River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1899-07-13

"Much or nothing. as you may look
at it, said Thady, but twill serl e to
draw sword on. Come oit. We waste
time
Ia moment the men were face TO
face. Their swords crossed. as he
looked in hisopponent'sey eyes he felt that
the game was level Thady had some
what the advantage by his greater
height and reach of arm, but De Brous-
son balanced this by his greater expert
ence with his weapon He also had the
advantage of remaining cool and un-
stung by the fiery rage which pos
sessed the Irishman. The blades rang
light and clearly ss they met in lunge
and parry, and the on-lookers, standing
some little distance off, murmured APP
probation at each pretty display. But
soon the men warmed to their work
Thady under the influence of wild fury,
the Frenehman through lust of the
game. The soft sod was beaten hard
by their trampling feet, and yet the is
sue seemed uncertain. Suddenly there
was stir in the group of bystanders,
and Katy burst through into the open
space. Thady saw her, and mo-
mentary hesitation caused him to miss
point, and De Brousson's sword rip
ped slight cash in his cheek. Whether
it was this or the sight of his old love,
he closed at once with his adversary,
disarming him almost by force of mere
u J.;
hand to strike when Katy ran to him,
and, clinging to his arm, cried:
"Thady, Thady, you know not what
you do"
He tried impatiently to shake her off,
his eyes the while, like hungry VOLTS,
fixed upon mis- prey. Snarling oaths and
imprecations, he struggled with her.
but could not make her release his arm.
He attempted to take the sword in his
left hand but she jerlled his arm, and
the bright steel fell softly TO the ground
between them.
Katy, let me go, he said, hoarsely.
'Let me go. He lied of you"
She sank to the ground, covering her
| face with her hands. NO, no! God
help me. it IS true"
Thady staggered and passed his hand
| across his eyes, as if the whole world
had suddenly grown dark TO him. His
face was contorted by the fierce work
ing of the spirit within. Twice he
| opened his lips, but he could force no
utterance past them. He looked down
on the weeping woman at his feet with
| pity, without contempt, almost without
recognition, and as he looked his gaze
| fell upon the naked steel lying beside
| her in the grass. His sight grew clear
| again, his face set and calm, and, stoop-
ing, he picked it up and kissed Tie
| blade.
Love of my life, he murmured, II
do you wrong. Be thou my honor"
Once more. with bitter smile, and
as if struck by some swift thougLt. he
stopped and tore one from the ribbons
futtering on his lost loves dress. and
/ tied it as a sword knot to his hilt
He stepped to his place and hade the
wondering Frenchman take up his
sword.
Our quarrel" he said, SIS yet to set
tle.''
at seems but i'll manners TO doubt
a lady's word, sneered De Brousson.
''You lied" answered Thady, DELHI
/ erately and without heat ''and | stand
here to prove it. TO your guard, sir!"
The other made no reply beyond the
raising of his blade. but he felt he had
now another man to deal with. The
/ impetuous, reckless combatant was re-
/ placed by a cool, determined swords
man, whose aim he OWNED was to Stay
| him, and fear gave strength and nerve
to wrist and heart. The contest was
unequal and rapid. Thady pressed him
back and back some half dozen PAGES,
then, with a swift parry, thrust aside
his sword and ran him through the
| heart.
The man fell without groan, and
| Thady, turning on the on-loollers, held
| the crimsoned blade at arms length
above his head.
"He lied!" he cried, land who dare
gainsay it?'
! They looked at him in wonder, this
grim, stern champion, who would
maintain by bold words and sharp steel
the honor of fair frailty; but they
shrugged their shoulders. The mad
dest of the mad Irish,' said they, and
turned on their heels.
He stood looking, but not seeing. as
| they passed out of sight. He gave no
sign as Katy went by, supported by
her attendant The body of the slain
man was borne past him, but still he
stood unheeding, meshed in the misery
of thought, lost in a stupor of unre-
allied pain; and there was that in his
face that Desmond dared not break in
on his thoughts.
"A gallant gentleman" said the lat
ter half aloud, with sorry end--to
die because a woman's wanton.''
The words Jared on Thady's con-
seriousness with sudden pain as of a
clumsy hand probing an open wound,
and leaping on his friend he gripped
! him by the throat and shook him fierce
| Iy. you lie, You devils spawn, you
lie." and then, with quick reyulsion of
feeling he loosed his grasp.
Desmond. forgive me. I'm mad; it's
trying to give myself the lie, am" and
the reckless fighter. the desperate chal-
lenger. flung himself downward on the
! grass, and burst into a flood of bitter
! tears Chicago Herald.
UNINTENTIONAL HUMOR.
| LuughnbIc Answers Found I'm some