The Minneapolis journal., 1902-06-21

yse you
"Then-" CALCULATED Tudor. "By Jove, I
don't know what to do!'H
He sat down dejectedly in his chair. put his
chin in his hands. and stared at the floor
He was unable to- think, confused as he was.
and unpractlced in the art. Sotheran under |
stood him perfectly, and but for the interrupt
tion that came would presently have spoken. |
Yet the interruption, even had ne planned 1t,
could not have been more 'opportune.
A soldier servant came iato the room bring |
ing a card in his hand.
BEG pardon, sir," lie said to Captain Soth-
eran, and gave the card. "a gentleman to see
YOU
II will co. said Tudor. raising his head.
"You can receive him here'
May remain responded Sotheran, looking
at the card. ''Mr Henry Knox-who's he?'
1.-The bookseller answered Tudor.
II have NJ account with him. drawled the
captain but show. him tn He placed
himself before the fireplace in his LATEST atti-
tude, and waited until Knox, quietly dressed
in his homespun, grave and courteous, tall'
very broad and very strong, stood before MIN. |
Knox and Tudor greeted as acquaintances,
but sotheran nodded nonchalantly to the
Americans salute. As Knox looked with in
terest upon him, the captain posing negH-
gently. gave him little time.
MFR. Cox-er, excuse me-" referring to the
card. "Mr. Knox, my time Is short "
And my errand." replied the Bostonian.
"will not tend to make it longer"
"Well:"
Knox did his errand tremendously. "Mr.
Frank Elery," he said, bowling, reminds
Captain sotheran that he has promised him
meeting. VIII the captain designate some
friend with whom can arrange the prelimi-
nariea?"
"Oh!' breathed Tudor in the silence.
= Sotheran, leaning upon the mantei, looked
with
"Truly?" he inquired mildly. He looked
down at his waistcoat, and brushed away
crumb. "Well--' he said, as If consider
ing lightly, and then deciding, finished:
mol" <
Knox flushed and bowed. But as he
turned to go Sotheran raised his hand.
Stay" he said carelessly. ''Mr. Fox-par-
don me--Mr. Knox. pray take fuller answer
to Mr. Ellery. Since our general, as un-
derstand, has been pleased to indicate to
your friend that he has purposes concerning
him 1t would not become me to Interfere
That Is, take it, reason enough. But-
and he started suddenly away from the man
tel His indifference vanished he drew him
self grandly erect and with one stride stood
face to face with Knox.
The two confronted one another; both
naughty and both threatening. knox, like
an angry bull, stood with red eyes, while
Sotheran, in fiercely penetrating voice, fin
ished hts message.
But" he cried, "tell Mr.. Ellery this:
Were he not marked by general for his
own, would not meet him. Since this is
time of war, hold myself at all times ready
to obey the orders of my colonel, and am
not free to duel. But even then-tell Mr.
Ellery this-as rebel he is beneath me. and
would not do him the honor to cross swords
with him. ~s.,.-
Then he stepped back and bowed. "sir."
ho hup
Knox bowed as low. Captain Sotheran,
your most obedient!" He drew himself up,
turned and went stifiy from the room.
Tudor, even after the Bostonian was gone,
stared at his friend without words. Sotheran
had not regained his careless manner: his
face was dull red, and through his parted
lips his teeth were showing He turned and
looked upon his friend as one much moved.
George" he said, "circumstances-this
fellow-have forced me to give you the opin-
ion refused"
Tudor nodded his eyes hxed on the others.
'Yes," he said. ..' .@
TT was not easy to say it in your pres
ence." said Sotheran. Now, since nave
gone so far with Knox, l must say the rest
to you. But my position may easily seem
false am suitor for your sisters hand,
SO is this Ellery. Credit me with no selfish
ness in advising you against him"
Henry cried Tudor generously Il
and touched the other affectonately upon the
arm. ..-.-. ..
sotheran smiled, but with constraint. "You
are kind" he said. II have not much to say;
only this, that am, and you are, an officer
of the king. 1 did Mr.. Knox's country the
courtesy to say that this Is war. There is
a rebellion against the king. against his sa-
cred majesty. I am sworn to uphold. him. 60
are you. A rebel-ny God, George he cried,
II consider rebel the most despicable thing
upon this earth! g -
His voice, repressed lest others In the, cor
ridors might hear, seemed to shake him with
It's pent-up vehemence. His eyes fixed Tu-
doris; the weaker man felt the great infu-
enoe of a powerful nature. sotheran paused,
drew breath and then continued:
II could not prevent this Ellery from speak
ing with DR.. Church this day. A whig leader
and his follower-was not information eX-
changed? We have no proof; out of forbear-
ance the general permits Ellery to walk the
streets. But he suspects him; so do l.; so,
in your heart, George, do you. And you
know as well as 4 what you should say to
him when next he appears at your door,"
"Yes, 'faltered Tudor. ~
Sotheran had found within himself the spir-
1t Of the actor. He drew back a step and
wiped his forehead You do not often see
me thus, George" he said with sudden
change Of tone. Tudor, astonished, saw
look OF gentleness come upon his companions
face. The taller, older man put out his hand.
''Do not misjudge me-" he said. He wrung
Tudor's hand, and abruptly quilted the room.
Tudor, much moved, after a few minutes
pause gathered up his own hat and sword and
left the barracks. : -, =.
He was going to his sisters. cottage, where
he was to sleep for the first tins since the
10Th. He reached the gate and raised the
latch. Some one strobe out OF the dusk to-
ward mini "George-'' he recognized Franks
voice. ~ am glad to see you May go in
with you:"
Tudor closed the gate again, and faced the
other. A painful lack of words oppressed
him. How should he say It?
Frank, as he listened to Tudors stumbling
! words watched him with pity. This good fell
low trying to do right, honestly barring his
own mind, how unfortunate was he in his ig
norance! How would rejoinder stab him to
tho heart! AS laundering Tudor used Seth-
erap's name, Frank felt the fresh sting OF the
rejected challenge, and was almost angry
enough to tell his tale. Yet he could not
speak. sotheran had stopped his mouth and
tied his hands. @
Sotheran knew, and Frank knew. that Tu
doris affection for his eomrade could be turned
at once into deadly hatred. But THIN, what?
sotheran refused to fight Frank, Tudor could
seize that nretext and demand a duel and
even without II had the prior claim as Aliee's
natural protector. And he was but a boy with
the small sword.