Los Angeles herald., 1892-03-30

you after ALI Fate is kinder to me than
fancied."
The other returned his gaze.
"Well, he said, lit was l, it appears;
though never knew it, nor suspected
it. And" he added simply, "it has
been no ones fault"
"No ones fault"
mo, no ones. Mary Seldom liked
you, but she did not love you, and when
we met she found out her mistake. You
frightened her with your bad humors.
Without mentioning your name she told
me the whole story. You could not
make her happy, and could; that's the
whole case. Do you blame herr"
"No," said Quixarvin, thrusting the
portrait back into his breast. 81 don't.
But I have sworn to be equal with the
man who turned her mind against me-
will never believe he acted by fair means
and I am going to do it. Defend your
self. give you warning"
Both men sprang to their feet at the
same instant and stood glaring at each
other. At that moment there was
heard outside the church the rattle of q
drum.
Only the rattle of drum. But the
sound struck them motionless as figures
turned to stone. Nor was the effect ON
their companions less remarkable. There
was a moments silence in the church,
deep as the silence of the dead; then q
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 Quix-
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 dandified ap-
pearance, which was as trim as that Of
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.
"Goodw he remarked. "These were
all ringleaders, 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 paces' dis
tance. 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.
"I 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.
"Agreedw he said. "And to insure
that both shall do their best, let tho win
ner have the promise Of his ife."
Feversham received this proposal with
by no means good grace, for to spare
rebel hurt him to the soul But the de-
Gghtful prospect of seeing two men
racing for their lives, and of being able,
after all to shoot the loser, at length
reconciled 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,
stretching from the tree to the spot
where the general was stationed, leaving
space between them like q race course,
some yards wide. At the end Of the
course Feversham and the major sat op-
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
progress9
David Dare, standing before the mus
kets of the firing party, had heard the
strange proposal with a 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 a feet
horse, urged by skillful rider squirting
for dear life, his chance was likely to be
small. Still there was hope again, and
he could do his best. More he could not
do, though success meant life-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 trooper had dis
voo,,ntod ond Onixarvvn arned with