Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-06-13

knew-and Miss Carry May would
know of it. too Harris would Ger
tainly tell her ii nobody else did. 1t
was into,erable
Hills wrath having cooked thus all
day. he set out as soon as school was
dismissed TO find the editor once more.
This time he me: him on the street.
Il want to speak to you. Mr.. Har-
ris." said Mr.. Hill, siding up awk-
wardly to the place where his enemy
stooG
II am at your service. sir" said Mr..
Harris. looking bored. but be brief;
am in something of a hurry"
Il want" said Mr.. Hill. without fur
Their ceremony. Ito fight you"
Il don't see the use of that" said
Mr.. Harris.
You must apologize. said Mr. Hill.
81 certainly shall not" said Mr..
Harris.
Then I'm going to lick you right
now and here" said Mr.. Hill. flying
into 4 great rage and mating wind.
with his arms.
Not now or here" said FIR. Har-
ris, coolly. Il am no street brawler
| am. as You are aware, justice of
the peace. and do rot propose TO get
myself hauled before the mayor-even
10 oblige you. l shall be more than
pleased TO meet you at some more con-
venient season in some retired spot
outside the town limits. At present
am going to supper And Harris
turned On his heel. linked his arm in
that Of friend. who had been a Curl
GUS observer of this scene. and strolled
slowly on down the village street. Hill.
left thus unceremoliousiy. stood and
stared-his mouth open-the picture
of helpless fury. Then he rushed af-
ter the editor. shouting a torrent of
speech. in all of which the word
fight" alone was articulate.
Harris turned
Il told YOU" said he to Hill angri-
~. that | was going to supper" and
he resumed his walk This time Hill.
after standing like a lost man and
gazing after Harris for a moment.
swung round in his turn and strobe of
il the opposite direction. He walked
violently. singing his arms.
The worst OF 1t was that when the
schoolmaster met Miss Carry-May the
young woman, instead of answering
his grins and compliments with smiles
as she had been used to do. was apt
now TO turn her head and giggle. and
when the wretched Hill tried to ex-
plain She giggled more than ever. 1t
might be supposed from this that the
editor was in high favor. But in that
view he was evidently mistaken.
The editor came back from up the
county" some time during the next
week. and called Immediately upon
Miss Carry-May. He was received
with frowns. Miss Carry-May told
him frankly that she could not respect
coward. Everybody knew. she said.
that ne had declined to fight the
schcoimaster-afterw he had run
away-and. well. she. for one. was sur
prised. The editor. who had IL very
bad. was dumfounded at this view of
the matter. and hemmed and hawed
at a fearful rate. Miss Carry-May
took advantage OF his confusion to
overwhelm him with reproaches.
Il ne:er thought you would be a
coward" she insisted. and was so
clearly distressed that the editor
srrang to his feet and declared no
would go after Hill at once and thrash
him within an inch OF his life. Before
Miss Carry-May. now a little frigh-
tened. could stop him he was gone
ont into the night
With all possible speed he made his
way 10 the schoolmaster's dwelling
and rang the bell with a jangie tina;
alarmed the quiet household in which
Mt Hill was a boarder. 4 little boy
one Of Hills pupiis-came to the
door, and, to the question put as TO
Sir. Hills whereabouts. replied with
very round eyes that the schoolmas-
ter had just left the house with no
more explanation than that he was
going up the road piece" The edi-
ter started. That was the phrase Hill
used to employ when he was going to
see "gar'-and what girl could there
be but Miss Carry-May? His enemy
must have passed him in the dark.
The editor left the boy still staring.
and retraced his steps hastily AS he
came opposite Miss Carry-May's house
again. sure enough. he heard Hills
unmistakable nervous cackle within.
Miss Carry-May's voice was not audi
BILE.
The editor did not go in. Instead
he went TO his room. In the morning
the schoolmaster received a note which
read:
Sir: have been waiting for you
to name a time and place for the en-
counter you were so kind as to sug-
gest to me the other day. You have
sent me TO word. May | venture to
offer suggestiin In my turn? If it be
agreeable 10 you. will meet you in
Dead Mans Hollow at o'clock this
afternoon. Kindly bring your gun.
tSigred) JOHN HARRIS"
This note was delivered to Mr. Hill
in his schoolroom. and produced Gu
rious effect. Mr.. Hill had been in a
villainously bad humor Now he. twist
ed ecstaticai!y in his chair as he read.
his face spread into wonderful grin.
Tell Mr.. Harris" said he to the
boy. III be there"
All the rest OF the day he was nOta-