Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1893-12-22

apron.
Il suppose you're right, Tobe," Pods
lev replied, 'but it does rather chafe
me to see a young fellow just from
school, just from an ambitious exam
ination into which his earthly pride
urged him by promising him 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, if it hadn't been for n
certain man in this community l sup
pose that should have been preach
er. 1t was my mothers prayer and my
own intention, but as the time drew
near l 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.
mo, I threw personal inclination
and a mothers yearning on the side of
love of the many, but there stood the
hate, defying everything"
1--WE all know who the object of hate
is" said the blacksmith.
''Oh, suppose you do, for there has
never been any concealment of it. All
his friends and all my friends know it.
A yet, to tell you the truth, don't
know why hate him. 1t has been a
mystery to me nearly all my life. But
remember that about the first lucid
thought 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 a BILE
to call him to account for anything
that he has said or done. And this
makes me hate him still more. Well,
boys, 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, man sitting on
a horse, talking to a girl who had
brought gourd of water from 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 said something in
an undertone. Podsley rode on. Bill
Hngs' 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 strear and halted.
bright weather we're having" sai2
Billings.
"Yes, rather But don't think that
little rain would do any harm"
mo, except to some weakling who
might chance to get wet"
That's q fact" Podsley rejoined;
land, by the way, there are weaklirgs
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,
Il hate every hair on your head"
''Podsley," retorted Billings, 81
loathe every bone in your body"
"Ah, hah, but bones are stronger
than hair"
Eyes, but Samson's strength was in
his hair"
THAT so? How different from you.
Your strength seems to be in your
tongue"
They halted, faced about and looked
at each other. Billings" said Pods
ley, ''it does seem to me that we have
lived in hatred of each other long
enough to come to some sort of sensi-
bic agreement. l know what you feel
by contemplating what l feel myself.
So long as we both live there is no real
happiness for either of us. Why this
is neither of US can tell, but it is fact.
And now can't we come to some sort
of settlement?"
Billings was slowly stroking his
horses name. II should think so," he
answered. 81 am more than willing to
risk my life to kill you, but don't de-
sire that you should kill me. We
might fight duel with guns or pis-
tols-real 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,
matter, would much rather that you
would be the one to die"
THAT is natural, and is therefore
commendable," 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 suggestionl We will draw
lots to see which one shall shoot the
other. No, that would have too much
the appearance of murder. Let me
see. Well draw lots to 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-
BILE to me- Meet me here tomorrow at
twelve o'clock. Let each man bring q
written confession and a dose Of
poison"
''I'll be here" said Billings.