The Concordia sentinel. (Vidalia, Concordia Parish, La.) 1882-current, 1920-06-05
n GET GOOD and FeSdy. and not yygSoSd

more conversation with me. or dldst
want thy camp cleaned outY
He started toward Pennington, who
backed hastily away. Shirley stood
her ground. bending upon Bryce, as he
approached her. a cold and disapprov-
ing glance. "Tll get you yet" the
Colonel declared from the shelter of
an old stump behind which he had
taken refuge.
Barking dogs never bite, Colonel.
And that reminds me: I've heard
enough from you. One more cheep
out of you, my friend, and I'll go up
to my logging-camp, return here with
crew of bluenoSes and wild Irish and
run your wops, bOhunks, and chOlos
out of the county. 1 don't fancy the
class of labor you're importing into
this county, anyhow"
The Colonel, evidently deciding that
discretion WAS the better part of valor,
promptly subsidized, although Bryce
could see that he was mumbling threats
| to himself, though not in an audible
voice.
The demon Cardigan halted beside
Shirley and stood gazing down at her.
| He was smiling ut her whimsically.
| She met his glance for a few seconds I;
then her lids were lowered and she bit
her lip with veXatiOn.
shirley" he said.
you are presumptuous," she qua
vered.
"YOu set NE an example in presump-
tiOn," he rrtorted good humOredly.
did you not call me by my first name
minute agow The heir to Cardi-
CAMS redwOods bent over the girl.
''You spoke to me-after your promise
not to, Shirley" he said gently. you
will always speak to me-"
She commenced to cry softly. Il
loathe you," she sobbed.
For you l have the utmost respect
and admiration" he replied.
''No, you haven't. If you had, you
wouldn't hurt my uncle-the only hui
man being in all this world who is
dear to me-
"Gosh 20 he murmured plaintively.
''Fm Jealous of that man. However,
I'm sorry I hurt him. l give you my
word I came here to fight fairly"
"He merely tried to stop you from
fighting"
"No, he didn't. Shirley. He inter
fered and fouled me. Still, despite
that, if 1 had known you were spec
tator I think I should have controlled
myself and refrained from pulling on
my vengeance in your presence.
shall never cease to regret that sub
jected you to such a distressing spec
tacle. I do hope, however, that you
will believe me when / tell you / am
not bully. although when there is a
fight worth while, / never dodge 1t.
And this time fought for the honor
of the House of Cardigan"
eff you want me to believe that, you
will beg my uncle's pardon"
At can't do that He is my enemy
and 1 shall hate him forever; 1 shall
fight him and his way of doing business
until he reforms or am exhausted"
"You realize, of course, what your
insistence on that plan means, Mr.
CardiganT"
"Can me Bryce" he pleaded
'You're going to call me that some day
anyhow, so why not start nOw?"
'You are altogether insufferaLle
sir. Please 60 away and never pre-
sumo to address me again. You are
quite impossible"
He shook his head. Il do not give
up that readily, Shirley. 1 didn't
know, how dear-what your friendship
meant to me, until you sent me away
didn't think there was any hope until
you warned me those dogs were hunt.
ing me-and called me Bryce" He
held out his hand. "'God gave US our
relations" he quoted. but, thank God
we can choose our friends And II
be a good friend to you. Shirley Sum.
ner, until have earned the right to be
something more. Won't you shake
hands with me? Remember, this fight
to-day is only the first skirmish in a
war to the finish-and am leading p
forlorn hope. If lose-well. this will
be goodbye"
81 hate you" she answered drearily
"All our fine friendship-smashed
and you growing stupidity sentimental
1 didn't think 1t of you. Please &C
away. You are distressing me-"
He smiled at her tenderly, forgiv.
ingly, wistfully. but she did not see it
Then it is really goodbye" he muir
INJURED with mock dolorousness.
She nodded her bowed head. "Yes,'
she whispered. AFTER all. l have
some pride. you know. You mustn't
presume TO be the butterfly preaching
contentment to the toad In the dust
AS you will It, Shirley" He turned
away. an send your axe back with
the first trainload of logs from my
camp, Colonel" he called to Penning
ton.
Once more he strobe away into the
timber. Shirley watched him pass out
Of her life, and gloried in what she con.
ceived to be his agony, for she had
both temper and spirit, and Bryce
Cardigan calmly. blunderingIy, rather
stupidity (she thought) had presumed
| Ao0rantlv on brief acquaintance