Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1901-09-06
A POINT
OF HONOR.
The Dilemma of q Lover.
BY E. Rockford.

>. BY h. BECKFORD. L
Framed in the oaken porch OF the 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 fathers voice behind
her. 81 oplne an ardent lovers Journey
will not be accelerated by your tramp
ing about In the cold"
Miss Ankerdine made no reply. but
daintily collecting with one small hand
mass Of skirt that would have puz-
zled man to grasp In two large ones,
threaded a way around flower beds and
bushes to another part of the garden
where former owner had constructed
small and deep artificial pond. now
skinned thinly over and rejecting the
stars like mirror. 1t was spanned by
rustic bridge, fragile and worm bitten.
From 1t on a 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 dis
cernible in patches. where no hedge
trammeled its boundary but only at
rare Intervals before II plunged into
dip and disappeared
Two years away and his ship paid off
today! II would not be many hours be-
fore her lovers horse pounded along It's
famous course.
For famous II was. Trafalgar was
yet to be fought and few days closed
without detachment of soldiers
swinging past, coaches flashing by
crowded In and out with men whose
trade was war. returned marines with
n cargo of prize money and intoXicants
pursuing their jovial way or Il success
full press gang hurrying to the sea.
Mile Ankerdlne's eyes danced as she
leaned over the bridge In an eager as
poet of listening. There was n quick
tearing. a slight thud. nm arrested cry.
and broken fragments OF tee and wood
work foatcd upon the dark water over
her head.
what the DEVILS all this noise
aboutr muttcred Mr.. Ankerdlne tes-
tily rs nm unaccustomed clamor pene-
trated to his study and attracted him
forth to seek Its import.
Before the great hall fire, the once
breezy drapcry OF n dinner dress oozlng
dark pools and steaming lazlly. lay his
daughter. A stranger, rills of moisture
trickling from each fold OF his cloth
Ing, wns chafng her hands and vOcif-
Grating for assistance. He censcd sud
denly as her father appeared. with
servants at his heels, and stood back |
beyond the play Of the freight Mr.
Ankerdne knclt down beside her as
she showed signs Of recovery.
81 have to THINK you for resculng my |
daughter. suppose. sir" he said TO the |
stranger "Thc best kind Of gratitude |
IL the practical You must be made |
comfortable first. and | can din you
with words after"
The man had no time TO answer. A |
post chaisc dashed up to the porch with |
grooming Of leather aud Jlngllng Of |
harness. Il broad shOuldcrcd young fell |
low completely enveloprd In huge |
wrap preciptatcd himself rather than
got out Of the vehicle and grlpped the |
old man by both hands, exclnlmIng: |
Flows the govt. siri And whore Ii
Mile not here TO welcome mcp
AT the bottom Of the pond but for
this gentleman, said Mr. AnkerdIne.
81 must Introduce you when l. liello"
he gnspcd IN n species Of stupefaction,
for the gallant stranger had slipped out
into the night, and Lieutenant Itigdcn,
his daughters prospective husband,
had started In pursuit.
The first man. stimulated by the slow
diffusion Of warmth AS his limbs
c0urscd with blood again. held his own
OF first but was soon captured
"YOu must come back with me, VI dc
Frontignac" said the young saIlOr, "lt
Is the forum" Of war"
Again the fortune Of war" replied
the Frcnchnan. "a cold fortune at
present, mon amt" He fell into step
beside his companion without resist
nnce.
"Milllc has asked for you Mr.. An
ktTulIlt DlININih hIJlJ M wv pun
reached the house. "Sbe appeared sur
prisrd that you should prefer securing
the country at midnight to greeting her.
However, each to bis taste"
The sailor deferred apologies and led
the way TO the drawing room mt once,
locking the door and placing the key In
his pocket "A maneuyer which did not
escape the young lady's notice and add
ed a spice OF alarm to the shy affection
with which che returned her lovers
caress
"Why did you do that, Edwardr she
whispered anIIously In his ear. rs
there danger outside. or IL that bad
manf fell into the pond, and be
Jumped In. too, on this freezing night
and saved my life, dear"
THANK God It was saved, little girl"
he replied But that this gentleman
should have been the agent rather com
plicates matters We must at any rate
thank him, Mile. So first let me intro
duce In form the Count de FrOntignac,
captain In the navy Of republican
France. Monsieur, have the honor 20
present my finncee."
The Frenchman now advanced and
bent over the slim fingers extended.
my good luck has not been entirely
dead, then, that could render even 80 |
small service to so gracious a demoi-.
Belle," he said.
"Why, you are soaking, slrw exclaim-
ed the girl. "IIow wicked you areI
He will diew
zone moment, Miller exclaimed
Rigden. "There are more important
questions than those OF etiquette ana
Taiment 10 be discussed. That this gen
tleman. Is brave, y III know from /