The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1898-09-14

sparkling snow. On left and right
were stretches timbered with the
sturdy pines that struggled like an
army over plain and hill, and sent
vanguard up the mountain from whose
farther timber line II seemed to sigual
to the troops below. I'm front lay the
river coiling like twist of silver
braid. aud farther on the everlasting
hills rose, height on height. to pierce
the perfect azure of the sky.
Two men stood in this amphitheatre
Of the north. their rough and bearded
faces turned toward each other as they
had been turned in the cradle swaying
on cottage yerauda SO many years
ago. Their eyes flashed like steel to
steel in the morning light, aud their
lips were set in lines never seen by
those two waiting mothers.
'It's the only way out of it," said
one. at last, doggedly; as il to bring
to close n long aud useless argu-
ment. 1--WE didn't come here to meet
each other. and the place isn't big
enough to hold us both. We've both
struck IL rich, aud Nell Ransom owns
to her with all he gold Of both"
The other finished the sentences:
"The pistol shall decide which one
it shall be-"
Calmly the men paced the distance
and took their places, the revolvers
t..l, a1. Int
faltered through the pines against the
eastern sky.
"Onel" and the line of light rose
to the level of those strong, barred
bosoms.
"Wait minute, boysl Wait II
minute"
An old miner stepped ont of the
thicket and walked leisurely between
the duelists. He was known to both
men as a quaint character of their own
village, n man who had been among
the defeated gold-seekers of 40 aud
80. He had struck camp but the day
previous to this meeting.
''rve ben watchin' We leetle,
boys" he said ~ amt said much,
but I've KEEP a-thinkin. know
young blood, an l calc'lated it was
Just about time fur it to bile over; but
I've got powder to cool it,"
He lighted his pipe and pufled medi.
tatively.
The young men turned angrily.
"Oh, ye needn't get riled, now,"
he continued. pulling fine grass and
cleaning his pipe-stem with it, 'but
reckon there amt either one of ye
mean enough to fight over another
mans wifs!"
He stopped and looked at the rivals
sidewise; the words had gone home.
81 calc'late We don't git the papers
reg liar here; trains is sometimes late,
ye know; bein' there amt no tracks
fur 'em to run on, an like as not yer
mail amt real prompt, an we don't
use yer dust fur telegraphin' when ye
ain't got no lightnin' chained. SO
p'r'nps ye don't know that that gal of
Ransom 's--there, stand still an GO
with yer shootin lis married"
Two lines of light sauk suddenly
downward as the pistols fell with the
nerveless hands. The old man saw it
with q twinkle of his faded eyes.
''That's right, boys; now come here,
and I'll tell you about it,
Slowly and with shamed faces
Sidney Harper aud Charles Paxton
drew near and heard the old miners
story.
"Yes," he said, after the whole had
been recited, "she married no-ac
count feller, an has taken him home
to the old folks. She wasn't
never wuth dyin' fur lads; but when
] came away l seen two other vim
min wuth livin' fur. They're await.
in on their cottage porches now as
I've seen 'em sit for 30 years. Only
them babies, them little shavers they
nster hold an cuddle in III ir arms
aint there; they"
stop! God bless you, you old
meddler
One man spoke, but the Others
eyes made answer.
''Those are the women we'll live
for and care for and go home to see''
And, single file, with strange new
looks the men went back to camp -
Grace ID. Boylan, in the Brooklyn
Standard Union.
Quaint Old Curacao.
Curacao is a Dutch colony, and the
quaintest little island in the world.