The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-07-21
SUMTER. S. c., WEDNESDAY, JULY 81, 1894.

heard about the Spanish stranger, the re-
port of whose coming 70 Yarmouth had
stirred my father and mother so deeply.
At any other time should have remem-
bered it soon enough, but on this day /
was so set upon my tryst with Lily and
what I should say to her that nothing
else could hold q place in my thoughts.
''This must be the man," I said to my
self, and then said no more, for he was
on me, sword up. I saw the keen point
flash toward me and sprang to one side,
having desire to fly, as, being unarmed
except for my stick, I might have done
without shame. But spring as I would I
could not avoid the thrust altogether. It
was aimed at my heart, and it pierced the
sleeve of my left arm, passing through the
1esh-no more Yet at the pain Of that cut
all thought of flight left me, and instead
Of it cold anger filed me, causing me to
wish to kill this man who had attacked
me thus and unprovoked In my hand
was my stout oaken staff, which had cut
myself on the banks Of Hollow hill, and if
I would fight must make such play with
this as might. 1t seems poor weapon
indeed to match against a Toledo blade in
the hands Of one who could handle it well,
and yet there are virtues in a cudgel, for
when man sees himself threatened with
it he is likely to forget that he holds in
his hand more deadly weapon, and to
take to the guarding of his own head in
place of running his adversary through
the body.
And that was what chanced in this case,
though how it came about exactly can
not tell The Spaniard was fine swords
man, and had I been armed as. he was
would doubtless have overmatched me,
who at that age had no practice in the art,
which was almost unknown in England
But when he saw the big stick fourished
over him he forgot his own advantage and
raised his arm to ward away the blow.
Down it came upon the back Of his hand,
and his sword fell from it to the grass.
But did not spare him because Of that,
for my blood was up. The next stroke
took him on the lips, knocking out tooth
and sending him backward Then caught
him by the leg and beat him unmerciful-
", not upon the head indeed, for now that
I was victor I did not wish to kill one
whom thought madman, as would
that had done, but on every other part Of
him.
Indeed thrashed him till my arms were
weary, and then Ifell to kicking him, and
all the while he writhed like a wounded
snake and cursed horribly, though he never
cried out or asked for mercy. At last
ceased and looked at him, and he was no
pretty sight to see. Indeed what with his
cuts and bruises and the mire of the road
way it would have been hard to know him
for the gallant cavalier whom had met
not five minutes before But uglier than
all his hurts was the look in his wicked
eyes as he lay there on his back in the path.
way and glared up at me.
Now, friend Spaniard," said, you
have learned a lesson, and what is there to
hinder me from treating you as you would
have dealt with me who had never harmed
you?' And took up his sword ard held
it to his throat.
'sStrike home, you accursed whelp!'' he
answered in a broken voice. 1T is bette
to die than live to remember such shani>
as this
'.No," said; i am no foreign murder
er to kill defenseless man. You shall
away to the justice to answer for yourself.
The hangman has a rope for such as you.
''Then you must drag me thithcT, he
groaned and shut his eyes as though with
faintness, and doubtless he was somewhat
faint.
Now, as I pondered on what should be
done with the villain, it chanced that l
looked up through q gap in the fence, and
there, among the Grubswell oaks 3o0yards
or more away, 1 caught sight of the futter
Of white robe that knew well, and it
seemed to me that the wearer Of that robe
was moving toward the bridge Of the wa
tering," as though she were weary OF wait
ing for one who did not come.
Then thought to myself that If staid
to drag this man to the village stocks or
some other safe place there would be an
end of meeting with my love that day, and
did not know when might find another
chance. Now, would not have missed that
hours talk with Lilly to bring score OF
murderous minded foreigners to their de-