Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1860-02-25
The Unknown Champion.

told Of proud spirit. The boy was pale aud
golden haired wholly unlike his companion
and sister IN feature, though his pale, thin
lips had the same naughty curl and his blue
eyes grew dark with pride; lcor weak
thing was Alfred Lyslc, his right arm anti leg
being withcred-had been 80 from his birth.
lie was gentle. affcctionatc. high spirited and
talented, the idol Of his widowed iuther aud
proud sister. There were times when his
split chafcd, and he almost cursed the poor
naned body which waS such clog to him.
Alfred read aloud, while his sister Agnes
busted herself with piece Of embroidery, Civ
ing, if the truth be told, a very divided atten.
ton to the words Of her brother.
WAS not that glorious I"scrip'ion?" ask
ed the boy, rni>ng his face all glowing with
Pprtical enthusiasm.
Yes. think never heard cataract de-
scribrd more beautifully.
why, Agile! | got long past the cataract
and rcncheh the rnr1drw.
"Oh, have you, dear? Well, Aired to tell
you the honest truth, | got t" thinking Of
-suinrthing riSc.-Bc 81 kind rs 10 rcud it oyer
again, and this time | will surely listen to
you.
The boy laughed gai'y, Il, lie answered:
No tioe, A2gic-your wit, would be WOOL
gathering again beftre | had read three lines
will not torment you any longer. Shall /
talk talk to you, instcad-Or WOuld you rather
be Silcnt?"
=" Talk, if yHa please, Alfred"
"What think YOU, sister Agnes. will be the
result Of this conference :" asked the boy in
low tone.
The girl raised a troubled face, and arswcr-
cd, very slowly:
- Indnnd 4 lCrcI I gro rc,,l,. Lor. n i,t Th,
Dudleys are not famed for generosity, and"
Bang. bang! 1t Mas the hall door, closing 50
heavily that it AtOpprd- her M0lds and caused
both the young persons TO start.
"Gone at last !" exclaimed Agnes. And She
rose to her feet just the door III tl.r room
where they were sitting opened, and an old
gentleman entered.
! "What now, father? ! thought Mortimer
Dudley would never go. How is il Scttlcd:"
The mnttcr stands just as it did before
He will n"tabatr onci inch Of ground, nor will.
lie thinks his claim aS good as mine, and dny
after 10 morrow We meet on the dcbatcabie
ground, and with sturdy lanccS settle the qucs-
ton"
"Go0d, father. feared YOU might be com
PEELED to yield, aud | couldn't bear to think
that in your old age you would be- obliged to
give ur your home and ga among strangers.
The ease has been carried from court to court,
ahd years have ras>cd away il iuti.c waiting
nOw, well directed blow aud the proud Earl
Of Dudley will be nvcrthrOwn. Ave, charge
NJ !iii, father. and mav God and Saint Mary
guide your weapon So that you come of con
qucf"r."
Tue o'd man smiled and patt,d the CLOWN.
check Of his Pretty. spirited daughter, then
seated himself beside hi, son and read with
him.
j Sir Henry LySlc was about Gfty-ivc, hand
some and hlgh-Spirii, an upright, honorable
and Kind father. For two generations, between
the houses of Dudley and l.y,lc had been
lonS standing quarrel concerning some prop
rrty, two thirds, including the buildings. Of
/ the Lysc estate. The dispute bad been car
ried from court to court, without any decision
being made in favor "f either party. Lately,
Robert, Earl of Dudley, had died, and his sou,
n da>hlng Young man ot twenty-five, had tired
of the od'timc quarrel, proposed to settle the
debate by single combat, to b" hcIh on the de-
batcabIc tcrrltory-thcu, in the fourteenth
century, very common method of settling
disputes Thus the matter stood, and with
conversation and cadiug the three passed the
evening.
After Alfred had retired, Agnes fingered be-
hind, seemingly avcISr to leave her father. Sir
Henry noticed her hc>ilatou and, putting an
arm round her waist and >troking her dark
curling hair he said earnestly:
Day after tomorrow, Agnes, shall mount
my good Stcc'l, and battle for my right, aud our
home. II fall, aS fall may, we are home,
less. Should anything happen to prevent me
from engaging in this conilict-"
" But nothing can happen to prevent you,
father" eagerly interrupted Agnes.
" Nothing but sudden illness or death, my
child"
80, father"
ave must look at possibilities, my dear
child. and trust You do not shrink. IT, as
say, anything should prevent me from fight
ing my fight, know not what You will do. -
\ little money havc you will find it in the
ebony cabinet beside nv bed With that, vnu
must 60 with Your brother to our relations be-
vond the border. Never mind. my child
feel that vnu trclnhlc. Wen only look on the
bright side and now, good night"
Thus they parted, with one fond embrace
As Agnes entered her chamber, her heart was
heavy with prrsentiment Of coming evil.
About midnight Agnes was aroused from n
deep though troubled slumbrr by hand laid
firmly on her shoulder. 1t was Margary, the
old nurse.
80, dear, Miss Agnes Get up-wake-a,
quick aS you can, for YOU are wanted"
There was trouble and despair in the old wo
mans voice, and Agnes SpIang from her be,
and began to dress as hastily as possible, Will,
She eagerly questioned Margery.
"What is the matter, Margrry:"
"Sir Henry, your dear father, is iil-takcl
suddenly"
with WHAT"
go, dear, Miss, don't know! James. who
always sleeps in the next room, heard kint
Of groaning, and, rushing in, found my dcai
master in some kind of fiji"
80 mcrcifl Heaven! spare nv father tc
/ met" exclaimed the trembling Agnes. as
throwing shawl over her shoulders, she flew
rather than ran. down stairs At the door %
her fathers room, she paused and turned tt
Margery, who had followed as closely as sh,
could.
" Has any ono gone for the doctor?"
Yes, James went as soon as could 60 t
master"
Agnes entered the dimlv lighted chamber
and approached the bed where her father In,
so white and motionless, while the frightened
servants stood round mutely. Sir Harry Lysl,
was a good, kind master. and the servants were
devoted to him. Summoning all her courage
Agnes ncared the bed At the first sight sht
trcmblcd for she thought her father was dead
Bending over him, she laid her hands upon hi