The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1896-07-27


rooting another rery outburst, but Der
nsrd stood quito still, watching him.
Have you not seen them togetherf Have
you not heards All, Max, Is it not hard
enough that l should have to tell you
thisf'
II want no excuses. You have always
thought lightly Of women. You have
dared to add her name to the list You
coward"
Coward yourself" cried the other
wildly. I'm pure friendship have come
to you this lisht fl the memory of tho old
days, when no fair, false woman stood be-
tween us-and"-
In an instant Demands fingers were at
his throat, and his hot breath famed his
check. But Joo Chesney was the stronger
man Of the 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 houndP cried Maxwell flercely
you come here, presuming on your old
friendship, to breathe your false calum MES
against a pure woman, to dare to speak
Words
Say no more" said Joe quietly, raising
his hand THE time Ia past for explana-
ton. What do you wantt'
"You know what l want. No man
shall say such words Of her; no man shall
breathe her namo lightly, not even my
friend, he added sneeringly. my frlendl
Friend no more Will you meet mef"
Joe Chesney started and glanced quick
ly at the flushed face of the other man;
then he bowed his head and assented.
So it camo about that they met In a
meadow overlooking u little sleepy Bel
gian town one early spring morning, with
all tho fair sunlight about them and all
the air full Of the songs of birds. There
tho friends faced each ether for the last
time. The words We're sharply spoken, and
tho double report rang out. Joe Chesney,
with a last steadfast look at his friend,
raised his pistol and fired In the air. Max
well Bernard with white, SGT face, fired
point blank at the man who faced him.
Poor Ch0sney turned almost round once,
and then fell forward on his faco. As the
seconds rushed toward him they were
startled by the sounds Of shouts and the
plunging of horses; then there WAS crash,
and the shouting sounded again. 1t came
from tho Roadway Oh the other side of the
thick hedge that bounded the field Ono
man ran up where Chcsney was lying and
turned him over, then came running back
with u subdued face The gentleman was
quito dead, he said.
Perhaps fear Of discovery led them to-
ward the road. One man even suggested
it, Us no good could be done by waiting
there, they could only get away. They
scrambled through a gap in the hedge one
by one hurricdly and came upon All over
turned carriage, with two horses near at
hand held by the driver. Near the carriage
stood two people, Il man and woman.
The driver stolii'ly said that the lady and
gentleman were English and were hurry
ing to another station by cross route In
the hope 10 meet the express. He was gar
rulUus and said that some firing had fright
enrd his horses, and that they had bOlted
up the steep bank at the side of the road.
Bernard was the last to scramble through
the gap, ard 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 one of the seconds,
speaking in tone Of surprise and address
ing the gentleman as Calvert" At the
same inSlnnt the woman turned quickly,
md saw him, and put Der hands to her
taco with Il frightened scream, and stag
gorod backward.
And the woman WAS Maxwell Beruard's
wifc.-Firuliy.