The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1899-09-08
AN ERROR OF FATE.

|
down." so to speak, life in which vice is
triumphant and virtue vanquished, the
world would be the loser of much merri,
ment. But such life is only theoretical
after all, and the rarity of even an incident
following the theoretical path, especially
unto death, is therefore all the more wor.
thy to be set down.
For when a tragic theory becomes prac,
tical there are apt 20 be two or three hor-
ribly interesting scenes, and a denouement
both unexpected and sudden.
never knew of but one of these cases. but
it was one of the most interesting things
have ever heard of, and fully carried out my
expressed ideas on the subject
| Dick Curzon was an ordinary young man,
except that he had $4,000 year-and that
makes a lot Of difference. lie was an or
phan, and had been brought up by an aunt,
whose views of life were bounded by pro-
priety and the back page of the Echo.
| This sort of life was not entirely con.
genial to Dick. In fact it was not the sort
of life he had been leading, but it was un-
| pleasant to have TO keep up semblance Of
virtue when nothing of the kind existed.
Still he preferred something with trhe
more excitement than the life he was lead
ing in his aunt's house Not that he was
OF the wild sort, for he was not, but he liked ed
to go where it was best that he stay away,
and to wander into those little adventures
which gave spice to the life OF man-about-
| town.
| And so it came to pass that when his
aunt was sure that his general apathy TO
his surroundings was due to illness she
suborned his doctor to see him. The doctor
was man who looked as if he had spent his
life dogging sick folk slowly to their graves.
He asked Dick few cursory questions, and
then said: "Mr. Curzon, you must go to
the south of France, sit in the sunshine,
drink Burgundy, and return when you are
no longer exhausted"
His aunt metaphorcaly blessed the or
nate Richard, told him she would be glad
to see him back, and recommended him to
be kind TO dumb animals
And SO he left for a trip that was des-
tined to have in it more adventure of the
kind he had longed for than he would wish
to ind again, and Travelled by easy stages
through the continent.
1t was through trivial incident that he
made the acquaintance OF Nine. Etienne.
He had dawdled to St. Jean de-Luz, and
while crawling along the edge of the little
bay, wrapped in the comforting thought
that he was simply beautifully dressed, he
stepped upon small deg. The animals
piercing yells only slowly subsidized when
resting under the soft chin of Nine Etienne
tie saw pretty oval face, with large blue
eyes, which looked quickly from his own
to the dog, and back to his. In the rich vio-
let light that seemed to play between then
they discovered poor Trlll's leg was broken
That which Dick afterwards dramatically
called fate fell as a mantle upon his shoul-
ders.
He asked leave to call upon her the next
day to make the acquaintance of her hus-
band and to see the dog. The rich light
poured from her eyes again as she acqui-
esced and she passed on.
Dick fixed his eyes on the horizon, and,
breathing softly, walked away on the air.
He met NJ. Etienne, who was overwhelm-
ingly polite, as became his nationality, and
SO protuse in his thanks that Dick at last
really thought he had done doughty deed
Monsieur was away all and every day at
Bayonne and Dick was far more than con-
tented to continually meet or call upon
madame Her large eyes grew soft and seri-
Gus as Dick related sundry adventures he
had had, and he appeared to her chivarous,
quaint, and, above all, strong.
When they bathed together she saw his
shining knotted muscles, and bowed her
head before the involuntary comparison she
had made between him and the fat and
flabby appearance of her husband
1t happened that one day, after three
weeks brilliant sunshine, it rained Dick
went up the narrow treelincd street to
Marie's house with q vague involuntary
sense of responsibility AS they sat at tea
he watched her, and while the scent of the
roses in the bowl at his elbow mingled with
the faint, fresh smell of the rain. there
came upon him suddenly the utter desola-
ton OF life without her. a brilliant blue
flash OF lightning frightened her, and with
an almost instructive quick drawing of her
breath she put her hand upon his arm. He
took up the little white fingers and pressed
them to his hips, and murmured in a low,
hrm voice, words that came easily enough
at that moment.
She did not move. He put his arm around
her and had kissed her once when the door
opened, and NJ. Etenne, his eyes shining
and sparkling like the raindrons on b;s
coat, stood there.
When he received the promised CHALLENGE
TO duel his thoughts were no more dis
entanged than before. A quick thought
of hastily returning to England he dis
missed as cowardly, and vet he felt him
self to be more in the position of fool than
a knave. The even tenor of his way was
plowed up and he did not like it. When
1t came to the practical question of an
s"Iilie !ie cA9tieilse lie choSe pistols Tor,
~;aiDel .'e Su,t lt " us us seconu lah hhghshman
p'eAea OUT OF the motel ana sworn to Sc