Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-01-08
CHAPTER Ky

u.
Marc sat alone in his large private room
He sunk into a seat, and with his head
bowed he pondered upon the incidents of
his last interview with Irene. He was
far from being a happy man; and yet
there was no contriteness in his soul.
There was disappointment there, and
much anger. Thus he sat when the door
OF his apartment was suddenly thrown
open, and Jilok Tudel entered st. Mare
started up and faced him. Both the men
were pale, and both stood for a few mo-
ments like fixed statues. Tudel was the
first to speak. He drew a note from his
pocket, and showing it TO the host, he
said: did you write that, senor?"
Il did," returned St. Marc, without
moving a muscle, save such as were nee
essary to the formation of speech.
And you sent it,"
Il did"
.'And You mean to fight me?'
IF you dare"
''Dare? Dare to stand before you?
You-Antonio ST Mare! only wondered
if you were not out of your senses when
you wrote it, doubted your courage to
face me in such work"
Say you hoped l would not meet you
and | shall believe YOU"
sAh-you can use your tongue. But
we are to have no more of that. Come.
senior. If you are ready, let us be on
our way, for | have business to attend
to. and should like to get through with
this affair as soon as possible"
Il am at your service Immediately.
We will meet on the marsh at the angle
of the great road. | will be there as
soon as you."
"San Benito is below" said Tudel. and
with these words he turned away.
AS soon as the pirate was gone San
Benito came up, and Sc. Mare ordered
two horses to be brought to tie court.
Il have engaged a surgeon" said the
second.
THAT is proper" returned st. Marc.
Il thought so, resumed San Benito.
you are both good shots, and 1t will
hardly happen that both, if either, can
escape untouched"
thoughtfully; and as ne thus spoke he
bowed his head and leaned his brow upon
his hand.
"Senor," spoke the second, after a few
moments of silence, have you not some
directions you would like to leave?"
''My dear friend" uttered st. Marc,
starting up, that is just what 1 have
been thinking of. l cannot hide from
| myself the simple fact that Tudel is
good shot. He may get his first fire. If
| he does-but never mind. There is one
! thing of which l would write. l may
! detain Tudel longer than promised; but
l must write it now. Sit you down here,
| and / will write all l have to write as
| quickly as possible"
| st. Marc opened a small escritoire and
| sat down before it; and having rung for
servant and ordered lighted candle, he
drew out sheet of paper and commenced
to write. He wrote very rapidly, but he
| was longer at it than he anticipated
| However, it was finished at length. and
! having reviewed it he folded it carefully.
| aud then sealed it with wax Then he
| superscribed it as follows: For Martin
! San Benito-if l fair He then placed
it in the inner pocket of his velvet doub-
| let. aud turning to his companion, he
said: #
"If l fall-if l die-you will take this
packet from my bosom. But be sure that
L am dead before you open it, VIII you
be faithful in this?"
Il win" returned San Benito. but, ~
/ he added. anXiously, suppose YOU fall,
and in time to come l should fall in with
| Irene"
Il have written all there, y st. Mare
returned 1T is all concerning Irene
And now let us so; we have no more time
to spare. Tudel is on the ground even
now, waiting for us, anG promised 10
! be there as soon rs he"
st. Mare went to his cabinet and took
out richly ornamented case in which he
kept his pistols, and having secured these
/ he went down to the court where the
horses were in waiting and where they
found the surgeon ready TO accompany
| them. St. Mares horses We're fleet ones,
and they were not many minutes in
reaching the ground, which was only a
mile and half distant fror1 ne city.
How now, senor?'' 20 Fudel, in a
half-nioeking tone, ''wet sou doubtful
ahout coming?"
Never mind about that" was st.
| Mares reply.
'fIe had business 10 keep him, senior. >
4 interposed San Benito.
-'Aha-been preparing for his death,
eh?''
These words grated harshly upon An
tonio's ears. but he made no reply. At
\ this moment two priests were seen ap-
1 preaching the spot-they We're coming to-
ward the city.
.ShaI we wait until they have pass
ed?" asked San Benito.
NO returned Miguel. the man who
had come out with Tudel. "let them come.
for there may be some shiying 10 do.
Their coming is most opportune."
In few minutes the priests came up.
Their features were dark from apparent
exposure. One Of thep~ seemed quite
young. though not younger than many
others who have friends Of influence in
the church.
How now, my children spoke the ell
der Of the priests, gazing around upon
the party.
I'VE are about TO settle difficulty,
good father" returned St. Marc. and in
case either of Us fall. you may give us
consolation"
perhaps. IL / did my duty" answered
the priest. II should try to stop this
work. for there is a better and more noble
method of settling"
peace. good father" interrupted Tu-
del. I'VE must fight; and you can stop
II you please. but you must not inter
fere."
Then turning to San Benito. he added:
. .'C5me, senor--wes wait your motions. =
St. Marc opened his case and took out
! his pistols, and asked his antagonist il
} be would ike one of them. But Tudel
. had his OWE weapons, and ne chose to
J use them. The seconds proposed thai