The Wilmington daily Republican., 1895-08-07

pecting another fiery outburst, but ber,
nard stood quite still, watching him.
Have you not seen them toyetherS Have
you not heard? All, Max, is it not hard
enough that l should have to tell you
thisS"
. az want no excuses. You have always
thought lightly of women. You have
dared to add her name to the list. You
oowardr'
Coward yourself!' cried the other
wildly. "In pure friendship l have come
to you this night in the memory Of the old
days, when no fair, false woman stood be-
tween us-and'-
In an instant Bernard's fingers were at
his throat, and his hot breath famed his
cheek. But Joo Chcsney was the stronger
man Of tho two and shook the other of
after short struggle and stood there, with
something of his own calmness regained,
looking at Bernard, who had staggered
back against the table.
"You hound" cried Maxwell fercoly
"You come here, presumlng on your old
friendship, to breathe your false calumnies
against pure woman, to dare to speak
words
"Say no more" said Joe quietly, raising
his hand. "The time is past for explana-
tion. What do you want2''
"You know what l want. No man
shall say such words of her; no man shall
breathe her name lightly, not even my
friend" he added sneeringly. "My friendl
Friend no morel Will you meet mei''
Joe Chesney started and glanced quick
ly at the flushed face of the other man;
then he bowed his head and asseuted
So 1t came about that they met in
meadow overlooking little sleepy Bel
UinD pnrlv M mi
all the fair sunlight about them, and all
the air full of the songs of birds. There
tho friends faced each other for the last
time. The words were sharply spoken, and
the double report rang out. Joe Chesney,
with last steadfast look at his friend,
raised his pistol and fired in the air. Max
well Bernard, with white, set face, fired
point blank at the man who faced him.
Poor Chesney turned almost round once,
and then fell forward on his face. As the
seconds rushed toward him they were
startled by the sounds Of shouts and the
plunging Of horses; then there was a crash,
and the shouting sounded again. 1t came
from the roadway on the other side Of the
thick hedge that bounded the field. Ono
man ran up whero Chesney was lying and
turned him over, then came running back
with subdued face. The gentleman was
quite dead, he said.
Perhaps fear of discovery led them to-
ward the road. One man even suggested
it, as no good could be done by waiting
there they could only get away. They
scrambled through a gap In the hedge one
by one hurriedly and came upon an over
turned carriage, with two horses near at
hand held by the driver. Near the carriage
stood two people, man and woman.
The driver stolidly said that the lady and
gentleman were English and were hurry
ing to another station by cross route in
the hope to meet the express. He was gar
rulous and said that some firing had fright
ened his horses, and that they had bolted
up the steep bunk at the side of the road.
Bernard was the last to scramble through
the gap, and the lady and gentleman had
their backs to him as he jumped down
into the road Then, all in a flash, he
heard the voice of ono of the seconds,
speaking in a tone of surprise and address
ing the gentleman as Calvert" At the
same instant the woman turned quickly,
and saw him, and put her hands to her
face with a frightened scream, and stag
gered backward.
And the woman was Maxwell Bernard's
wife.-Firehy.