Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1893-02-15
A FAIR DUEL
CHAPTER |.
BY A. STEWART.
The critical moment had arrived.

The CT teal moment had arrived.
Ip the privacy of JuIiana Dells bell
70 m sat two girls, with clasped hands
and eyes diiated with feverish ex-
pectancy; gazing at nothing more
tragic than two small slips of paper
which lay upon the dressing-ttble.
"Angel, said Juliana Dell in chok-
ng voice, addressing her fair haired
companion, 'If | win, will you forgive
me?"
Angelica Rose cliuched her hands
more tightly than before, and look
of deep anguish contracted her white
forehead.
Julie" she replied, lisping more
than usual in her agitation, ''if you
win, | shall not live 10 see your hsppi-
Tess"
Julians covered her race with her
hands, and shuddered at this terrible
announcement. .
"Oh, Angel, she mosned, looking
up at the grief-stricken face of her
companion, mot even to spare your
life can forfeit my hance OF winning
AlOysius. / love him so 1 cannot give
uIm up. His happiness too Is
Angelica Rose interrupted her. She
started from her chair aud began to
pace wildly up AMI down The room.
Julie" she said, suddenly stopping
and laying her hand upon her cOmpan-
ions shoul der, ''let us look the thing
clearly in the face. Even at our last
extremity we will be rational"
Juhana's dark grey eyes became suf-
fused with a slight moisture.
"Aloysius always said that L was so
r.tional," )" she Durmured, in sort of
ecstatIc whisper DO you think he
would approve of our present proceed
ings?"
Angels eyes had fixed themselves
upon a magnificent oak-tFee which cast
its mighty shadow over the small lake
lying peacefully at the bottom OF the
garden. Suddenly she uttered little
scream.
There he is" she cried, almost pre-
cIpitating herself through the open
window at the sight of black coated
figure. ooh, Julie, doesn't he look
heavenly"
Along the winding path which led up
to the house came tall man, dressed
in the clerical gsrb of High Church
rector. His head, covered with felt
wideawake, was bent down over q
book, from which at intervals he
lifted up his cold blue eyes IN sanity
meditation. As he approached nearer
the house his ascetic features became
clearly visible. Tho abnormal psllor
of his face betokened prolonged fasts
and lengthy vigils; the lines round his
thin, bloodless mouth spoke of severe
abstinence; his whole aspect breathed
forth protest against the desires OF
the world and the flesh.
Absorbed IN his book he failed to
notice the two girls hanging out of the
window; an intersecting path led him
out Of their sight, he walked slowly
away, and presently his whole form had
disappeared from view.
long, deep breath of awed trans
port escaped JGliana Dell,
''Angel, she ssid, withdrawing her
curly head from the window, which
OF US does be love best?
Angelica looked sorrowfuily at her
friend and clasped her hands in deep
agitation,
He said that my altar-cioth was a
marvel OF exquisite workmanship, and
declared that some day 1 should meet
my reward for giving up the frivolous
psstlme of tennis.
A CLEAN of triumph shot from JUL
aDss eyes.
He said that my reading of the
Scriptures to the poor IN the village
was simply-perfection and that some
day should rejoice to think that 1 had
sacrificed my riding in order to give
more time to district visiting"
he said that my playing of the har-
monIum In the Sunday School was un-
surpsssable."
He asked me If 1 could give up
this gay world to live among the East
End poor, dispensing smiles and un-
derclothing to an ungrateful people. !"
Angeliea's voice 70 n out like a clar-
ion:
"a little time ago he said 70 me:
SISTER Rose, could you put aside all the
comforts and pleasures of your present
e& stence, and sail across the bounlless
ocean to minister to the wants of the
gentle savage? He would have added
more, but unfortunately you made
your appearance"
A long silence ensued. Both girls
sat absorbed IN feverish meditation.
Presently Angelica r ose moved rest
lessly In her char.
Julia, she said, in tone of patdet-
ic solemnity, "Ee loves us both in the
degree. We have chosen the only way
90 decide. Unlike men, we cannot
night a duel to the death. Let US
therefoEe draw lots.
Jullana seized the slips of paper and
looked trngically at her companion.
Upon one piece 1 have written
ASys,us. The other is a blank. Who
l u al draw frst2"