The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1904-02-05
jones' JOuSt With
the Duke ~ "
BY CLYDE NORMAN


any engagement between us and YOU
have no claim on me Mothers heart
Is set on my marriage to the duke and
he Is very fine gentleman. And,
George. you know ! never could en-
dure a prosy, commonplace life. |
cant help il II am romantic and
like castles and coats-of-arms and
family portraits and ancestral tradi-
tions and liyeried servants and all that
sort OF thing"
The girl began the speech with a sort
OF gentle defiance. but ended in a
lamely apologize tone
The face OF the young man. which
was flushed from his passionate re-
monstrance, grew pale while she spoke
and the fire died from his eyes. which
looked steadily into hers
But you do not love him and you
do love me. he said
You presume too much" she re-
piled. flushing now in her turn "Sir
Charles is a nobleman both by name
and nature and | admire and respect
him. or course. have been fond Of
you George. but You have no right to
assume that love you"
A slight smile trembled on the lips
OF the young man.
There are some occasions and some
words you seem TO have forgotten" he
said For instance. one moonlight
evening at Lake Geneva"
Now. George. don't be mean" she
interrupted, sharply "Of course.
have been fond Of you and / am fond
OF you. but girl don't have to marry
the rrst young man who makes love
to her-even IL she has liked him and
let him say foolish things 10 her. Now
do be sensible and don't spoil our good
friendship II IL were only the good
old days of chivalry when men fought
for their lady loves. you could go in
and settle II between you. but I am
so dreadfully weak and mamma is so
strong, and her head is set on this
match that | simply cannot oppose
her"
A strange light leaped into the
young mans eyes.
III It we're in the good old DAYS and
| rode up in armor on a white charger.
fought your duke TO defeat and picked
you mp under your mothers nose and
despite your fathers protests and rode
away. would you be happy with me-"
"Oh, that would be beautiful" she
exclaimed. clapping her hands but
what's the use OF talking about il. We
live In prosaic times and men are as
weak and spiritless as women. 1t must
be dreadful for a man like Sir Charles.
with all the heroic blood Of his race.
TO moon about in a dress suit like or
binary men" She ended with a sigh.
The days of chivalry are always
here he replied slowly. "and men al
ways have fought for women and al
ways will. The only difference is in
The weapons. Good night"
lie turned abruptly TO leave her.
Now. don't be ugly and horrid
about II. will you?" she said "Sir
Charles is TO be here next week 10
spend a fortnight Mamma is prepsr-
ing to announce the engagement Don't
make IL harder for me"
Depend upon me" he replied. smil-
ing broadly.
In due time appeared Charles Arthur
Fitzmorris. twenty-frst duke OF Bat
tleborough. viscount OF Chiselhurst.
baron of something or other and a
baronet The papers never did get his
Ia tut al
great array OF boxes and bags and
trunks. servants and paraphernalia.
the details OF which only travelling no
bility knows. George Jones was duly
introduced 10 his rival and greatly |
puzzled Beatrice Derwent by the CON
descending friendliness of his manner
He seemed almost to pity the foreigner
and acted more like the successful |
su.tor than the rejected Il was al a
reception at the Derwents and as he I
made his adieux he whispered 10 Be /
atrice:
Il have arranged that joust with the \
duke"
And she looked at him aghast and /
replied earnestly:
George, Don't you dare make
scandal"
A few days later shortly after six
o'clock in the evening she was sum
moned in haste to the reception hall \
and found George Jones
There's somebody al the Milwaukee
depot who wants to see you on a very i'm
Dortant matter" he exclaimed. breath
essiy. The train goes at seven o'clock
and she did not have time 10 come
here to see you. and asked me 10 come
and get you. There's a carriare wait
ing at the door Just throw on your
,loak and come on. there's just
lime"
Goodness gracious, what is II all
lbout?" she gasped who is it?"
Il don't know what sit is about" he
replied mysteriously. but suspect
md know you will be sorry II you
ion't go. AS to who il is. | promised
lot TO tell you. but II is a good friend
u yours. Come on. there's barely time.
She wants ter or is minutes to talk 20
Tou."
"But Il IL so funny" said the girl.
well. suit yourself" replied Jones.