The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1904-07-06
yy.

tIhSJ udy break.
CHAPTER XX.
1t comes, the signal; "A m~onotonous,
cold voice repeats, "One, two three,-
fret Then a quick movement, two
sharp reports. two little puffs of blue
smoke blow far out to sea, and then a
rush of the whole party to Ernest's side.
Not hurt, chum, l hope?' says the
Major, taking his hand affectionately
with his left. Nothing really wrong, is
there?" But here the brave Major him
self t%otters, and to prevent himself fall
ing, sits quietly down by the side OF his
friend, and feeling very faint, has but a
dim and indistinct notion of what fol-,
lows.
There is a good deal of talking and
gesticulating; half a dozen gendarmes
appear upon the scene, and from the evil
dence OF the lockers on compile a most
elaborate report; and then the two
wounded men are removed to the old
town.
The seconds, wise men in their day and
generation. are not a little pleased at
the verdict of the French doctor, con-
firmed by another of their own, nation
atty, that beyond a broken arm, and a
bullet in the hip. there is no harm done,
and that there is nothing serious to be
apprehended. They stay for a few hours
TIL the bullet is extracted from the
wound Of Captain Cholmondely. and then
set their faces homewards, promising to
reassure the friends of the combatants,
and bearing many confident messages
from them ais TO their speedy recovery.
Archie had heard something of the
quarrel by this; indeed, the mysterious
disappearance of the two men had ere
ated universal discussion and specula-
tons in the clubs to which they be-
longed.
Soon the telegraph wires confirmed the
strange story, adding that both were very
dangerously wounded, and great was.the
excitement occasioned thereby. There
was q spice of romance attached to it;
a woman's glove or riband, or something
of that sort, was the cause of it. And
so society discussed the probable details
with avidity.
Ernest's second had waited on the
| Colonel, by whom he was received very
haughtily and s~ternly, and had told him
the result of the duel, making rather
light of the injuries received, and giving
the name of Che hotel wherein they were
lodged; and the old man had started for
Eaton Square, calling on Archie by the
way.
But the news had preceded them,
only exaggerated and intensified, and
Mrs. C~holmondely was in an agony of
grief. So they were mourning bitterly
in the household when the Colonel ar
rived, and already Mrs. Cholmondely
had decided to start for Calais at once.
But this the Colonel firmly opposed.
"Archie and l will go over by the first
boat" he said, grmly and quietly, "and
will telegraph to you this evening as soon
as we have seen him."
"But I shall be so wretched IL / am
not with him." she said, imploringly.
"Who knows whether he may ever re-
Govern And at this probability the fond
parent wept bitterly.
Dear Mrs. Cholmondely," the Colonel
urged, there is really nothing serious
to apprehend. / have this morning seen
one of the seconds, and he pledges his
word that it is a mere flesh wound, that
| will allow Ernest to be about again very
shortly.
So, after much argument and soothing
talk, Mrs. Cholmondely consented, and
the two gentlemen prepared for their
| journey. The late evening brought the
telegram as promised, which brought
much comforting to the
mothers heart. Maud had come into
her mothers room, to see her the very
hast thing. and was puch surprised at
her mothers words.
II am afraid | have been chiefly to
| blame in this matter, dear. l had some
| thing to tell Ernest that might have
| prevented all this. only that / had not
| the moral courage to do So"
Maud opened her eyes very wide at
this. Dear mamma" she said, show
can you have anything to do with it?
Indeed, indeed. it is impossible; do not
grieve on that account, but let us hope
for the best"
And so mother and daughter had con-
| Goled together lovingly, cheering each
other with hopeful words and brave say.
ings.