Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1890-10-10

prey.
And now the other tent opened in
its turn, and long cry of astonish-
ment broke from every lip. The man
who was about to encounter the dread
ed Bclloni was seen to be a slim, hand
some youth, barely twenty years old,
so slender in frame, and so smooth
and delicate in face, that, but for his
lofty stature and the silky moustache
on his upper lip, he might have been
mistaken for girl.
The bravo shrugged his broad
shoulders with disdainful laugh, and
mutlered some coarse jest about
"whipping the child back to its
moiher;" but the young m"n took no
heed of him.
Then up rose a fine-looking old man
IN richly suit of Grim
son velvet, the Marques di Scala,
who, as warden of the Market Place,
lind charge of t. e days proceedings.
lie announced that this young man
aked one thousand five hundred pis-
x cs (nearly one thousand three hun
( yed pounds) against one thousand
lagered by Jacopo, ad ing that, as
Sere was no personal enmity between
tio.two combatants, the first wound
received by either might fairly end
the fight.
But here the young stranger inter-
posed. "Let me entreat your wor-
ship" said he, with stern emphasis,
''not to defeat the sole purpose which
could have made me stoop to encOun-
ter yon cut-throat. 1t is full time
that his murderous hand were stayed
from shedding more blood; and, with
the help of Heaven, mine shall be the
arm to stay it. Ere leave this spot,
he or | shall lie dead"
In the dead hush of universal
amazement, those clear, stern, menac-
ing tones rang out like the summon
of destroying angel. The spectors
stood agast, and looked at each Other
in silence; and even the savage Bel
loni seemed cowed, for the scornfu
smile faded from his lips, and'a faint
uneasiness made itself visible for the
first time through the staggering i'm
pudence of his look. These signs oi
wagering did not pass unnoticed by
ta.flted him with his changed look
ron which, stung to the quick, the bul
ly iiercely shook off his momentar,
hesitation, and advanced upon his fo,
with uplifted sword. The latter me
him with equal readiness, and a deer
and solemn hush settled down upor
that great multitude as the SHINING
blades were seen to cross.
Belloni pressed furiously forward,
his sword Pickering like lightning as
he dealt thrust after thrust, with a
quickness which no eye could follow.
lie appeared to be bent upon bearing
down his young opponent by sheer
strength; but to his own surprise, and
that of every one else, he seemed to
have met his match at last. Lunge
after lunge did he make, with seem
ingly irresistible force, and again and
again did the bystanders draw in their
breath as they watched to see the
stranger fall; but the thirsty point
was always turned aside lust as if
seemed about to pierce him. Nor did
he once break ground, but kept cir
cling round and round his foe, watch
Ing for chance of f",s'sii.,,. 4, .>ing in turn
That chance came at last. Jacopo,
spent with his own violent exertions,
could no longer maintain this exhaust
ing attack. Ills breath began to fail
and his hand to tremble Then the
stranger sprang forward, and attacked
Bel oni in his turn, with the light of
sudden and terrible gladness upon
his beautiful face, which made the
hardest spectators shudder as they
saw it.
Twice Belloni dashed aside the point
just as it reached him, but the second
time an ominous stain of crimson on
his white vest showed that the parry
had come all but too late. They clos d |
third time-there was a quick tramp
ling of feet, clash of steel, hoarsc
choking curse--and the DESTROYER of
so many lives lay dead at the strangers
feet, pierced through the heart.
Tie momentary pause of silent
was followed by
ong-continued thunders of applause,
while the Marques di Scala, seeming
y much pleased held ..apt to the cor
lueror the heavy purse containing the
stakes; but the latter, to every ones
waved it haughtily away.
"Money that is stained with blood
hall never be touched by my hands,"
ne said, in tone of such commanding
iignity as to impress even the proud
lid noble to whom he spoke. "Give
to the widows and the orphan chill
lren of the men whom this wretch
lath slain"
"And who art thou, fair sir, l pray
hee?' asked the marques, looking at
i'm wonderingly.
81 am from Scotland" answered
he victorious youth, "and my name
s-James Crichtonp
"The Admirable Crichtonl" shouted