Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-09-15
ate of things that tended to clear her hus

state of things that tended to clear her hus-
band"
q frankly avow it. 1 am in love with Miss
| Gordon, and have told her so. 1t is admirable
in you, as the chief of this party, to take q
kindly interest in the young lady's welfare. l
assure you that my love is honest and true, and
that if had thought of you as in any sense her
| chaperone, should have asked your consent
before proposing marriage to her"
Helen was not inclined TO preclpltancy in
giving 20 her husband a clean acqulttal, and
She quietly asked: "Mr. Normaine, have you
won her affection? Have you had no rival? Is
there no other man in our party with whom she
has been at all favorite?"
mo. none am OF a Jealous disposition. So
are all Frenchmen.1 think. have watched
closely whenever any Of the gentlemen has so
much as chatted with her. She positively has
no preference among them. am sure of that
She loves me alone"
'But somebody else might be fond OF her.
without any reclprocation on her part"
But it isn't So. None OF the gentlemen has
wooed her at all "
The earnest manner of the Frenchman his
cautiously low tones accompanied by a de-
meanor of intense feeling, were dlscerned by
the two watchers at the other end OF the car.
Warduff no longer doubted Ortley's assertion
that Andras was making love to Helen; and
even ortley himself felt bound to believe that
his lying had good basis in truth.
THE scoundrel, "Warduf muttered under his
breath.
"But he doesn't know she is your wife, re-
member" Ortley suggested.
Meanwhile the other pair had no suspicion
tina: they were beirg misconceived. II am de-
lighted with what you tell me" Helen sald.
Then you approve of the match that we
have made for ourselves" Andras asked. You
will do what you can to countenance our mar
riage?'
Indeed 1 will-gladly-very gladly"
The impulsive Frenchman seized her hand
and kissed it. In France that would have been
nothing but polite expression of gratitude.
But in America it is not custom, as need not
tell you. You do not classify or graduate the
meanings of your kisses as we do We range all
the way from the hand kissing of mere aHabill-
ty to the mouth kissing of passionate ardor.
You are crude, let me assure you, my dear
Yankees, in this respect.
Warduff was wildly jealous at the sight. He
glared savagely at Andras, who, in happy igno-
rance of his blunder, quilted the side OF Helen,
and sauntered into the lavatory of the car. he
was no more than out of sight from the other
tourists before Wardutf was by his side
you're scoundrel," Warduff exclaimed,
reckless with rage.
what do you mean, sirr' was Andras' per-
picked, yet dignifiedly resentful retort.
Without explanation, or another word OF
any sort Warduff doubled his fist and struck
the Frenchman a blow in the face.
From what understand of American usage,
and if Andras had been an American, Whatever
fighting was to result from this onset would
have occurred then and there. Blow would
have been returned for blow. Possibly pistols
would have been drawn, and life taken or
Partisan, and fisticuff was not thing to which
he could be melted. am not setting this diff
ference forth as a thing favorable 70 my coun-
trymen, but merely stating it as a fact bearing
upon the occurrences in that railroad car.
Andras drew himself up, pale as specter
with anger but as calm as death.
IF you were in France, sir" he said "a duel
would be inevitable. If you are not coward,
as well as bully, you will accommodate me by
following the usage of my country"
Don't doubt it for an instant, Warduh
grimly rejoIned. "We shall fight duel"