The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-15
CHAPTER discontinued.

ing. we FACED eacn otner. my antagonist
barring an arm which, despite the bejeweled
hand, was TO the full as big
muscled my own. My glance
went from his weapon. rather heavy
German blade. straight and slender-pointed,
10 his face. He smiling one who
strives to make the outer man mask to
cover all emotion. and the plasters On his
cheek drew the smile into a grimace that
was all but devilish.
The seconds fell back, but when Jennifer
would have given the signal 1 stopped him.
'One moment, II you please. Sir Francis
Falconnet, you know me?"
The thin-lidden eyes were yelled for an in
slant, and then he lied smoothly
Your pardon. Captain 1reton; have not
that honor"
'Tis a small matter but you do lie this
morning as basely az you lied to Richard
Coverdale nine years agone.' said 1. and
then signed Jennifer to give the word
Attention, gentlemeni On guardr'
My enemy's sword leaped to meet mine,
and at the same instant heard another
click OF steel. betokening that the seconds
had fallen to in bit CT byplay between
themselves, as was then the fashion. Ashr
that heard nothing for a time save the
sibilant whisperfngs of the Ferara and the
German lcng-sword. and saw nothing save
the fierce eyes giaring at me out Of the
midst OF the plaster marred smile.
Recreant though he he was l must do my
adversary the justice 10 say that he was a
skillful master of fence, agile as a French
dancer. and withal well-breathed and pre-
. serving. Twice any, thrice, before found
advantage he had pricked me lightly with
: that extra inch Of slender point. But when
j had fairly felt his wrist I knew that his
: heavier weapon would shortly prove his I'M
doing; knew that the quick parry and light
ning-like thrust would presently lag a little,
, and then should have him.
Something Of this prophecy OF triumph
Z he must have read in my eyes, for on the
Instant he was up and at me like a mad
man. and had my work well cut out to
hold him at blades length. / was SO hold
ing him; was. in my turn, beginning to
press him slowly, when there came a drum
ming of hoofbeats on the soft turf, and
then womans cry.
| looked aside and to my diving day
shall swear that my antagonist did like
wise. What l saw was Mistress Margery
Stair riding down upon US at a hand gallop,
and 1 lowered my point, as any gentleman
would.
In the very act-'twas while Jennifer was
clutching at her bride rein to stay her from
riding fair between us-I felt the hot wire
prick Of the steel in my shoulder. and knew
that my enemy had run me through as
stood.
OF what befell afterward have but dim
memories. There were more hoof-tramp-
tings, and then 1 felt the dewy turf under
my hands and soft fingers tremblingly busy
at my neckerchief. Then saw swirnmingly
as through a veil of mist, a woman's face
just above my OWL, and 1t was full of horror:
and heard my enemy cay: Twas most
unfortunate and / do heartily regret IT
Mr. Jenpifer. I saw not why he had
lowered his point Can say moreg' -
How Richard Jennifer made answer 70
fhis lie l know not; nor do know aught
else, save by hearsay, Of any further hap
pening In that grassy glade beneath nv
iathers oaks For the big German blade
was shrewd blood-letter, and fell asleep
what time my lady was trying to stanch
with her kerchief the ebbine tide OF life
CHAPTER ".
Which May Be Passed Over Lightly.
When come back to some clearer sens
ing Of things I find myself a-bed in a room
winch was strange and yet strangely IA
miliar Barring great oaken clothes-press
IN one corner, a rare show of curious
emma on the shelves where the books should
nave been. and the face of an arrnored
soldier staring down at me from its frame
over the chimney-piece where should have
looked TO see my mothers portrait the
room was a counterpart of my old bed
chamber at Appleby Hundred. There was
even faint odor OF lavender in the bed
linen; and the sense of smell, which hath
ever a better memory than any other, car
NED me swiftly back to my boyhood, and
TO the remembrance that my mother had
always kept spray or two of that sweet
herb in her linen closet
Al the bedside there was a claw-footsd
table, which also had the look of an old
friend; and on it a dainty porringer, filed
! with fragrant cuttings OF sweetsriar This
was some womanly conceit, said to my
self; and then laughed, though tho laugh
set a pair OF VOLTS jaws at work on my
shoulder. For you must know that I had
lived the full half of King Davids soau
OF three-score and ten years, and more.
ana what womanly softness had fallen to
my lot had been well got and paid for.
1 closed my eyes the better to remember
what had bsfallen. and when I opened
them again was fam to wonder II .he mo-
ment OF back-reaching stood not for some
longer time. In the deep bay Of the win
COW was great chair Of Indian wicker
work. and I could have sworn It had but
now been empty. Yet when looked again
q woman sat in 1t, .
Now Of truth I had seen this woman's
face but twice; and once 1t wore q scnils
OF teasing mockery and once was full of
terror; but thought I should live long
and suffer much before the wtnsome chal-
longing beauty OF it would let me be as I
had been before had looked upon it
she knew not that was awake and slak-
Ing the thirst of my eyes upon the sweet
ness of her. and SO saw her then as few
ever saw her, think, with the womanly
barriers Of defense all down. IT'S a hard
test, and one that makes q blank at rest of
many a face beautiful enough in action:
put though this lady's face was to the full
as changeful as any April sky, It was never
less than trtumphantly beautiful.
1 had said her eyes were blue, but now
they were deep wells, rejecting the soft
gray of the clouded sky beyond the win
dow-panes. had made sure that her lipa
lent themselves most readily to mocking
smiles. scornfu1 Of any wit less trenchant
than her own; but now these hooking lips
were pensive. and with the rounded cheek
and chin gave her the look of a sweet child
wanting to be kissed. had said her hair
was bright in the sunlight, and 60 indeed,
1t was; but lacking the sun it still &.s,d
the dull luster Of Furnished copper in its
masses. and her simple, care-free dressing
OF 1t at time when les grandes DANES
were frizzing and powdering and adding art
TO art to mar the womans crown of glory,
gave her yet more the look of a child
Lastly. had called her small, and GER
tafnly her figure was girlish beside those
grenadier danes of Maria Therese's court
to whom my old Field Marshal had once
presented me. But when she rose and went
TO stand in the window-bay I marked this;
that not airy Duchess of Margarine Of
them all had more Queenly bearing, or.
with all their stays and furbelows could
match her supple grace and lissom figure.
What with the blood-lettings and the
wound fever, coupled with the subtle witch
cry OF her presence thus in my sick room,
II is little to be wondered at that a curious
madness came over me- or that forgot for
the moment the loyalty due to my Gear