Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-06-14


he found it so easy to get the Ingle
dew money from her weak, spend
thrift brother without numbering him
self with a wife, and this dark beauty
who had so Unexpectedly become hi
accuser.
L stole nothing Your b-other-i
brother of yours he was-iost it to m,
in play. He lost and l won: it is thu
way Of the world, Mistress Dorothy"
He was boy. You took advantage
OF his youthful folly Ny sister loved
you; you forsook her when she nc
longer had gold to tempt you. He lies
in his dishonored grave; she pinned
away and died broken-hearted. You
killed them both, and l vowed to kill
you in turn That is why | came to
the Wells with my godmother, whose
name I have borne since she took me
| TO live with her; and l let you think
| that would run away with you in
| order that I might be able to keep nv
VOW
Tragedy becomes you, madam he
said, mockingly. But why talk of
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 the
honor of my name. 1t shall not suf-
fer for want Of male kim"
Madam, what folly is this? How
can l fight a woman"
She unclasped her cloak and threw
it from her as the maid approached
and handed her two foils
Il came prepared you see, Sir
Harry she said, as she carefully
measured the foils to see that they
were of equal length. Now, sir.
choose your foil and take your stand"
This is midsummer madness, in
deed! Mistress March or Ingledew, if
it pleases you better. And though it
may be pretty fooling when so fair
lady plays a part in it, like it not"
will you choose a foil?"
mo, madam"
Coward" she held a foil by the
hilt now, and at the word struck him
lightly across the face with the fiat of
the blade.
His face was white with anger,
save where red line showed where
her blow had fallen.
Had man struck that blow he
would not have seen tomorrows sun.
But a woman is privileged to some ex-
tent. I will fence with you, madam,
since you insist, and when you are
disarmed I 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 as
they thrust and parted. She fenced
with care and the skill that comes of
long practice.
At first the man carelessly parted
her thrusts, laughing and testing at
the strange fate which led him, a
noted duelist, to cross swords with a
woman. But by degrees the jest and
laugh died on his lips, and his gaze
remained fixed on something over
Dorothy's shoulder. 1t may have been
his fancy, or the flicker of the moon
light on his adversary's uncovered
hair, but he thought the face of Wini-
fred looked over her sisters shoulder.
He began to falter, and lunge
Dorothy made remained impaired.
'Winnie!" he cried, and as the cry
left his lips Dorothy's foil pierced his
heart.
He stumbled; then fell at her feet.
For moment she stood aghast at the
fulfllment of her vow; then, f1inging
away the foil, she knelt at his side.
His eyes opened, and as they fell
upon Dorothy the mocking smile
struggled again to the white lips.
There was no sound, but his gasping
breath. His eyes opened again.
'Forgive!" he gasped.
His head fell back, and Sir Henry
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 bel" she sobbed. Let me
be! Oh, my love, my love! 1
thought there was room for nothing
in my heart but hate, and l killed him
killed him. But l shall love him
till die"
mistress, you forget" pleaded
Betty. The watch will be here with
the day"
Dorothy shuddered and allowed Bet
ty to wrap the cloak around her. The
waiting woman gave a last searching
glance round to make sure that she
had left nothing to betray them, and
then with the foils hidden under her
cloak, led her mistress away. The
pride and fire that has sustained the
girl through the night had gone, and
she was now all weakness and tim
idity, obliged to lean heavily on her
maids shoulder, and a brain numbed
to all but the one thought that in
avenging her sisters wrongs she had
killed her own lover. His death was
already avenged.-Penny Pictorial
Magazine.