Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1885-02-07
CHAPTER III.

[ soon learned that the doctor
bore the name of a desperate char
acter. He had fought several duels
[ expected that he would post ms
as a coward, and he did so, but he
kept out Of my way. The people.
saw, attached great importance Il
what they termed the defense Ol
honor. No matter how promptly
ed the aggressor down, he was not
To be taken into the fold of brave
men until he had shown his willing
ness to burn dangerous powder.
When any one reprOached me for
not fighting the doctor, / attempted
TO laugh it off, but to my sorrow /
found that it was a serious matter.
"He would have killed me-"
said one day to an acquaintance
who sat in my office.
"Presumabiy," he replied.
swell, then, do you suppose 1
want to be killed?''
"Of course not, but what is life
unless it be honorable 2"
"DO you mean that since / have
refused to fight duel with that des-
perate man my life is no longer hon
Orable ?' ...... .a
"The fact that people do think
you have acted dishonOrably, you
cannot deny" i.H I
81 don't believe that Judge Blake
thinks So"
"But / warrant you that Miss
Jassa mine does"
"My blood tingled; my face
burned. "Why should she pay any
attention to the unfortunate affair ?'
81 don't suppose she pays any
more attention to it than she can
help. Gray loves her and regards
you AS Il rival"
"But, good Lord" / exclaimed,
"she cannot love him ?"
81 don't know. Stranger surmises
have proved to be true. Miss JAS
samine il rather peculiar girl.
You cannot tell by her actions.
Once thought / could, cOnfOund
it. ] thought she loved me. When
1 asked her, though, she told me
confidentiaily that she did not"
AS / rode home, l tried to recall
Jassamine's looks and expressions
uONtOl ild0 illCa
but comparing them with her pre-
vi0use actions, / could detect no
change. / c0ukl disguise it from
myself no longer. / loved the girl.
AS ] neared the house | saw her
walking along the path toward Il
large spring that flowed from the
foot of the hill. / tied my horse
and Joined her. shall never for
get the golden light Of that evening,
falling on her hair. | made nu-
merous experiments in trying to
work myself To point where ]
could suddenly break off and make
a declaration OF my love, but my
tongue was not eloquent. My mind
ed. Finally, with desperate effort,
/ said:
"Miss Jassamine, ! love you !"
She stopped, looked at me calmly
and replied: "You have made
mistake, haven't you ?"
tOh, no, how codld make a
mistake? How could any one make
a mistake in loving you ?"
81 don't know, bat | do know
that did make a mistake in loving
you. Keep away from me. No,
you shall not take my hand. /
loved you once because i thought
YOU were brave and chivalrons. j
suppose IL Gray had insulled me
you would have refused his chal-
lenge 2o s..4
ST would have killed him on the
spot.h
"Very likely, No, Mr.. Rrindop,
IL is useless to talk 10 me OF ioye. !
cannot marry q man who refuses q
challenge" -...-... .........,
@How can OF e so fair be 80 blood
tbir-tye'
sit is not blood .thirssiness. II is
love Of chivalry."
"Ts IN ere no redemption ?'
"P s5ibfy, but see nOne.o
sPerhsps / can yet show you that
am not coward