The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-04-16
The cura.e drc1 back. What do you
wan;?" he asked. lie was painfully white

The carase drcw back. What do you
wan;?" he asked. lie painfully white
now.
What Go 1 want?" repeated the bully, fol-
lowing up the question with a voiley OF oaths
lnaf made the little man shudder. III tell
ye what l want. I want yer apoogy'-he
Lumhied with the word-"apology fer inter
Aerln tween a father and his kid. But
Hcheu MIN more n ever for yer blasted inter-
ferin'."
You Internal coward" exclaimed ST. John
bis opponent gasped.
Let me pass" said the curate
No, We don't!' cried the other recovering
from his establishment at hearing a strong
word from the parson.
ST John gazed hurriedly about him. The
pain wound across the moor, through the
green and purple of the heather, cutting a
low hedge here and there, and losing itself
at last in the heat haze. They were alone.
You have indeed" SAID ST. John peeling
OH his black coat and throwing it on the
heather. His soft felt hat followed Then
ne slipped the links from his cuffs and rolled
up his shirt sleeves while his enemy gasped
at his proceedings.
Now, I'm ready" said the curate, gently
Are We goin' to fight?" burst out the other,i
looking at him as Goliath might have looked
at David. Come Oh, ye-''
But the foul word never passed his lips,
oelng stopped by carefully planted blow
from a small but singularly hard fist. The
little curate was filled with a wild unholy
joy. He had not felt like this since his col
!ege days. He thanked Providence for his
friends, the Indian clubs and dumbbells.
which had kept him in trim the past three
years. The blood sang in his veins as he
clrcled round Goliath, guarding the giants
Brutal smashes and getting in a stroke when
occasion offered 1t was not long ere the
Dig man found himself hopelessly outmatch-
ed his wind was gone, his jaw was swollen
and one eye was useless. He made final
EFFORT and slung out terrific blow at David
Partly parred, it caught him on the shou-
der telling him to the earth. Now, surely,
the victory was with the Philistine. But no
The young man recoiled to his feet like a
young sapling, and the next that Goliath
knew was, ten minutes later, when he opened
ms available eye and found that his enemy
was bending over him, wiping the stains from
MS face with fine linen handkerchief
Fee. Feel better?" said the curate
We'll, I'm"
about, interposed his nurse. Nov, get up"
He held out his hand and assisted the
wreck to his feet.
you'd better call at the chemists and get
patched up. Here's money"
The vanquished one took the silver and
sazed stupidity at the giver, who was making
his toilet. s
Please go away and don't thrash your
coy any more" said st. John persuasiyelv.
Goliath made few steps, then retraced
them, holding out a grimy paw. Mister Par
son, Pm-Pm-" -.
Don't say another word. Goodby." And
The big man turned away PRESENTLY he
halted once more. I'm beat!' he said. #
mad to come. Then he shambled homeward
81. 1ohn adjusted his collar, gave his shout
der rub and donned his coat and hat A.
ne started toward the village girl came
swiftly to meet him.
oh, John, John, you are splendid" she
sasped as she reached him. IT watched Won
from the hedge yonder''
am exceedingly sorry, Miss Edmiston."
said the curate codly, raising his hat and
making to pass on.
Nancy started as though he had struck her.
Her flush of enthusiasm paled out In her
excitement she had forgotten that event of
a week ago, but the cutting tone of his
voice reminded her. She bowed her head,
and he went on his way. He had gone about
fifty yards when she called his name. Her
voice just reached him, but something in if
told him that he had not suffered alone.
change.