The Washington times., 1901-08-04

| Mr.. Colwyn," i cried, for God s sake
reflect! This affects your honor. That la
dy is my kinswoman; L am on my way
| to"
Play cried Montague. This gentle
man makes himself a subject for this
whip
'.As for you." 1 said quietly. Mr.. Jack
son should have more care for himself
than to be insolent.''
| The man changed color, but did not stop
his play. Colwyn glanced at me as
though he had not clearly caught what
said; then he played and lost. Captain
Montague reached over, took up the min
iature, and slipped it into his pocket
II congratulate you, Mr.. Colwyn." he
said, ION having lost like a man." He
filled a glass with wine and drank it.
Then he made a bow which included the
three of us: Gentlemen, he said. Il
have the honor to wish you a very good
evening"
"One moment" said /: 81 am anxious to
try my skill. or luck, or whatever it may
be. with you. l lay hundred guineas
against the picture.
It's worth two hundred" said Den
sham.
1.-TWO hundred. then"
Sir, if you offered five I should decline
tague, moving toward the door.
Mr.. Jackson was not so squeamish,' I
said. 1T still wants an hour of midnight.
Come, Mr.. Jackson"
'Icappears to amuse you to invent a
name for me-"
Not SO much. warrant. as it profited
you to invent one for yourself
He left the room without another word.
| and l turned to my companions. Colwyn
| was sitting like q man daZed. staring at
the scattered cards. now and then biting
at his fingers. again feeling in the empty
pocket of his vest
| Mr.. Colwyn," said, there is no time
to be lost. AS l have already told you, 1
am the Comte de Tebourd. now add that
am on the way to Polgarth to be present
at the marriage of my kinswoman. Miss
| Priscilla Trehearne. with a Mr.. Colwyn,
whom l take to be no other than your
sIf."
| He nodded. "She will marry a fool"
he said, IF indeed she marries me at all.
That framed miniature was her betrothal
| gift to me-"
II admit" said /, that you have played
the fool in this instance, which should be
sufficient lesson to you to avoid the
devil in future. The man who now has
agine, the devil himself-else he would
have been hanged long ago. Fortunately.
1 think he has not recognized me. If 1
am to be of service to you decision must
be instant. I will aid you, Mr.. Coiwyn.
on one condition. 1 speak. remember, as
one who. for the time, represents the
family into which you are about to mar
ry." --------.
IF you can aid me. for Gods sake do
it, he said.
81 take it you don't care much about
the money-you want the miniature
back?"
without it I can never show my face
to her.
Perhaps" said I. ''you misunderstood
women; but let that pass. You shall have
the picture on condition that you swear
not to play in future for high stakes,
and never with a stranger"
II will swear never to play at all"
You go tco far-I don't ask that. Ex-
tremes, believe me, are sign of weak
ness. The man who fetters his will COM
pletely is like to lose it altogether"
Then 1 accept the lesser OATH" He
took it solernnly. grasping hand of each
as he spoke.
Now" he said. 'how do you propose
to prevail on this fellow to give it up?"
II hear his horse at the door. In five
minutes ! shall follow"
But / can do that as well as you"
Doubtless said but you could only
recover the lady's portrait by robbery. /
hope to rescue it by other means. I tell
you 1 know the man."
Then l shall ride with you"
''If you go at all. Mr.. Colwyn," said I.
you go alone"
'~rhe count is right" said Densham;
''you must not go. George. If any help
is needed am at the counts service
Il prefer to be alone I said even IL
the fellow fights 1 reckon myself match
for him. The CoInte de Tabourd will not
be worsted by Mr.. Jackson or a Cap
tain Montague. Have your free consent
for the undertaking."
Il am in your hands" said Colwyn
gloomiIy. "Listeni he's starting now"
A scatter of hoofs without gave signal
that the captain was off In five minutes
had a horse saddled and was after him,
with a pair of loaded pistols in the hol-
sters. and as light heart as l ever car
ried in my life.
The night was moderately clear. with
good moon. l rode through the town
rapidly and struck the London road,
which 1 assumed Montague to have TAX
en-; such cattle, after a haul. always make
for the best lying-up place in the world.
After few minutes rapid riding pulled
up and listened; the air was SO still that
/ could hear distinctly the beat of hoofs
at distance which calculated at half Il
mile. my man goes easily" l thought
"or perhaps gold and a heavy conscience
weigh him down. He may keep
them both. so long as PrisciIla's picture
gets TO the right hands again. If only the
poor women knew what fools they mar
ryr
The road before me glimmered grey In
the moonlight, and over the black hedges
the arch of sky throbbed with stars.
Night travel puts quiet thoughts into a
man, and makes him realize how the
world spins on in spite of him and by no
means merely for his pleasure. Even on
such an errand mine l felt the quiet
ness slip into my heart.
In n quarter of an hour / had Montague |
in sight; couple of minutes later. / had
drawn level with him. He edged aside to
let me pass.
Our Ia-tinG was abrupt" I said,
which, seeing that we had met before, |
was unfriendly. I make my apology"
He peered at me closely before replying. |
Il never met you before. sir and / desire |
no apology. l prefer to ride alone"
NAY, don't be churlish," said T. You
should be IN the best and most gener- |
Gus of spirits. seing that you have |
plucked your pigeon to such a pretty |
tune. Six nights. I think. and a most |
wonderful, a really most wonderful run |
of luck on your side?" |
"A man must win sometimes" |
"Assuredly. my dear sir. But I have |