Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1900-12-26
lnra. rhat Is whs ! came 70 lhs Wei.

tnfui in9l n WY NaaN@ w - y
with my godmotber, whose name
nave borne since she took me TO IYe
with her; and let you think that
would run away with YOU in order thai
| might be able to keep my VOW
Tragedy becomes you, madam he
said, mockingly. But why talk Oh
killing when you know that your eyes
have already mortally wounded me-
"Will you cease this foolish talk! DO
you still think that love brought me
here tonight? l have to avenge me
honor of my name. 1t shall not su1ef
for want of male kim"
Madam, what folly is this: How
can | fight woman
She unelasped her cloak and threw II
from her as the maid approached and
handed her two foils.
Il came prepared, you see, Sir
Harry" she said, as she carefully meas
ured the foils TO see that they were OF
equal length. Nov, sir choose your
foil and take your stand
This Is midsummer madness, In
deed. Mistress March, or Ingledew, II
1t pleases you better. And though 1t
may be pretty fooling when so fair a
lady plays part in it, like it not
"Will you choose foil!'
mo. madam"
Coward! She held foil by the hilt
now, and at the word struck him light
ly across the face with the fiat OF the
blade.
His face was white with anger, save
where rel line showed where her
blow had fallen.
Had a man struck that blow he
would not have seen tomorrow's sun
But woman is privileged to some ex-
tent. l will fence with you, madam
since you insist, and when you are dis
armed l will take my revenge IN
kisses"
The moon flung their shadows on the
ground in grotesque confusion, and
glittered ON the blades of the foils a.
they thrust and PARTED. She fenced
with care and skill that comes of long
practice.
| At first the man carelessly parted hel
thrusts, laughing and Testing at thu
strange fate which led him, a notet
duelist, to cross swords with woman
But by degrees the jest and laugh diet
on his lips, and his gaze remained fixe(
on something over Dorothy's shoulder
1t may have been fancy, or the flicker
of tho moonlight on his adversary's I'M
covered hair, but he thought the face
Of Winifred looked over her sisters
shoulder
He began to falter, and lunge Dor
othy made remained Impaired.
"Winnier he cried, and as the cry
left his lips Dorothy pierced his heart
| He stumbled; then fell at her feet
For moment she stood aghast at the
fulfllment Of her VOW; then, fllnging
away the foil, she knelt at his side.
His eyes opened and as they fell
upon Dorothy the hooking smile strug-
! gled again to the white lips. There was
no sound but his gasping breath. His
eyes opened again.
"Forgiyer' he gasped.
| His head fell back, and Sir Harry
Fortescue was dead.
Dorothy flung herself on the body
and kissed the lips again and again
weeping bitterly. Her maid tried to
| draw her away,
Let me bew she sObbed. LET me
be! o, my love, my love! | though,
there was room for nothing in my hear
but hate, and l killed him-killed him
But shall love him till die.'
Mistress, you forget" pleaded Betty
1.-The watch will be here with the day.
| Dorothy shuddered and allowed Betty
to wrap the cloak around her. TIL,
waiting woman gave a last searching
glance round to make sure that the,
left nothing to betray them, and theI
with the foils hidden under her cloak
led her mistress away. The pride ant
fire that had sustained the girl through
the night had gone, and she was nov
all weakness and timidity, obliged t,
lean heavily on her maids shoulder
and brain numbed to all but the on
thought that, in avenging her sister
wrongs she had killed her own lover
His death was already avenged
Penny Pictorial Magazine.
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