St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-11-25

paragraph in the chronicle before men
toned. When Col. Fishh0urne APP
peared everything had been arranged.
Rapiers were to be the weapons; Richie
s was Beyan's second; the ground agreed
upon was certain farm in Maryland
belonging to a fox-hunting cousin OF
Ritchie's. Richie and Bevan would go
down at once and telegraph to Fish
bourne to bring 'sthe groomsmen" by
such and such a train, according to the
preparations they might find it neces-
sary to make. Brown and Fishbourne
would then follow.
MaXimus thanked his agent very
heartily; went out riding. slept soundly,
land the next morning was on his way
to Maryland. From the station they
were driven to a farm house, where
they lunchcd and rested; then walked
leisurely half mile to the ground.
On the edge of the wood they were
Joined by the other party. To Browns
surprise, Richie, Bevan and the physi-
elan who accompanied them all wore
lavender trousers. -,
They pushed through the wood. All
at once Brown saw through the trees an
open spot Of green and then a glimmer
of pink and white.
.'Here is the place, gentlemen" said
Richie, gravely.
bourne, angrily. Upon the short grass
of the clearing stood q bridal party.
Miss Almes was the bride; Beyan
stepped ND and took her hand; beside
her stood Mrs. Luttrell, in the unlncky
Vatican dress, smiling. Smiling also
were Luttrell himself, the clergyman
and a small party of friends. all in frock
coat and lavender trousers, like MAXI
mus. -,
A few tables of extremely promising
appearance stood in the background.
Mrs. LuttreIl came up and took Col.
Fishbourne'S hand.
tYou will forgive u.s. she said, and
the most winning look that was ever
shot by one of the most winning women
in the world planted itself direct in the
astonished warriors bosom. sWe have
PLAYED you a trick; we owe you life
long apology; but trust me, no one Will
ever suppose that you were not IN the
secret from the beginning. You are like
"a brother to Grace; YOU know what
she has suffered from her father; par
don her first act of disObedlence to him
and pardon us our first and last act or
duplicity to you-wOn't you, Col. Fish
bOurneH
The doughty colonel looked at Grace
at Bevan-at his principal. Maximus--
all were statues.
"Madam," said he, slf understand a
word of what you're saying. d. me.
But do understand what seems to he
expected of me. and with your permlS-
sion will first take the customary hon
orarium." And so saying, and with the
aplomb of Mars himself, he kissed first
Mrs. Luttrell and then his goddaughter,
Grace Almes. Nov, your reverence,
we are ready" he said. land William
Almes may go to to jericho" with
which he made ready to give the Drlde
away.
In five minutes the ceremony was
over. A carriage drove up, and the
bride and groom jumped in. But first
Bevan came up and shook hands with
Maximus. "Old fellow" he said. his
mouth twitching curiously,z'I give you
my honor as a gentleman meant to
fight yOu-until | heard about the
trousers. After that-but no matter.
If you ever forgive me come and see us:
Goodbye, goodbye, all OF you, and
heaven bless you"
After the cheers which saluted the de-
parture of the clipping couple had died
away, Mrs. Luttrell took Mr.. Brown
aside.
$50, Mr.. Brown" she said, gravely,
''you meant to fight duel?''
Maximus bowed, the first movement
hesh d made.
ssAnd that duel was to punish me for
preferring Mi. Bevan, as you supposed,
|, to Yourself. Pardon me-dO not in
terrupt me, please. for / am going on
to say that blame myself as much as l
do YOU, and that never again shall l
suppose that mans vanity cannot ut
terly blind him and his anger utterly
control him. You guess now, | dare
say, that 1t was purely on Miss Almes',
OH Mrs. Bevan'S account, that we de-
sired you to dance with her; her father
had refused to allow her to go to the ball
/ if she had Mr.. Bevan for parter. Must
tell YOU also that. although l saw you
aneied yourself cavalier OF mine, |
was still ignorant enough of the world
to suppose that you would never really
fancy that an honorable woman was a
dishOnorable woman? | have had my
lesson: we are quits. Had it not been
|, for YOUR vanity, which really you ought
to curb little, Mr.. Brown; had you
not decided (here Mrs. Luttrel1 began to
laugh that you must not only fight poor
Kingdom, but fight him in character, in
tragedy costume. in the very trousers of
Comte Zaadvliet, whose picture they
have at the club, you and my cousin
would have been at this moment trying
to kill each other here where we stand.
But he felt-we all felt, Mr.. Brown
that after the trousers we were still in
the hands of NJ. Vatican, and might
venture to take liberty with you. So
as the-eXcuse meas the trousers were
so elninently fitted for wedding, and
as Mr.. Almes had been so particularly
brutal to his daughter within the last
few days, we decided to prevent great
many people, more or less innocent.
from undergoing great deal of suffer
ing and arranged the little surpris
which you found here. Now do you
think that if we forgive you, you can
forgive us?''
MADAM" was Maximus Browns only
answer, 81 shall leave country where
man cannot defend his self-respect
artistically."
And. the story getting out. he did.