The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-08-13

Mrs halfpromised tryst. But worst
was to come. Young Mayne, disda!n-
full as ever, must needs let fall some
disparagiDg remarks.
"He will not cheat nj cards again."
was what he said.
"Sir " said Roger, angrily.
"Or need to be taught manners by
an honorable man." went on Mayne.
"Do YOU speak Of my cousin ~ de-
manded Roger.
lyon have the misfortune to be re-
lated, | believe" said Mayne, and mt
that Roger struck him on the mouth.
For moment the dandy was moved
from his self-possession. Then he IT.
covered himself and turned with a
smile to his father.
"Sir," he said. "there is u second
case of pistols" =,
"But no witnesses, Dick" said Sir
Harry. anxiously. -.
That II nOthing-Mr. DunstantOn"
The bowed courteOusly To Roger
twill. I am sure, accept your services,
and DIR. Brown will do his best for
me-"
Roger returned the bow, and ex-
pressed the belief that there was no
time like the present. DR.. Brown,
who showed no great enthusiasm for
his new role, was crushed into ac-
iuuiescence by the remark that never
in Mr.. Richard Mayne's experience
hah physician shown himself averse
from becoming-though it were hut
for moment-a gentleman. There
! was no cast for priority of killing this
time, for that II n finest invented by
older and colder blood, and Mr..
Mayne, for all his calmness, was boil
ing.
Roger, a. he s. ood there in The wet
gras. (for the sun was higher now ana
the frost falliDg,) cursed the ill'lucR
that had followed on the masquerade
The pleasure of his dreams was van
ishing, and he was listening to the
fatal count. Quite dImIy h- cDuld set
his opponent standby easily In his plare
still smiling-0ne! two! three! Sil
Harry dropped handkerchief, and
both fired together! Dunstanton saw
some one lying still in the wet grass
and IL was not himself. lie stared
about him uncertainty.
"Iuat ~ QultS, De salu.
"That L. my son." said Sir Harry.
az regret It," Roger beghn to STAN
mer. / regret it exceedingly but you
will admit"
II will admit" broke In Sir Harry
hoarseiy, THAT 1 cannot, for lack o.
decent witnesses, call upon you tC
stand up agaIn-to me but. before
God, sir, there will be no crying o.
quits by ME until ut last have put
bullet In your heart"
"Gentlemen! gentlemen :" cried
DR.. Brown, implOringly, "aiready
one man Is wounded and another xii
led! beseech you, leave the field
now {" Mr.. DuDstapton, you mus
lily! And you, sir Harry"
"I remain" said the latter.
Then let me ask you to 90 at once,
said the doctor. turning again to Dun
stanton. ~ will attend your cousin
to the nearest house and my colleague
will remain with him. But blood Il
rhot sir. Sir Harry Is q father"
"Yes! yesu said Dunstantop, ~
am going" -,
He left the field, and found hi!
cousin's cart waiting. He told tn
man to drive him to his lodgings. III
scarcely believed that he would eveI
receive the half promised letter. sine.
his luck had deserted him. The rOad
seemed interminable, though they
drove almost AZ quickly as when go
ing. At last they arrived, and hi'
own man answered the knock.
"rhere Is no news, Stocks, / sup
pose ?" he asked.
"Only letter, SIR"
Dunstanton took 1t eagerly, and
broke the seal. 1t was written ana
dramatically and ran thus
.Since that a Certain beau did with
Eminent Importantly desire to Learn
what might he Indeed her name, who
As masgue only Mispossed his wits
A Apprehend the .ame, reading fouI
puzzle by the Number four unto the
End"
For a moment he was content tf
know that he had held the secret In
his hand without spelling Ii out. II
was what he would have expected
what he would have wished. Then
he burned to know her name. Whal
after all was 1t: Did il match hel
spirit? Slowly he began to put thu
capitals OF every fourth word, Celia
He spelt it out, repeated Ii. and ap
proved 1t. Celia was almost enough
for him, since some day she would
change the other for his. Still, i
would he rs well TO know her present
surname. 1t began with "MispossesS
ed" with NJ In fact. Very slowly
he spelt 1t out M-A-i-N-E.
The letter fell from his hand, and
nuttered on the floor.
So this was his luck, this was thu
end of the masquerade. He had sho
her brother dead-an hour ago