The Durham daily globe. (Durham, N.C.) 1889-1894, 1893-12-25
I.

AAOA NA1dI4 ~
gold Of course this is not tr;e miles.
as possibly might have been the case
"a man must have had a small amount
OF goId n an enormous degree of
But 1t Is a fact that in this
community a man placed a very high
estimate upon his own word. And if
may naturally be inferred that the
code fourished as a fever that followed
the chilly observance of trivial THOUGH
rigid rules Of social conduct. The
code did flourish, and it four.shed so
luxuriantly that every man in the com
munity became SO expert a shot that a.
duel meant almost certain death for
both parties.
In this community there lived two
young men who had grown up in
rivalry, not In the nature of a love
affair, but had early learned to de-
spise each others good points. Bill
lings acknowledged one day that he
really did not know why he hated
Podsley but do you really hate him?"
some one asked.
Hate him! Why .hydrophobia
never hated pure blood as hate that
fellow" He hesitated a moment and
then added: Rather an odd COM
parisOn, gentlemen, admit, but when
| think Of that man l have a mania-a
feeling that / have been bitten bv a
mad dog. And yet, l stand here ready
to commend him, acknowledging him
to be a man of good manners, Of good
family and good graces. But hate him
and he hates me-"
Its strange that you've never come
together" q mar remarked.
Yes, it is rather strange, and vet
not so strange either, when you con-
der the fact that neither of US has
ever given the other cause to take
active offense. | hated him at school
andI have hated him everywhere; and
what is strange to me is that instead
of my hate wearing out as the years of
judgment come on, it seems to become
deeper, as the roots of a poisonous vine
that push their way further and fur-
her into the earth. l suppose we'lT
come together some day" .
Billings had been waiting for the
blacksmith to shoe his horse, and as,
the work was now done he mounted,
and rode away. He had not been gone
long when Podsley rode up. He did.
not dismount, but turning sidewise in
his saddle be began in his easy and,
withdrawing way to harangue the
party Of men sitting about the door.
II have just seen the new circuit
rider" said he, and he told me that
he expected to do a great work in this
neighborhOOd. / informed him that
there was plenty Of material lying
around, and hat as oon as | got
through with my own particular har-
vest l would help him with his. On, 7
think that / can swing a cradle in the
tangled wheat and tares Of sin. But I
don't think hat the preacher took my
offer in good part. He asked me If I
were a professor, and I had to tell him
hat there still remained several de-
grees of sanctity that I had not taken.
Thereupon, fellow-citizens, he rebuked
me-"
And he served you right" said the
blacksmith, who stood IN the door,
wiping his hands on his sheep-skin
apron.
Il p you're right, Tobe," Pods
lev replied, but l. does rather chafe
me to see a young fellow just from
school, just from an ambitious exam
nation into which his earthly pride
urged him by promising him a prize-I
say it chafes me to hear that young
fellow talk to older men about the sin
Of the world and Of the great work
which he himself Is expected to per-
form. And yet, II 1t hadn't been for a
certain maj in this community l sup
pose that I should have been a preach
err. It was my mothers prayer and my
own intention, but as the time drew
near I found that my heart was too
full of hate to preach the gospel Of
love"
But couldn't you let the love for the
many overcome the hate OF the one?'
the blacksmith asked.
NO, l threw personal inclination
and a mothers yearning on the side Of.
love of the many, but there stood the.
hate, defying everything." ,
I'VE all know who the object of hate
is" said the blacksmith.
"Oh, I p you do, for there has
never been any ~concealment Of It. All.
his friends and all my friends know It.
And yet, to tell you the truth, don't
know why I hate him. It has been q
mystery TO me nearly all my life. But l
remember hat about the first lucid
thought l ever had was the idea that
he had been born merely TO annoy me-,
His annoyance, though, was always OF
n passive kind. have never been able
70 call him to account for anything
that he has said or done. And this
rakes ma hate him still more. Well.
bows, take care of yourselves"
He rode away turned to the right
and galloped down the county road.
He had not gone far when he saw, a
short distance ahead, a man sitting on
g horse, talking 70 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 tAe girl must have seer that
he cast a hard look, for she drew back
from the fence and said something n
an undertone. Podsley rode on. Bill