The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-08
CHAPTER I.

CHAPTER I.
In Which I whet My Fathers Sword.
The summer day was all but spent when
Richard Jennifer. riding express. brought
me Captain Falconnet's challenge.
Twas dayfall to be marked with a white
stone. even In our Carolina calendar. The
sun, reaching down to the mountain grit
horizon in the west. filled all the upper air
with the glory of its departing, and the
higher leaf plrnes of the great naples be-
fore my cabin door wrought lustrous pat
terms in gilded green upon a zenith back
ground Of turquoise shot with crimson, Ike
the fgurings of some rich old tapestries
had once seen in my Field Aarshais castle
in the Mark OF Moravia-
Beyond the NAPLES a brook tinkled and
FLASHED over the stones on its way to the
nearby Catawba: and its peaceful brawling.
and the evensong of pair of ciear-throated
warblers poised on the topmost twies OF
one Of the trees, should have been sweet
/ music in the ears of a returned exile But
ION that matchless brides-nonth evening of
;, dainty sunset arabesques and brook and
bird songs 1 was in little humor for rejoic-
ing
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 he rode
beneath the naples bending to the saddle
a
pretty figure Of a handsome young provin-
cial. clad in fashions three years behind
Those had seen in London the winter last
past He rode gentlemanwise, in small
nlothes OF rough gray wooden and with
stout leggings over his hose; but he wore
b s cooked hat atilt like a troopers, and
the sword on his thigh was a good service
blade and no mere hilt and scabbard for
show such our courtier macaronis were
1ust then beginning to AFFECT.
Now / had known this handsome young
ster when he was but a little lad: had
Taught him how to bend the Indian bow and
loose the reed-shaft arrow in those happier
Hays before the tyrant Governor Tryon
burned hangman and the battle Of the Great
Alamance had left me fatherless. More
over, had drunk cup Of wine with him
at the Mecklenburg Arms no longer ago
than yeSterweek-this to a renewal of our
early friendship. Hence, I must needs be
somewhat taken aback when he drew rein
ut my door-stone, doffed his hat with
sweeping bow worthy eoutier OF the great
Louis. and said. after the best manner of
Sir Charles Grandson:
II have the honor OF addressing Captain
9ohn Ireton- sometime OF his Majestys
Royal Scots Blues and late Of her Apostolic
Matestys Twenty-ninth Regiment Of Hus-
earsr'
1t was but an euphuism OF the time. this
korIni preamble, declaring that his errand
waite quarrel between gentlemen. Yet I
could scarce restrain smile. For these
upcropptngs Of courtier etiquette have ever
oeemed to march but mincingly with the
tree stride Of our western backwoods. None
the less. you are to suppose that 1 made
shift to match his bow in some fashion, and
70 say: "At your service er"
Whereupon he bowed again. clapped hat |
20 head and rendered me a sealed packet
From Sir Francis Falconnet knight |
Bachelor OF Beaurnaris. volunteer Captain |
IN his Majesty's German Legion" he an |
bounced. with stern dignity.
Having no second to refer him to- I broke
she seal OF the cartel myself. Since my
enemy had seen ft to come thus far on the
way to his end in some gentlernanly man
ner. 1t was not for me to find difficulties
among the fornalitieS In good truth I
was overjoyed to be thus assured that he
would light me fair; that he would not COM
pei mo to kill him as one kills a wild beast
1t bay. For certainly 1 should have killed
him in any event: much 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 ceachery, and. at the last, of his
sword So. as say. was nothing loath, !
and yet I would not seem too eager
I might say that 1 have no unsettled |
quarrel with Captain Falconnet," I de- |
INJURED. when I had read the challenge. |
He spoke sighingly Of q lady, and 1 did |
but"
Your answer, Captain Iretonr" uuoth NV |,
youngster. CURLY. II am not empowered !
TO give or take in the matter Of accommo- |
cations"
Not SO fast, II you please" I retoined. |
Il have no wish to disappoint your princi- |
pal, or his master, the devil Let It be- to- |
morrow morning at sunrise in the oak grove |
winch was once my fathers wood field each !
man with his own blade And 1 give You
Ma
your bullyragging Captain Of light horse as ,
would q vermin Of any other breed"
Al this Jennifer flung himself from his
saddle with a great laugh
II you can," he qualified. But enough |
OF these by your leave sIrs' I am near
famished. and as dry as King David's bot.
re N the smoke VIII you give me bite i
ana sup before I mount and ride AGAIN.
Us long gallop back to town on an |
Empty stomach and with outlet as dry |
as Mr.. Gilbert Stairs wit"
Here was my fresh hearted Dic, Jsn,,,.r
back again all in a breath: and 7 mada
naste TO shout for Darius, and for Tomas
70 cnxe nus horse, and otherwise to bestir |
mysen to DO the honors Of my poor forest
taseness az well as might
Luckily, my haphazard lar,ser v,. nat
quite empty. and there were xreasp,,u lie
oi colo oeers meat and some cakes OF
maize bread baked in the ashes set before |;
the guest Also there was a Gun of sweet |
Ano' Aohie-pEeSseQ from the berries of the |
ahoiah scuppernong, to wash them down. |
ANA aIterward, though the evening was no |
more than mountain breeze COOL wa had a |
hanoful OF IRE on the hearth for the cheer
OF II while We smoked our reed-stemme,i
pipes. |
II was over the pipes that Jennifer uubur- |
oened 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
TINS morning. The war has shifted from
the north in good earnest at last. and we
are like to have a taste Of the harryings
the Jerseymen have had since '76. My Lord
CORVALLIS lie come as far as Camden, they
say: and Colonel Tarlston has cros-ed the
Catawba-"
"Sof Then Mr.. Rutherford Is like to have
his work cut out for him, take It."
Jennifer eyed me curiously. "Grif Ruth
erford is stout Indian fighter; no West
Caroltnian will gainsay that. But he is
never the man to match Cornwallis Wen
have help from the north"
''De Kalbr' I suggested.
Again the curious eyeshot Nay John
Ireton. you need not fear me- though am
5rst now this redcoat Captains next friend |
You know more about tho Baron de |
KaIb's doings than anybody else in Mecklen- |
burg"
81? Why should know
you know a deal-or else the gossips lie |
most recklessly."
They do lie If they connect me with the
-