Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1894-06-20
white hot passion that made it hard to

q
keep my promise to my mother. Rising to
his feet, Peter saluted me with q feigned
smile of pleasure, saying he had heard I
was home, and bowed Slightly in return,
pretending not to notice the three fingers
he held out to me. Then we sat down and
did not address each other once while we re-
mained in the room.
When my visit, which was brief, was at
an end, what must Donald in his devilment
do but propose that we three young men
should have walk together. To my sur
prise Peter Clephane agreed with alac-
rity, remarking it was the very thing be
desired. The reason was speedily made
clear.
"Sir," he said to me when we were In the
road, "your travels have not mended your
manners! You have insulted me!'
"Sir," I replied, ''you give me unspeaka-
BILE pleasure. will insult you again"
Donald looked from one to the other for
an explanation, but we had no time to
give it.
"Sir," hissed Peter, "if I had sword ora
pistol, you should eat your wordsp'
''It's a thing mortally hate" I an
swered. "But that needn't deprive you OF
your satisfaction. Choose your weapon
and name your time and place"
Donald whistled. IA private matter,
presume" he said.
"I don't know that it Is" returned Peter,
with the .spitefulness of girl calling
names. "It's simply this: Some people
spend more than they earn and then go
a-borrowing. My worthy cousin can tell
you the rest"
"And win,"I said. "some people lend
as friends and on slight temptation turn
into Jews. In the present instance the
Jews are Fat lawyer of Dundee and his
elegant SON."
"It's foul liel" cried Peter. 1--WE only
want our own and nothing more"
mo Jew ever wants more" answered.
"Shylock didn't, and the breed retains It's
uprightness and integrity. But we're get
ting away from business. We have more
than one score to settle, and this seems an
excellent opportunity" And to make
long story short it was arranged we should
have moonlight meeting, pistols to be the
weapons Donald was to act as my second,
and one David Macfarlane, companion
from Dundee, who was then staying at the
village inn, was to see that Peter should
have fair play.
When the time came, slipped secretly
out (having breathed no whisper OF what
was in the windy and made off to the tryst-
ing place, where Donald was to have my
weapon tested and ready. AS was hurry
ing along, thinking what would be the con-
sequence If Peter or myself were killed,
was startled at hearing my name called
from a thicket by the wayside. Turning
quickly, saw tall, mufled figure coming
toward me from among the bushes. Now,
1t is perhaps best to own I am not above an
occasional superstition. immediately my
head was full Of uncanny thingI about
wraiths and ghosts, and the hair rose on
my cold scalp. But the next instant my
heart was leaping with an emotion that
was not fear, for the voice that SPOKE to me
was not one to frighten.
'You are in great haste, Mr.. Andrew"
said Isabel, coming up and throwing of
the hood that concealed her face. Surely
you must be bent on some deed of charity
to be in such hurry"
And then laughing quietly she added be-
fore could speak:
you are very pretty fellow in your
warlike humor. I am afraid your travels
have made you forget the ways OF peacea-
BILE people,"
Seeing that she knew all, l asked her
how she had discovered the secret.
~ knew something unusual was going
on, and so picked it out Of Donald" she
answered. "And now don't you think you
had just better 60 back and not put crime
on your head by killing that poor fellowf"
So we stood and argued the matter.
pointed out to her as we'll as my clumsy
tongue could how deeply my honor was
concerned and how dastardly it would be
to turn back.
"a fine thing is this honor to fight about"
she said, with her bantering little laugh.
"Do you think you will be any better or
happier after you have manned MIR. Gle
phane for ifeP The quarrel, think, is of
your seeking. You lad better consider, Mr..
Andrew, what you are doing"
: So she had come to beg for Mr.. Clephane's
life, had she2 Well, we would see about
granting her petition. Like boor told
her it would be my greatest pleasure In life
to put bullet into the heart Of Peter
Clephane.
"Oh," she said in changed voice, and !
could see sudden flush on her face in the
moonlight. "Oh, did not expect that an
swer, Mr.. Andrew"
l saw my mistake instantly, but before
there was time to speak n word Of apology
Donald was through the wood looking for
me.
"This is fine work." he called out. 1--WE
shall be late. Itwants but fveminuteso of the
timenow. For heavens sake, Kilgour, don't
belatel It's almost as bad as running away"
but, Donald, this is a foolish quarrel"
pleaded Isabel, In spite Of my rudeness.
"Tut, tut, sis. Girls don't understand
these things" answered Donald. "You
shouldn't be abroad at this hour Go back
and keep Rance company. She is lonely
tonight"
Then just as we were about to turn into
an adjacent field boy came up and pre-
sented letter to Donald.
From Mr. David Macfarlane," hesaid.
"Hold onI' cried Donald. II must run
to the light to see what he says" he went,
and Isabel and I were again alone.
made haste to stammer what apology
could frame, and being unused to the exer-
else I managed badly and suffered griev-
ously. But, luckily for me, was dealing
with one who had better qualities than
pride. Laughing at me for my pains, she
asked If it was the ladies of Arabia who
had taught me to make fine speeches, said
she had never suspected my eloquence, and
rather by manner than word indicated that
perhaps l had not forever forfeited her
friendship.
Scarcely had I my peace madewh Don
aid came back.
Coward, poltroon, slanderer!" we heard
him say while he was still some distance
off. 'The mean, sneaking curl The con-
temptible, cabbage headed whelp"
"What Is it, DonaldS" cried Isabel, run
ming to meet him.
"This," he answered in disgust, "that
the hound who dared to come to The Elms
as gentleman has funked-called off on
sudden business, as If an affair Of this sort
were not more important than any busi-
ness. II ever he sets foot here again, I'll
kick him."
Thorn WAC rInn1in1 lauph of pladness