The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1902-02-28

Tue lul UeIiHS OllA DdlOuChS Uh'Ao " 80
their state carriage. Thrice blessed
he who CHANGED to be invited to ride
back to Carroll Place after service to
dine and spend the afternoon with the
family on the broad verandas.
There was generally goodly mix
ture of scarlet among soberer tints
worn by the yoemanry, for Dorothy S
beauty and the Colonel's hospitality
were very alluring to the kings men.
Thus it was often gay little cavalcade
that cantered back to the plantation,
where the Colonel ordered his special
brew of toddy and entertained the
young men with tales of his youth.
The Colonel had been "a sad dog" in
his early days; it is to be feared his
discourse, after Madam Carroll and
Dorothy had disappeared, was not
wholly edifying.
OF course Mistress Dorothy had
many lovers-swains who sighed after
her as the moth aspires to the star,
worshiping afar off; those who singed
their hearts in the fires OF her dark
eyes and rode away to offer the scorched
remnant to some less inaccessible maid,
and holder ones, and those who loved
too sincerely to give up hope while
even one chance remained.
Among these latter was Arthur
Arundel, a playmate of Dorothy s
youth, heir to a neighboring planta-
ton, good, sensible, honest, manly
fellow, whose heart had lain under
Dorothy's feet ever since she put up
her hair with comb. The two had
been comrades and friends through
life. Love had burst into bloom in
the young mans heart, and he reckoned
her as his.
And then had come Major Charlton,
of the Kings a,my,a man of thirty
five, handsome in a bold ,lashing way,
dehonair, gallant, with an estate in
England and interest at the court of
St. James-of which he was perhaps
overload of Boosting. He quite won
the Colonel's ear, and he singled out
Mistress Dorothy for particular atten-
ton.
Dorothy was fattered and pleased
at being the oil ject of such distinguished
attention. 1t was very delightful, at
the balls and parties that filled the
winter, to Lave so gallant 4 cavalier at
her command and to know that maid
and matron envied her his attention.
Nor was Arthur Arundel, biting his
nails in high dadgeon and watching
her with black looks from the doorway
as she fitted by under the Majors
escort, wholly an unpleasing vision TO
the little coquette. She played them
off one against the other with instinc-
tive skill, greatly to the delight of the
Majors army friends, who professed to
be quite uncertain as to the outcome.
They rallied him, after the delicate
fashion of their class, about his Vir-
ginia belle, his Pocahontas, his prefer
cnce for plantation life.
"Egad, gentlemen" the Major would
say, filling his glass. "You do me too
great honor. The heiress Of Carroll
Place will he no belle savage at the
English court"
What will you do about young
Arundel, Major? Cad; the lad is
green with jealousy. Nor is Mistress
Dorothy unmindful of his distress.
POUNDS, Major, l believe The wench is
playing you off against him."
"I'll wager hogshead of the Colo
nel's best tobacco that she is mine-if
l want her." he added significantly.
Curse you! Take that, for foul
mouthed scoundrrl!'
Arthur Arundel, white with rage
and his eyes flashing fire, dashed a
glass of wine full in the Majors face.
For such an atfront only one expla-
nat on was possible.
The Major wiped the wine from his
rufiics even as lie drew his sword with
the other hand. A ring was quickly
formed and the clash of steel on steel
was fast and furious. The Maj n was
practiced fencrr, but anger AMI the
wine he had drank-or shall we say
the Providence that watches over the
sparrow's fall-made his eye less true
and his hand less steady than usual,
and after few passes Arthur sent his
sword flying through the air, while
his own point cut cash in the Majors
cheek.
Words cannot picture the Major
wrath. To be publicly afronted by
ga boy to he disarmed by one he had
contemptuously called country bump
kin, and this in the presence of his
comrades-at-arms was more than his
vanity could bear His VOWS Of ven
geance were many and deep, and when
Dorothy-who had been informed OF
the issue of the duel but not of its &C.
casion-with demure and sympathetic
words, but mischievous sparkle in
her eyes inquired as to the nature OF
his hurt and regretted a stranger in
Virginia should have been so discour-
teously handled "hy Virginia gentle
man." he grew livid with passion and
included "thc jade in his maledictions.
And then hanpened that clash Of