New Britain herald., 1915-02-06
RING ROMANCE OF
 ROBERT ERICSSON
He Beat Up RVaI tO Win HeaII
 of FaI WIGOW GsWhMD.

When the nineteenth century was young, when men still gloried in brute strength and courage, and the lust of personal combat ran hot In their veins, there lived in the town of Preston, England, a youthful giant who answered to the name of Bob Gregson. He was a native of the Lancashire village of Heskn, ten miles from Preston, and came of good yeoman stock. Standing six feet two he was a Hercules in physical propor- tions big-boned and brawny. His comedy face and curly hair and manly figure made him the handsomest lad in Lancashire. He was intelligent and good -natured, and it was only natural that many Of the maidens of Preston were enamored of the gallant young ster
 Young Bob followed several occupa- tions, including that of a commander of packet boat Like most of the athletic youngsters Of that period, he was fond of a bout with the raw uns." but these were always im- promptu affairs with the lads of the neighborhood The possibility of turning his fighting ability to finan- cial account in the prize ring did not occur to him at that time.
 Despite his attractions for the fair sex. Bob Gregson remained heart whole and fancy free until he met lovely widow of Preston named Mrs. Gawthorp. She was young, plump and pretty, and from the moment Bob cast eyes on the artful minx he i was head over heels in love. She
 was a woman after his own heart--no frail ethereal lady given to "vapors' and fainting fits, but buXom, bloom-
 ing, red -blooded and pink -cheked and
 overflowing with merriment and good spirits.
 | Unfortunately all was not easy sbed- ! ding for the enamored Bob. The widow, while conscious of the honor ! paid her by the attentions of young ! man for whom so many fair ones had set their caps in vain, was, it Is i to be feared, a bit fickle in her af- ! fectione. In any event, Bob soon 1 realized that he had a rival, another 1 handsome giant named Harry Man | dersley. That was quite classy name, and much to be preferred to | Gregson, which had a plebian ring | Besides, young Mandersley was the
 son of well-to-do parents, and might
 some day inherit fourishing meat
 market, while happy, care-free Bob 1 had no such expectations. The strap ping Harry and the stalwart Bob l soon found themselves at sword s | points. which was doubtless a source 1 of delight to the merry widow. She | distributed her smiles evenly between | the Iove-lorn pair. One day Bob's ] heart would sing with joy in the be-
 lief that he was the favored one, but l the next day Harry would receive some coy attention from the widow that would plunge poor Bob into the sloughs of despair.
 Mad with jealousy, both Bob and Harry realized that the affair must
 he brought to climax. Ono day young Mandcrsley was returning home after visit to the widow when
 he was accosted by Gregson. The frowning, lowering yisage of his rival told the heir to the butchers shop that the climax was about to be reached,
 They say as you think you be fghter,1 said Bob, plunging straight into the subject Well, I will fight We. An the man as is licked is to stay away from Widow Gawthorp. What says yer
 The truculent Harry expressed htrs~ self as not only willing, but eager, to settle their love feud on those terms, and added that he was ready to decide the issue then and there. After a heat
 (Continued on Twelfth Page.