Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1876-04-26

jumping into the boat, he observed
the figure Of man wrapped in a
dark cloak, in one Of the seats. This
mysterious person Immediately pull
ed the boat off shore bya few vigor-
Gus strokes of the oars. The ferry
man shouted out, whereupon the
stranger said in reply, "Fear not,
Andrew we will row ourselves
over p So
There was q dead silence after this,
no other sounds breaking the still
ness of the night save the measured
and regular strokes of the oars.
Presently these ceased, as the rover
allowed the boat to drift down the
stream. 8tsfa
These proceedings had all taken
place within the brief space Of three
or four minutes. NeG
"Now, Major Broadhurst,' = said the
rover. addressing himself to his fel-
low passenger, i'm a voice Of cOncen-
trated rage, "you cannot escape my
vengeance p
"Sir William Tayntonlw exclaimed
the astonishcd officer.
"The same! Tonight one of us
must die! Do you comprehend. z"
II hear what you say, sir," answer
ed the Baronet's companion s1strange,
mysterious man as you are and al
ways have been; but at the same
time am at o loss to account Tor this
excess of malice"
miserable tricksterp yelled the
other, rising to his feet. "Is it moth
ing to steal into my house like thief
in the night, that yon may instil
poison into the ears Of my wife? ? See,
here are pistols--both loadaea We can
repair to the opposite shore, and for
the rest, if you are not q coward as
well as william, we can settle this
quarrel; for swear by all hold
most sacred that one of US two must
fall!'
"You are beside yourself with pas
sion, and will not handy words with
you," answered Major Broadhurst,
who although surprised at the mex
pected aspect of affairs, wass by no
means cowed or intimidated. II will
not exchange unseemly cpithets with
one who is, at the present moment,
but little short of madman."
\ "a madman ?" exclaimed the infu-
rated man, in tone Of bitter sar-
casm.
even SO. You are not answerable
for your words or actions" observed
Major Broadhurst, in q perfectly un-
moved voice, "Hark we, do not
deny that / have had all interview
with Lady Taynton ; but, by tho Judge
above, swear to you, ON the word
and honor of a gentleman, that II was
against her wish or desire thatI OBJ
truded myself upon her notice, or
sought her presence. In justice to her
Imay here observe that wish your
character, or mine own, was free from
stain as her ladyship's.
~ never depnted you to be the
guardian of my wife's honor, neither
do desire you 10 be her champion r
answered Taynton. "My express
orders were that you should never,
under any circumstances whatever,
ever be received at Monkswood. The
order was given for special reasons.
l do not chose to admit slanderers
into my family circle"
''Slanderers y CALCULATED Broad
hurst, rising from his seat. "Mark
me, Sir William, and take heed of
what l say! Whatever may be the
nature of your family secretS the
world has not-nay, never will
know aught of them from me. l
sought her ladyship-have seen and
conversed with her, not for the
purpose of traducing you-far from
it. My desire has been to shield and
protect you. You ought to be the
last man-the very last man to accuse
me of SANDER
"You carry matters off with bold
front; but it will not serve yOn. l
have myself been witness of yopr Sc
cret conference. IL was for good pur-
pose that you took advantage Of my
absence to creep into my house, We
know each other pretty well, Major
Broadhurst, and sophistry is of no
avail"
"Sir William Taynton, let there be
an end to this discussion. When you
have consulted with her ladyship,
which advise you to do temperately,
you will be able 10 appreclEtu<anu
comprehend, in its fullest sense, the
reason for my waiting'on her. There
was an imperative necessity for me
to adopt this course. am not un-
mindful OF what il due to one whom
| 1 onae called my friend.s -
Friend, indeed !" returned his
companion, in a mocking tone. "My
most bitter enemy, You mean! What
brought you to Monkswood? For
what purpose did yoA seek an inter-
view with Lady Taynton? Answer
me that !"
Il have known her ladyship since
she was little girl-knew her long
before you did
"And was her suitor, eh 2"
II do not deny it. What of that
She is now an honored and an honor.
able wife. What have ! ever done
that / should be denied an audience
with her? Nothing. Only, hark
you, Sir William Taynton, you are
fearful lest l should refer TO the past
You have no reason to dose. ! would
not pain her !"
I'll is false you went to blast m!
character
| II told her but the truth"
i Enough, sir! I'll hear no more
Are yon prepared?' p
"For whatl"
| "Fer this !" answered Ihe Baronet
holding forth one of the pistols.
.The Major mechanically laid holt
of the prntfored weapon, His dong
, so was almost an Involuntary act.
During the alteration the boat hat
been drifting rapidly down the river
, and the men confronting one anothe
, in the murky darkness of the night
. had alMost q SPECTRAL appearance.
"lf You desire q hostile meeting,
observed Btoatlhurst, seating himsel
in the boat, :let II be q proper tim
and place, and when yQh are NOR
. master Of Yourself"
e "Ah, Wretcta dc YOU refuse? d
not think TO escape me y cxclaime'
l Taynton.
fl In a paroxysm Of rage the speake
{ caught hold of one of the oars, wit
$ which he struck his companion. Thi
r sudden blow caused the pistol whic
s Broadhurst stir held in his hands,
explode. Relieving, perhaps, that
J, had been purposely fired, Sir Willial
/. presented his own weapon full at tn
4 chest of his enemy.
: Perceiving the imminence Ofthe daI
]. ger that threatened him, Major Broad
Y hurst struck the pistol on one sid
r with his own discharged weapon.
t On the next instant he received
fearful blew an the head; he hear
}, the words, aYOu shall not escape me
@ and his opponents hands We're abo'
his throat.
o After a severe and protracted bou
d they both rolled over to the hottoI
of the boat. Then they rose agai
d and strained every nerve and size
d to obtain the mastery,
Meanwhile, tho craft In which tn
t. unnatural and deadly conflict WI
3 taking place, kept swaying to an
fro, threatening to capsizc indeed,
le was u matter for no small wonde
h, mcnt that it had not already done S
M At length, by rapid moyemeg
,r the Major succeeded III throwing h
le antagonist fOrrihly backwards. The
" for brief period, he held him dow
i 4. L., l.. III