stream, rode
side by side Billings" said Podsley.
II hate every hair on your head"
"Podslcy," retorted Billings, 81
loathe every bone in your body"
All, kah, but bones are stronger
than hair
Eyes, but Samson's strength was in
his hair
"That so? How different from you.
Your strength seems 10 be in your
tongue"
They halted, faced about and looked
at each other Killings, said Pods
ley, 'ft does seem 20 me that we have
lived in hatred Of each other long
enough 20 come 10 some sort of sensi.
bic agreement know what you feel
by contemplating what I feel myself
So long as we both live there is no real
happiness for either Of AS. Why this
is neither OF as can tell. but il is fact.
And now can't we come 70 some sort
OF settlcment?'
Billings was slowly stroking his
horses name. Il should think so, he
answered II am more than willing to
risk my life 10 kiln you, but don't de-
sire that YOU should kiln me- We
might fight a duel with guns or pis-
tols-rea gentlemen don't fight with
knives but that would mean sure
death for us both. And ] insist that
there is no need OF but one of us
dying"
That's true, " Podsley agreed. And,
90 show You the interest | take in the
matter I would much rather that YOU
woulI bc the one to die"
THAT is natural and is therefore
commcndablc," said Billings. AT any
rate this thing can't go on much
longer, and we must, in consequence,
fix up some sort of scheme. Now let
me make suggestion. We will draw
lots 20 see which one shall shoot the
other No that would have too much
the appearance OF murder. Let M
see, Wen draw lots 20 determine
which one shall take poison. And the
man who draws the poison lot shall
write a statement TO the effect that he
has committed suicide. The poison
shall be handed him by the winner.
What do you say?'
IT'S unique, and is therefore agreea-
bic to me Meet me here tomorrow at
twelve o'clock Let zach man bring
written confession and dose of
poison
I'm be here, said Billings
CHAPTER ~.
At twelve o'clock the next day they
met i'm the road They came afoot.
Before we enter into this little COM
petition. saiL Podslev we stake our
honor as gentlemen to carry ont every
detail Of this contract, and to do SO
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