The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1906-03-01

hev to make sich fuss. Can
like whoever l want to-"
Il s'pect so; but I've knowed y,
since ye were as little an pert as 1
gray squirrel, an I've toted you OF
my sled, an brought ye posies an nuts
an rabbits an 'possums, so long as
can member"
An Job has only knowed me three
months, an drlv me in his stylish
buggy, an give me ring that cost n.
much as a quarter, reckon. You AIM
nothin' so good-lookin' or us stylish as
Job, Sim Barker; an your hands are
big an rough, an your clothes amt
only homespun."
The girl, half-defiant half-laughing
stood, tall and upright, before her long.
time lover, her small, shapely, but
work-roushened hands resting on the
back OF Il chair.
CLOTHES don't make man, Lorena,
nor soft, white hands, neither" retort-
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 a
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-
Tealed in the tender old song "Lorena."
You are only jealous, Sim Barker.
Job Allen is as much man as you be-"
There Is no knowin' which boss kin
run the fastest till you try 'em In n
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 coward, and no man at
hll."
You goin' to fight him?' asked
Lorena, anxiously.
: I'm goin' to give him n chance TO
lick me- answered Sim, quietly,
though lie 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 bicger'n
you; an you might get hurt"
Sim laughed.
Yes, Lorena, might; but / guess I
won't, though he is bigger'n me- You
Kin stand an be jidge If you like,
There'll be some rare fun, l 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-"
'. 'Brag Is n good-lookn' hoss." re-
piled Sim, with knowing twinkle in
his eyes, "but ye can't ride far ON
him"
Sim was n SLENDER rather under
sized man, but he had spent his whole
Ire IN the mountains, and his muscles
We're MS 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 daring act for
Sim to risk trial of strength with
him, and no wonder Lorena, who. i'm
her heart of hearts, unconsclously to |
herself, loved the 1.-the mountaineer-
no wonder she trembled for his safety.
HE says he's even thrown Fitzsim.
mons said Lorena, Ia an awed tone.
Sim laughed again, long and loudly.
Don't ye 50 to frettin' yerself too
much, Lorena, / amt a prize fighter
but | don't think job Allen kin lick
me, If he can Fitzsimmons. A man
can't allus be measured by his size.
The biggest fellers are often the big
gest towards. If ye want to see the
fun, come down to the big pine-tree
this cvenin' at sundown. I'll be thar.
an SO will Job, If he cares more fer We
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 mixture of
vague emotions, for the coming of the
duellers, as Sim had expressed it. As
she stood looking anxlously along the
path leading up from the valley, You
might have thought her young prin.
cess in disguise. She was a 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-
ton. Lorena had inherited nothing
from her father except his brave fear
lessness and sturdy honesty. For the
rest she was purely her mothers child.
with an added beauty, grace, and
witchlns coquetry inherited from some
unknown ancestors. With little edu-
cation, and with uncultivated speech,
she yet possessed the instincts that