The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1922-08-31
A Man and His
Mirth
BY ANNE WHITFIELD

]
and hoods all the why up the rocky.
ice-bound shore of Labrador. They
were coin,ng In laden with pelts.
OLA Henri Bedard counted them
through his glasses from the top ~
the cliff. Twenty that was right
No. only nineteen was II nineteen
or twentyi n II were nineteen that
meant tragedy. never far from those
seafarers lives. lie could not discern
clearly, and went On counting
Along the shore, and by the edge
81 the tiny Bier. those who had stayed
az home shook their heads at one an.
other
what will Georges Racine do when
he learns that his brother Pierre has
married the girl he was engaged tor
"will he try 90 XIII hlmy'
Hey. they are very well matched,
that pair II would be bull against
bull"
Marie Racine. the bride. VINO had
turned from the one brother 20 the
other after her first lovers departure
on the sealing voyage. sat at the door
% her cottage. trembling. She loved
her husband. but she had always BEEN
terribly afraid ~ Georges That was
why she had got engaged 20 him.
Georges had demanded that they be-
engaged. and she had not had the
strength To refuse him Besides,
Georges had dominated her. as ne
dominated every one In the port. by
his mental and physical prowess.
What would Georges dot The
watchers pictured his elemental wrath.
the furious fight that would ensue.
though Il would 10 too late. Too late
10 unjoln thos. whom the priest had
Joined. Hut Marie trembled.
Take thy revolver or thy knife.
dear Pierre" she begged. But not To
hurt him. only 90 protect thyself."
"IIo. am not afraid Of Georges :"
boasted Pierre as he staggered out
u his cottage toward the wharf. II
am as good a man as he is--better.
else thou hadst not married me-eh.
little MarfeT'
He kissed her nolsily.
the bride. But II will be terrible TO
face him"
"Ho. there will be no need for thee
90 face him." answered her husband
IF he as much as casts a black look
az thee or me shall hammer him into
pulped wood with my fists"
Marie looked In admiration after the
s,alwart figure ~ her husband as he
staggered along the sandy road to-
ward the pier. He passed toward the
pierhead. and the crowd. watching the
boats. turned their heads and said
Here comes Pierre Racine"
"what will happen when they meeti
Would Il not be- better TO send for the
cureT'
"No. let them fight Il out"
Suppose they XIII each othery'
THAT can hardly be. IL they have
knives We must disarm them. had
blood gets worse by keeping let them
fight Il out and he friends"
THAT they will never he Both
brothers loved tls girl almost to mad
ness"
They listened 20 Pierre. who was
bosstlng. perhaps because he was
secretly uneasy. and wished 10 keep
up his spirits. Friends. I have moth
ing but my fists. but l married my wife
fairly. and I'll hold her II my broth.
er Georges ~ much as casts n black
look at me. Ill hammer him into
pulped wood"
They looked at him In admiration.
There was no one in the village
could stand up O. either Georges or
Pierre.
Pierre roared with laughter. 1T will
be amusing 10 watch his face when he
learns" he said. And l shall tell
him. I shall say. Eli. Georges, dost
thou remember the little Marie to
whom thou vast engagedy 'Wellr he
replies. And now she Is married
Married? Show me the dog II Is l.
Georges. That Il all. And. as said.
IL will be amusing 20 watch his face"
The sealing boats were quite near
now. They came on with the sun shin.
Ing on their canvas sails. forming In
AAAA' - AAfs Wy
each toward It's place ON the side OF
the pier. Foremost came the vessel Of
old Henri Bedard's son. and there was
old Henri. waiting 10 meet H.
The sails came down. the ships were
almost alongside Voices exchanged
halls. Pierre Racine stood near the
head of the pier. scanning % ind his
brothers ship
"Eh," croaked old Henri. there are
nineteen OF you. not twenty. Who Is
missing
''Eh. yes. Co pulped wood. II he IN
terferes with me. I shall tell him"
Pierre declaimed among his cronles.
Some one was shouting "Ehf" The
crowd suddenly grew silent Georges
Racine's ship. Lost In the ice. Georges
and his boy" In. there would be no
fight after all. II was lucky Georges
had not left Marie widow.
Pierre stopped In the midst OF his
Dragging aud stumbled h0meward. II
was almost as II Georges had beaten
him after all.
Strategic Sentiment