Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-08-22
"Geoffrey Heathcote, Esq"
By JOHN FINNIMORE. Copyright 1899, by 8. 8. Mcclure Co..
By JOHN FINNiMORE.
rs that Nant-y-Bryn?" l asked.


Us that Nant-y-Bryn?" l asked
1T is" said he, land who are you'
travelling this countryside, who do not
know Nant-y-Bryn?"
"A stranger" 1 replied, from afar'
From what part Of Englandg" ne
demanded abruptly.
From Worcestershire" said /, by no
relishing the tone he aoopteo
toward me-.
"worcestershire," he repeated, with
an increase of bitterness in his tone.
And what may be your business Ut
Nant-y-Bryn, my good fellow from
Worcestershire?"
You take a strange way OF your own
at getting at a strangers BUSINESS 1
replied. "A little more civility would
not come amiss."
And who art thou, to teach me now
I should speak to an English out! ne
cried hotly. 'Dost wish to taste my
whip?" and he threatened me with his
riding cane. :,
why" said l, this is a storm all
about nothing. I nave given you no
~offense, and to call names and talk or
whips is hardly the thing between gen.
tlemen.'
Gentlemen, G~raycoat," sneered my
companion. Pray, what dost tnou
mean Dlu any one ever e
man in such a churls dressY l.,
Easy, said I, you have for one L
know not who you may be, ana care
not, but under this gray coat runs as
good blood as your own, ana l ADVISE
you to drop this hectoring
My companion refined in his horse
and extended his hand toward me.
rs II possible" said he in a quiet,
bitter voice, that l nave the luck to
49, aor,sa from err
shire who has a gentleman's right 10
wear a sword ?"
Certainly" / replied, land n per-
fectly willing TO use II upon cause
shown"
"Enogh said," he answered, and dis
mounted. He turned TO me and raised
his hand. Before heaven he de-
clared, lit is ample reason for me that
you are English and of your county.
l want no other inducement 10 spill
your best hearts blood"
Now, though his words were very
foolish and vaporing, yet 1t was plain
that he was deadly in earnest, n l
came down, and led Whitesock to an
ash sapllng behind a thick patch OF
brushwood.
This is a cheerful country for a tray
eler," thought /. IF / am to fight for
my life every day because I am En-
RllSn, L "OllutI VI " liioiy
shall run the gauntlet"
why are you hiding your horse
away like that?" he asked as l re-
turned.
"Content YOU" I replied, 1T Is for
your benefit. If she should see US at
close quarters, nothing would prevent
her running in and trampling you I'M
der foot"
why, that Is like a dog" he cried.
tcst- -. ~, Ayo nR nNNn n nd mora "
I returned, stripping off my coat. But
my companion fingered for a moment
He had passed, at a flash, as Is the
custom Of these people, to another set
OF feelings upon my speech.
Il fear l have made a mistake ne
said.
you have" said l, "a great mistake
to treat me as you did. But you ave
gone too far with 1t TO turn back
"Who wishes to do so?" he screamed
rather than spoke in reply, and his
former bitterness, returned with ten
fold heat. We took ground upon a tri'
angular patch Of turf where two roads
forked apart, and he led the attack
with much skill and fire.
But after a minute Of the swift In
terchange of thrust n parry, / felt buI
little uneasiness. He was not to bt
compared for an instant with his coun'
lTyIndn Oh ycSlCIudy ANU u =
though we'll trained TO his weapon, ht
lacked experience in the point whert
It Is most needed, In the use Of II IL
deadly combat.
1t is one thing to play with the but
toned foil, where q hit or a miss Is
matter for laughter or triflng wager
| quite another to know that q terrible
penalty will be given or eXacted for
| false stroke, n slip, miscalculation.
Ill 49, 4 flnr. ~ h
dreadful pitch to which his nerves wer'
strung, his mouth was a round hol'
through which his breath came II
whistling gasps, his face was streaket
with red and white, and his eye
burned like fires in his head.
/ have seen a fellow lighting In shse
| fright for his life look much the same
but there was no fear about my oppo
nent. It was the vivid imagination II
which these people abound, palntinl
before his mind that which a deadl,
combat means to the last stroke an,
farthest reach of the picture.
We English are lacking in this, per
haps, but, as by the same lack, W
keep cool and watch the other man
point, with nothing to distract us, i
| the end we are the gamers. At the en-
Of three minutes there had been muc
clashing OF swords, thrusting an
| Darry1nR, but noltner OF US Hdu IoCtlNe
a scratch. AS to my share OF the en-
| counter, IT had been confined strict
to the defensive. I was now certain h
| could not, except by an accident, pas
my guard, and l changed my pla
carefully, aiming to disarm him.
But l had to be very wary, for h
was agile as a panther, and, his bloc
boiling savagely within him, woul
have spitted me with the best Will
the world. I was pressing upon hir
steadily, when u combat was inter
rupted In a fashion oddly the counter
part of my encounter Of the prevtou
day. A sudden weight was flung upo
my sword arm, and l felt myse
gripped from behind. Catching me a
unawares at the moment when l we
balancing myself to reach forward,
slipped and fell to one knee. My oppc
nent bounded forward, too furious
see more than the chance that was Of
Tered him, when a female figure leape
between us, crying, mo, no, Owain!
ia he. Do not strike"
Owain checked himself, dropped II
point of his sword, and stood motion
less. I rose and bowed to my your
lady OF the road.
CHAPTER VII.