The Indianapolis journal., 1903-03-11
CHAPTER 1.
IN WHICH 1 wHET MY FATHERS

Richard Jennifer, riding express, brought
me Captain Falconnet's challenge.
Twas a dayfall to be marked with
white stone, even In our Carolina calendar.
The sun, reaching down to the mountain
girt horizon in the west, filled all the upper
air with the glory of its departing. and the
higher leaf plumes of the great naples be-
fore my cabin door wrought lustrous pat
terms in gilded green upon zenith back
ground of turquoise shot with crimson. like
the f1gurings of some rich old tapestries 1
had once seen in my field marshars castle
i'm the Mark of Moravia.
Beyond the NAPLES a brook tinkled and
FLASHED over the stones on it's way to the
nearby Catawba, and it's peaceful brawl-
ing and the evensong of a pair of clear
throated warblers poised on the topmost
twigs of one of the trees should have been
sweet music in the ears of returned exile.
But on that matchless brides month even
ing of dainty sunset arabesques and brook
and bird songs 1 was in little humor for re-
joicing.
The road made for the river lower down
and followed its windings UP the valley.
but Jennifer came by the Indian trace
through the forest. / can see him now as
saddle horn where the branches hung low
est. pretty figure of handsome young
provincial clad in fashions three years be-
hind those I had seen in London the win
ter last past. He rode gentlemanwise. in
small clothes of rough gray woolen and
with stout leggings over his hose; but he
wore his cooked hat atilt like a troopers,
and the sword on his thigh was good serv-
ice blade and no mere hilt and scabbard
for show such as our courtier macaronis
were just then beginning to affect.
Now, 1 had known this handsome young
ster when he was but little lad: had
taught him how to bend the Indian bow
and loose the reed-shaft arrow in those
happier days before the tyrant Governor
Tryon turned hangman and the battle of the
Great Alamance had left me fatherless.
Moreover, / had drunk a cup of wine with
him at the Mecklenburg Arms no longer
ago than yesterweek-this to a renewal of
our early friendship. Hence 1 must needs
be somewhat taken aback when he drew
rein at my door-stone, doffed his hat with
a sweeping bow worthy courtier of the
great Louis and said after the best manner
of Sir Charles Grandson:
'T have the honor of addressing Capt
John Ireton, sometime of his Majesty's
Royal Scots Blues and late of her Apostolic
Majesty's Twenty-ninth Regiment of Hus-
sars?'
1t was but an euphuism of the time, this
formal preamble, declaring that his errand
had to do with the preiminaries of pri-
vate quarrel between gentlemen. Yet
could scarce restrain smile For these
upcroppings of courtier etiquette have ever
seemed to march but mincingly with the
free stride of our western backwoods. None
the less, you are to suppose that made
shift to match his bow in some fashion
and to say, "At your service, SIR"
Whereupon he bowed again, clapped hat
to head and rendered me sealed packet.
From Sir Francis Falconnet, knight
bachelor of Beaumaris, volunteer captain
in his Majesty's German Legion" he an
nounced with stern dignity.
Having no second to refer him to I broke
the seal of the cartel myself Since my
enemy had seen fit to come thus far on the
way to his end in some gentlemanly man
ner. it was not for me to find difficulties
among the formalities. In good truth I
was overjoyed to be thus assured that he
would fight me fair; that he would not
compel me to kill him as one kills a wild
beast at bay. For certainly / should have
killed him in any event: so much 1 had
promised my poor Dick Coverdale on that
dismal November morning when he had
choked out his life in my arms, the victim
first of this mans treachery and at the last
of his sword. So. as l say, 1 was nothing
loath, and yet would not seem too eager.
'I might say that l have no unsettled
quarrel with Captain Falconnet," I de-
INJURED when had read the challenge. He
spoke slightingly of a lady and I did
but
"Your answer, Captain Ireton!' uuoth
my youngster. curtly. 'T am not empow-
cred to give or take in the matter of ac-
commodations."
mot so fast, If you please I rejoined
81 have no wish to disappoint your prin-
cipal or his master, the devil. Let it be to-
morrow morning at sunrise in the oak
grove which was once my fathers wood
field, each man with his own blade And
/ give you fair warning, Master Jennifer
/ shall kill your bullyragging captain of
light horse as 1 would a vermin of any
other breed"
At this Jennifer flung himself from his
saddle with great laugh.
.'If you can. he qualified. But enough
of these by your leave, sirs.' / am near
famished and as dry as King David's bot
tie in the smoke. Will you give me bite
and sup before L mount and ride again :?
'Tis long gallop back to town on an
empty stomach and with gullet as dry as
Mr. Gilbert Stairs wit"
Here was my fresh-hearted Dick Jennifer
back again all in a breath, and / made
haste to shout for Darius and for Thomas
TO take his horse, and otherwise to bestir
myself to do the honors of my poor forest
fastness as well as / might.
Luckily, my haDhaZard larder was not
quite empty, and there were presently a
bit of cold deer's meat and some cakes of
maize bread baked in the ashes to set be-
fore the guest Also there was a cup of
sweet wine, home pressed from the berries
of the Indian scuppernong, to wash them
down. And afterward, though the evening
was no more than mountain breeze cool.
we had a handful of fire on the hearth for
the cheer of it while We smoked our reed
Stemmed pipes.
II was over the pipes that Jennifer un-
burdened himself of the gossip of the day In
Queensborough.
Have you heard the newest? But know
YOU haven't, since the post riders came
only this morning. The war has shifted
from the North in good earnest at last and
we are like to have a taste of the harry
ings the Jerseymen have had since 70 NV
Lord CORVALLIS Is come as far as Cam
den, they say. and Colonel Tarleton has
crossed the Catawba.''
$50? Then Mr.. Rutherford is like to have
his work cut out for him. take it,
Jennifer eyed me curiously. "Grif Ruth
erford is a stout Indian fighter: no west
Carolinian will gainsay that. But he is
never the man TO match CORVALLIS Wen
have help from the North
"De Kalb?" l suggested
Again the curious eyeshot. Nay. John
Ireton, you need not fear me. though / am
just now this redcoat captains next friend