The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-04-26
The Com bat-A story of Love and Chi
vairy.
By scALrER WATT, BART.
rRrooklpn Earle 1


d. ERrooklyn Eaglel
With great pain the Knight raised him.
self on his shoulder and looked wistfully at
the window. The maiden glanced at him
compassionately, and then turned her eyes
TO tire scene without.
"How goes the fracas ?" he demanded
impatently. "Methinks 'twere time that
he who challenged should have been here
ere this. Lsggard Dest see Brian du Bois
Gilbert, or Joe Gossf The game Knight OF
Britain should not be wasteiul OF the time
since he hath much before him ere this
contest shall be given to crown him vic
tor-look, good Rebecca."
"They have pitched the ring" sighed the
maiden, ''but the space reserved for the
good knight is sadly tramped, and me-
thinks there be great disputes between the
factions. or verify they wrauge."
"Tbat is strange. Do not the varlets
know that there is danger in delay? The
sduad may approach and bag them all.
| How do they now? Do they wrangle still? ?"
"Aye, and right wrangfully. There is
much contention. They seek referee, but
agree not. Certes, there must be one among
them which could tell ioul were one so
base as to strike such. But now they
separate. They have decided. They agree
on a tall. dark man, who has Just felled
four. He stalks ameng them. They give
way. Now be speaks. He tells them the
fight shall be on its merits, and may the
best man win"
land yet there can be but one who could
speak thus and be obeycd. Tell me, Re-
becca, does that tall, dark man bear himself
| like one who bath bet much on the re.
suit Z"
"Nay, nay; not so. 'Twere more like
one who stand. sponsor for great stakes
wagered by his fellows and placed within
those hands OF bis"
"Itis he! 1t is Richard Ceur de Lion 4"
exclaimed the Knight with smile OF de-
light.
..They do prepare TO 6ght," said Re-
becca, shielding herself with the lattice.
=. They shake hands and take position. Oh T!
horrors. that men should meet thus and
strike faces that mothers have fondled.
Brian leads with a left-hander under the
right eve. The crowd OF varlets applaud
Merciful God! hast Thy power deserted
Thee?''
"And Goss. how beareth he?" demand
| ed the feverish Knight.
"He counteIed on his adversary's chin"
"Dost see any carnaget"
| "Not yet. But the swaying crowd are
mad with the blows. They sway like the
trees in storm. The gladiators advance
again. He OF Goss lambeth heavily on the
face OF Brian. The Gilbert blecds ! lie
falls !"
"Aud what saith good de Lion?" asked
Ivanhoe breathlessly.
"He saith words which the breath OF the
mob beareth from me-"
"Catch their purport, good Rebecsa
| hat no
~ catch not the words, but their purpor,
is first gore for Goss."
And the fall! Saith he naught OF the
falI?" ..,
"Verily, mistake him, or he saith thai
the Knight OF Goss hath felled his adversary
first"
"And Brian. how of bim?"
"They revive him with sponges anC
much water. Now they are up again. Theil
blows fall like rain. Their faces are face:
no longer. Fair heaven they strive like
great engines, while their feIlow-beinss en-
courage them. They clinch them together
like competing whirwinds. They ar'
down. Their massive bodies heave WIN
the struggle. Forgive me! can look nc
longer." ,
"Nay, nay, maiden, say not so. Wher
they did fall, which, think you, was upper
most, Brian or the good knight Goss :"
"Brian was next the ground, and he o.
Goss was 'twiXt him and the sky whose
peace their contendings desecrate.
"Gaze again, Rebecca. Methlnks briat
cannot long endure. Gaze aud tell me
the good Goss still puncheth him."
| {. Ave. indeed, his blows are like tht
hollis of Joye. They fall like the wrath oi
the gods. Brian sinketh. Goss hodeth bi'
head under one arm and with the other h'
smashes him. The carcSge Is frightful. Inc
ring is slippery with gore"
"Apd puncheth he him still"y
"And still his blows fall. The crowd cry
as men who are mad. Brian is struggling
TO release himself. He staggers to the front
OF the circle. The knight Ct Goss follow
eth him. lie handeth him one on the no
seth. They clnch again. Now they break
awsv. Again they fly together. They fall.
Ali Il is over. They are dead"
"Not dead, Rebecca; they only walt tc
be picked up and sponged. Doth Brian
seem badly burt!"
"'Twould seem as he were greviousiy
injured. His eyes are like the summer
stcrm.clouds, while his lower face takes on
the hues OF sunset"
! ..And he OF Goss, Rebecca?"
"Ue of Goss pranceth around like tht
Young war-horse and wayet6 his arms ike
the tree smitten by the winds. But 10
they wrangle again; / hear great cries OF
foul: and now see giant sponge ny up
ward toward the sky. | know not wha'
that may portend." ,.o,x
"Quicky, Rebecca, tell me Quickly, l,on
which corner Of the ring seemeth the spopg'
to fyS" ,r dood
..From that OF Brian. He lies Ike deao
upon the ground and the crowd rush on tht
Knight OF Goss and shake his dripping
hand" .rhov,
Wboopi" murmurcd lvanhoe, 81 nave
| won S5 and am content"
"Aye," mused Rebecca, "and tiese ar,
men. and some hammer each otDcr ina
others may wager and win. Ivy DO ge
any Of that W"
A MODEL POLICE sERGEANT.-Hon. Johf