The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-12-06

now the buckle-how do you like that?"
Here she laid her velvet check against
my face. $50, watch dog, you would
slip your collar?" This, banteringly.
There; you are free" And Peg I'M
locked her arms and stood back smil-
ing, her small, white leopard teeth just
showing, and her eyes like diamonds.
Then DOMINIC a satiric air: Sir, you
call yourself gentleman and a poll
tician. You should know, then, there
be two honors no man may decline;
the one is a presidency and the other
is a-lady."
With this smartness on her lips Peg
broke into downright merriment. The
little witch was never so charming!
That evening l was sitting alone with
the General; each of us silent and with
in himself, wrapping his own fancies
about him like a cloak. l know not
on what uplands of conjecture the Cen
erals thoughts were gazing; for my
self, I was dwelling on Peg, for L
could steel that soft, warm collar of
her two arms clasping my neck.
1t is trenching on the wondrous, too,
how the sweet image of woman will
train ones soul for war. No sooner
would | take Peg upon the back of my
meditations, than they straightway
went plunging off to her enemies, and
to tire themselves with vain circlngs
of how best to refute the malice of her
foes and return upon their wicked
heads the most of cuelty. Commonly
might be held as one not beyond
touch of mercy and indeed I have
spared a painted Greek when he stood
helpless. But l doubt me if Pegs foes,
when by some sleight of fate they had
fallen within my power, would have
found a least loophole of relief. OF
verify l think l might have looked
on Hniv ~it h ifArr a1sa 1rf
was touched or my hands raised to
stay their tortures.
While 1 sat i'll this blood-mood, and
shedding in imagination the lives of
one who would prosecute our innocent,
my glance was caught by the Generals
pistols lying near by on table. They
were of that long, duelling breed be-
longing with the times, and the Gen.
eral kept them as bright and new as
he kept his honor.
And why are those on parade?" I
asked, pointing to the weapons.
1T is the day of the year." said the
General, and his steady voice was low,
"whereon 1 killed Dickinson. This is
the one l used" and he stretched his
long arm and offered it for my inspec-
ton. 1t had a ribbon of black about
the butt. THAT is not for Dickinson"
he explained; sit is for her" Here he
indicated that miniature of his wife
from which he would never be parted,
where it rested on the mantel and look
ed down upon us with the painted eyes.
You speak in a queer way" 1 said;
do you regret killing the MANI"
NO" he returned, half sadly; II do
not regret killing him.
Tell me of it, 1 urged. IT was not
about and Overton went with you to
the field"
The General never named his fight
with Dickinson to others, but l was
sure he would tell the tale to me. In
good truth, l had not asked for it, save
that, knowing him far better than 1
knew myself, 1 saw what was in his
manner to make me believe he would
be the lighter after the relation
"Dickenson," said the General, maxi
ing no flourish of talk in explanation
of a readiness to describe adventures
which some folk for the red ending
might have shrunk from; Dickinson
was the tool of a conspiracy made
against my life, and politics was at
the bottom of it, l was too popular.
was in the way; the grave was
place for me; thus argued my enemies.
And then they went about to draw in
Dickinson to be their cat's-paw.
'Dickenson was young and vain, and
withal willingly cruel enough to act as
my murderer for the illustration it
would bring. He counted himself safe.
since he was reckoned the surest
quickest hand IN all the world. The
man could shoot from the hip like a.
flash, and as accurately as one might
put ones finger.
"Once the plan was laid. Dickinson
took a sure course; he spoke evil of
my wife," Here the General picked
up the two pistols, butt in either
hand, and looked first upon the one
and then upon its fellow Following
my marriage, with every dollar l own
ed, bought these pistols. They are
hair-triggers and a breath unhooks
them. Also, they are sighted to shoot
as fine and as true as the moral law,
gave to their purchase my last dol
lar, and devoted them to the destruc
ton of what scoundrels should vilify
my wife. They have done their work
and never failed me.
"Overton was to act my second, and