Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1900-10-25
even. I am with you a against De VAL

lon."
"Come, then-he will be somewhat
at the end of this glade"
The two conspirators moved away
down the beechen avenue.
Now many things may be fair in love.
but for two rivals to agree together to
discomfort third by violent threats.
if not by actual murder, seemed to
Mile. de Brunette in some way removed
from equity. That they should dare,
moreover, to establish themselves ar
biters of her fate was intolerable.
A strife of voices broke the silence
of the woods. 1t was clear that they
had already encountered, and yet
there was no pistol shot. Surprising
the man of honor had already given his
word? Her heart beat rapidly at the
thought, and, without waiting, she
mounted the palfrey and rode over the
intervening space till only thin line
of bushes separated her from the three.
Truly, the woods were magical. She
had expected to find De WALTON at least
unarmed and prisoner. Instead, as
she looked through, she saw facing
each other De Beaufet and Martin, va
cancy in their faces, and pistols aimed
directly at one another, while Comte
de WALTON stood at one side. Just for a
moment she fancied that she must have
dreamed the whole conspiracy, for De
WALTON was manifestly at his ease.
''You perceive, NJ. de Beaufet," he
was SAYING, composedly, "that the
pistol of NJ. Martin is directed at you?"
Certainly" said De Beauflet, like
one in dream.
"And you, m'sieur," said the
comte, turning his eyes on the other,
''doubtless you observe that NJ. de
Beauflet threatens you with his pis-
tol?"
II observe" said NJ. Martin, sleepiiy.
"Then, gentlemen"-the comte's
words flowed on in even monotony-
"since you are agreed that the affair
which you came out to settle must be
carried to the end, and are good
enough to treat me as your mutual Sec
ond-which is the case, is it not?"
They both wagged their heads fool
ishly, without ceasing their stony
glare. They might have been statues,
but that they held pistols. De WALTON
went on:
ri shall count one-two-three-an
at the word three-not before-you
will fre!"
Again they wagged their heads. But
De WALTON did not count. On the con-
try, while Mile &c Brunette was turn
ing her palfrey's head, determined at
last that there was no need of her
presence, he having cast a long, stern
look at each of the combatantsi in turn,
which hai as it seemed, the effect of
making them more rigid than before,
stepped aside into the trees casually,
and almost stumbled upon her. His
face lit with surprise and pleasure, and
he DOTTED to her with all the grace in
the world
"You, mademoiselle!" he said, sim
ply, as if no more could be desired.
She was vexed with herself at being
discovered, and sat her palfrey with a
charming haught iness.
Il fear that, by an accident, I in
trude," she said, coldly.
"Not in the least" he replied.
"But these gentlemen" she said,
waving her hand in their direction
81 fear interrupt them"
His eyes followed her hand, and, see
ing the two standing theresthe Stoske,
began to laugh.
"They do not appear to be interrupt
ed" he said, suavely.
"But," she said, curiously, "you were
about to give the word to fire."
pardon me-" he said, mo"
"Then," she said, impa tiently, "why
this mummery? What is the meaning
of it? II wish to know"
1t was his turn to feel confused.
"Mademoiselle," he began, apologet-
ically, ''it is difficult to explain. These
gentlemen came into the woods to
shoot"
"Shoot-whom?
"One whom they did the honor to
suspect for rival in the eyes of-the
loveiest lady in the world"
"The rival?" she said.
"He has not the presumption to hope
to be a rival"
ut is curious" she said, laughing
constrainedly. "They come out to
murder-this rival. I find them about
to shoot each other. How is that ex-
plained?"
sit is because Of a science" he said,
"of controlling mems minds for q
space, that learned abroad"
"Black magic, rather" she said, sar-
castically. "You have but to lift your
eyes. No doubt it explains why these
gentlemen deemed you rival. You
have but to lift your eyes-to this
very lovely lady"
'To that lady," he said, II dare not
lift my eyes"
"In that case," she said, mischievous-
ly, you are not likely to succeed in
your wooing."
II fear the awakening of these two
most ferocious gentlemen" she said.
"And must return. Perhaps, m'sieur,
you will escort me and protect me?"
He went to her side, drawn by the
greater magic.-Chicago Herald
Growing Earthworms.
At q recent meeting of the SPRING
field (Mass.) Geological club a paper
was read giving an interesting bit of
experience in growing earthworms.
The lady whose experience was given
had read in work on natural history
that if an earthworm were divided the
anterior part would grow tail and
the posterior part would grow head.
She said: II took ~ worms and d.