The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1917-09-14

Sunday night. And this he must ac-
complsh at the church door, out Of
sometimes-a savage rivalry challenging
disaster.
For by this simple, primitive. heroic
process the status of contestants for
maids favor is fixed. He whose arm
is taken can face his little world on
Monday. He whose arm is rejected
is, on Monday, social exile. For the
small world Of the vicnage is always
there and this is the maiden's public
election of him she chooses to honor,
and her public rebuke to his too pre-
sumptuous rival. And, after that,
she is a poor thing indeed who will be
seen in public with the latter. For
nothing is more sweet and cruel than
love
Seffy was not a publicly-acknowledg-
ed sutton. He could not be. 1t was
impossiblel There was that tomb
stone still up in the store. Sam had
not yet been dislodged. And Seffy
had not yet arrived where he might
put the awful question-there was a
recognized period for this, and events
had put it further and further off
Indeed, he shuddered when he thought
of it-even then, after that under
standing with Sally!-and contem-
plated getting his father to do it for
him.
1t had become known; in the wireless
way such things spread in the country,
that there had been tentative making
up between Seffy and Sally, But
Seffy was still not received in public.
Nor did he appear with Sally! Nor
might he call upon heri There must
be some open defiance and victory
which all could see and understand be-
fore these things might happen. The
right hand OF renewed fellowship would
not be extended to Seffy until he had
met and vanquished his rival in public.
1t was the primitive right of the strong
est, proved physically here as in the
Roman circus. Seffy had never shown
himself master of material prowess.
He demurred bit at such plunge into
the arena But there was no other way.
"Why, Sef," advised his father,
latter that it's dead open and shut
game. You better do the biggest sing
you ken--and that's the end Of it, If
! had Sally on my side, | wouldn't keer
who the hell was on the other! You
take her home from church, Vas,
right afore their dam nosesl Then
they'll run after you and send you
presents. 1t amt no guess-work for
you'll You know that Sally will be
waiting for you wiss her arm all ready
to take yourn. Gosh! l meier had
no such sure sing. had to take my
chances wiss you mammyl And it
was three other fellers wiss their arms
out-and the right side yeti But your
daddy was close up against the church
door. And when she come out he
didn't waste no time a-saying polite,
Miss HUNGER ken hat the pleasure
to see you home this EVENING" I'd
"a lost the game il had waited to git
off all that dictionary stuff Yassirl
For right opposite me was Bill Eisen-
krout-Sam's uncle-and | knowed his
arm'd shoot out like patent corn
husker the minute you nanny come.
He was mighty quick, but mighty
politel ! knowed he'd say that fool
ishness about being pleased to see her
home. Well she come out and chust
grabbed. And while l was marching
on like a conquering hero, informing
her that it was nice efening, could
hear Bill on the off side, Citing out that
stuff bout pleasure and seeing her
home. Nancy says, says she; Sank
you, Mr.. Eisenkrout, Pm suited and
| laughed like he'll And, begoshens,
Nancy laughed too! And that settled
Bill for efer morel Oh, it's Messing
like a laugh at the right time to kill a
man off Rill 1oft touv, tho ,ovt H..