The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1895-11-13
THE RIVALS.

thei. cattle were choice. and their
grass end water were Of the best; be-
sides, they were hustlers, and their
expenses for hire were very small,
which increased their income consid-
erably.
At the time Of which we write 50
miles in every direction from where
one lived was called neighborhood
In Texas. There We're some who in
creased the distance to Is and even
100 miles, but these were few, and
their ponies We're exceptionally good,
for the area Of neighborhood then
generally covered as much ground as
4 man could ride over in dayin one
direction without too much exertion.
TIE nearest neighbor to Sang and
Matt lived 10 miles away across the
river, and there, it is unnecessary to
say, they were frequent visitors as
long as the foods in the river would
allow them to cross over. Mr.. To
bins family was an interesting and
rather numerous one, with 2 lot of
girls ranging in age from babyhood
to budding maidenhood. For a year
Matt and Sang had watched pretty
Nellie Tobin grow and bud and blush,
until she had become in their eyes
the fairest and sweetest little maid
that ever lived.
It was not long, therefore, before
the two bachelor ranchmen began to
look upon each other as rivals for
the hand and heart Of Nellie. AT
first it was all fun and merriment,
the one jo&ng the other about some
little advantage he bad gained on the
previous visit. Meanwhile they
worked all the harder and looked
after their interests closer, so that
when they should bring Nellie home
there would be nc lack of the where
withan to make her comfortable and
happy.
It is unnecessary to say perhaps
that each had made up his mind to
win Nellie for his own, neither one
thinking the other had even the
smallest chance of getting her.
Then came the spring freshet, and
they were confined to their own side
q the riyer-shut out, it seemed to
them, from all the rest of the world.
twas then that the first discon-
tent came between them. Both be-
came cross as the proverbial bear,
and the least thing that went wrong
the one would blame the other. So
they had little quarreling spats and
were as unhappy as only two un-
reasoning fellows in love with the
same girl could possibly be.
Sang was naturally quiet, with very
little resentment IN his nature and Of
very few words. He was big and un-
gainly, slow in his throughts and
movements, but giant IL strength.
Usually he was easy to get along
with, and there were not a few who,
behind his back, said that he was
coward at heart, for there had been
times when the tears had sprung to
his eyes when some drunken rowdy
had taken a fancy to abuse him.
Only once had he been known to use
his great strength and assert him
self, and that was when so called
desperado proposed to give him a
good whipping with a quirt. Then
Sang, II a moment of excitement,
had picked the fellow up at arms
length and flung him against the
side of house with such force that
when he recovered his senses and
found no bones in his body were ac-
tually broken he had skunk away and
was never seen IN that part Of the
country again.
Matt, on the other hand, was small,
quick of motion and fiery in temper
ament and was considered the most
daring rider and the most expert
with the lasso of any rancher in that
part Of the country. He was quick
to take ofense and as quick to for
give after having eased his mind by
pouring out q torrent Of words upon
She offender.
Taken altogether, Sang Lumford
and Matt King were just about on an
average with men one meets every
where in everyday life, well suited
to each other and likely to make a
success Of the business in which they
might engage, provided they did lot
tall in love with the same girl at the
same time.
One day when the river was at its
highest, and the two men were as
miserable as it is possible for men to
be, Matt burst out: ''Confound this
high water! I wish there wasn't a
drop of it for thousand miles
around"
To this ridiculous wish, which
would virtually break them up IN
their business, Sang assented.
Huh, huh," he said.
Il bet I'll have Nellie here with me
before there is another freshet in the
river" cried Matt.
Me, too," said Sang.
''Yous"
Reckon 50, if she'll have me-"
''You don't think she would marry
you, do you2" asked Matt, looking
his partner over from head to foot
scornfully.
Don't know. Thought I'd ask
her"
|Ha, ha! ha.' laughed Matt. But
his laugh was SO offensive that even
stoical Sang Redeemed in the face.
You'll see, ;" he cried DANCED if
I don't cross the river tomorrow and
ask her
You're too burned slow, Sang" F"