The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-12-20

son. he had hoped to see Lassaphine. He
loved his Master and his Masters work,
vet be was barely %. with veins riotous-
ly full of young red blood. From the
first he felt I~assaphine's spell. \ brief
while he had fought against it-thon he
surrendered everything but conscience to
its subtle sweetness. 1t was conscience
which had made him anger her: he was
jealousy afraid of his own heart. An
other man. i'll Somny's case. would have
been privately told of his unseemly beha-
vior. Love and L%asSaphine had con
strained him to deal harShly. upon pain
of seeming to himself a coward.
She must be furiously angry-still he
would not give her up-he would 90 to
her. and somehow make his peace. He
Q with eyes doWncast, reins hanging.
Ills horse. all ut once, SHED Violently.
then stood stock still. 4 glance told
him the rcason-three other horScmen
so aligned as to block the way. Jack
Chllders was in the middle. Grant and
Haskell to right and left. All three
faces were set in Il sort of Stcely white
ness. lnStmctiyely Mickleiohn under
stood. and IN understanding COMPREHEND
ed how much he had mistaken his vocal
ton. The elemental savage woke in him
love, religion. honor. ambition. were as
nothing by contrast with this lust for i
weapon, this mad desire to fight 10 fin,
death. tie was wholly unarmed, in the
face Of tremendous odds. He was better
horsed than amy Of the three, and to the
full as good a rider. His one chance was
to ride them down, and run for it. II
was characteristic thar the thought Of
turning back never once entered his
mind.
He gathered up the reins. bent his
IA,l -ly.+la -r.J
at the line. Jack swerved his horse
the least bit. let the other get his head
we'll past. then leaning lightly tore the
rellS from Micklejohn's grasp and threw
MS horse upon its launches. The force
OF impact swung his own horse around
III an instant, both animals had fallen
The riders. at hard grips, writhcd free Of
the struggling beasts. staggered. Svavad
back and forth through Il GREATNESS
heart-hreaking minute, then fell prone in
the rocky road.
brawny broad shoulders and lon.a
Jointed. long-reaching arms. Rut try &c
ne might. he could not free himself
Jacks arms We're locked about tho b;o,
chest like q steel band. momentori~
tightening. Not Il word had been snolan
None was needed. NickIeiohn knnur \.
was paying for what they had taLor
as an insult TO Lassaphinc. The knoyyi.
80 WAS mere feeling-he neither
'housht nor planned consciously. Life
meant Citing nothing more nor los.
h@n'llS an Antagonist he ought 10 crush
win one arm, who yet seemed likaIr -
best him. HAS :"
III" shut his eyes. but opened thon,
stantiy. Tie could see nofbin. L,,t
~ ana yellow and green. melting
r !, " H~iackness: Still Jacks grip held,
hhe. aSonlzlng. His breath Went no
lower than the throat-he mnst hraap
;ma srlp or perish. With Il mighty pllns-
lns surg he got to his knees. ioosaJ one
hInw EN- niihcheh It and struck Childers a
y III the face. Blood followed II
$ 1000 warm and sticky. II came in
= Inhl.hs Jet but did not dim the fire
H. 'ack $ eyes. Still he held hard. sway
effo,t" ~ ana forth, foiliny Micklejohn's
.noitS 10 get upon his feet. He saw ~
thn nna ace. the staring eyes-he knew
~ Ta I'M was only Il minute away
'''''i'ph was in his grasp. Mickle;oh,