The Red Cloud chief., 1902-12-19


%fense." and directed Mr.. Beekman to
Capt. Earle as his second; leaving the
choice of swords and Of the ground
entirely to his direction.
Lightly as Hyde had taken the chal,
lenge, he was really more disinclined
to fight than Neil was. In his heart
he knew that Semple had a just cause
OF anger; but then" he argued, II
would not resign the girl for my life.
for | am sensible that life, IL she is
a%nother's, will be a very tedious thing
to me-"
All day Neil was busy in making his
will and in disposing of his affairs.
Hyde felt equally the necessity for
some definite arrangement of his bust.
ness. He owed many debts of honor,
and Cohen's bill was yet unsettled.
He drank a cup of coffee, wrote sew.
eral important letters, and Their went
to Fraunce's, and had a steak and q
bottle OF wine. During his meal his
thoughts wandered between Kath.
crime and the Jew Cohen. After 1t he
went straight to Cohen's store.
1t happened to be Saturday, and the
shutters were closed. though the door
was slightly open, and Cohen was sit
ting with his granddaughter in the cool
Shadows of the crowded place. Miriam
r~etreated within the deeper shadows
OF some curtains of stamped Moorish
leather. for she anticipated the i'm.
mediate departure of the intruder.
She was therefore astOnished when
her grandfather. after listening to q
few sentences. sat down. and entered
into a lengthy conversation. When at
last they rose, Hyde extended his
hand. Cohen" he said. few men
would have been as generous and, at
this hour, as c~onsiderate as you. I
have judged from tradition, and mis-.
judged you. Whether We meet again
or not, We part as friends"
You have settled all things as q
gentleman. captain. May my white
hairs say a word to your heart this
hour?' Hyde bowed: and he con.
tinued, in a voice of serious benignity:
THE words of the Holy One are to be
regarded. and not the words OF men.
Men call that honor which He will
call murder. What excuse is there in
your lips IL you go this night into his
presence?
There was no excuse In Hyde's lips,
even for his mortal interrogation. He
merely bowed again, and slipped
through the partially opened door into
the busy street. Miriam returned to
her place and asked plainly, What
murder is there to be. grandfather"
1T Is a duel between Capt. Hyde
and another. 1t shall be called muir.
der at the last
The other, who Is hep
The young man, Semple. Oh, Mir.
lam. what sin and sorrow thy sex
ever bring to those who love it! There
are w young lives to be put in death
peril for the smile of a very
girl she is."
DC | know her. grandfather
She passes here often. The daugh-
ter of Van Heemskirk-the little fair
one, the child"
"Oh, but now | am twice sorry,
She has smiled at me often. We have
even spoken"
Cohen, with his hands on his staff,
and his head in them, sat meditating,
perhaps praying: and the hot, silent
moments vent slowly Sway. In them,
Miriam vas coming to a decision
which at first alarmed her, but which,
as 1t grew familiar, grew also lawful
and kind. A word to Van Heemskirk
or to the Elder. Semple would be suf.
fcient. Should she not say it?
Perhaps Cohen OWNED her
and was not ~unfavOrable to it, for he
suddenly rose. and, putting on his
cap, said. Il am going to see my kins-
man John Cohen. At sunset, set wide
the door; AN hour after sunset | will
return"
AS soon as he had one. Miriam
wrote to Van Heemskirk these words:
Good Sir-This is a matter of life
and death; so then, come at once, and
l will tell you. Miriam Cohen
IL was not many minutes before Van
Heemskirk's driver passed, leading his
loaded wagon; and to him she gave
the note.
That day Joris had gone home
earlier than usual, and Bran only
was In the store. He supposed the
strip of paper to refer to a barrel of
flour or some, other household neces.
sity.
Its actual message was so unusual
and unlocked for. that 1t took him a
moment or two to realize the words.
then he answered the summons for
his father promptly. Miriam proceed.
ed at once to give him such informa.
ton as she possessed. Bran stood
gazing at the beautiful. earnest girl,
and felt all the fear and force of her
words: but for some moments he
could not speak. nor decide on his first
step.
why do you waltz" pleaded Miriam.
AT sunset. | tell YOU. 1t Is now near
1t. Oh, no thanks! Do not stop for
them, but hasten away at once"
He obeyed like one in a dream