Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-07-28
THE BELLIES sTRATAGEM

my awkwardness- When little child was
thrown from a horse, dragged a long distance
animals hoot. 1 never recovered from the
horror of that hour, and must frankly confess
to you that L am afraid Of a horse, and, as you
must see, no rider. 1 was telling Dr. Bell of
this the other day, and
AT this moment q horses heels in swift
career came down the road behind them and
the next moment DR.. Bell, flushed, merry and
malicious joined them.
- could not resist the temptation to be of
your party" he said to Kate, as he doffed his
hat and shook back his hair.
g. And the temptation" thought Robert
Bruce bitterly, "to display his superior horse
manship where mine must appear to such dis
advantage"
I" Here is fine lane" said the Doctor
Where does it terminate 2'i
''At a rail fence, which eRcloses a clover
field The lane used to lead to farmer Blooms
house; but another has been made, and this is
no longer used
60 Let us have a race" cried the Doctor; and
as be spoke he struck his own horse and then
the one Kate rode being its mate, they started
of at mad pace, her efforts to hold her horse
being all fruitless. Sure that Bruce's horse
would follow suit, Kate looked back, and sure
enough, there came the poor student at a John
Gilpin rate, stirrups flying, his hat off, both
hands clutched in the animals name and
looking: the very image of modification and
chagrin.
The Doctor and Kate cleared the fence at a
bound; the horse of their companion broke as
he neared it, stopped short, and sent its rider
flying over, to End resting place in the long
clover
Are you hurt ?" cried Kate, leaping un-
aided to the ground Z" Believe me, Mr..
Bruce" she added, as the young man rose to
his feet, could possibly have held my horse
this should not have happened"
He glanced into her soft eyes, and took the
HoHx ha said
and, folding his arms across his chest, he
stepped aside, permitting them more to
leap the fence.
q Mr.. Bruce" said Kate, turning her head,
invited y0n to accompany me on this ride;
surely you will not desert me DR.. Bell, - she
added, "you have proven that our horses will
not travel quietly together; must beg you to
ride on" Bell bit his lip, but obeyed; and
Mr.. Bruce remounting his quiet steed, rode
slowly back, by Miss Howard's side What
passed upon that return none knew, but the
young lawyer and bonny Kate; their ride was
long and slow, but words flowed fast, and were
followed by that deep silence which says more
than language.
As they sat down to tea that evening, DR..
Bell, little late, came hurrying in, and with
laughing look toward Mr.. Howard, said: -
suppose have you heard of our race this after
nOOn?" Mr. Howard had not.
The Doctor at once burst forth in the most
ludicrOus description of it, winding up by say
back and there comes our friend Bruce, flying
over, free from the saddle, and bringing the
top rail in his lap,''
"A sight which Dr. Bell might have lost had
he not have taken so much pains to bring it
about. /, for one, fully appreciate the motive
which led him to thrust himself where he was
not expected, - said Mr.. Bruce coldly.
DR.. Bells eyes flashed, but he did not at
once reply. Rising soon from the meal, which
was finished in awkward silence by the whole
L
time, Mr.. Bruce, if You please" and the two
walked hurriedly out into the yard. With
pale face Mr.. Howard rose to follow them
81 Do not leave me- cried his wife, clinging
timidly to his arm; Il am frightened-ner-
vOg'-stay by me, beg Of you, Mr.; How
you go, and in my name forbid any serious diff
fculty between those hot t-hesded young men,
L hear high words in the garden; 90 at once,
child"
Kate sprung up, and hurrying forth, found
the gentlemen beneath her favorite cherry
trees in hot dispute.
My friends" she said, s'let this quarrel
end here. Do not, implOre you, make mat
ter Of life and death out Of mere joke"
DIR. Bells jokes are insults" said Mr.
Bruce, striving to speak calmly. ''I have
borne them long enough. had rather be a
target for his bullet than for his tongue
He expects to evade fighting me by refus.
ing to end this on the spot" hissed DR. Bell
through mis- clenched teeth; she pretends to feel
delicate about making your fathers grounds
the scene of duel, and to hide his cowardice,
proposes that we wait a more fitting opportu-
nifty. He refuses TO apologize for insulting me
at your fathers table, and dares not fight me
in your fathers ground"
You shall have my apology at . fitting
place and time, In the way you have demand
ed it-from the muzzle Of q reyolver-but not
here
No doubt you desire time to practice, -
sneered the Doctor. - If you were as skiIlfuI
with the revolver as with your rife probably
the respect due your host would not so far out
weigh the respect due yourself"
Mr.. Bruce stepped up to the rustic bench,
where lay his rivals case Of pistols, and fixing
five cent piece against one of the cherry trees,
walked back fifteen PAGES, and cut a piece
from the edge Of the coin with his bullet fiApy
time and any place but this he said, laying
down the weapon and folding his arms across
his chest.
DR.. Bell bit his lip while his hot cheek grew
pale with intense anger.
Gentlemen" said Kate, stepping forward,
II ask personal favor that you let this mat
ter rest here. Be assured, should either of you
persist in making il the subject of duel, 1
should despise you both. As you value my es-
TEEN, let hostilities Of 90 deadly nature cease
at once. These will take into my possession, %
she added, closing and taking up the case of
pistols, "and / beg you both, as my fathers
guests, not to make his home the scene of an
angry dispute ......
She placed her hand on DR. Bells arm and
led him away, leaving Mr. Bruce TO follow at
his leisure. .-.......-
Miss Howard, /" said the Doctor, as they
turned down the winding walk, may hope
that it was any feeling Of alarm on my account
that caused you to interpose just now? May
believe that you care enough for my life to
wish to prevent my risking il 7''
80 would seek 10 prevent the risk of any
human life" replied Kate, distantly. "As q
woman, am strongly opposed to the duello.
Were q man, it would, perhaps, be different.
There is a moral courage which excites admi-
ration more than this sort Of bravery which
finds its acme in standing up TO be killed and
daring to kill To horror Of bloodshed, not
u personal feeling attribute my interference.
And may / not hope that the affection i
have long cherished for y0u. long trembled 10
disclose, has met q response from you 2"
cannot answer you now, " Kate said; 'sto-
fkart