Middletown transcript., 1892-06-23

I0r 0ls lOity stosuAO ~
moustache on his upper lip, he might
have been mistaken for a girl.
The bravo shrugged his broad
shoulders with disdainful laugh, and
muttered some coarse jest about
whipping the child back to its
mother" but the young man took no
heed of him.
Then up rose a fine.looking old man
in richly embroidered suit of crim-
son velvet, the Marquis di Scala, who,
as warden of the market place, had
charge Of the days proceedings. He
announced that this young man staked
one thousand five hundred pistoles
(nearly one thousand three hundred
pounds) against one thousand wagered
by Jacopo, adding that, as there was
no personal enmity between the 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 encount-
er you cut-throat. 1t is full time
this his murderous hand were stayed
from shedding more blood; and. with
the help of Heaven, mine shall be the
arm tn stay it. Ere / leave the spot,
he or shall lie dead"
In the dead hush of universal amaze
ment those clear, stern, menacing
tones rang out like the summons OF a
destroying angel. The spectators
stood aghast, and looked at each other
in silence and even the savage Bel
loni seemed cowed, for the scornful
smile faded from his lips, and faint
uneasiness made itself visible for the
first time through the staggering
impudencs of his look. These signs
of wavering did not pass unnoticed by
the watching crowd, some Of whom
taunted him with his changed look; on
which, stung to the quick, the bully
6ercely shook off his momentary hesi-
tation, and advanced upon his foe with
uplifted sword. The latter met him
with equal readiness, and deep and
solemn hush settled down upon that
great multitude as the shining blades
were seen to cross.
Belloni pressed furiously forward
his sword Pickering lightning as he
dealt thrust after thrust, with q quick
ness which no eye could follow. He
appeared bent upon bearing down hi
young opponent by sheer strength; bu
to his own surprise, and that of every
one else, he seemed to have met hi
match at last. Lunge after lunge die
he make, with seemingly irresistabl'
force, and again and again did the BY
ISLANDERS draw in their breath as they
watched to see the stranger fall; but
the thisty point was always turne'
aside just a. it seemed about to pierc
him. Nor did he once break ground
but kept circling round and round hi
foe, watching for chance of attackin
in turn.
That chance came at last. Jacopt
spent with his own violent exertions
could no longer maintain this exhaust
ing attack. His breath begun to fai
and his hand to tremble. Then th
: stranger came forward, and attacke
J, and attacked Belloni in his turn, wit
q light of sudden and terrible glad
ness upon Lis beautiful face. whic
made the hardest spectators shudde
r as they saw it. Twice Bellor
: dashed aside the point just q
it reached him, but the second tin
!, an ominous stain of crimson G
his white vest showed that the par
: had come all but too late. They clo
: ed third time-there was quic
). trampling of feet, clash Of steel,
t hoarse choking curse-and the de
u troyer OF so many lives lay dead
81 the stranger's feet, pierced throug
2 the heart.
o The momentary pause of sile
: stupefaction was followed by lol
continued thunders ofspplause, viii
Q the Marquis di Scala, seemingly mu'
e pleased, held out to the conqueror Il
y heavy purse containing the stakes; b
y the latter, to every ones surpris
IL waved it haughtily away.
81 money that is stained with blo
'e shall never be touched by my hands
sr he said, in tone of such commandil
= dignity as to impress even the pro-
to old noble to whom he spoke. "Gi
es it to the widows and the orphan Chi
Or dren of the men whom this wret
hath slain."
IN "And who art thou, fair sir, pr
Us thee I" asked the marquis, looking
,s. him wonderingly.
he ~ am from Scotland" answer
ii, the victorious youth. "and my ma
is-James Crichton p
II "The Admirable Crichton !" shot
- ed the throng. with one voice, haili
i the renowned Scot by the title VIII
~ he had already made famous throui
- out all Europe.
y. cay. the Admirable Crichton,
l.e good sooth. cried the Maruuess