El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-06-26

The coin went spinning up, pickering
silverly in the moonbeams, and fell
with a tinkle between their feet.
"Headsr' Selby called. Both bent to
look. The coin stood edgewise, lodged
against a tiny pebble. This time Selby
tossed, again calling Heads" before
the bit of silver touched the earth.
Heads VIM Willoughby said, walk
ing a little unsteadily to his place be-
meath the candle. 1t fluttereu ana nar-u
spectrally in flows of night wind. Will
loughby flung off his coat and let his
arms drop. The differing light showed
his face beaded all over.
BE still more merciful! Shoot
Guickr' he said. his eyes full on Selby's
face. Selby took deliberate aim, but
dropped his pistol to say:
You agree-here in the face of death
this is err mans Quarrel-one that
touches nobody but our two selves"
81 agree" Willoughby answered in
a dry whisper. Selby started a little
at the sound of it. Again he raised his
pistol to cover his adversary's heart
The band was playing "Tom Meri-
wether," maddest of mad, merry, dane
ing tunes. "Fll go and make 'em stop
if you want ter pray a minute?" Sci
by said interrogatively. Willoughby
shook his head, They could hear ap
preaching voices. In two minutes the
first of the crowd would De upon them.
Selby drew back the hammer of his
pistol, aimed and sent it's bullet into
the heart of the candle flame.
Il had ter snuff out err light, you
know" he said almost alphabetically,
offering his hand to Willoughby. Il
choosed the candle because-well, be-
cause it wasn't running fer congress
ag'inst me-
The crowd was all about them, clam
orously merry, before Willoughby dar-
ed trust himself to speak. Still coat
less and bareheaded, he sprang upon a
bench and shouted, Every friend of
mine cheer with me fer Bert Selby,
our next congressman, the best man in
the Purchase or out of it,
AS the cheers came Wa and ringing
Mary Specs face grew iiiumined. She
was almost at Willoughby's elbow,
smiling through happy tears. Selby
looked at her, sighed and said to his
heart, "Willoughby's elected fer heap
more'n ever 1 shall be-
"Speech! Speech!" the crowd shout
ed. Major Dade and Uncle Bob caught
him by the arms and tried to thrust
him forward. He smiled, but shook
his head obstinately and dived into the
throng, threaded it and plunged into an
ambush of shrubbery. AS he stood for
a moment with downcaSt eyes he felt
the lightest touch. Mary Specs hand
was on his arm. Mary Spec herself
was saying: 81 never would have be-
lieved you so ungrateful, Mr.. Selby.
Why didn't you make that speech?'
He took her hand between both his
own and said, Char amt but one
speech 1 feel like could make, and 1
know that amt worth while"
GLOW can you know it is not worth
while unless you make it?' she said
softly, n little tremor under her words.
Because it is 1 love you, and I'm
most sure you-cain't-never love-me,"
he answered, choking Il little over the
last words.
Possibly hearts feminine have a
chameleon quality, possibly also a
psychic wave too strong to be resisted
was then setting Selbyward. What
ever the fact. Mary Spec smiled up at
him and said, hardly above her breath,
maybe l might learn how Tiff you
gave me leave to try"