Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 April 1891 — CHUB. [ARTICLE]

CHUB.

A Romance of West Virginia.

BY DAVID LOWRY.

CHAPTER 111. AN AVOWAL OF LOVE —ROUGH AND READY DIRECTORS. Ban Bash stood looking at Chub. He did not know what to say. Words seemed too weak at such a moment. Finally, he collected his wits. “Miss Dawson!” “I’m plain, Belle Dawson here. ” “Well, Belle, then. I owe my life to you—twice to-day you have saved my life. ” “I reckon I’ve saved it once, anyhow. Them miserable skunks would have killed you. And oh! Mr. Bash——” “Permit me. My name is Dan —I’m plain Dan Bash here. ” He smiled. She smiled also. She could not help it. She had used the same language. “Well, I was going to say, if you want to die a natural death, go away at once. Go —and go now. Do!” “Why should I go now? Because these Monksand that poor creature with them hate me? Is that it?” “It ain’t that. It’s because ” Chub checked herself. Would she tell him what she witnessed before she fired that. first shot, or not? It might only alarm him, without doing any good. Perhaps she had best tell her father all about it, and leave him to decide what course to pursue. “Well, you have not given me the reason, Belle.” “I will soon. It’s a good reason. ” “But unless I know what it is——” “I may as well tell. I thought them mean critters would just as like as not try to kill you. I didn’t go home. I just put across the hill, a near cut, and I saw Ned Monk draw a bead —well, he hadn’t time to draw a bead on you, till I shot so close to his head he was skert. ” “So it was you who fired that first shot?” “Yes, ’twas me. ” Chub was laughing now. “You’d laugh if you'd seen them jump. The hull passel on ’em jumped. Then they waited awhile, and thought as they were there to kill you they might as well take the risk. ” “Miss Dawson—Belle—Chub,” said Dan Bash quickly, as he caught her hand, “you are one in a thousand —one woman in millions!” “Nonsense, don’t you begin to say foolish things to me, now. ” “They are not foolish, -Belle—Chub. I have been attached to you from the moment I first saw you.” “I reckon it’s about time for me to go home now. ” “No. You must hear me, Chub—you must. I can’t let you go now—l won’t let you go—until I speak what is in my mind. If you think you could ever care for me, don’t prevent me from speaking. ” “Whose preventing you? Seems to pie”—here Chub laughed, and Dan Bash thought he had never heard a sweeter or more silvery laugh—“you’re doing all the talking. Now, I’m a square out girl, as everybody knows. ” He gaze'd at her admiringly. She was a square out girl. Her blue eyes met his honestly. There was a conscious pride in her manner, in her tone, in the way she held her head up as she looked at him. “I’m a square out girl, Dan Bash. If you want to come to our house, and father don’t object, the door is open to you. My father is a man who has been out in the world some. I never do anything unless dad agrees—and dad generally asks me about things he ain’t just quite sure of. That’s the way we do up here in the mountains. I don’t suppose we’re as fine as the folks you’ve lived among—but we’re straight out—all except that gang of Monks—and we make them come up to the mark, too, once in a while. Yes, we do. ” Dan Bash took off his hat, and bowed to her as courteously as though she were a queen. “I wish I could say for the people you refer to that they had the thousandth part of the honesty—the hundredth part of the good qualities you and your father display.” “Well, this is not the place to be stopping if you want to catch them directors. That’s what you want, I reckon.” “I’ll go now. ” Dan Bash turned, waved his hand, t and walked on. The Monks and Squatty had.turned up a path on the mountain-side; there was now no danger of molestation from that source for the remainder of thb day.

But Chub stood, long after he had left her, watching him hasten along the road, which was in plain view. When he had walked half a mile, Chub turned and retraced her steps over the mountain side in the opposite direction. Dan Bash pushed on quickly to ’Squire Meeks’, where he found the two directors who controlled the school district They were both noted men. One was Uhe best jumper in the county, He had jumped farther and higher than any man who had stood before him. He could—had, more than once—jumped off the ground, clouted one man’s ears with one loot, and the next instant clouted another's. To kick a man’s hat off was as easy as breathing to Si Sloan. The other man was the best wrestler in the county. Hi Perkins had laid every man on his back that had the temerity to meet him. He did not care how his opponent wrestled. Whether it was one style or another style, it was all one to Hi. He would take his chances, and whether he learned the other man’s tricks or not made little difference. He employed a few tricks of his own as sopn as it was possible to do so with safety, and hence it was that Hi Perkins floored all comers in such short order that he was a terror to all in the county. He was not a bad hand at boxing, either. He coula whip almost any man in the county with his bare fists; but, with feet and fists at his command, no man could be found in that part of the State, to try conclusions with Hi Perkins. When Dan Bash appeared on the ground the crowd were laughing at some witticism made by a jolly looking man with tremendous shoulders, a neck that seemed strong enough to sustain any blow a fist could give it, and arms and legs that indicated extraordinary strength. When Dan entered the crowd, a good many there who had never seen him stared at him curiously. He felt somewhat abashed at first, but he addressed the man nearest him politely, and in a low tone said: “Will you please inform me which is Mr. Sloan?” “I’m Sloan. Si Sloan's my name. Want me?” “And will you be kind enough to teil me which is Mr. Perkins?” “Hyer, Perkins, ye’re wanted!” Perkins approached Bash. The crowd stood gaping at the three, wondering what the young man was there for. “I’d like to speak to you apart,” said Dan Bash. Now, this was something Sloan and Perkins either did not or would not understand.

