, 1897-03-18
Ipon the defensive, while Hosmer grew

the ltll WflSl, going IN at the JOINT
breaking off. leaving Hosmer perfectly
d~efenseless.
His lie could have been easily taken
by Van Duke. but the young Spanish
American tossed his dirk { o his second,
saying: Il have done nothing to cause
this duel, but accepted it so that it could
not ne said that | was a coward. II you
are ali satisfied; | an willing to shake
hands with Hosmer and let the quarrel
end for good"
Both sides could but admire the spirit
shown by Van Duke, and the principals
shook and declared the fight ended.
When the principals went to a physician
10 have their wounds dressed, Van Duke
found i, very difficult to get the blade
out OF his wrist. but he succeeded in do
ing so, although his wrist was lame for
many months.
The story of this adventure could not
long be kept quiet, and as it was whis-
pered around among the scholars, it
S'Di N'Hi' W tHN ''AS vi III ~
Ruth asked George Van Duke about it
and why his wrist was bandaged. He
replied that he had sprained it, and she
could gel no further explanation from
him, nor could she learn anything about
it from the other scholars.
She went at last to HOsmer, and
learned the truth in regard to the fight.
If there had been no rivalry between the
boys, there would not have been any
love in this story. 1t kindled the flame
in Van Dukes breast. and he laid siege
when he proposed marriage TO her, she
~laughingly declined. telling him that
she was six years older than he and
that he did not want an old woman fer
a wife. But her ridicule, far from de-
terring him from pressing his suit. only
increased the ardor of his efforts and
made him all the more DESTROYS of win
ming her. Yet all his efforts seemed
lost upon her. In this crisis he went to
his parents. and succeeded in enlisting
their sympathy and assistance. This,
together with the strong love he bore
Ruth. SCOT overcame her opposition and
he gained her consent to their marriage.
When the engagement was %announc-
ed. the boys of the school envied George
his good fortune in winning so lovely a
bride. Their esteem for their teacher
and desire for her happiness led them
to purchase and present to her upon her
marriage a suitable testimonial. with
the best wishes OF all the scholars. They
were married at the Van Duke resi-
dence, and the entire population OF Nor
aga valley attended the wedding and
the reception that followed.
Tho honeymoon was passed travelling
in the east, and was TO be extended by a
tour OF Europe. While in New York.
George received a telegram from his
father, recalling him to attend to some
most important business affecting his
material interests. 1t seems that there
had been litigation for several years re-
garding the ownership of a large tract
of land in the valley. which threatened
the rights Of all of the members of Van
Dukes family as well us of all the old
settlers and grantees therein. These
suits, brought by Horace w. Carpenter,
had just been decided in the United
States supreme court against the sell
tlers. and they were compelled by the
decision to move off the land, without
any compensation for their improve
fortune of the elder Van Duke was lost.
George and his bride returned, and as
they had now no home to go to and no
Independent resources, they both re-
solved to commence at once working for
a living. Ruth applied for her former
position in the valley school, and reap
pointed. George went to San Francisco
and secured a position as conductor on
the California Street railroad. And so
1t happened, that, after three months of
happy married life, this young couple
"'iS separated Wy Sltlh utStlHy.
These untoward circumstances did not
daunt them or destroy their ambition
TO gain n competency, and, in order to
do this. they saw that a temporary sep
aration was necessary, and also that in
order to get a start both would be OBJ
liged to work while they were yet young
and in health. Young Van Duke found
it very hard to be confined IA hours a
day on a street-car, after the free life
Of the forest and mountains; but, spur
red on by love and ambition, he work
nomtcal fashion.
When they had Jointly saved up ST.
900, he started for the gold-fields in
South Africa, where, by energy and jul
dicious speculation, he rapidly accumu-
lated a fortune. He sent for his wife
10 join him, but soon firing OF this wild
country, they returned with a fortune
so large that the fine OF $125, 900 which
President Kruger imposed upon him for
participating in a filibustering foray
made very little impression upon his
pile" Mrs. Van Duke has set her heart
on buying the much-loved home Of her
childhood at Martinez, and her husband
is planning 10 buy the family home
stead in Moraga valley, where his boy
hood was passed and where he won his
devoted wife. Here he hopes to gather