The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-02-23

81 have promised him a knight
hood"
"a knighthood 9n I cried out in am
azement.
"Aye, wherefore not ?'' she answered.
SIS he not mos excellent breeches-
maker, and a knight among tailors2
Why should there not be Knight of
the Breeches as well as a Knight of the
Carpet, since no knights fight now-a-
days?
"But how shall you fulfill your prom
Use ~ 1 asked.
"This night week my Lord Duke
comes to supper TO me,n she replied.
"When he has drunk much wine, as
he is used to, then shall he lay his au-
gustswo upon Master Tailor's worthy
shoulder. So shall fulfill my prom
ise and thereby also humble his Grace
when he learns it in the morning"
To this / made no answer, for my
cousins daring bereft me of speech.
We had now come to the Nine Acres,
and the coach halted. A little way in
front another coach was standing, and
knew that We were not the first to ar
rive OF this was glad, for with little
delay there world be little light to give
good aim.
! was about TO lift my cousin from
the coach, but she pushed me aside,
whispering that if any wits did not
grow quicker l should yet betray her,
and sprang out unaided.
Under tree l saw three men stand
ing, and one of them was Roger Della
ney. As we approached the ground,
my cousin turned 10 me aud said
"Cousin Theo, If l fall let no one
touch me or remove my cloak. Wheth-
er L die or not, would not have them
know that am a woman" and her
voice faltered little. So / promised
that 1 would not.
The others now came out aad bowed |
to us When my cousin had made her
bow she turned her back upon them,
and so she waited while we measured |
the ground. Nor did her conduct seem
strange TO them, seeing that they knew
it was quarrel between kinsmen, and |
so most bitter
Then loaded the pistols and gave |
one of them TO my Lady Betty, whis-
pering to her as did 50 that she should |
fire low.
When Roger Delaney saw that his
opponent did not remove the cloak he
declared that neither would he, for that
it was not his wont to take any such
advantage. Nor would he consent to
wait until the morning was brighter, |
albeit his second pleaded for this, as in
deed well he might, since his principal /
was so short of sight
Then they took their ground, having
their backs toward each other. | watch
ed my cousin eagerly, bat she betrayed
no treInor. The physician opened his
bag, and took from it some lint and |
bandages, for he had been out before
with Roger Delaney.
In all my life had never felt such
suspense as did while 1 watched my
cousin and Roger Delaney standing
and waiting for the word to turn round
and fire. At last it came. Then two
shots rang out together, nor could 1 tell
which had fired first. My eyes were
fastened upon my cousin. She was
still standing, and had lowered her pis-
toll, from which the smoke was curling.
Then turned and looked at Roger De-
laney. He, too, was standing, but he
seemed dazei. He made a step for
ward, and fell upon his side. A bullet
had struck him in the hip.
l ran to my Lady Betty. She turned
and looked at me. In her eyes saw
surprise, and something else, but what
it was could not tell. My joy was so
great TO find her unhurt, that could
scarce remember any longer that she
was a man. / think it was the cloak,
after all, that saved her, for it did not
fit very we'll, and there was ragged
hole above the left shoulder that show
ed that Roger Delaney's bullet had not
gone so far amiss.
/ turned to him now, but he was
sorely wounded, and would fire no
more to-day nor for many days to come.
Then seized my Cousins arm and
led her little nearer to where the ply
sician was kneeling by Roger Delaney,
and, making a bow to them and to the
Others, who stood upright by them, we
hurried across the field to where our
coach was waiting.
My Lady Betty was very silent while
we drove back to the city. She seemed
weary, and her face was pale. As l
looked at her, for the first time the
thought came to me that my beautiful
cousin might one day grow old.
/ returned with her to the house,
which I believe we entered unpereeiv-
ed, for it was still early, and few, save
the watchmen about. Here she left /
me for space and then returned to me
dressed as woman, and so confess
that l loved her better, albeit she made
a gallant fellow enough.
"The coach is still without, - she said,
''and 1 would not have him remain
longer. Can you take him to his lodg
ing? ?'
/ bowed without speaking, and leav-
ing her went to the boudoir. As pass
ed through the corridor saw the tailor
descending the stair. He glanced at
me and smiled, but did not speak so l
went in and found the clothes lying
upon the couch as they had been. 1
gathered them into my arms and car
ried them to the bed chamber. Phil
Blake still lay in deep slumber, as the
physician had said he was like to. /
had little difficulty to dress him, for he
lay still, only groaning a little when he
was moved but he did not open his
eyes. Then / knew for sure that he