The Princeton union., 1882-04-06
THE DUEL ABOUT MISS IAOGEnE

PAVO0VAO 4OAS9kA AA4AA10VeIs
Besides, she had avery respectable prd
sate fortune. though young Jefferson Duval
and Captain Milton Fontaine both aYered
that that Was the very least point in her
charms, and not worthy to be named with
her dark eyes and her bewitching smile.
Girls Of eighteen are not all wise, and per-
haps Miss Imogene believed this ;:at any
rate she looked as. If she believed il: and
both Duval and F6ntaine had many hours
in which they certainly firmly belived il.
When wandering in the moonlight under
the orange trees, or when whirling through
the waltz at some splendid fete, they
were both quite certain that nothing
but Miss ImogeneB PERSONAL loveli-
ness entered into their dreams concerning
her. S
Hitherto, though both pretenaers to Iu-
og ene's favor, they had preserved the sen-
blance Of friendship. Duval' rather wished
to do SO; it gave him an honorable opor- I
tunity of watching his rivals. chances, and
Fontaine was of that order Of men who like
Q little opposition. He intended at some
favorable opportunity to make q coup d etat
and at once and forever put poor Duval
out of the painful uncertainties OF love.
For somehow he regarded his own success
as certain, and if the confident heart wins
the fair lady, and the faint one loses her.
he had some reason for his blissful se-s
curity.
One lovely evening in the charming May
for May is charming In Central Texas
t at was one billowy sea of grass and
flowers. Duval was by her side recittpg
Byron in very touching manner. Im-
ogene had casually noticed that two horse
men had emerged from little wood and
were slowly following them; and she had
also noticed that they had passed, al!
rather close quarters than she liked, a herd
of cattle feeding. Whether the nagni6-
cent bull leading. them was irritated by
Duval's floating scarlet neck tie, or by the
poetry, or by the motives beyond human
comprehension, is uncertain, but his anger
was positive enough. Believing and tear
ing up the ground, he came furiously after
the lovers. Poetry and sentiment collapsed,
and the first law of nature promptly as
serted itself.
Both put their horses to their utmost
speed. but the prospect was not cheering.
In Tact. the question was this, would the
bull or the horses have the best Of it in q
race over two miles Of open prairie2
@He is gaining on us, and an. turning
sick and faint. Oh, what shall I do?,
Let us separate He cannot follow
both, and perhaps he will select me.n
Suddenly the shouts Of the men behind
attracted their attention. Imogene glanced
fearfully around. The two horsemen she
had noticed were coming on q laundering
pace; and before she could check or turn
her horse. one of them had risen in his
stirraps, and thrown lasso around the fu-
rious animal. It was now evident that
Governor De Forest was one Of these
horsemen; the other, who still held the
VIZ O11ifo mn Lpn hot ~ ns,xyn1
and Imogene.
The governor quickly dispatched the
bull with his rifle. and then. as the herd
| were evidently growing uneasy, the whole
party rode rapidly home. Thanks and in-
| reductions were practically delayed, al
though the stranger knew that no thanks
and introduction would ever be more satis-
factory to him than the glance and smile he
had received in the swiftest moment from
Imogene.
,Duval was very unhappy. He wondered if
he had behaved in cowardly manner The
whole affair had been so sudden and rapid
he could neither analyze his feelings nor
his actions. Imogene had only said that
she quite excused him." Had there been
anything to excuse9 And then this strang-
or! He was qtite as inexplicable. Cover
nor De Forest had simply introduced him
1 90 AAAsiOOAA VAAS114OP. u0 Wd6 D ulUe
man, with plain, positive face. His skin
was tanned, his hair light, and his ey9s Of
that steely blue which always ai.noys week
and incapable persons.
| Mr.. Winthrop made very light Of the adj
vanture, and gave all the credit Of the res-
! cuing to the governor, except perhaps for
one moment, in which Imogene and he once
more changed eyes. The news soon spread
through the little town, and Fountain was
| very indignant at fate. IF only he had
been with Miss Imogene! Managing wild
cattle was trlfle to him. He would rather
have enjoyed such an encounter than other
wise. He had half dozen plans always
ready for snch emergencies, etc. And really
he did look so gallant and so handsome that
most girls would have been willing to face
herd Of wild buffaloes under his protec-
ton.
Duval felt Foutaine's bravado persona,
slight. but he did not wish to make INOqene
the subject of quarrel, and after rather
unsatisfactory visit the two men went home
| together.
However, rext morning Captain Fountain
had the most graceful, little note from Miss
Imogene, asking him to bring his guitar and
assist her III entertaining few guests that
| evening. Duval had also one. equally faster-
ing; for it touchingly referred TO their mu-
tual danger and escape, and hoped he would
come prepared to finish the exquisite poem
which had been SO terribly interrupted.
The evening was remarkable one in
many respects. Scarcely ever had the ex-
Governors mansion been 90 profasely dec-
dated and so brilliantly illuminated, and 70
the magnificent feast prepared all the prih-
Icipal maenates Of the neighborhood had
been invited. So,
Imogene had never looked 90 bewilder-
inely unreal and poetic. Her oval face, with
Its creamy color and soft dark eyes, Wai
drowned with great waves Of black hair aud
snowy flowers, and her long drapety 81
some soft silky tissue seemed to Simmer
and glance like fairy robe, as With winning
smiles and gracious, graceful manners she
fitted to and fro among the guests.
John Winthrop was amoug them. He
did not dance, and he did not sing. and ID
smiled queerly at the very idea Of hls recit-
ing poetry; consequently neither Duval nor
Fountain felt uneasy about his influence.
Indeed. he seemed only to be able to con.
tics.
Still, he had one great Advantage -he
stand IN the same house with lmoeene. and
could see her in many favorable moments
4