The Opelousas courier., 1898-08-13

IN never 1elG LIS III
m IN ~ tleness as he dit
~ lA- that night whel
%S9h that n word O
contempt and scorl
fell from the full red lips of Jane
Lyon.
She was the acknowledged belle o
the Muskegon valley, the daughter O.
the senior member of the firm O
Lyon, Haight & Co. Janet was not
child of fashion, but a strong, healthy
child of the pine woods. Muskego1
was the end of the world to her, ant
at the time of which we write was .
mere village, with no connection witt
the outside world. It was yet the
lu~mberopolis of Western Michigan
and rapidly growing in Importance.
It was at a dance in a log house
near Maple Top that Mark Farnhan
received the rebuke described. A
great, hulking logger had trodden or
the skirt of Janet's cashmere, and
ripped it at the waist. The logge,
merely said "Blank the Dress" and
went on with his dancing.
"The insulting puppy!" exclaimed
Janet, with flushed cheeks. And
then, o minute later, she turned on
Mark Farnham, her escort, a little,
pale-faced fellow, with mild blue eyes
and effeminate cast of c~ountenanee,
with the one word that opens our
sketch.
What would she have him do?
Too we'll the pale little book-keeper
knew the backwoods code. It was
his duty to insist on an apology from
the bulky logger or fog him for his
~insolence. This Mark Farnham was
not able to do. He knew the man
who had insulted Janet as a bully and
hard pet from near the Dam, a village
on the river some six miles from Ma.
pie Top.
"There's no use having any trou-
ble," said Mark. "If the fellow
troubles you again I'll settle with
him."
ooh, the ideal" exclaimed Janet.
IT think the next time / go out in
company it will be with q man." and
she turned her back on the little
book-keeper and began relating her
troubles to a group of girls near by.
The set was d~isarranged by the in
cident, and another couple was called
on to fill the gap, and then the dance
went on IS though nothing had hap
pened.
Mark Farnham noticed indignant
glances turned toward him by the
backwoods lassies, and knew that the
word coward vas repeated from lip to
lip.
II wonder if Janet would be better
satisfied if I should offer myself a sac
rifice on the altar of her offended dig
nifty. I might get my head knocked
off, but what would be the use? Til
e that DANTE and make him apollo
gize, if I die the next minute"
But the little book-keeper was not
permitted tina privilege of receiving a
thrashing for Janet Lyons sake. A
newcomer had appeared upon the
scene in the person Of Richard Well
ington, a magnificent picture of mus
cular development, with the dress and
air Of q gentleman. He was Lyon,
Haight & Co.'s foreman in the great
mill at Muskegon, and q prime favorite
with the senior member of the firm.
"The coward permitted that rufian,
River Dan, to insult me grossly. It
will be a long time before I am seen in
his company again, I can tell you that"
Janet was saying, as she passed the
little book-keeper, leaning on the arm
of Mr...Wellington,
"Where is the fellow now?" ques-
toned Wellington.
"Never mind. I do not care to see
him again. Let it Drop"
"But I will punish the scoundrel as
hs deserves. No man shall insult you
while I am around, Janet"
"No, no." and the fair girl chung to
the arm of her Apollo-like companion.
s'It is not your quarrel, Dick. I shan't
you to make trouble now. I
know if you had been in Mark Farm
hams place you would have promptly
knocked the rufian down. I was so
ashamed of him. He is a little cow
Again that word. Hcutlike a knife,
and the pallid little book-keeper never
before felt his utter insignificance as
he did this night. He was glad when
the dance came to an end. But Janet
was already tucked under the robes Of
Dick Wellington's cutter when Farm
ham went for her to ride back with
him. Another insult. The pallid
cheeks of the little book-keeper held
two spots Of fame as he went alone to
his cutter.
"Goin' past the dam, amt yea"
A stalwart form, in red shirt and
.overalls, doomed up before the book
keeper in the moonlight.
Farnham at once recognized the man
who had caused him such extreme hui
this night.
II am going past the DAM" admit
led Farnham.
"Alone?"
II expect So"
"Mebbe you'd take q passenger?"
Certainly; get in
The huge bully thrust himself IN
der the robe. Farnham seated him
self beside him, and then they went
spinning away over the openings at q
rapid rate.