The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1915-03-11
nll I'LL I'LL
I'LL I'LL LII

NC 1oukiu outs was II "a q
place among the virtues.
To be sure, in his enthusiasm, he
overdid 1t. but why hold that up
against him? He made Philip Mid
thorne out to be a hero. the like of
whom never walked through the most
exalted tale of chivalry. His descrip-
ton of that well imagined combat on
the lonely duellins ground, and the cir
cumstances that led up to 1T, merited
distinction in the choicest yellow back
fiction of any age. l leave his story 10
your Imagination. I have my own to
tell. The effect it had on the boy is all
that / care to record.
When the lengthy. involved and high
~. colored narrative came to an end
! Which was when the old man reached a
stage where he realized that he was
beginning to contradict himself because
he couldn't remember just What had
gone before-the boy was fairly
sQuirming with excitement, and bride,
and glory in his heroic father. Jabez
left nothing to the Imagination, albeit
he uttered not a single word of the
truth.
Later on. the old man watched his
young friend scudding up the hill to-
ward the gate in the road wall sur
rounding the Blagden garden and stable
yard. He was very thoughtful, and he
shook his g~rizzled head in deep per-
plexity.
Hell find out the truth some day,
FSSN ANNt sA'NSSA AA>s Nto tk A'S - NA
will go for naught. Mebby 'twould
been better to have old him the truth.
What a fine little chap he is"
Eric encountered Chetwynd in the
grape arbor. The older bay was
snugly ensconced in a remote hook,
where he spent much of his leisure time
reading. far from the questioning eyes
of his parents, and quite out Of view
from any of the windows in the hou
itself. He chose this spot because 1t
was secluded, and he denied either of
his cousins the right to approach with
in 20 PAGES of his lair. w or three
kickings had convinced Eric that
discretion was better than valor. He
kept his distance thereafter, but down
in his heart he cherished the hope that
there would come a time when ne
would be big enough to drive the proud
bully from his paradise. o. may be
sure h Chetwynd's nook was the
~shadiest- the coolest and altogether the
most desirable in the garden. He chose
it with considerable perception. 1t was
there that ostensibly he pursued the
course in reading his father had laid
down for him. If you had approached
cautiously from behind, you would have
observed that a flashy, blood stirring
paper back library" of the S and 10
cent variety reposed atop the obscured
pages of Virgil. Chetwynd managed, in
some way to read at least one of these
demoralizing pamphlets every day. His
mind was soaked with the vicious per-
~for1nances of certain highwaymen, road
agents. detectives, and the more ex-
allied but scarcely less approyable vir-
tues Of youthful heroes.
His doting parents would have beer
shocked beyond measure could they
have Known of his unexampled stray
ing.
Eric usually ave the sacred spot a
wide berth. Today, full of exaltation.
he boldly invaded the nook.
Get out of thisl" roared Chetwynd.
scarcely believing his eyes. He lowered
his feet from their perch on the %trellis,
and was almost prepared to rise from
the small Of his back, on which he was
sitting.
The ugly scowl did not daunt the
trespasser. He came UP quite close to
his cousin.
You can kick me If you want to. but
I mean to tell he began.
Chetwynd interrupted him with a
mild oath. A moment later he was
standing over the smaller boy. his arm
drawn back ~threateningly-
reading, I'll break your neck" he
Kissed. He was pale, not with anger,
but at the thought of the Information
going to his father.
"Oh- I'm not a tattleta1e.' cried Eric.
you know better than hat You're a
t~elltale yourself, but I'm not. You"
Don't you call me a t%elltale!"
We'll. you are. You tell on me to
aunt every time I do anything, and you
tell her lots of times that l did the
things that you did yourself, SOS Ill
get punished. She believes you, and l
get it good and hard, too. But / never
squeal on you. You know 1 don't"
You don't dare to-" proclaimed
C~hetwynd. You know what I'd do to
YOU"
Why don't you pick on Johnny Met
calf or Roy Gray? You're afraid of I'm.
They're as big as you are, n they'd
just lick you"
TIL give you a smash in the eye,
first thing you know" growled Chef
wynd. Still his arm was withheld"
Go on and do it! Go on cried the
reckless Eric. You're a coward that's
what you are. You won't fight fair.
You know l can't lick you
For two cents, I'd"
I'll fight with 'dornicks' at 20 PAGES"
said Eric.
Chetwynd laughed derisively as lie
showed the boy away from him.
Next thing you'll be challenging me
to q duel" he guffawed meaningly.
Eric was quivering with the news
that was to be his justification.
Aunt Rena said my father was a
lie.'
Chetwynd stared.
I'm going to tell her you called her
a liar" he said. Then you'll catch
hell!"
"Oh, If Uncle Horace heard you use
that word cried Eric, forgetting his
purpose in the delight of anticipation.
He'd tan - but he'd tan you"
I'd show him if he tried it, blus-
tered Chetwynd. II won't let any man
lick me, don't care who he is.
Eric returned to his original attack.
Il don't care if you do tell Aunt Rena.
She knows it amt true. He killed his
man In a duel, a fair and square duel.
It was according to the code, all good
and proper. She has no business saw
ing it was a murder
Well. 1t was murder cried Chef
wynd angrily. You don't know what
you're talking about"
Erie went on rashly. I'D like to see
what your father'd do If he had to fight
a duel. He'd run, he'd back out. He
wouldn't stand up to anybody with pis-
tolls. My father was a brave man. He
met his ma and
Met hirn?' sneered Chetwynd. catch