Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-12-01
NUMBER 48.

lent to the most vigorous attraction'
The return to nature has always been
the dream of the conventionalized soul,
while the simple Arcadian Is forever
longing for the maddening honey OF
sophistication.
Innate jealousies strike together like
flint and steel, dashing of sparks by
which nearly everything that life can
warm is core witbal is kindled and
kept burning. What l envy In my
friend store for my best use.
thrust and parry, not to kill. but to
learn my adversary's superior feints
and guards. And this hint Of sword
play leads back to what so greatly sur
prised and puzzled Beverley one day
when he CHANGED to be examining the
pair of cOlechemardes on the wall.
He tore one down and, handling 1t
with the indescribable facility possible
to none save practical swordsman, re-
marked:
"There's a world Of fascination In
these things. like nothing better
than bout at fencing. Does your IA
ther practice the art?"
II have no father, no mother" she
quickly said, "but good Papa Rous.
sillon does like little exercise with
the colechemarde."
"Well. I'm glad to hear 1t. shall
ask to teach him n trick or two" Bev-
erley responded in the lightest mood.
"When will he return from the woodsy'
81 can't tell you. He's very irregular
in such matters" she said. Then, with
n smile half banter and half challenge.
she added, "If you are really dying for
some exercise you shall not have to
wait for him to come home, l assure
you, NJ. Beverley"
"Oh, it's NJ. de ROnville, perhaps.
that you will offer up as a victim to
my skill and address," he slyly return
ed, for he was suspecting that love
affair in some stage Of progress lay
between her and Rene.
She blushed violently, but quickly
overcoming combined rush OF sur
prise and anger, added with an en-
phasis as charming as it was une1-
pected:
Il myself am, perhaps, swordsman
enough to satisfy the impudence and
vanity of Nj. Beverley, lieutenant In
the American army
Pardon me, mademoiselle; forgive
me, beg of YOU" he exclaimed, ear
nestly modulating his voice to sincerest
beseechment Il really did not mean to
be impude4lt, nor
Her vivacity cleared with merry
laugh.
mo apologies, l command you,' she
interposed. I'VE will have them after
| have taught You fencing lesson"
From shelf she drew down pair
Of foils and, presenting the hits. bade
him take his choice.
There isn't any difference between
them that | know Of she said, and
then added archly, but you will feel
better at last, when all is over and the
sting Of defeat tngles through you. II
you are conscious Of having used every
sensible precaution."
He looked straight into her eyes, try
| ing to catch what was in her mind, Dut
there was a bewildering glamour play
ing across those gray, opal tinted wells
of mystery, from which he could draw
only a mischevous smile CLINT, direct,
daring, irresistible.
WELL" he said, taking one OF the
foils. what do you really mean? Is 1t
a challenge without room for honorable
retreat!"
"The time for parley Is past" she re-
| pljed. Follow rae to the battle ground
| She led the way to a pleasant little
| court I'm the rear Of the cabins yard,
space between two wings and vine
covered trellis, beyond which lay
we'll kept vineyard and vegetable gar
den. Here she turned about and faced
him. poising her foil with fine grace.
Are you readyy she inquired.
He tried again to force a way into
the DEPTHS of her eyes with his, but he
might as well have attacked the sum-
so he stood in n confusion OF not very
we'll defined feelings undecided. hesi-
tatiny. half expecting that there would
be some laughable turn to end the AZ
fair.
Are you afraid, NJ. Beverley she
demanded after Il snort waiting III
silence.
| He laughed now and whipped the air
with his foil.
You certainly are not in earnest! lie
said interrogativeE. DO you really
mean that you want TO fence with me
"If YOU think because I'm only Il
girl YOU can easily beat me, try II,
she tauntingly replied. making a lever
thrust toward his breast.
Quick AS Il flash lie parried, and then
merry clnking and twinkling OF steel
blades kept time to their swift move
ments. Instantly, by the sure sense
which is half sight, half fcelins-the
sense that guides the experienced rene
er's hand and wrist-Beverley knew
that he had probably more than MS
. match. and i'm ten seconds his attack
was met by a time thrust In opposition
which touched him sharply.
Alice sprang back, lowered her point
and laughed.
"Je vous salue, NJ. Beverley" she
!. cried. with childlike show Of delight
did you feel the buttons:
"Yes, | felt it," he said with FRANK
acknowledgment in his voice. 1T was
clevcrly done. Vow give me chance
to redeem myself.
He began more carefully and found
that she, too, was on her best mettie
but il was short bout. rs before
Alice seemed to give him an easy open
ing and lie accepted it with a thrust
, Then something happened that he die
not understand. The point OF his fol
was somehow caught under his oppo
nents hilt guard while herblade seemed
to twist around his. At the same tim
there was wiring and jerk. the lik
of which he had never before felt, ant
he was disarmed. his wrist and finger
aching with the wrench they had re
ceived.
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