Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 130, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 June 1915 — FIGHTING FOR LOVE [ARTICLE]

FIGHTING FOR LOVE

Dora’s Bitter Scorn Waked the Brute in Her Peace-Lov-ing Suitor.

By JOHN PHILIP ARTH.

(Copyright, ISIS, by the McClure Newspaper Syndicate.) As a boy among boys, Clyde Drew never engaged in battle. Not that he took to his heels every time there was a chance for a scrap, but that he was not naturally belligerent, and if there was a question at stake he was good at argument. There were scrappers at college who called him the deacon and let him go his way in peace. He didn’t row, box, run, Jump, play football, swim or enter into athletics in any way. He had a good figure and more than the average amount of muscle lying dormant, and he also passed.a high examination. When young Drew left college he took a clerical position, and all his exercise consisted in walking. Once a friend took hold of bis arm and found it as soft as a woman’s. “Gee whiz! where is the muscle?” “I don’t have to handle the crowbar or a sledge here,” was the reply. “But supposing someone picked a fight with you?" “Why should anyone?” “You may see some day. Maybe you carry a gun." “No."

“Well, I’m not going around looking ’for trouble, but if there is need for scrapping I shall be on hand at the old stand.** The conversation made no impression on Mr. Drew. He could hardly conceive of a situation calling for muscle to get him out of trouble. He would insult no one, and no one would insult him. Miss Dora Thom and Mr. Clyde Drew were engaged to be married, and it was a real love match. Mr. Drew had many admirable qualities and had some money and a good salary. It had been love at first sight, and an engagement followed in a few weeks. Mr. Thorn did not oWect to the engagement, made withowt consulting him, but he said to the lovers: “I think you have been over hasty. You know so little about each other that it’s my wish that you should put' the marriage off several months. When I was a young man I came very near rushing into a marriage that I should have repented the rest of my days.” And when the postponement had been agreed to the girl said to her lover: “Clyde, are you going to look for faults in me from now on?” "I couldn’t find a single one if I looked ever so long,” was the loverlike reply. “That is nice of you. If you have any faults I have not discovered them yet.” Did Miss Dora think it & fault that he was weak of muscles? I Had she ever wondered if he was brave or otherwise? Had she ever felt the sense of protection when riding or walking with him that a strong man Insures? She knew that he was fair looking and had a good figure, and that filled the bill physically. The loving couple were out for a spin in the auto one afternoon when,, as they reached a narrow part of the highway they encountered a young man in a buggy. He was given more than his share of the road, but he was not satisfied with that. He brought his horse to a halt, and sat scowling for a minute before calling out: "Hey, you dude, do you know that you are blocking the road.” “There’s plenty of room for you to pass,” replied Mr. Drew. “You are a liar and a hog, sir!" "Why, the man is ugly drunk!” whispered Miss Dora. She turned to her lover to find him pale-faced and his chin quivering. 1 Mr. Drew had never expected to be insulted, but here it was, good and hot. “Are you going to keep me here all day?" snarled the stranger. “No one is keeping you,” was answered, but in a very mild voice. “I say again, you are a liar!” Miss Dora knew enough about man nature that when the lie was passed it meant a knockdown, and she trembled oyer the answer that would be forthcoming, but there was no answer.

Mr. Drew was as white as a ghost and trembling like a rabbit. Was it with anger, or was he holding back on her account? g “Not only a liar, but a coward as well,’’ added the young man. No answer—no movement. The buggy was driven up beside the auto, and the driver’s whip laid over the shoulder of a cringing man three or four times. Then the whipper said to Miss Dora: “You can see what sort of a cur he it If you marry him, I wish you joy!” Then he drove on, and after ' the auto had proceeded a few rods it was turned about and headed for home. Not a wprd from Mr. Drew. Not a word from Miss Dora. But what was there to be said? Mr. Drew had played the part of a coward so abjectly that nothing he could say would excuse him. He had been called a liar and a coward. He had been'horsewhipped and had cringed over ;it He had let the girl be insulted. She was sorry for him in a way, and also knew bitter scorn. She was engaged to a coward, but would she ever imarryhim? “Vo— never.*

It were better to have a drunkard and a wife-beater for a husband. They drove to her father’s house and parted without a word. They both knew It wm the end. It was not until he reached the privacy of his room that Mr. Drew awoke from hie stupor. Then he, who had scarcely ever used an oath, fell to cursing. He called himself names. He longed tor someone to kick him. "I am a coward a poltroon—a thing!” he shouted at himself. “I have debased myself until men ought to kick me out of their company. If I had a pistol here I wouldn’t wait a minute before shooting myself.” By and by the yopng man greW a bit calmer, and he sat down and asked himself: "Why did I act the craven? Was I afraid of the man? Even a coward would have put up a fight under the circumstances. There’s something wrong with me, and I am going to find out what it is.” He went down on the street and called in at the first doctor’s office he came to. Fortunately for him, the doctor had studiedyiomething besides illness. He let the young man tell his story without interruption, but listened very closely. \ "I have seen several cases -like yours. You should have fought when a boy, to give you confidence in yourself as a man. Your muscles are not as well developed as a woman cook’s. You have been a peaceful young man. You havd^thought peace alone. You have not exercised your arms. You have never swung the clubs nor had ,the boxing gloves on. You have gone through life thus far thinking the time could never come when you would be insulted and have to resent it or run. Because you were peacefulminded, you argued that all others were the same. Am I not right?”

“You are a doctor.” “Well, in the first place, you were taken by surprise. You saw and heard what was taking place, but you could not credit it because it had never happened before, and it happened now without cause or warning. When the time came to use your muscle you didn’t have it with you, and that gave you a helpless feeling. Young man, you are not a natural coward, but you have been a very foolish person. Go and see the boxing master of a club.” “And learn to fight?” asked Mr. Drew.

“Learn that a man who goes only to hunt with an unloaded gun is an idiot. You may never be called upon to fight, but if you are then you want to lick the other fellow.” Mr. Drew left the doctor’s office for a club, and that evening took his first lesson at punching the bag. In time he put on the gloves with the instructor and others, and in time again was called a fair boxer. “But this doesn’t prove that you have grit,” sdld his master. “I want you to put on the gloves with a slambang and give him a licking. He has been guying you ever ’ since you began. He says you are a milk-and-wa-ter sissy, and that a boy ten years old can make you quit.” For almost the first time in his life young Drew flew mad and wanted to hit someone. He soon had his chance. He was knocked down the first thing, but he got up and put up such a fight that his opponent took off his gloves. Meanwhile, he had employed a detective to find out all about the man who caused his downfall. He lived about three miles from the spot where he had been encountered and drove into the town regularly every Saturday afternoon. Not a word or line through the long weeks, but he did not hope nor expect. How could he? He must first rehabilitate himself in her esteem.

One day an auto approached the Thorn residence from the north, and a buggy from the south. Miss Dora sat on the veranda. The two vehicles met in front of the house and the girl saw and heard all that followed. “Hello, here is the liar and coward again!” sneered the driver of the buggy. Mr. Drew moved his auto out of the road and got down. "This time he is going to run away!” Drew removed his hat and vest and rolled up his shirt sleeves. “Maybe he’s going to pick daisies.” “He is going to lick you, you loafer, if .you dare come down here!” The next moment they were at it, and in her excitement the girl stood up to see. It took her lover just ten minutes to give the fellow the best licking of his life, and as the. victor was. nursing a bleeding ear and a ■ skinned nose a hand was laid upon his arm and Miss Dora said: *’l saw it all, Clyde, and I am proud of you! Father sai<T you would do it some day. Come in and let me dress your hurts.”