The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-02-27

AHcW 1OI all dDSOlutc CSl ldihty eiioe thAo
view of the case were a truepone, l could
not in honor lift finger to avert the con-
and absolute certainty, in o
matter of this kind, was 'unattainable.
The upshot of my brown study was there
fore conviction of my own helpless
ness, and as 1 arrived at it l raised my
eyes to the clock, and saw it wanted but
two or three minutes of the appointed
hour.
Edging aloag through the press as
rapidly as l could, ! soon came to the
curtained doorway and pushing aside
the poriere. [ went in. The room was
still empty; Floyd had not yet returned.
as it possible he can have met herg'
thought |.
Even as the thought came, I heard a
low, distinct woman's voice, apparently
close at hand; and following it, coarse,
cultural one. l knew them both, and
all the blood in my veins tingled. Look
ing about, I noticed for the first time
that the room Twas in opened into an
other, the door of which was also closed
by "portiere." The next moment 1
had thrown it open and stood within.
I saw the young lady crouched away
in the farther corner Of the room, her
face pale, her lips set, her eyes sparkling;
and before her, with his back towards
me, l saw the overgrown bulk of Won
Vaust. He was attempting to get his
arm round her waist, at the same time
thrusting forward his coarse face to kiss
her.
As her glance met mine, light of re-
lief entered into her face which, even at
that crisis, filled me with grand tremor
of unreasoning delight. Won Vaust saw
it too, and seemed at once to divine what
had happened. He faced about imme-
diately, his hand clutching the hilt OF
his saber.
Before he could draw it from its
sheath, l had thrown myself upon him,
and seizing him by the cellar Of his
uniform and by one one of his epaulettes,
I exerted all my strength and flung
him violently backwards. He staggered,
but did not fall: perceived that the
fellow had been drinking, and was in
mood to commit any violence or outrage.
His face was red, and the veins of his
forehead were swelled with passion.
With an oath he drew his saber, and
delivered his point full at my throat.
The movement was so rapid that | was
prepared neither to parry nor to avoid
it, and it would have gone hard with me;
but before the keen steel could quite
reach me, my right arm was caught by
two slender, nervous hands, and / was
dragged forcibly to one side. Won Vaust,
overbalanced by the weight of his own
thrust, stumbled forward; the sheath Of
his saber tripped him up, he whirled
round and fell heavily ON his back,
striking his head as he did so against the
sharp corner of the porcelain stove.
The blow stunned him, and he lay mo-
tionless.
And there stood 7, unhurt, saved by
her whom | had saved, and who
still clung to my arm, painting and
tremulous. 1t was moment worth
more than a lifetime; it was but a mo-
ment.
As turned towards her, she let 90 my
arm, smiled family, and sat down upon
the nearest chair.
Tm very much obliged to you, Pm
sure" she said.
81 think the obligation is on my side,"
I answered, as awkwardly as possible.
"Oh no. thank you'll thank your
Her ewes fell on the insensible lieuten-
ant, and she shuddered. "Do you think
he is dead? He deserves to be hurt as
badly as possible, but not quite killed
l shouldn't want that; should have to
think of him then, you know"
Several hours later, | bethought my
self to smile at this conceit; but at the
same time was quite too much embar-
rassed and excited to think Of such a
thing. Moreover, I was very badly
frightened, and that for cause sufficient
ly whimsical, namely, that l was hope
lessly entangiing myself with the woman
to whom Floyd had prior and superior
claim. Unless escaped at ouce, knew
| should never get away at all-until |
had asked her to love me, and she had
refused point-blank. And that would
be too late for my self-respect. Oh,
Floyd! Why could you not love some
body else?
II think l must go now, if you will
excuse me-" stammered. "I have an
engagement"
"But can't be left alone with thatp'
she exclaimed, piteously, at the same
time indicating the unfortunate lieuten-
ant with her foot. l forgave him from
that moment. "Won't you wait with
me in the other room until Smy uncle
comes backT' she continued; che should
have been here before this"
Her uncle! not her father, then!
She had risen and taken my arm; l
gave myself up for lost. As we drew
aside the curtain to 30 into the outer
room, the curtain of the door opposite was
simultaneously pulled aside, and in came
first, the white-bearded old gentleman;
second, Floyd; third, military gentle
man in the uniform of a colonel; and
fourth, and last, my old friend, Mr..
Frisby.
"Here she isl" cried the old gentle
man. "Gwendolen, my dear, allow me
to make you acquainted with your broth