“Spit it right out here,” said Sloan. “We’re all neighbors here. ” “Gotno secrets —'specially with strangers.” said Perkins. “This is not a secret business affair, and yet I don’t see that it concerns everybody. It concerns the directors of the school and myself. ” “Oh! you are a teacher,” said Sloan, contemplating Bash coldly. “Applyln’for the place,” said Perkins. “Precisely. lam prepared to submit my recommendations. ” “Well, Perkins, I don’t know as we want any recommendations, do we?” “I reckon not, Si. ” The crowd tittered, and Bash’s face flamed with mortification and anger. But he retained his self-possession. His tongue was at his command. “Will you tell me, then, what are the qualifications you expect in a teacher. ” Sloan looked him over slowly, then drawled, “I scarcely think you’ll fill the bill, young man. ” “Is it age you are looking for?” “No, it ain’t age nuther,” said Sloan. The crowd tittered again. Bash turned around quickly. “You are very ill-mannered—especially you there winking at your neighbors,” said Bash calmly. The young man singled out straightened himself up suddenly, and advanced threateningly. “Y’ou hold your horses, Bill Peters,” said Perkins, dryly. “It ain’t your put in yet.” Then Si Sloan said very deliberately, “You don’t seem to be jist the sort of feller we’re on the look out for for our school. ”

“You ain’t got the backbone—the grit and grip, I reckon,” said Perkins. “But how do you know—why make up your mind without giving me a trial?” said Bash, tartly. “I think it an altogether unwarrantable assumption to say that I lack courage. You do not know me—never beheld me until now. ” “Well—you wanted to know the qualifications,” said Si Sloan. “Tell him what they are, Si, ” said Perkins, sneeringly. “I didn’t mean you hadn’t a mind to—it’s the ability. Many a man would stand up to another an’ get knocked down right along—’tain’t that. It's the man as can knock the other fellow down, and hold him level. ” “Oh!” said Bash, “you mean a good fighter?” “No, nor I don’t mean a fightin’ man. A man that can fight, an’ knows how to, but don’t until he’s druv to it. ” “I see. ” “And Perkins and I see you don’t somehow look that way You are tall enough —but you look light. ” “I begin to understand, gentlemen,” said Bash. “Another thing—we don't set up for gentlemen. We’re all plain folks here.” “I like plain folks," said Bash. “Now he’s cotton’n up to ’em," said the man Bash had spoken to—Bill Peters—winking at his fieliows. “Peters," said the jolly-looking giant, “I’ll give you a lesson if you meddle with him any more. He has a right to look for a job—what is it to you, you cub?”

Bash looked at the man gratefully. “I’m obliged to you, sir.” Then Bash decided on the instant what he must do to secure the school add maintain his manhood, or rather demonstrate his manhood to the directors and those present. “I gather from your remarks that I must be able to hold my own, say in any ei<*rcise, #ith any one. What most I do? I’m willing to make a trial, here and now. ” The crowd pricked up their ears. This promised to be vastly more interesting than the plowing match. “You are most too free, young man,” said Si Sloan. “May-be you’ll wish you hadn’t There are some mighty likely chaps right here, so there be. ” “The'n I’ll not be ashamed if they best me.” “If you hold your own, why the school’s yours,” said Perkins. “You heard him,” said Bash, gravely. “Is it running or lifting or climbing, or * “No; we’ll begin with a ras’le; just a ras’le, Perkins," said Si Sloan. “No, Si; he’d best begin with Jumpin’, • said Perkins, solemnly.

