The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1878-09-25


them to see N.Y.
ooh, that's veryCold story" said
the baronet. "When thieves and gyp-
sizes prowl about gentlemen's parks we
all know that their intentions are per.
fectly innocent"
DO you call me a thief, sir 2" said
Duval, his dark cheek coloving and his
eyes flashing fire.
"Scoundrel |" exclaimed Sir William,
his blood rushing into his face and MAX
ing it in a moment red with rage {" do
you think 1 would chat logic with a
strolling vagabond like youP / told
you to pack up and be off. Do so at
once"
And as the baronet uttered his COM
nand he raised the hand in which he
held the whip as if about to strike the
acrobat.
Duval looked at him with n savage
glare of his keen dark eyes, and slowly,
in deep voice trembling with suppress
ed rage, said
You had better not"
''Duval, said his wife, gently pulling
him by the sleeve, and in q tone of
mingled pathos and humility, "never
mind the gentleman. We shouldn't
have come in without his leave. We
humbly ask your pardon, sir. Come,
Duval, let us CO."
"Take your wife's advice, my man, +"
said the gamekeeper, "and don't come
into gentlemen's parks no more till such
times as you're specially invited. There
now; gather up your toggery AMI get
OUT"
While Martha and the gamekeeper
had been speaking Duval's eyes remain
ed riveted on Sir Williams. The baronet
had dared to threaten him with blow
with a blow of that whip with which he
was wont to chastise dogs. Duval would
have died sooner than endure such de-
graduation, and he felt half inclined to
spring upon Sir William as it was, and
show him that when it comes to close
lighting between man and man, wealth
and rank make no difference in pride of
manhood or strength of limb. Sir Will
liam saw the fierce spirit that was strug-
Cling in the acrobat's breast. He felt
chat he could not bear the steady gaze
he fixed ON him, and that his proud and
overbearing nature had met its match:
His blood boiled with rage.
"Impudent villain !" he at last ex-
;laimed, stamping on the ground, edo
you dare to beard me, to browbeat me
with your insolent look Take that"
And. lifting his arm, he brought down
his whip with thud on the acrobat's
1ack that could be heard as far off as the
Lodge,
Mad with rage, frenzied with insult,
Duval, with tiger spring, rushed at the
nd IL
have paid for his rash act if the acrobat
could only have had one blow at him
delivered with the prodigious strength
OF his muscular arm and broad shoulders.
But, as Duval rushed forward, Leo, one
of the noblest hounds in Sir Williams
kennel, which had for some time watch
ed the parley between his master and
Duval with grave, sedate face, sprang
upon the acrobat ana intercepted his at
tack. Meanwhile two under gamekeep-
ers had arrived. And Lady Windus,
from her bedroom easement, saw the
struggle between the man and the dog,
and wondered what it all could be about
"DowD, Leo, down." cried Sir Will
liam, and the dog sprang away from the
man, and. sat down by his masters side.
'Now put him out" said the baronet,
as he turned away and walked off toward
the hall.
"It's no use making any more fuss
about it" said the good-natured game
keeper, as Duval sprang upon his feet,
his face and hands coveredAwith dust
and blood. "You were wrong in the
Be advised, and go your
way quietly"
And Duval was advised, the more
easily because of the appealing look his
wife gave him as she gently wiped the |
blood from his face. He flung his box |
once more over his shoulders, and walk |
ed slowly toward the gate. He passed |
through it, closed it, and then, pausing, |
he clenched his hand, and, lifting it up |
toward Heaven, cried out, in the agony
of his heart:
"My God, only ask this favor of
1 may one day be revenged!"
So he and his wife resumed their
journey.
Presently pony-chaise, driven by a
lady, was heard behind them; when it |
came close to them, the lady drew up,
and asked them, with slight agitation,
the way to Natwich; then asked Martha
the infant she carried was boy
or girl, looked at it, kissed it, dropped
sovereign into Martha's hand, and sud
denly drove off. 1t was Lady Windus.
CHAPTER II.
Two years passed, and a beautiful
lady reclined upon sofa in large and
richly furnished drawing-room of a
country mansion, everything about
which betokened the great wealth of
the proprietor, who sat by the window,
patting the head of a noble mastiff,
which every now and then looked up at
its master, and gave bark, as if to ak
what he could do for him. There was
not much that dog or man could do for
the wealthy owner of Windus Park. for
time had lavished on him all her favors
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