Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-01-11

turning to me, my friend will call O
you"
For what purpose?"
TO make suitable arrangements, m
dear chancellor"
TO fight duel?"
"les to arrange n mild encounter.
Il will not accept" exclaimed. &"
am no shot, while you doubtless are. q"
II will give you time to practice-o,
perhaps you prefer the sword. Tn
choice of weapons. you know. my dea
chief justice, will be left entirely wit
yourself"
IL Will not accept. was taught 4
look upon the code as an arrangement
of murder"
Then it will be my painful duty tt
post you as a coward"
You are right. 1t will be a pain
full duty"
What will the jurist do?"
If you refer to me. | can tell You
He will beat you with his fist-beat yoI
within an inch of your life"
That is the way towards fight"
lit is the way towards meet with
just punishment"
Jassamine, without excitement. stood
regarding us. You certainly do not
refuse to fight him?" she said turning
to me.
Il will fight him in a civilized way, ~
replied.
"les," he suggested, "and with the
weapons of brute"
l could no longer stand his taunts.
With blow which he did not expec: I
knocked him down. ,Jasssmipe
screamed, but by the time the Judge
and his wife had run into the room. |
had given the doctor what the men in
the east would have called a sound
threshing.
1soon learned that the doctor bore
the name of desperate character. He
had fought several duels. l expected
that he would post me as a coward,
and he did SO. but he kept out of my
way. The people, saw, attached
great Importance to what they termed
the defense of honor. No matter how
promptly a man resented an insult and
knocked the other down. he was not to
be taken into the fold of brave men un-
til he had shown his willingness to burn
dangerous powder. When anyone re-
preached me for not fighting the doc
tor, l attempted to laugh it off, but to
my sorrow found it we5 a serious
matter.
He would have killed me-" l said
one day to an acquaintance who sat in
my Office.
Presumably" he replied.
We'll. then. do you suppose l want
to be killed."
''Of course not, but what is life un-
less it is honorable?"
'.Do you mean that since | have re-
fused to fight duel with that desperate
man, my life is no longer honorable?"
1.-The fact that people do think YOU
have acted dishonorably, you cannot
DENY"
IL don't believe that Judge Blake
thinks So"
"But 1 warrant you that Miss Jassa-
mine does"
My blood tingled; my face burned.
'Why should she pay any attention to
he unfortunate AFFAIR.""
Il don't suppose she pays any more
to it than she can help. GRAY
owes her, and regards you as rival"
But good Lord!" l exclaimed, "she
.annot love himp''
Il don't know. Stranger surmises
have proved to be true. Miss Jassamine
S rather peculiar girl. You cannot
ell by her actions. Once, l thought
Gould, confound it. thought she loved
ne. When l asked her, though, she
.old me confidentially that she did not.
As l rode home, tried to recall Jassa-
mines looks and expressions since the
doctor had challenged me, but compar-
ng them with her previous actions.
could detect no change. l could dis
yuise it from myself no longer. loved
The giri. As neared the house, saw
her walking along the path toward a
arge spring that flowed from the foot
Of the hill. l tied my horse and joined
her. l shall never forget the golden
light of that evening, falling on her
hair. l made numerous experiments
IN trying to work myself to a point
where could suddenly break off and
make declaration of my love, but my
tongue was not eloquent. My mind
was fire, but its tiues were choked.
Finally, with a desperate effort said:
Miss Jassamine, l love you!"
She stopped, looked at me calmly and
replied: You have made mistake,
haven't you?"
..Oh. no, how could l make a mis-
axe? How could anyone make a mis-
AXE in loving you?'
Il don't know, but l do know that /
lid make a mistake in loving you.
Keep away from me. No. You shall not
AXE my hand. loved you once be-
sause l thought you were brave and
/ suppose if Gray had in
suited me you would have refused his
Il would have killed him on the
pot"
Very likely. No, Mr. Brindon, it
S useless to talk to me of love. can
lot marry a man who refuses chal-
enge."
..How can one SO fair be SO blood
.hirsty?"
ut is not blood-thirstiness. 1t is love
If chivalry."
You are a curious girl. Good
evening""
Late one evening Jassamine and l
we're strolling in the woods not far
rom her fathers house. l had not
poken to her of love since the time Of
Ter refusal. / knew that she would
never alter her decision, for l could
'ead determination in every expression
If her face.
LET US return. We have walked far
No, let US go to the brow of the
ill and look down on the river"
l had scarcely finished the remark
when four men sprang from behind an
enormous log Each man wore mask
Iassamine tremblingly grasped my
irm.
What do you want9" l demanded,
brace of pistols.
I'VE have come after that woman"