The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-03-19

| per, after which came the ball. Rob-
ert Griswold was present, as was his
boyhOod's friend, whom we will call
| 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 was
very foolish in them to act so over a
laughing, light-hearted girl, but they
were both young and hot-headed.
"At the supper Her Majesty was
deliciously beautiful and mad. 1 can
not say that I blame Griswold nor do
l blame The Rival, for believe every
man there, married and single, was
in love with her that night. AS the
guests were leaving the table there
came the act which almost ended in
tragedy. Her Majesty called for
wishbone. 1t was brought and she
beckoned 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:
az 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 togetherl,
and it is but fair that you should re-
ceive the courtesies of the hour. AS
you were both first l cannot choose
between you; l 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
turkey bone, they looked somewhat
embarrassed, and l am sure that it
was plain to every one that The
Rivals hand was shaking.
"'When 1 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 burst of laughter from
the ladies and gentlemen. 1t 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 medley of
good-natured taunts were hurled at
Griswold as The Rival, bowling low,
passed into the ballroom with Her
Majesty on his arm.
ut 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 exultant
chances 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 I'M
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.
"It 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
ished almost at the same instant.
While all were yet looking in the di-
rection 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 slave.
"'Didn't you see 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 Spencer
''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 was unknown to all. The
hoofbeats were still ringing on the
frosty air when a heavy thud caused
everybody to wheel about. Griswold
had fallen in dead faint.
"The dueling party dispersed i'm
mediately. Griswold was taken home
and The Rival went to Her Majesty's
mother to wait for news. 1t came
late that afternoon. The clippers
reached Baltimore in safety and were
married and gone a good hour before