LITERATURE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7738, 14 February 1905, Page 4

LITERATURE.

WHINSKY AND JACffISON. llPttiinncv loved Miss Robins. So-did Wh-.nnev teas determined.. -r Misa **- 7o, u plete, but the next da> won a prize- Av;o as lo fi HE&SVas he. favourite one no j, BK—.-« determine. Vpon both she s HkwT („ both she held out her Esst with ejual franknuss. Jenkins, (] HEtaunon fncird and a whrewd ob- c WT"' L .-t that a lucky word, a t gesture on the part ofoith- r settle it at any moment; a Bfia women. P BBhM on the golf links i ■BFtbe Scottish village at which they e Etee staj ing, Whinney and Jackson c Infused to npoak to each cuher. i< Hllff I would rather be her tuddy than i pa^niHlwuißre." said Wiiinney, so that c Rrite might overhear him. 1 h Tbßn ci king," spoke up Jack- j Pkon. looking for away. ,< fe How handsome she was in her j skirt, and as graceful as the ' jj&liew-italgtxl bird that hops upon tine ' Sftwt grass of spring. Surely she was < to turn the head of any man}. ;hio make him stake his all upon the 1 f-ehance of winning her love. Jackson i Eplta.il avowed his devotion and she had 1 i-.iistentd patiently and smiled sweetly ar v *S she declared that as yet she did fcßot know her own mind, and as her K?%ewrt was companion to her mind, Pancr could not answer. She had lisand smilodand said the same fetMlig to Whinney. Ps- The sun was down and the players S|i%lld the spectators were leaving the WBnke. Hiss Robins' ball was lost , jfc'and out in the dusk the two rivals | .„were taunting for it. t*\~ v Now, don't substitute another §>'tpU and swear that you have found jS-it," said Jackson, p " Ah* I see you credit me with a deception that is at th&s moment through your own mind," SplfMnney. declared. I?" " H she were nol here I would pscall you a scoundral." fe " Oh, out with it ! Don't let- her P ~stand in your way." jfe- -If I weren't afraid that her tenIk der nature would prompt her to take r fieyon yoH I would scalp you with £ a golf sl»ck." If. •" Ah, when you show her a drop |of my blood I will exhibit to her a sptat o* yours." (*_ " Come gentlemen, don't quarrel," exclaimed, in a voice more thiA loud enough. S H Jenkins." cried Whinney, •" atjtend o your own affairs. One would 'think that you wer« • peace comftrmicsion appointed by. a)l the powers fcon earth." ■ ** *" And when you want to shout," ■ Jackson «poke up, '* reserve your for an occasion when lam jfejlot present." j«f. Ah," said Jenkins?, "so you are P-bolh resolved upon insulting me, ©-your friend. You have mistaken my > gentleness for timidity. But I want £to tell ou that I'm as revenge--6> " A » a lamb." suggested Jackson, g" "Or t rampageous worm," put in gjr- Whinney. gjjf '-; •• Aft right, you'll pay for this." |T ( And then walking back to Miss Robins be offered her his arm and took her away. The next morning the two rivals g received a copy of the following fL.llffte : " Gentlemen,—You have misunderstood my nature if you suppose that §?? 1 am only a dove. In my veins flows gy-Sfcthe blood of the oM vikings who lovJgVed danger and blood. .1 have often ."declared that the man to whom 1 f-. give my hand must fight for me. gig. HKbertd there has been no occasion, there is a pressing opportunity. You must fight each other. £' The battle-ground shall be a little *., grassy spot to the left of th 3 golf % links, where the two oaks bend over It and intertwine their horney figures. There you fchall mnt to-morrow at Wn o'clack, and with no words, (for they might lead to a w'conciliation, fight with golf sticks •Mill one of you is vanquished. Then -let tub victor repair "to the little ctyuch near i>y, which will be lightfe' ed up, where I shall gladly receive feWm." Wlren Whinney read down and i -grasped the name of the writer', a thrill shot through him. indeed, he '' was shot with a thrill several times Sp fcefore he teached the end. " Golf sticks," ho muttered. " Why, I'd rather a man come at me with a s"' scythe. And in his arm that scounr drel JacEson's got the strength of a |£, nmle. I don't want to fight—but t Bf"i*IOKTE&r aSu something must be But why should wit not fight my battle for me ? Why can't J hire some tramp and let him go there in the dark and bummer that scound4rca*« bead into a jelly ? I will." a.Tbe mght cam« end it was almost pitch' dark. On a knoll not far from the two oaks stood Whinney and hfs tramp. Now, you understand it thorougWy, I believe." said Whinney. - .* I think I've got it all right, sir." * " I don't want you to kill him, you, understand—&ut I do want you to maEe him sore." •'.Very well, sir." -'' Veil, go along, and when •the thaw's over, come up herfc and I'<l you a five pound note." %£"H»e tramp disappeared, and soon I there arose the sharp, noise of the fray. Ik was to tea stubborn comf" bat. Whinney heard a footfall on fc JUie grass and turned round. Who K-are you 7 " he inquined. '£ What, that •ou, Whinney ? " lw '.'Jackson, as lam alive ! Yes, .it s' to I ' 1 Jackson laughed. " I thought you jrere down in the hollow fighting my |g" aas.' 1 |IS-' . " And I thought you were fighting If 'mine.' l ' " WeH, we 've tricked each other, jg- 'l'm too civilised to fight." &? 1 :» '' So am I. Listen, they'll crack K each other's skulls." Pgr- " 'em crack; Here comes somemr jma with a lantern—and see, the litg tie church is jlighted. Now, how arc .w*. going to settle it ? " Let our men decide by llseir valgptfOlll-.'- 1 Wt Ihe combat hod c?as.*rl, an.i lliy the fighters npproaeiiiiaj. .'.nil 'tifcy arrived just as tlio ruin iurlted pi -with the lantern. Th.'v were paid, K:-taid asked as to who" was the vieW * or ' g6»fv v lt was a good joke,"- spoke up *£• the maa with the lantern. " 1 rami K. over to see tlfcm fight. My friend Bt'..;, Jienliins got the Thing ii|>—and reo church lightedovuv there? Jlc ™ marrying Miss Ro'oins." gC The two tramps grinned in the yel-gj.-tow light. "I admit we ain't .lorn l , bad,'" sa>il & P O6 of them, '* We ro I'Uls, yoi SLj;. mow, and so we sat ilown and hanieach other's .stic&i." 1 Whinney and JacKson reached ovei and shook hands.