The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-02-05
Copyright, 1902, by the S. s. Mcclure Co.

SopyrlsnI, lou1, ny the .. .. Mcclure Co.
When Buxton, the English correspondent,
called that evening on Miss Blanche Ker-
shaw. for the fifth time in four days, he
found Darro sitting with her.
The two men were introduced, and almost
the first thing Buxton said was, Il suppose
you spell your name like the Derreus at home
the dauntless Derreus,' they're called in
my county-D-e-r-r-e-u.''
It was dark, and the three were gathered
on theaporch of the Kershaw residence, where
no artificial light served to reveal the breadth
Of the smile with which Miss Kershaw greeted
this remark. Darro was rather understood
man, with eyeglasses, extensive college an
tecedents and decided literary tastes, so far
as his conversation might indicate.
81 certainly do not,' he said he in his
habitual weary drawl Life is too short. I
spell my name just as 1t is pronounced
D-a-r-r-o-and I am far from dauntless.''
| by Jove, how odd!'' said Buxton. 81 was
rather in hopes you might turn out to be a
| cousin Of the Derreus of Derreuly Manor. 1
| was born in that neighborhood myself; names
pronounced exactly like yours. And there >
| an old rhyme dating from goodness knows
| when:
Brand nor halbert, dance nor arrow,
Checketh charge of dauntless Derreu."
| Then I'm quite sure I can't be of kim
Darro persisted. I'm afraid of everything,
| fran Mausers to MICE
The hostess, laughed.
AT least you ought to be ashamed to make
such confession to Britisher Mr.. Darro.
! Think of our national reputation
II do 1 think it brutal. Physical cour-
age, if 1t ever was desirable quality, lost
all It's recommendations centuries ago.
by Jove!" Buxton exclaimed ''You must
pardon me if I seem little unprepared for
all this. You know was a correspondent
with your army at Santiago" 49,
N1n$
T friend Wickley,"r said Darro
''To whom I owe the delightful privilege o,
Miss Kershaw's acquaintance
I you have every reason to be grateful to
Wickley; but, for all that, consider him an
American of an Objectionable type"
All OF this Miss Kershaw seemed to be en-.
joying in a quiet way. Then they talked
of other things till Darro left them.
That's most interesting double enigma
said Buxton. can American and a Darro 70,
know
II hope you'll stay with us until you fine
solution of him. Mr.. Darro's ambition tt
, be thought timid is notorious here
Isn't 1t very singular ambition?'
Very. That may be the solution of tn
enigma"
"A pause, and then Buxton mustered u
, courage to ask, 'tMiss Kershaw, you couldni
-ah-feel interested in man like that?"
II don't know. Brave men are so com
:, mon with us, and, you know, L rather Xix
= exotics.''
Buxton hardly enjoyed the suspicion tina
this girl found him interesting as rarit
and that she valued the timid ,Darro pro
- portionately higher as he was the rarel
!, Then, again, he felt chilled at the though
! that she could possibly entertain a degenerat
= taste for towards.
Buxton's sojourn in the place was unce1
, ta1n.- A wire from his chief in London migt
nn Tn Fro pcio
to New York, SO he made up his mind
D ask Wickley about 1t that very night.
. This was easy enough, for they occupie
- rooms in the same hotel but hard on Wickle,
,, who had just fallen asleep when the English
mans knock caused him to dream that til
place was on fire. The interview was unsati:
- factory to both parties, Buxton only obtair
= ing the assurance that Darro was n cranl
: with a forcible recommendation to go fl
further information either to the man hir1se
,, or to the father Of all lies, while WickIe
fell asleep again with the vague idea that til