Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1894-05-30

inner room of his poor house. The cot
ton cloth which did duty as glass puffed
in and out in the window frame, anG
the ''grease Dip burned yellow and din
on the edge of its broken cup. There
was the usual chatter and coarse laugh
ter in the outer room, and he knew that
the Confederate and Sary were there.
This gallant gentleman was in his best
mood that night, and the laughter of
the girl and the mans tone of light
raillery reached Grimes wakeful ears
with annoying distinctness- The old
man sat in his bent posture near the
light and studied out the words of a big
worn volume upon his knee. His griz-
zled hair lay in tangled confusion upon
his neck, and as he stumbled through
the sentences he spelled and whispered.
the words to himself The night was
his enemy and torment. He was passing
the dull time of age and ;.iiiction, and,
withal, gathering comfort from the only
book he possessed or needed. It was no
common book he pored over and spelled.
1t is said to have been the Bible.
Presently the outer door opened, and
with a gruff salutation Hanks entered
His arrival from his last drive could not
have been more than an hour ago. He
had not wasted time in paying his re-
spects. He sat down at the rude table
and looked at Sary and her companion.
That Hanks was in an ugly humor was
quite evident. 1t was equally evident
that he was bent upon the operation
known among his kind as "pickin
fuss" He did not attempt to conceal
his feelings and glowered at his rival
and still sat silent. The dark purpose of
the border rowdy was in his eye, and
the jealousy and anger of all his lawless
kind was apparent in the studied delib-
erateness of all his actions. The other
looked at him with a cool grin of def
ance. At meeting of this kind two
such men have little need of tongues
Presently the late conner rose slowly,
moved his chair and sat down almost
in front of his rival The old man in
the inner room heard the movement
and started and listened, closing his
book Having thus changed his posi-
tion, Hanks placed his hands upon his
knees, looked his rival obtrusively in
the face and calmly remarked:
ct shouldn't wonder, mister, eff
thought you was low down kind of a
cuss'
"What?'' exclaimed the Confederate.
81 say-are ye list 'nin?-that I
shouldn't wonder eff 1 thought you was
low down, sneakin"--
The Confederate gentleman arose,
motioned to Hanks and moved toward
the door, They both went out, walked
little way along the wall toward the
old mans Tapping window and stopped.
ST don't do my fghtin in the presence
O. wimmen," said the Confederate,
''but I'm fightin man, an ye kin hev
all ye're sp'ilin for. There's no use in
bein in ungentlemanly hurry about
this ERE little difikilty. Tomorrer
mornin-break O. day, sharp at the
sand bar beyant Stokes'-'ll suit me eff
you kin stand it,"
"Wot's yer weepins?" said the other.
"Navy size-1O PAGES. -
'Seconds?"
''Nary man.
"I'll be thar" and old Grimes heard
the footsteps die away in opposite direc-
tions.
He hobbled into the room where his
daughter sat Her pinly cheeks were
little paler, and there was an unwonted
apprehension in her eyes. 'Sary, he
said, "kin ye do nothin to keep them
tUo voT1np fellerS anart?''
"No; they're two fools, an it's none
of my affair
''Did ye hear what they said out
side?''
eyes, I heard 1 was list'nin. They
kin fight it out. There's better men
than either of 'em."
Grimes turned and went back to his
little bare room--the little bare and
shabby place where the company who
came and sat with him were not inhab-
itants of Slabtown-and seated himself
upon the bed and communed with him.
self. It is strange life and a wonder
full education that can teach red
checked and hoydenish girl to smile at
the passions which lead to the grim re-
venges of the border. The old man sat
and thought, and the hours passed slow
". He lay down upon the rude bed, and
perhaps would have slept if he could.
Then he rose and occupied himself in
reading again and went out often and
looked into the shadows of the still
night. Only the far guard challenge fell
upon his ear at intervals and seemed to
announce the passing hours. Finally the
ripe stars that glow in the noon OF night
began to pale in their westward setting.
The cocks crew, and the lowing of kline
was borne far upon the damp morning
air. The day was coming.
No soul, save these two men,
thoughtless woman and an old man, al
most helpless, knew of the meeting on
the sands, from which but one, and
probably neither, would ever return.
Father Grimes got his hat and staff and
hobbled forth. He thought he knew the
spot. He would go thither.
The chill air of dawn pierced his frail
body, and he shivered. Painfully and
all too slowly he walked the stepping
stones across the puny torrent and toiled
up the bank upon the other side. He
saw the gray streaks in the east and
hastened, groaning, for he remembered
the words, cat break O. day, sharp. ~
His journey was painless one, cactus
grown and tangled with long grass
Finally he reached the crest of the low
bluffs, and the little acre of brown sand
lay before him in the growing light.
Peering with his old eyes, he discovered
two figures there One of them stood
istless, while the other paced slowly
across a little space. Then his compan-
ion measured the space likewise in long
and swinging strides As the old man
drew nearer he saw that the two took
opposite places, and that while one
leaned forward anxiously the others
attitude was careless, and his weapon
hand hung by his side. He shouted
with the utmost strength of his old,
wiry voice, but they seemed to pay no
heed. Then, and for the first time in 10
years, he tried to run. AS he drew
closer he saw that Hanks was nearest to
him, and almost between him and the
Confederate Then one said, ''Ready"