The St. Louis Republic., 1903-09-13

promised to give him. But now, as twice
before. he fought most desperately. try
ing by every trick Of fence to come be-
tween me and the silent little figure hold
ing 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 Ferara's point
passed his blade, and but for the ringed
guard of the German lonSsword that
stopped 1t 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 l had
shown him that my wrist and arm could
outweary his. Yet his savage onset never
tagged for an instant: and when the light
fell upon his hideous face, I could see the
fierce eyes Slinting like basiIisk's, 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-lieht He saw my object-to push
him to unfamiliar ground, where he might
trip and stumble in the darkness-and he
strove furiously 10 defeat it. Yet he had
no choice. and presently 7 had him
among the empty butts. foining and
parrying for his life and pouring out such
blasrhAmies as would make your blood
run cold.
Here the end came quickly. Being en-
tangled among the broachod butts he had
not room 10 play sEillfuIIv. So presently
It CHANGED that he caught his point in tho
chine Of a cask ana his blade snapped
short at the hilt. With a yelling oath.
Kissing hot from the devils thumb-book
he snatched UP the broken blade to fling
and stick it javelin-wise in my shoulder;
and then I saw the dull CLEAN Of the
candle-lght on the barrel Of a pistol.
Had he aimed the pistol at me. I trust
I should still have given him his gentle
mans chance. But when saw him level
the weapon at my dear Iady they
came in ore and the same heartbeat; the
sword-thrust that found his life and took
It: the crash Of the pistol shot echoing like
a clap Of thunder in the close vault. and
pitchy Garkness to draw its curtain over
all
I know not how l reached her, pulling
the broken sword-blade from my shoulder
as ran. nor can tell YOU how an up
gushing spring of thankfuluess Cholle6
me when l found her unharmed by the
bullet which had snufcd the candle out.
She was in a most piteous state, now 1t
was all over; and though 1 charged it all
where l supposed it should belong to
the account OF natural womanly
passion TO cling to something in her mo-
ment of weakness-yet the blood ran
quick in my veins when she suffered me
to lead her out of that dismal smoking
death-plt. she clinging to me the while
so close that could feel the warmth Of
her and the futtering OF her dear heart
beneath my hand.
She said no word. nor did l. till we We're
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. put
ting on the chain of the outer door Here
my lady drew apart from me.
rs my Lord gone?" she asked
"Yis. Missa. He say tell yo' he gwine
TEX it mighty hawd yo' no come ter glib
him de sti-up-cup-'
And my father?"
Gone to de Ib-ry to walt To- Massa
Pengarbin; yis. Missa-"
She turned away. shuddering at this
mention Of the factor for whose coming
the master would wait long and in vain.
and heard her murmur: "oh. the her