The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1906-03-17
SIM BARKER'S RIVAL.


R57 ELS, Sim. do like Job Allen.
" an l don't see what right ye
hev to make SIGH a fuss Can't
like whoever I want tor
II s'pect so; but I've knowed ye
since ye were as little an pert as a
gray squirrel, an I've toted you on
my sled, an brought ye posies an nuts,
an rabbits an 'possums, 20 long as l
can member"
AN Job has only knowed me three
months, an driv me in his stylish
buggy, an give me ring that cost as
much as a quarter, l reckon. You amt
nothin' so good-lookin' or as stylish as
Job, Sim Barker; an your hands are
big an rough, an your clothes amt
only homespun."
The girl, half-defant, half-laughing,
stood, tall and upright, before her long
time lover, her small, shapely. but
work-roughened hands resting on the
back Of a chair.
Clothes don't make q man, Lorena,
nor soft, white hands, neither" ret0rt-
ed Sim; IAN there amt nothin' of the
man about Job sides his clothes"
Lorena's big gray eyes flashed with
anger. Her mother. who had had q
tender little romance in her life before
she married Nathan Grant, the rough
mountaineer, had named her Lorena,
because she fancied her own early love
and sorrow like that SO pathetically re-
vealed In the tender old song, "Lorena.
you are only jealous, Sim Barker.
Job Allen is as much man as you be. y
There Is no KNOWN which boss kin
run the fastest till you try 'em In q
race" returned Sim, dryly. I'm will
in to give Job chance to prove who
Is the best man. If he don't show his
mettle, he's a coward, and no man at
ALL"
You goin' to fight him?" asked
Lorena, anxiously.
I'm goin' to give him a chance to
lick me-" answered Sim, quietly,
though he saw, with inward satisfac-
ton, that the girl was troubled for his
safety in trial Of strength with Job.
You better not, Sim. He's bigger'u
you an you might get hurt"
Sim laughed
Eyes, Lorena, / might; but I guess
won't, though he is bigger'n me. You
kin stand an be jidge II you like.
There'll be some rare fun, I reckon"
But, Sim," and the girls face paled,
hell kill you-he's so big an strong,
an he has licked SO many better fight.
ers than you be-"
Drag is good-lookin' boss" re-
piled Sim, with a knowing twinkle In
his eyes; but ye can't ride far on
him."
Sim was slender, rather under
sized man, but he had spent his whole
Life In the mountains, and his muscles
were as strong as iron, and elastic as
rubber. Job Allen, ON the contrary,
the town-bred, was fully six feet,
broad-shouldered and neavy-limbed.
Aruly, it looked like a daring act for
Sim to risk trial of strength with
him. and no wonder Lorena, who. In
her heart Of hearts, unconsciously to
herself, loved the 1.-THE mountaineer-
no wonder she trembled for his safety.
He says he's even thrown Fitzsim-
mons" said Lorena, In an awed tone.
Sim laughed again, long and loudly.
Don't We go to frettin' yerself too
much, Lorena- l amt prize fighter.
but l don't think Job Allen Kin lick
me, il he can FitzsimmonA A man
can't allus be measured by his size.
The biggest fellers are often the big.
gest towards. II ye want to see the
fun, come down to the big pine-tree
this evenin' at snndown.- I'll be thar,
an 80 will Job, IL he cares more fer ye
than he does fer his own self"
That evening, just as the sun was
sinking behind the western mountain
peaks, Lorena reached the great pine
where she waited, with q mixture OF
vague emotions, for the coming Of the
duellers, as Sim had expressed II. Az
she stood looking anxiously along the
lpath leading up from the valley, You
might have thought her q young prin-
cess In disguise. She was q lovely
creature, with the beauty Of the deli
cate wild roses growing In such profu-
sion on the mountain sides. Her
dress. OF some dark blue material,
though coarse. was tastefully made,
and fitted her slender form to perfec-
tion. Lorena had inherited NOTHING
from her father except his brave fear
Iessness and sturdy honesty. For the
rest she was purely her mothers child,
with an added beauty. grace, and
witching coquetry. inherited from some
unknown ancestors. With little edu.
cation, and with uncultivated speech
lshe yet possessed tho instincts thai