The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1909-03-25
A Duel With
DaYy Jones


used to spend most of his time in
Simpson, on the Land'ng-stage, look
Ing out over the river at the ships
The Conway boys used to come there
twice a week for Eccles cakes and
buns, and Davy Jones was always
pleased to see them. He used to
listen to their talk and to laugh at
the jokes they made. and when any
very great boy came there, with a
wisdom beyond his years and a prom.
lse beyond bis years and a promise Of
future greatness, he would talk kind
ly to him. "You and l." he would say,
will be better acquainted by and by"
He liked to see the boys, they were so
fresh and merry. 1t always went to
his heart when he heard that So-and-
so, the handsome one, or So-and.so.
the brave one, was about to sail. "You
are safe here" he would tell them.
Out there you will not be so safe. Ii
IS a hungry thing the sea--a hungry,
hungry, hungry thing" they would
laugh at this, because they were glad
% be leaving school, and he would
laugh back. you and l." he would
say. will be better acquainted by
md by. BY and by we shall be better
acquainted"
One evening as he sat there at tea.
Bill Harker entered. Davy Jones had
lad his eye on Bill for some years.
md knew him. 1t was very shocking
o Davy Jones to see that the young
l. 4
,rave attempts to chaff the waitress
md to nick an extra rock cake as soon
is her back was turned "Harker," he
aid kindly, come and sit down, boy.
What's the troube?" She's mar.
ried," said Harker, between his sobs.
She's married" "Ah," said Davy
zones, "and you were in love with her
Iourself?" Il love her, | love her"
aid Bill Harker; 81 always loved her.
And | threw her over, man, because
she told me the truth about myself"
Truth Is a rare gift, Harker," said
oavy Jones. "Ah, she is beautiful.
She is beautiful. She is not like me-"
laid Bill. Beauty is great gift,
iarker," said Davy Jones. And she
ias married old Hawk of Ere" said
I'LL. "and threw her over. And she'll
,e In hell till she dies. And shall
owe her forever. Forever" Love is
sweet flame. Harker," said Davy
ones. Truth and Beauty and Love
ogether, Harker, are not things to
arrow In the dirt" "She is going
broad" said Harker. "They are poor,
md they are going abroad" "Ah!"
aid Davy Jones. "In what ship.
ow?" THAT is the curse OF it." said
'iarher. "They are poor. And they
re goinE in the old Glasgerion, the
rottenest old hulk that ever was over
insured. She will never fetch to
It. Mary's. She'll go down in the
~ like stone. And | shall have
llled her." 1--WE all kill our loves,
arker," said Davy Jones. "And so
sAe's going in the old Glasgerion.
now the Glasgerion Harker," said
avy Jones at last, 'the Glasgerion
IL never fetch to St. Mary's." "Nev.
>" said Harker; She's a doomed
ZIP. l dream in the night that saw
r. And the sea was all crawling
ross her deck. Her deck was all
,ry with It, There were weeds in
loves hair" he added; "the gulls
the sea were crying at her beauty"
H." said Davy Jones. "And now
~ have killed her "Harker," he
'ded, after time, you say you love
'r. DO you love her very much?"
lore than my life" said Harker. 81
ould die for that woman" Even
Nv she's married Harker" "Yes,
'en now, even now" Suppose now"
id Davy Jones, that she could be
'ppy with Hawk. Would you die
that they could live and be hap
2" II would die" said Harker
life is little thing to give for wo.
IN like her." $50 you would give
,ur life for theirs, Harker?" said
IVY Jones. 81 would" he answered.
They were quiet after that, till Davy
)nes got up to go. "Harker," he said.
dly, sometimes life is very bitter.
nose who don't know me call me a
'rd man; but | am not hard. You
id you would die for those two.
hen do you s.il?" Tomorrow. by
Hioiuin tue, sdlQ HarKer,
lie Glasgerion sails the same time"
you would die for them, Harker?"
i'd Davy Jones. $50 be it. | think
u would die hard, Harker, from all
have seen of you. 1t is cold in the
a." he added softly, "but the bub.
IS are bright, and the multitude of
drowned is past counting" I am
rtainly tough to KILL" said Harker
served my time on the coast. /
ant shame my breeding when the
i comes" When Davy Jones had
ne. Harker looked at the old Glas.
zion as she lay at her buoy in the
er. with her ports all lighted like
ballroom.
The next morning, as the Glasgerion
- ,pped down stream. she passed the
'runaa bark, towing out, with a
ck tug ahead Of her. They were
n6ing sails In the Corunna, and the
liYp0 man nm tho fOpa rr,,., -a