Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1894-10-04

perhaps, and 50 brief a space OF time
makes a longish pause in a critical sit
Iation Gilbert Sinclair kept silence.
sir Cyprian, standing with his back
against one end of the yevet-Covered
nnntel-pie g. waited with polite tran
quillitj. Not by word or gesture did
ne attempt to hurry his guest.
"Look you here, Sir Cyprian, Gil
bert began, at last, with savage alb
ruptness. "lf we had lived In the duel
Ing days-the only days when English
men were gentlemen--I shCnld have
sent a friend to you tonight instead of
coming myself and the business might
have been arranged in the easiest man
ner possible and settled decisively be-
fore breakfast tomorl Ow. But as our
new civilization does not allow of that
kind of thing, and as | haven't quite
strong enough evidence TO 60 into the
dive ce court, thought 1t was better
20 come straight to you and give you
fair warning Of what y,u may expect
in the future"
"let us suppose that dueling is not
an exploded custom. We have France
and Belgium and q few other countries
at our disposal If we should make up
our mirds to fight But | should like
20 know the ground of our quarrel be-
fore we go into details.
Il am glad you are man enough to
Gight me-, answered the other, say
agely. 81 don't think you can require
60 be told why should like to kill you;
or, If YOU have been in doubt about it
up to this moment, you will know pref
az clearly when toll you that saw
jump off the balcony of my wifes sum-
,mer-house this afternoon.
"a am sorry that unceremonious exit
should offend you. had no other
way of getting back to Marchbrook in
time for my train. should have had
TO walk the whole width of Davenaut
Park and about mile Of high-road,
il had left by tde summer-house
door"
4And you think it genteman-like
thing to be in my neighbOrhood for q
fortnight, to avoid my house, and to
meet my wife clandestiEely in lonely
corner OF my park"
There was no clandestine meeting,
You in ,ult your wife by such a suppo-
sition, and pro'e-if proof were need
ed of so obvious fact-your unworthi-
ness of such vie. My visit to the
summer-hOuse was purely accidental.
/ heard Mrs, Sinclair singing-heard
the bitter cry which gricf-a mothers
sacredgrief from her in her sol
itude, and followed the impulse of the
moment which prompted me to con-
sole a lady whom ! knew and loved
when she was child,
And afterwards, when she had
ceased to DO q child-a few months be.
fore she became my wife. Your at
tachment was pretty well known to the
world in general believe, 1t was
only who was left in ignorance,
. Yon might easily have known what
the world knew-all there was to be
known simply nothing"
You deny that you have done me any
wrOng2 that have any right to ask
you 60 fight me-"
"Most emphatically, and I most dis
ttinCtly refuse to make quarrel on any
ground connected with your wi e. But
yOu will not find me slow to resent an
insult should you be so ill-advised as to
provoke me. AS the friend of Con-
stance Clanyarde shall be ever ready
to take up the cudgels for Constance
Sinclair, even against her husband.
Remember this, Mr., Sinclair, and re-
member that any wrong done to Lord
Clan yarde' daughter will be wong
that shall revenge with all the power
God has given me. She is not left
solely to her husbands tender mer-
cias.
Even the dull red hue faded from
Gilbert Sinclair's cheeks as he con-
fronted the indignant speaker, and left
ham livid to the very lips. There was
"a dampness on his forehead, too, when
ne brushed his large, strong hand
across it.
is this man a craven?" thought Sir
Cyprlan, remarking these signs of agi-
tation and fear
Well, said Sinclair; drawing a long
breath 81 suppose there is no more to
he said. You both tell the same story
an innocent meeting, not precon-
certed mere accident. Yes, you have
the best of me this time. The unlucky
hu band generally has the worst of it.
There's no dishonor in lying to him.
He out CT court, poor beggar."
"Mr. Sinclair, do you want me to
throw you out Of that Window"
IL sh uldn much care if you did"
Tnele was q sullsn misery in the an
sWer and in the very look of the man
ms he sat there beside his enemy's
hearth in the attitude of dull apathy,
only looking up at intervals from his
vacant stal Q at the fire, which touched
Cyprian Davenant with absolute pity.
Here was q man to whom Fate had
given vast capabilities of happiness,
and who had wantonly thrown away
all that is fairest aud best in life.
Mr., Sinclair, upon my honor, | am
sorry for you, he said, gravely. Sorry
for your ncapacity to te' ieve in q :
ble ard pure-minded wife; sorry that
you should poison your own life and
your wifo'5 by doubts that would never
enter your mind if you had the power
40 understand her. Go nome, and let
your wife never know the wrong you
have done her.
My wife! What wife? | have no
wife, said Sinclair" with strange
smile, rising and going to the door.
@Thats what some fellow says in a
play, l think. Goodnight, Sir Cyprian
DSvenaat, and when next we meet l