The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-08


thonged whip of fire had scourged out every
semblance of comeliness, leaving only the
skeleton frame on which to hang this ghast-
ly caricature of human face Fearing him
not at all, i could scarce forbear snuduer
at the sight of this walking death-mask OF
the libertine, Sir Francis FalcOnnet.
And If his face were terrifying In repose,
twas fair demoniac when he laughed.
Hal he said, bowling again in mock
cry of politeness. You are surprised, MIS-
tress Margery; you heard my lords order
and thought would be by now some miles
on the road to Salisbury"
IF you were the loyal soldier you should
be, sir" she said, drawing herself up proud
ly, you would be at the head Of your troop.
as his lordship directed" And then, with
gesture that was most queenly: Stano
aside, sir-Libertine, and let me pass.
His answer was another hooking laugh,
and he stepped within to close the door ana
lock it. When he turned to front her again
his face was the face of a tormented devil.
by God! you think too lightly or me,
Mistress Margery. Before ever this day
dawned L owed you much, but like spiteful
little hellicat you must needs add TO the
at the supper table. Twill cost a life to
more than one of them who laughed with
you. my lady. but twill cost you dearer
still"
He came nearer as he spoke thrusting
that horrible face farther into the circle OF
candle light; but she would not draw back
nor finch hair, and l marked that the
hand that held the candlestick was as
steady as a rock. But when he made an
end she flung a quick glance over her
shoulder and my heart leaped for joy For
then knew she was leaning upon me.
"Once more, Captain Falconnet, will you
let me pass?" she said.
MOI he snarled, adding a horrid bias
phemy. TWAS passion In me once, and l
am none sure there was not time when
you could have cooled 1t into love. But now
it's hatred and revenge" He snapped his
fingers in her face THE thing they'll find
here in the morning.
He fell face downward at her feet and
set my heel in the small of his back to
hold him whilst could drive the point of
the Ferara between his ribs. But my dear
lady would not have Ii so.
mo, no! for the love of heaven, not that,
Monsieur John!' she cried; and for the mo-
ment her fine courage was all swallowed up
of pity and she became compassionate
woman pleading for a life.
But now my blood was up. You are my
lives should take them all for that which
he said to YOU.
But not that way-oh. not that way, 1
do beseech you!" she begged. Think of
what it will mean to .you-and-and to me.
For your own sake, Monsieur JOHN
l took my heel from the mans back.
your wish is law to me, dear lady. But
your way is clear now; you may CO..
She took step toward the door,
You will not kill him when 1 gone.
Monsieur JOhn?"
by the name he bears he was doubtless
born gentleman; since you wish it, he
shall die like one
saw she ola not take my meaning;
that when she was gone / should let him
have his chance to die sword in hand
Remember, 1 have your promise she
said, turning to 60 "The army is on the
march for Salisbury, and in little while
your friends will be here to-
The sentence ended in very womanly
Shrek of terror Watching his chance, my
bastard enemy had bounded to his feet to
make quick lunge, not at me, but at her.
OF course l came between to parry the
murderous thrust. and after that it was
life for one of us and death for the other.
looked to see my lady run shrieking; in
deed, / called to her to go; but she stood
fast as If her terror had frozen her; and SO
it was her candle that lighted the grim
vault for the duel.
AS you will know full we'll, / was not
minded to give this thrice-accursed fiend
more than the gentleman's chance 1 had
promised to give him. But now, as twice
before, he fought most desperately, trying
by every trick of fence to come between me
and the silent little figure holding the candle
alOft. AS / have often said, he was pretty
swordsman, and at this crisis, with life at
stake, and all the fury of the seven devils
of disappointed vengeance to nerve his arm,
his sword play was most mastery
Yet twice in his stamping rushes found
my opening; once the Feraras point passed
his blade, and but for the ringed guard of
the German longsword that stopped it when
his parry failed, the steel would have passed
through him. After this he grew warier.
having in mind, as l supposed, that other
time when had shown him that my wrist
age onset never tagged for an instant; and
when the light fell upon his hideous face,
could see the fierce eyes glinting like a
basilisks, with no sign in them that my
time was come to press him home
None the less, 1 did press him. inch by
inch, driving him at each new clash of the
steel little deeper into the gloom that
crowded close upon the narrow circle of
candle light. He saw my object-to push
him to unfamiliar ground, where he might
trip and stumble in the darkness-and he
c-frn f,,rf " 70 6afo Va< Io I.J
choice, and presently 1 had him among the
empty wine-butts, foining and parrying
for his life and pouring out such blasphe-
mics as would make your blood run cold
Here the end came quickly. Being en-
tangled among the preached butts ne had
no room to play skillfully: So presently it
CHANGED that he caught his point i'm the
chine of cask and his blade snapped short
at the hilt. With yelling oath. kissing hot
from the DEVILS thumb-book. he snatched
up the broken blade to fling and stick IL
the dull CLEAN of the candle light sOn the
barrel of pistol.
Had he aimed the pistol at me. trust 1
should still have given him his gentleman's
chance. But when 1 saw him level the
weapon at my dear lady they came
in one and the same heartbeat; the sword
crash of the pistol shot echong like a clap
of thunder in the close vault and pitchy
darkness to draw it's curtain over ALL
L know not how / reached her, pulling
the broken sword blade from my shoulder
as / ran; nor can / tell you how an up
gushing spring of thankfuness choked me
when / found her unframed by the bullet
which had snuffed the candle out.
She was in q most pteous state now IL
was all over; and though L charged it all
where L supposed ii should belong-to the
account of a natural wOmanly passion to
cling to something in her moment of weak
ness-yet the blood ran quick in my veins
when she suffered me to lead her out of that
dismal. smoking death-pit, she clinging to
me the while so close that could feel the
warmth of her and the fluttering of her
dear heart beneath my hand.
She said no word nor did L, till we were
come above stairs. We found the rooms on
the main floor deserted by all save the
blacks who were clearing away the debris
of the feast of leave-taking. In the hall we
came upon old Anthony, putting on the
| chain of the outer door. Here my lady drew
| apart from me.
'Is my lord gomez" she asked.
| "Yis missa. He say tell yo he gwine TEX
it mighty hawd 20 no come ter glib him de
| sti'up-cup.
And my father?'
Gone to the lib'ry to wait 70 Massa Pen
/ garbin; yis, misSa.
| She turned away shuddering at this men,
ton of the factor for whose coming the
heard her murmur: "Oh. the horror of this
night But in moment she came back to
| me- and was her cool. calm self again
For that / am here, alive and we'll
! thank you, Captain Ireton. Need | say
more?'
cannot tell you what was i'm the words
| to make me hot with anger, as | had but
I now been hot with love But the new wound
| i'm my shoulder was bleeding freely and
would not let her see | was hurt: and ii
aught will stanch wound. tits anger
| You need not say so much" I retorted
\ -. lopv nkoa -