The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-05-01

tHo0Su never knew IL, not SuSpeCI6'
it And" he added simply. lit Ia
been no ones fault.
! mo ones fault"
mo, no ones Mary Seldom Ike
! you, but she did not love you, and whel
we met she found out her mistake. Ycl
frightened her with your bad humorB
Without mentioning your name she tolC
me the whole story. You could no
make her happy, and could; that's th'
whole case. Do you blame herr
mo" said Quixarvin, thrusting the
portrait back into his breast Il don't
But have sworn to be equal with tbs
man who turned her mind against me
will never believe he acted by fair mean;
and am going to do it. Defend your
self. give you warning"
Both men sprang to their feet ar the
same instant and stood glazing at each
other. AT that moment there was
heard outside the church the rattle of a
drum.
Only the rattle of a drum. But the
sound struck them motionless as figures
turned 70 stone. Nor was the effect on
their companions less remarkable. There
was moments silence in the church,
deep as the silence OF the dead; then a
movements long thrill of horror. That
summons meant that day was breaking
and that their hour was come.
The guard set instantly to work to
prepare the first batch Of prisoners to be
led out of the church Dare and Quiz
arvyn were among the first seized
With about dozen others they were
marched into the open air. The gray
dawn was scarcely giving way TO the
first streaks Of sunrise as they passed
out of the churchyard gates, but the
whole village was wide awake and in a
tumult of excitement; indeed, there had
been little sleep that night. Every win
dow was alive with terror stricken
gazers as the party of doomed men, sur
rounded by band of soldiers, were hur-
ried through the narrow streets and out
upon the open moor.
At the border of the moor sat an off
Ger on horseback, surrounded by troop
of soldiers Here the party halted, and
the guards saluted The officer was a
man Of about forty, whose dandifed ap-
pearance, which was as trim as that of
a toy soldier newly painted, showed
oddly in the midst of soldiers stained
with battle This was Lord Feversham
"a man In whose nature vanity. callous-
ness and love of pleasure were about
equally combined. His face was gay with
pleasant expectation as the rebels were
drawn up before him.
"Goodr' he remarked. These were
all ringlesders, were they? Sergeant
John, draw up your firing party and
shoot down every man of them"
The order was instantly obeyed. The
firing party was drawn up: the prisoners
were ranged in line at few PAGES dis
lance. At one extremity of the line
David Dare and John Quixarvyn found
themselves once more side by side.
An officer who sat on horseback at
Feversham's right hand observed them.
81 know those two" he said, pointing
to them with his finger. PITY two SUCH
fellows should be done for. One of them
is the best runner in the country side
and the other the best rider"
"Eh? WHAT said Feversham, stand
ing up in his stirrups. Hold there a
moment, sergeant; | spy chance Of
gallant sport. What say you, major-a
race between these two across the moor,
the one on foot, the other mounted
Will you back the runner::"
The major was man of some human
ity. He reflected for moment.
"AgreedP' he said. And to insure
that both shall do their best, let the win
ner have the promise of his hfe."
Feversham received this proposal with
by no means a good grace. for to spare
rebel hurt him to the soul But the de-
lightful prospect Of seeing two men
after all TO shoot the loser, at length
him to the scheme. He gave
his orders and the two prisoners were led
out Of the line.
Out upon the moor, about quarter Of
a mile away, stood solitary tree. This
was selected as the starting point. A
double line OF troopers was drawn up,
from the tree TO the spot
where the general was stationed, leaving
a space between them ike race course,
some wards wide. at the end of the
course Feversham and the major sat OPP
posite each other. Whichever of the
two competitors should pass between
them first would be rewarded with his
life and liberty.
And what were the sensations of the
pair while these preparations were in
progress:
David Dare, standing before the mus
kets of the firing party, had heard the
strange proposal with sudden thrill of
hope so keen that it was almost like a
pain. Then for moment his heart fell
again He knew his own speed Of foot, /
but he knew also that against feet
horse, urged by a skillful rider squirting
for dear life, his chance was likely TO BE-
small. Still there was hope again, and
be could do his best. More he could not
do, though success meant hfe-and life
with Mary Seldom. at the last thought |
his eyes glistened. and he moved up the |
course between his guards with the !
keenness OF hound In leash.
In the meantime a trooper had dis !
and Quixarvyn, armed with /
whip and spurs, having taken his place /
in the saddle, the horse was led by
couple of soldiers to the starting point |
Unlike his rival. Quixarvyn's face
showed no citation. For one moment, |
On hearing the proposal, a CLEAN had /
come into his eyes, but now he rode with
3ownbent head, as if lost ID thought 4 /.
sentence seemed to be running constant /
II In his head--tire sentence used by /
Dara IN their Cr1arrel In The church /