Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1903-01-22

At the same moment Caryl saw Roth
esay, and stopped abruptly. There
was flush on Caryl's face and light
in his eyes that betrayed that, early as
f, it was. he had been drinking enough to
excite him.
"You here?" he exclaimed. "By
Jove, fellow never knows when he is
going to meet his friends. l thought
you were shut up in Purcell's cham
Der. Still playing at having fever. So
you've decided to give up the game,
eh?"
Evidently the sight of Rothesay was
very infuriating to Caryl, or he would
never have given way to his temper
thus. Though he had known Rothe-
say was at Purcell's, and all the Cir
cumstances, he had not seen the young
man until now.
/ Rothesay had risen, and was leaning
on the thick stick that he required to
walk with. His face had flushed a
deep scarlet when he had seen the man
| who had thus addressed him; now it
was white as snow.
Beg my pardon for those words" he
said, speaking very low.
Cad! are you talking to me- Rothe-
say. when you say such words as
those?" cried Caryl, coming nearer.
Yes, am talking to you. Beg my
pardon. instantly. for insinuating
gross falsehoods about metz
"Pshaw!"
Rothesay did not know but that he
had his usual strength; his anger
made him strong.
so you refuse?" his white lips ut
tered
By this time the three or four peo-
pie who were near had gathered about
the two men.
"Certainly. And may take this op-
portunity, Rothesay, to inquire after
Your sisters health and happiness? 1t
is long since l had the pleasure of
meeting her"
The last sentence was half lost, for
Rothesay's stick descended across
Caryl's face, and Rothesay's voice
cried:
Coward! Beast"
Then Rothesay sank back on his
seat. whittier than ever and trembling
violently.
Caryl staggered back, his nose bleed
ing profusely, his eyes blinded for
moment. He heard Rothesay, as il
speaking of dog:
Cant somebody take the wretch
away?'
Men now tried to interfere after it
was too late. as usual. Caryl thrust
them away, and pushed forward near
Rothesay and said:
None of us Caryls, are apt to for
get blow. Don't you forget that
.sCaYo va, Of i,y1t ell
Rothesay, YEARLY.
At that moment the train came up,
and Rothesay entered car, still feel
ing so excited as not to realize his
! weakness.
Caryl also boarded the train. but he
went into the baggage car, found some
water, and at last succeeded in re-
moving the stains from his face. His
shirt was spattered with blood, and he
buttoned his coat over it,
He knew that a ridge of purple and
red was quickly swelling up on his
face, and he was furious at the
thought. He was completely sobered
now, and he bitterly repented having
given cause for the quarrel. He hated
Rothesay but he had been a fool,
thoughtless fool. He would have given
almost anything had not the affair
occurred.
Perhaps some idiots would think
ought to challenge him, but the day CT
duels has gone by, and that would be
getting into a worse mess. No, l
can't afford to challenge him, but I'll
pay him for this hideous mark on my
face. Yes, I'll pay him we'll for that.
Still was donkey to speak as l did,
and now everybody will know where
got this mark and how l am going
to see Kate Purcell in this fix? Can't
do it-even if | haven't the brass to do
that. No, [ must lie low for awhile
Yes, twas bad move. wish hadn't
drank that whisky of Burt's this morn
ing. This little job will make my
work all the harder, Well, Rothesay
is of the field now, and Julia has Burt
to manage. l shall have to let her
| take charge for awhile that's plain"
He sat on one of the trunks in the
baggage car, and smoked furiously
while he unused thus, and felt the
horrible welt across his face growing
| bigger every moment. He told him
self that this was the worst mismove
he had ever made.
When the train reached Boston,
Rothesay rode to a hotel and took a
room where he lay down couple of
hours, conscious of the way in which
| that moments excitement had shaken
him. He could not recall his thoughts
from the fact that he was obliged to
leave Kate Purcell; that he was pre-
vented from ever speaking any warm
er words from those of friendship to
her while Caryl was there
Caryl, he feared with too much rea-
son, would seek to win her, for
amusement if for nothing else; and
Caryl had the power to be very atten-
tive, and he had no reason for think
ing Kate could Lave loved him.
He must leave her there like a bird
towards whcT1 he saw the serpent ap-
preaching. There was no way of pre-
venting the catastrophe he foresaw-
the dreadful catastrophe of Kate Pur-
cells becoming in love with Ralph
Caryl.
The thought was maddening, but he
could not shake it OF. Did he not re-
call too plainly the power Caryl had
attained Ovop hia a1afor9 And he hod