Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1901-07-04
A POINT OF HONOR.
THE DILEMMA OF A LOVER.

IIdmeu III IuS OdhCu POlNA Va VIZ
old Ankerdine mansion girl stood
with thick wrap across her shoulders,
glancing to right and left with slight
shiver and hesitating on the threshold
you're confoundedly anxious, mad
am" snarled her father voice behind
her, u opine an ardent lovers jour
ney will not be accelerated by your
tramping about in the cold"
Miss Ankerdins made no reply, but
daintily collecting with one small
hand mass Of skirt that would have
puzzled man to grasp in two large
ones, threaded way around flower
beds and bushes to another part Of
the garden where former owner had
constructed a small and deep artificial
pond, now skinned thinly over and
rejecting the stars like mirror. 1t
was spanned by a rustic bridge, fragile
and worm bitten. From it on fine
day miles OF open country could be
scanned across the fields and dingles
to where the Solent smiled, blue
perpendicular simmer against the
duller background Of the Wight. The
highroad was just discernible in patch
es, where no hedge trammeled its
boundary. but only at rare intervals
before it plunged into a dip and dis
appeared.
Two years away and his ship paid
off today 1t would not be many hours
before her lovers horse pounded along
its famous course.
For famous it was. Trafalgar was
yet to be fought, and few days closed
without detachment Of soldier swing
ing past, coaches flashing by crowded
in and out with men whose trade was
war, returned marines with cargo OF
prize money and into1icants pursuing
their jovial way or a successful press
gang hurrying to the sea.
Mile Ankerdine's eyes danced as
she leaned over the bridge in an eager
aspect of listening. There was a
quick tearing, slight thud, an ar
rested cry, and broken fragments Of
ice and woodwork foated upon the
dark water over her head.
"What the devils all this noise
about?" muttsred Mr.. Ankerdine tes-
tily as an unaccustomed clamor pene-
trated to his study and attracted him
forth to seek its import.
Before the great hall fire, the once
breezy drapery of a dinner dress Oozing
dark pools and streaming lazily, lay
his daughter. A stranger, rills OF
moisture trickling from each fold of
his clothing, was cha6ng her hands
and vociferating for assistance. He
ceased suddenly as her father appeared,
with servants at his heels, and stood
back beyond the play Of the freight.
Mr.. Ankerdine knelt down beside her
as she showed signs of recovery.
~ have to thank you for rescuing
my daughter, I suppose, sir" he said
to the stranger. "The best kind
of gratitude is the practical. You
must be made comfortable first, and
l can din you with words after"
The man had no time to answer.
A post chaise dashed up to the porch
with groaning Of leather and jing-
ling of harness, broad shouldered
young fellow completely snvelOped in
a huge wrap precipitated., himself
rather than pot out Of the vehicle and
gripped the old man by both hands,
exolaiming: "How's the gout, sir?
And where is Millie-not here to
welcome me?"
"At the bottom Of the pond but for
this gentleman, said Mr.. Ankerdine.
"a must introduce you when I--Hellol"
he gasped in species of stupefactiOn,
for the gallant stranger had slipped
out into the night, and Lieutenant
his daughters prospective
husband, had started in pursuit.
The first man, stimulated by the
slow diffusion of warmth as his limbs
coursed with blood again, held his
own at first, but was soon captured.
"You must come back with me, N.
de Frontignac," said the young sailor.
at is the fortune of war"
Again the fortune Of WARP" replied
the Frenchman. "a cold fortune at
present, mon ami" He fell into step
beside his companion without resist
ance.
"Millie has asked for you" Mr.. An