Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1903-12-17


a challenge without room-for honorable
retreaty"
THE time for parhey is past!' she re-
piled. Follow me 10 thebattle ground.
She led the way 10 a pleasant little
court in the rear OF the cabins yard, q
space between two wings and a vine
covered trellis, beyond which lay a
well kept vineyard and We yetallle gar
den. Here she turned abou and faced
him. posing her foil with a fine grace
"Are you readyT she inql ured.
He tried again to force a way into
the depths OF her eyes with his, but h'
might as well have attacke. the sun
30 he stood in a confusion OF not very
well defined feelings, undeci ded. hest
tating, half expecting that tn ere Nvoult
be some laughable turn TO ei nj the al
| fair.
Are you afraid, NJ. BeveIs ey'g" n
demanded after a short waiting L
| silence.
He laughed now and whipped the air
with his foil.
you certainly are not inearnestr he
said interrogatively. DO you really
mean that you want 10 fence with mef"
IF you think because I'm only a
girl you can easily beat me, try it."
she tauntingly replied, making a level
thrust toward his breast
Quick as a fash he parted, and then
a merry clinking and twinkling OF steel
blades kept time TO their swift move
ments. Instantly. by the sure sense
which is half sight, half feeling-the
sense that guides the experienced fenc-
er's hand and wrist-Beverley knew
that he had probably more than his
match, and in ten seconds his attack
was met by time thrust In opposition
which touched him sharply.
Alice sprang back, lowered her point
and laughed.
"Je vous salue, NJ. Beverley she
cried, with childlike show OF delight. !
Did you feel the button?
Yes, l felt it," he said with frank |
acknowledgment I'm his voice. 1T was |
cleyerly done. Now give me a chance
TO redeem myself"
He began more carefully and found
that she, too, was on her best mettle:
but II was n short bout, as before.
Alice seemed TO give him an easy open
ing and he accepted II with a thrust.
Then something happened that he did
not understand. The point Of his foil
was somehow caught under his oppo-
nents hilt guard while her blade seemed
TO twist around his. At the same time
there was a wiring and jerk, the like
Of which he had never before felt and
he was disarmed, his wrist and fingers
aching with the wrench they had re-
ceived.
OF course the thing was not new; he
had been disarmed before; but her
trick Of doing II was quite a mystery
TO him, altogether different from any
that he had ever seen.
"Nous me pardonnerez, monsieur"
she mockingly exclaimed, picking up
his weapon and offering the hilt TO
him. Here is your swordr
Keep IT," he said. folding his arms
and trying TO look unconcerned; you
have captured it fairly. am at your
mercy; be kind TO me-"
Mime. Roussillon and Jean. the
hearing the racket of the
foils, had come out to see and were I
agape. I
you ought to be ashamed, Alice" {
said the dame In scolding approval Of ]
what she had done. Girls do not fence
with gentlemen" (
This girl does" said Alice. I
And with extreme disaster to this
said Beverley. laughing In
| tone Of discontinue and resignation.
"Ah, m'sieu', there's nothing but dis
'ster where she goes" complained
dme. Roussillon. "She is a destroyer I
4 everything. Only yesterday she
lropped my pink bowl and broke It,
he only one 1 had" .
And just TO think" said Beverley.
what would have been the condition
{ my heart had we been using rapiers
instead of leather buttoned foils! She
you'd have spitted 1t through the very \
enter" 81
Like enough" replied the dame in ac
ifferently. "She wouldn't vince, Or
Ither-not she"
Alice ran into the house with the en- |,
Ills and Beverley followed. He
I'VE must try 1t over again some day ca
'on," he said. II find that you can 49,,
low me few points. Where did you viii
arm TO fence so admirably? Is NJ. acl
oussillon your master?" me
Indeed he isn't" she quickly re- tir'
led. HE is but a bungling swords
an. My master-but 1 am not at lib -
ty to tell you who has taught me the -
tile | know"
swell, whoever he is should be glad -
have lessons from him."