The herald., 1894-06-03

ly bright, albeit she divided her favors
and gave Hanks enough to keep him
alive to the stature and strength of his
rival, and the dangers arising from de-
lay and absence These things did not
pass unnoticed by the others, and keen
lookout was maintained for the hour
when the difficulty should eliminate
The patient sitters upon benches and the
industrious carvers of deal boxes kept
the two men in sight and watched them
with an eye to being present when the
time came They discussed the chances
among themselves, much as they dis
cussed the projected race for 300 yards
between Hopkins bald face and the
spotted pony. They knew Hanks, and
generally considered him the better
man. There was slight inclination to
prejudice against the Confederate per-
haps. ''He's full O. brag," they remark
ed. "Hain't seen his grit yet.
One night Father Grimes sat in the
inner room Of his poor house. The cot
ton cloth which did duty as glass pulled
in and out in the window frame, and
the ''grease Dip burned yellow and dim
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
oof ~, hio f1n
light and studied out the words of 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 affection, and,
withal, gathering comfort from the only
book he possessed or needed. 1t was no
common book he pored over and spelled.
It is said to have been the Bible.
Presently the outer door opened, and
with gruf 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-
speots. 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 a
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 DELHI
erateness Of all his actions The other
looked at him with 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-
ton, Hanks placed his hands upon his
knees, looked his rival obtrusively in
the face and calmly remarked:
81 shouldn't wonder, mister, eff l
thought you was low down kind of a
cuss.
"What?' exclaimed the Confederate.
shouldn't wonder eff / thought you was
low down, sneakin'-
The Confederate gentleman arose,
motioned to Hanks and moved toward
the door. They both went out, walked
a little way along the wall toward the
old man. Tapping window and stopped
II don't do my fightin 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 a ungentlemanly hurry about
this ere little diffikilty. Tomorrer
mornin-break O. day, sharp, at the
sand bar beyant Stokes'-'n suit me eff
you kin stand it. -
"Wot's yer weepins?" said the other
Navy size-10 PAGES.
"Seconds?''
MARY man"
"I'll be thar" and old Grimes heard
the footsteps die away in opposite direc-
tons
He hobbled into the room where his
daughter sat. Her pinlzy cheeks were
little paler, and there was an unwonted
apprehension in her eyes "Sary," he
said, "kin ye do nothin to keep them
two young fellers apart?'
"No; they're two fools, an it's none
Of my affair
"Did ye hear what they said out
slider"
eyes, heard Twas list'nin. They
kin fight it out. There's better men
than either of EN-"
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. 1t is strange life and wonder
full education that can teach a 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
ly. 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 damn morning