Bash could scarcely preserve his countenance. The idea of jumping and wrestling his way into a school seemed so absurd. “Well, then, git ready to jump,” said Si Sloan, in a commanding tone. “How will you jump? Run and jump, standin’ jump, high, or backward?” “Anyway. Whichever way you say,” said Bash. “Then why don’t you strip?” “I don’t need to at present,” said Bash. “I may. ” The crowd formed a huge ring. Expectation was on every face as Si Sloan marked off a base-line and eyed the ground he had selected. “Be you ready now, stranger? See here, what might your name be?” “Bash—there are several here who know my name.” “Then, Mr. Bash, you toe the scratch. ”

CHAPTER IV. DAN BASH MAKES THEIR EYES STICK OUT. As Dan Bash toed the scratch on the soft field he felt his blood tingle. He was in his element once more. Time was when he was the acknowledged superior of all the runners, leapers, and oarsmen on the list of the athletes intrusted with the representation of a great college. He had not been the captain of as active foot-ball players as ever were seen—a wrestler, climber, boxer, swordsman, or marksman —for nothing. His eye was as quick, his muscles as hard, his knowledge of the tricks in all methods of wrestling as thorough as shrewdness and much practice could make it Tlie crowd looked on as Dan’s eye rested on a clod a little distance from him Before they were prepared for it he sprang lightly in the air, and lit firmly, evenly upon his feet. “A pooty good jump—nothing aixtra—nothing at all aixtra,” said Si Sloan. “Bill Peters.” The man who winked stepped up confidently. “Peters, jest kick the dust on his tracks, will you, to show him he ain’t aixtra—no great shakes?” Peters drew a long breath, swung his arms like flails, and leaped. Si Sloan and Hi Perkins solemnly measured his jump. “ ’Bout two inches mor’n Bash's.” Dan Bash turned around. “Anybody else going to jump with me?” “No, ” said Si Sloan, dryly. “I guess Peters’ll hold you level.” Bash stood with both feet square on the line, then rose clear in the air and came down squarely, beautifully on his feet. Both were in line. The heels were together. Si Sloan hastened forward, followed by Hi Perkins. They stooped over the marks made by Bash’s heels. Bash looked on indifferently. “About a foot furder than Peters,” said Sloan. Bash turned to the jolly-looking man, whose face was beaming on him. “Will you please measure the distance for me?” “Certainly,” said the jolly giant. “I think I beat Peters more than a foot. ” “You’ve beat him sixteen inches,” said the jolly man, who produced a rule, then stooped and measured the ground carefully. Si said something in a low tone to Perkins. Perkins shook his head and said something about wrestling that Bash plainly overheard. “Timo enough, Si, then.” “I suppose you don’t want to try again, Peters?” said the big man. But Peters was resolved to make another trial. He stood upon the line—swung, heaved, worked his toes over the line, then, filled with wind, spread himself in the air, lit on the ground and staggered about to keep from falling. The big man measured the jump. He went back to where Peters’ toes made a dent in the earth, and after deducting the difference, said: “Bash has beaten him thirteen inches. ” “Anybody else that wants to jump against me?” Bash asked smilingly. “Yes —I’ll jump.” A tall, spare man—a man at least six feet two inches in his stockings (Bash was barely five feet ten inches, and did not look his height) stood on the line. He, too, worked his arms wildly, drew a tremendous breath, and jumped. Bash stood on the line a second later. The next second he had made a clean jump, heels together again, and stood still and perfectly straight. Perkins clapped his hands. 50 did the jolly giant, who measured the ground. “Bash beats. Jim Dodds six inches—you can all see.” All did see plainly, and admiration was expressed on many faces. Others looked sullen. “You think you can jump,” said Si Sloan, sharply. “I leave it for the crowd to think,” said Bash, pleasantly. “I’ll take the conceit out of you. More’n that —if you want the school you’ve got to do a durn sight better’n that. ” 51 Sload toed the scratch next. He did not puff and blow as the others had done, but he swung - his arms like flails, just as they did. VXhen he lit he stood up straight, but it was only for a moment. Then he was compelled to swing his arms to preserve his balance. Dan Bash stepped on the line, gathered himself together instantly, and at once leaped through the air, lighting once more heels in line together, and stood where he lit upright Then he stepped aside. Si Perkins and the big man stooped over the marks.

They held their heads so low the crowd couldn't see the impressions made by Sloan and Bash. At last Perkins stood up. “Si’s got it by about an inch, boys.” “Must I beat y6u, Mr. Sloan, before you give me the school?” Bash looked around on the crowd. Nobbdy spoke. Nobody smiled. It was too serious a matter. “Well—then I will jump again, if you say so. ” “I do say it,” said SI Sloan, tartly. Bash stood squarely on the line again. Onge more he gathered himself up, and when he leaped the crowd gaped. He rose like a bird. He lit firmly again, both heels together. “Great Jehosaphat!” exclaimed the big man, as he brought out his rule and measured the difference between Bash’s jump and Si Sloan’s. “Here, Perkins, you come—then there won't be any mistake. Tell them what it is, too.” “Ten inches more’n SI Sloan’s,” said Perkins, solemnly. (TO BE COXTIMCBD.) ,