The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-08-10
A Stirring Story of Love and Adj
venture IN Revolutionary Days
- u -.
HAMBLEN SEARS


ledi 1soxi pJ loooI Meaa . Col
is an Unsolicited moment. What matters
half an hour?n
1T matters mueh,'' said the other hot
ly They must come noRr'
"Must2n said sproat, In questioning
tone.
Certainly, MAJOR"
Then, my friend" said the Prince.
quietly, listen to me. The military de-
mands have nothing to do VIII this. We
will go on with our affair. Therefore
leave us alone and arrest your men later
as you cam And he started to turn on
his heel.
Il shall be Obliged to use force. cried
Hazeltlne. The young Prince turned
about as If the speaker Lad touched
spring In his mechanism. But before he
could speak DR.. Low said:
If you attempt anything of the sort
you will simply become our prlsonersl
These two gentlemen have come here
relying on our honour, They no sooner
arrive than they are arrested May 1t
not appear to them Inat this Is an am
bush?"
I'm fact. some such thing might stray
into our BRAINS SAT- Acton hlandly.
Therefore" said the Prince, "our own
honour Is here at stake, and we will
with your permission or in fact without
1t, continue our affair and deliver these
gentlemen where they came from in safe
ty. or my name is not Guelph
Hazeltine glared around him for mo-
ment and put his hand on a pistol. but
the movement started the others, and
before he could draw. six men surround
ed his three and stood ready for any,
thing.
1T is a piece of treaehery to your
Highnesss august father. cried the
man.
'Fn look out for that. said the Prince
haughtily.
you know not what you do! Tt will
cost YOU your commissions, gentlemen,
and, by God, I'll do my duty And he
turned TO his men and pointed at me.
Atherton stepped In front of me, as did
the doctor. and for an instant we all
thought a short but serious affair was
beginning snroat put his hand on Haz-
eltine's shoulder as If to say something.
But the other threw 1t off fiercely. and
the dark hatred the man bore me show
ed In his face as he turned to me and
cried:
"Have another half hour. you fool I'll
see you hanged before night mark me
therel" and he started to move off
stay, man." said the Doctor You
must remain till this is over. And you
two men, continued he, stand there
before Major Sproat and Lieutenant
Purdy, and do you. sir, remain by me.
Now, gentlemen, l think we can begin
again."
I had less taste for IT than ever, after
the quick action of Atherton when he
thought I was going to be attacked. But
we were soon at 1t, and as I got into the
work and my head cooled down, the
thought of her against whom this mans
Jest had been directed stiffened my wrist
and set me hard at him.
He played his rapier we'll after the
orthodox fashion of duelling and twice
touched me. but not through the skin.
Then, seeing that I stood on the defen-
sive still, he began to grow red In the
face and his eyes lit up with anger. Not
a sound came from the others as we cir
cled around one another, nor did I say
a word until he began to press me hard,
forward and back. forward and back,
each time different stroke. Then I ex-
claimed In surprise unconsciousiy, for
he seemed to be a new man. My breath
came hard and fast, and I began to take
the offensive. Twice, thrice, four times
he parted, and then on a sudden on he
came and I felt sting on my left arm
just at the biceps.
DIR. Low called a halt, and ripped up
my sleeve in spite of my cries that I
was nothing.
leave me alone" cried T. "Do you
not see t is but a scrape? Come sir,
do not waste your time!" And | broke
away and made at him with my tenn
per half gone. We went 1t hot after that,
nor do remember anywhere such quick
work. Once / was down on my knees.
Twice he saved his life by a prodgious
side jump. And then--then I saw him
come at me from below, his point up and
falling as he rose himself
I was stroke, gasp, Tor could do
naught but strike his point down and
then put all my strength of arm, wrist,
and body to turn my blade under his.
| did so, God knows how, but in an in
slant felt my point at his hilt and with
a wrench his rapier jumped twenty feet
away. BY the force of the twist he was
swung half round sideways to me, and,
tripping over his own feet, he fell to-
wards met was all so quick I could not
tell how t happened-but I suddenly felt
my sword touch his left side under the
arm, and instinctively I jumped back
and drew my blade away. Down he
went, at on his side with one foot twirled
around the other, and l stood waiting as
he got up.
The others jumped forward TO him.
But he pushed them hastily aside and
strobe up to me, as I stood there dazed
and painting. and grasped my hand. Not
a word did he say for an instant. Then,
turning to the others:
MY friends, t is new thing for Ath-
erton TO do. But you saw him. He could
have run me through by standing STILL
and I say, by God I'll fight no more with
such a mani" Then turning to me, he
went on: MIR, Merton l was drunk last
night, and what I said
mot another word, Captain" said l.,
"'T is over, and. thank God, no harm
done. Let the thing die here and now.
They erowdede about me and shook my
hand, and said l know not what that l
had done. and quite naturally the Prince
said: