Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1894-01-31

| from Dundee, WHO was then staying at tn,
| village inn, was to see that Peter should
| have fair play.
When the time came, slipped secretly
out (havinG breathed no whisper of wha
was in the wind) 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 thicket by the wayside. Turning
quickly, i saw tall, muffied figure coming
toward me from among the bushes. Now
it is perhaps best to own am not above an
occasional superstition. Immediately my
head was full of uncanny things about
wraiths and ghosts, and the hair rose on
my cold scalp. But the next instant my
heart was loaping with an emotion that
was not fear, for the voice that spoke to me
was not one to brighten.
You are in great haste, Mr.. Andrew, u
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 a hurry"
And then laughing quietly she added be-
fore could speak:
You are n very pretty fellow in your
warlike humor. am afraid your travels
have made you forget the ways of peacea-
BILE people"
Seeing that she knew ali, | asked her
how she had discovered the secret.
II 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 go back and not put crime
on your head by killing that poor fellow"
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 Mr. Gle
plane for life? The quarrel, l think, is of
your seeking, You had better consider, Mr.
Andrew, what you are doing"
So she had come to beg for Mr.. Clephane's
life, had she? Well, we would see about
granting her petition. Like a boor l told
her it would be my greatest pleasure in life
to put bullet into the heart of Peter
Clephane.
oh" she said in a changed voice, and
could see a sudden flush on her face in the
moonlight. "Oh, did not expect that an
swer Mr.. Andrew"
i saw my mistake instantly, but before
there was time to speak a word of apology
Donald was through the wood looking for
me.
This is fine work, he called out. I'VE
shall be late. 1t wants but five minutes of the
time now. For heavens sake, Kilgour, don't
be late 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 a boy came up and pre-
sented letter to Donald.
From Mr.. David Macfarlane," he said
Hold on?' cried Donald. II must run
to the light to see what he saYsp' He went,
and Isabel and were again alone.
made haste to stammer what apology
could frame, and being unused to the exer-
else ! 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 | had not forever forfeited her
friendship.
Scarcely had my peace made when Don
aid came back.
Coward, poltroon, slandereri" we heard
him say while he was still some distance
off, The mean, sneaking curl The con
temptible, cabbage headed whelpr'
What is it, Donald?" cried Isabel, run
ming to meet him.
This" he answered in disgust, that
Z hn yubO to ~ .ha
as gentleman has funked-called off on
sudden business, as if an affair of this sort
were not more important than any bust
ness. If ever he sets foot here again, I'll
kick him."
There was ripping laugh of gladness
from Isabel.
Sis" demanded Donald fiercely, have
you any hand in this dastardly trick of his?
Have you helped to get him out of the way?"
II don't answer rude questions, my war
rior of the crescent" she said, smiling in
his face when you find me doing das-
tardly trick, then ask again. You are both
very angry at having your fun spoiled But
my brave gentlemen must remember they
are now in a civilized land. Get home, both
of you, and pray heaven to grant you more
sense for the future. You need it, and one
is just as bad as the other"
And there being nothing else for it, we
did as we were told.
The duel was fiasco, yet it was not with
out result and that is the end of my story
and my reason for dwelling so long on
trivial incident. From Peters words and
q letter he wrote to Isabel, which has not to
this day been acknowledged, the Gordons
heard of the desperate condition of our af-
fairs, but as our pride would not permit us
to speak of orr difficulties, so neither would
the delicacy of the Gordons permit any ref
erence to them that might cause us pain or
olfense.
But at length the time came when it was
impossible to conceal matters any longer,
and taking me with him for company my
father went one day to The Films to tell Sir
Thomas all He had no intention of ask
ing for assistance nor any expectation of re-
ceiving it, but simply wished to do away
with false appearances and stand, as he
was, a ruined man.
The two retired to the smoking room
for their talk, and they might have been an
hour together when Donald and l, CHANGING
to pass the door, were called in. There was
a strange silence when we entered. My ia
theirs eyes were wet-a thing had seen not
more than once in my life beforehand Sir
Thomas was smoking at q furious rate as
if trying to hide himself in the blue clouds
ne was emitting. 1ley looked at each 9th
er once or twice with an odd expression be
fore word was said. Then Sir Thomas,
taking his pipe from his mouth and with
great difficulty clearing his throat, made a
little speech.
Imagine my establishment to hear him
begin eulogy on myself for the inestima-
BILE service had rendered him in restoring
Donald to his family (here Donald nodded
wit cyraat viOorl and no bor 7
had shown in going to the ends of the earth
after the scapegrace (here Donald again
nodded with greater vigor).
And whereas, Mr.. Andrew" he pur-
sued. lone Mr. Thomas Clephane, being
blessed with more gear than grace, has by
vile and guile and by sundry acts of the
usurer got into bis possession certain deeds
and documents which will entitle him, fail
Ing the payment of certain moneys, to take