Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1903-02-13

the table and began. with minute at
tention, to select sword. He was.
highly elated and seemed to feel no
doubt that he should issue victorious
from the contest. The spectators grew,
alarmed In the face Of 80 entire con.
fidence and adjured Prince Florizel tDI
reconsider his intention.
1T is but a farce" he answered.
'tand think l can promise you, gen.
tlemen, that it will not be long a-play-
ing"
"Your highRess will be careful not to-
overreach, s said Colonel Geraldine.
"Geraldine,' returned the prince, "did|
you ever know me to fail in debt on
honor? owe you this mans life, and
you shall have it."
The president at last satisfied him7
self with one of the rapiers, and signi1
fed his readiness by gesture that
was not devoid of rude nobility. The
nearness of peril and the sense oil
courage, even to this obnoxious villain,I
lent an air of manhood and 8 certain
grace.
The prince helped himself at random
to sword.
Colonel Geraldine and DR.. Noel" bel
said will have the goodness to await
me in this room. I wish no PERSONAL
friend of mine to be involved in thisl
transa ction. Major O'Rooke, you are
a man Of some years and settled rep
utation; let me recommend the presi-
dent to your good graces. Lieutenant
Rich will be, so good as to lend me
his attention; a young man cannot
have too much experience in such af-
fairs
''Your highness," replied Bracken-
bury, 1T is an honor l shall prize ex-
tremely."
1T is WELL" returned Prince Florizel.
Il shall hope to stand your friend in
more important circumstances"
And so saying he led the way out of
the apartment and down the kitchen
stairs
The two men who were thus left
alone threw open the window and
leaned out. straining every sense to
catch an Indication of the tragical
events that were about to follow. The
rain was now over, day had almost
come and the birds were piping in the
shrubbery and On the forest trees of
the garden. The prince and his COM
panions were visible for moment as
they followed an alley between two
Towering thickets, but at the first cor
ner clump of foliage interviewed, and
they We're again concealed from view.
This was all that the colonel and the
physician had an opportunity to see,
and the garden was so vast and the
place of combat evidently SO remote
from the house that not even the noise
Of sword play reached their ears.
HE has taken him toward the
grave" said DR.. Noel, with shudder.
"God," cried the colonel, "God de-
fend the rightv'
And they awaited the event in ST.
lence, the doctor, shaking with fear, the
colonel in an agony Of sweat. Many
minutes must have elapsed, the day
was sensibly broader and the birds
were singing more heartily in the gar
den before a sound of returning foot
steps recalled their glances toward the
door. 1t was the prince and the two
Indian officers who entered. God had
defended the right.
Il am ashamed of my emotion" said
Prince 'Florizel. II feel it is a weak
ness unworthy of my station, but the
continued existence of that hound of
hell had begun to prey upon me like
a disease, and his death has more re-
freshed me than night of slumber.
Look, Geraldine," he continued, throw
ing his sword upon the floor, there is
the blood Of the man who killed your
brother. 1t should be welcome sight.
And yet" he added, ''see how strangely
we men are made. My revenge is not
yet five minutes old, and already I am
beginning to ask myself if even re-
venge be attainable. on this precarious
stage of life. The i'll he did-who can
undo 1t? The career in which he
amassed huge fortune-for the house
itself in which we stand belonged to
him-that career is now a part of the
destiny of mankind forever. and
might weary myself making thrusts in
carte until the crack of judgment and
Geraldine's brother would be none the.
less dead, and thousand other limo
cent persons would be none the less
dishonOred and debauched. The ex-
1stence Of man is so small thing to
take, so mighty a thing to employs!
Alas" he cried, lis there anything inI
life so Disseminating as attainment?'
Goods justice has been DONE" re-
piled the doctor. $50 much l behold.
The lesson, your highness, has been a
cruel one for me, and l await my own
turn with deadly apprehension
'"What was saying?" cried the
prince. 81 have punished. and here is
the man beside us who can help me to
undo. All, DR.. Noel, you and l have
before US many a day of hard and hon.
orable toll. and perhaps before we have
done you may have more than redeem
ed your early errors
80 And in the meantime" said the doc