The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1903-03-12

| uuIluS lue HOSulnS anu dIteTuOOu3
and was followed by a suinptuous sup
per, after which came the ball. Rob-
ert Griswold was present, as was his
boyhood's friend, whom we will call
The Rival, for the two were unrelent-
ing in their efforts to win the love Of
the naughty young English girl. Girls
void and The Rival played together
when children, went to school to-
gether and had always been boon
companions; but when two years be-.
fore at a reception they both bowed
for the first time over Her Majesty's
little white hand a GOODNESS sprang
up between them which. in n few
months, became cold hatred. 1t vas
very foolish in them to act SO over a
laughing, light-hearted girl, but they
were both young and hot-l,eaded.
eat the supper Her Majesty was
deliciously beautiful and mad. I can
not say that I blame Griswold nor do
1 blame The Rival, for I believe every
man there, married and single, was
in love with her that night. AS the
guests were leaviag the table there
came the act which almost ended in
a tragedy. Her Majesty called for a
wishbone. 1t was brought and she
beclSoned to Griswold and The Rival.
What could they do under the cir
cumstances? Their breeding would
not permit them to display the least
of bad humor. AS they advanced,
smiling grimly, she said:
81 hear that you two gentlemen
were first in the hunt to-day (which
was quite true, as both were fine
horsemen and had ~striven to Guido
each other, only to finish together],
and it is but fair that you should re-
ceive the courtesies of the hour. AS
you were both first I cannot, choose
between you; I must ask you to
choose for me-
$50 saying, she placed a prong Of
the wishbone in the hand of each.
AS they stood there before all the
crowd, holding to the tiny ends of a
turkey bone, they looked somewhat
embarrassed, and I am sure that it
was plain to every n that The
Rivals hand was shaking.
"'When I count three, she said,
pull. The one retaining the longest
piece l shall ask to be my partner for
the EVENING"
"This piece of capriciousness was
greeted by a burst of laughter from
the ladies and gentlemen. It may be
that The Rivals nervousness proved
to, be his good, or bad, fortune, as
the case may seem, for when Her
Majesty called 'Three!' he gave a
quick twist with thumb and finger,
swapping the bone short off in Girls
wold's hand. There was another
burst of laughter and a medley of
good-natured taunts were hurled at
Griswold as The Rival, bowling low,
passed into the ballroom with Her
Majesty on his arm.
'It was a small matter, The Rival
thought. but he did not know how it
ranked in Griswold. And, no doubt,
during the dances he cast exultamt
glances in the others direction.
After the fifth dance The Rival, while
getting the air on the veranda, was
accosted by Griswold, who accused
him, of wrenching the wishbone un-
fairly. Hot words ensued and Girls
void slapped The Rivals face. The
result was a mutual agreement to
fight a duel at daybreak. The ball
was not over until after four O'Clock,
so they quietly selected seconds then
and there and awaited the hour.
eft came all. too soon, and the duel
lists repaired to an open space in a
grove of tall pines. 1t was near the
road, but no interruption was antici-
pated at that hour. Griswold and
The Rival, pistols in hand, were fac
ing each other at 20 PAGES, and two
of the fatal three had been counted
when there was a thunder of horses
hoofs on the road and a carriage
came into view, dashed by, and van
ished almost at the same instant.
While all were yet looking in the di-
r%ection it. had gone and wondering,
two horsemen. appeared in hot pur-
suit. At sight of the dueling party
the foremost rider drew rein, and
Her Majesty's father was recognized.
The other was a slave.
Didn't you e her?' he shouted.
Didn't you see her? Why in the
name of the queen didn't you stop
her?'
"'See whom?' one of the seconds
asked.
"'Whom!' he shrieked, as he dug
his spurs into his horse. Whom!
Why, Her Majesty, of course. She's
clipping with that renegade Spence!'
"The last words were borne back
on the wind as he, followed by the
slave, sped away bent on overhauling
the clippers.
~"'Spence! spence!' said first one
and then another of the party in
blank establishment. Who's Spencer
The name "a unknown to all. The
hoefbeats were still ringing on the
frosty air when a heavy thud caused
everybody to wheel about. Griswold
had fallen in o dead faint.
"The dueling party dispersed i'm
mediately. Griswold was taken home
and The Rival went to Her Maiesty's
mother to wait for news. 1t came
late that afternoon. The clippers