The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1896-09-25
TWO MEN--ONE GIRL:

Many years ago there lived in Orlean
county two boys named Ford and Arm
strong. Ford's home was in Medina
and his folks called him John. Arm
strong, who was known to his people
As Billy, lived at Albion. These two
places are only few miles apart.
Both boys were lusty chaps, each with
head full of brains, and each with a
soul fred with an ambition to get along
| in the world.
There comes time in the life OF
every country boy when, after polish
inc his face with the kitchen towel,
he finds it necessary to look long in
the glass and note the growth of the
down upon his cheeks and chin. 1t was
about this period in the careers of John
and Billy that they did what all other
boys do. They fell in love with the
prettiest girl in the neighborhood.
The trouble with our two boys was
/ that they loved the same girl. She was
alovely little woman with pink cheeks,
big eyes and wealth of brown hair.
in which the sun found glints of gold.
Now this charming country girl had
all the arts of her sex. The fact that
| her home was in Orleans county must
not be scored up against her. A girl
in that rural district is no less girl
than her sister in New York. She
thought great deal Of John, but when
John was away and Billy sat by her
side watching the glowing Goals in the
parlor stove she felt that, after all, he
was the one she loved
Billy made his calls on Wednesday
evenings, John on Fridays. She en-
outraged both of them, hoping that |
in time she could make up her mind |
which one she wanted for steady COM
|pany.
It did not take John long to learn
that he had a ritbb although the girl
never said wortaGbout it. Billy heard
Of Johns attentions, and many an even
Ing he walked home wondering why fate
would not bring him face to face with
John in order that he might soak the
atrleans county turnpike with the gore
OF his hated rival.
Although these boys lived within ten
miles Of each other and for months
eoarted the same girl, they never met.
John won scholarship at Cornell,
and went to Ithaca to lay the founda-
ZION OF his future greatness. Thrown
Upon his own resources when barely 16
years old, Billy was compelled to hustle
tor himself. Eventually, he brought
Up in Rochester, where, as lawyer.
he made money and reputation.
IN the hurry of this transition period
ne boys neglected the girl. Truth to :
ell, they forgot all about her, and they /,
frgot all about each other, too. I
IN. one night last winter Assemblyman 9
William Armstrong, of Rochester, the t
ather of the bicycle carrying bill, and :,
enator John Ford, of New York, sat q
, sofa in the reading-room of the e
'enmore, of Albany, discussing the I
alnes bill. 1t was rather tiresome n
'pc' and they soon dropped it and
a Ing away lazily at their cigars. {.
- say, senator" asked Armstrong, e,
we're you born in New York;" N
'NoaI was born in Orleans county" Ii
"Whe4e?'' le
In Medina" w
Well" said Armstrong, 81 passed my HI
oyhood days in Albion" w
armstrong, Billy Armstrong. Billy" ia
used the senator.
Ford, John, John Ford" whispered W
E assemblyman. ns
and then they looked searchingly at Sc
Oh other. III
are you the fellow who was court W,
that grip" asked Armstrong. w,
yes; are you the other fellow, the UP
ted rival?" be
] am" ma
ne two legislators Struggled up closer lit
me sofa, clasped their knees with fol
~ hands and talked of the old days GU
OF the old girl with the pink cheeks, He
pig eyes and the wealth of brown fes
: In which the sun found glints of hin
!. Blu
niliy, wonder whom she married?" the
oiessed if | know, John" ne,
Ferhaps it's another case of Sweet wo
= The old churchyard and the slab ter
'ranite so gray" SIN
w. She had too healthy an appe- T
III wager that she weighs 200 he
mas a son who wears his fathers wit
on clothes and keeps his trousers low
'ed in his boots.'' ing
zen the senator and the assembly VIII
mixed arms and went out into the boil
IN. Y. Mail and Express. and
A Futnr. a. -. p..p the
IL American Indians requirements "