The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-08-06

the frozen grass.
Roger renewed his acquain lance
with young Mayne, and exchanged
solutions.
II assume that we bad best pro-
ceed," said Roger. coldly.
"Tbe sooner the BETTER" said young
Mayne, drawliug.
The two men were placed at Is
paces. and Roger gave word. Watts
Dunstanton fell instantly. =,
Now here-one would have thought
was the worst luck In the world Tor
q man like Roger, who had come into
the field much against his will being
more intent ON love than hgbting.
For the physicians wagged their
heads together over the fallen man,
and were Of opinion that the wound
would prove mortal-which meant
immediate fight for those concerned.
seeing that even to abet duel was
against the law, and to fly meant to
mis- half-promised tryst. Bu: worst
was to come. Young Mayne, disdain'
full az ever, must needs let fall some
disparaging remarks. =,
HE will not cheat at cards again,
was what he said.
"Sir ~ said Roger, angrily.
"Or need to be taught manners oy
an honorable man." went on Mayne.
"Do vou speak of my cousin!' DE-
manded Roger.
! "Yon have the misfortune to be re-
lated, l believe" said Mayne, and as
tbat Roger struck him OH the mouth:
For d moment the dandy was moved
from his self-possession. Then he re-
covered himself aud turned with
smile to his father.
"Sir," he said. "thers il second
case Of pistols?"
"But no witnesses, Dick" said Sir
Harry, anxiously. .,
"That Is nothing-Mr. Dunstanton'
he bowed courteously to Roger
Twill, | am sure, accept your services,
and DIR. Brown will do his best foI
me-"
Roger returned the bow, and ex'
pressed the belief that there was nc
time like the present. DR.. Brown,
who showed no great enthusiasm fo'
| his new role, was crushed into &C.
auiescence by the remark that never
In Mr.. Richard Mayne's experience
hsh q physician shown himself averse
from becoming-though 1t were but
for moment-a gentleman. There
was no cart for priority Of killing this
time, for that Is q finest invented by
older and colder blood, and Mr..
Mayne, for all his calmness, was boil
ing.
Roger, as he stood there in The we!
grass (for the sun was higher now ano
the frost falliDg,) curaed the ill-luck
that had followed ON the masquerade.
The pleasure Of his dreams was van
ishing, aud he was listening to the
fatal count. Quite dimly be could zee
| his opponent standby easily In his place
still smiling-one! two! three! SiI
Harry dropped q handkerchief, aud
both fired together! Dunstanton saw
some one lying still in the wet grass
and it was not himself. He stared
about him uncertainty.
"That Is quits" he said.
"That IL nv son" said Sir Harry.
81 regret It," Roger began to STAN
mer. l regret it exceedingly but you
will admit"
II will admit,'t broke In Sir Harry
hoarsely, that cannot, for lack oi
decent witnesses, call upon you Ia
stand I'D again-to me but, before
God, sir, there. will be no crying oi
quits by me until ut last ! have put q
bullet In your heart"
"Gentlemen! gentlemen !" cried
DR.. BroSn, imploringly, "already
one man is wounded and another Kill.
led! l beseech you, leave the field
now!" Mr.. DuDstsntOn, you must
lfiy. And you, Sir Harry"
II remain" said the latter.
Then let me ask you to go at once, "
said the doctor, turning again to Dun
stanton. II will attend your cousin
to the nearest house and my colleague
will remain with him. Bat blood ID
hot sir. Sir Harry Is u father"
"Yes! yes" said Dunstanton, ~
am going"
He LEFT the field, and found his
cousins cart waiting. He told the
man to drive him to his lodgings. he
scarcely believed that he would ever
receive the half promised letter, since
his luck had deserted him. The road
seemed interminable, though they
drove almost as quickly as when go
ing. At last they arrived. and his
own man answered the knock.
"There Is 10 news, Stocks, l sup
pose ?" he asked.
"Only u letter, SIR"
| Dunstanton took It eagerly, and
broke the seal. 1t was written ana
dramatically and ran thus
"Since that Certain beau did with
Eminent importantly desire to Learn
what might be Indeed her name, who
Az masque only Mispossed his wits
Apprehend the -ame. reading Your
puzzle by the Number four unto The
End"
For q moment he was content tc
know that he had held the secret In
his hand without spelling 1t out. II
was what be would have expected
what he would have wished. Then
he burned TO know her name. What
after all was 1t Did 1t match bel
spirit? Slowly he began to put the
capitals OF every fourth word, Celia
He spelt 1t out, repeated 1t, and ap'
proved It. Celia was almost enough
for him, since some day she would
change the other for his. Still, II
would be as well to know her present
surname. It began with "Aiispossess'
ed" with NJ In fact. Very slowly
he spelt It out M-A-Y-N-E.
The letter fell from his hand, and
fiuttered on the floor.
So this was his luck, this was the
end Of the masquerade. He had shot
her brother dead-au hour ago.
Black and White.