The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1904-04-15
Jones' JOuSt With
the Duke " *
BY CLYDE NORMAN
Copyright i'la' BY Daily s'or, Pub. co..


hMOW be good and sensible.
IN George. and don't say mean
things. You know there never was
any engagement between us and you
have no claim on me. Mothers heart
is set on my marriage to the duke and
he is a very fine gentleman And
George. you know / never could en-
dure a prosy. commonplace life
can't help IT n / am romantic and
like castles and coats-of-arms and
family portraits and ancestral tradi-
tions and liverled 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 I admire and respect
him. OF course. / have been fond Of
you. George. but you have no right TO
assume that l 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 al Lake Geneva"
Now. George. don't be mean" she
interrupted, sharply. "Of course. ]
have been fond Of you and l am fond
OF you but a girl don't have 10 marry
the first young man who makes love
10 her-even If she has liked him and
let him say foolish things to her. Now
do be sensible and don't spoil our good
friendship II it were only the good
old days Of chivalry when men fought
for their lady loves. you could 20 in
and settle it between you. but / am
so dreadfully weak and mamma IS so
strong. and her head is set on this
match that I simply cannot oppose
her"
A strange light leaped into the
young mans eyes.
"If II were in the good old days and
I rode up in armor on a white charger.
fought your duke to defeat and picked
you up under your mothers nose and
despite your fathers protests and rode
away. would you be happy with me?"
"Oh, that would be beautiful" she
clapping her hands. "But
what's the use Of talking about &C. We
live in prosaic times and men are as
weak and spiritless as women. II must
be dreadful for a man like Sir Charles
with all the heroic blood OF his race
10 moon about in a dress suit like or
ilnary men" She ended with a sigh.
THE days Of chiyalry are always
lere." he replied slowly. "and men al
ways have fought for women and al
ways will. The only difference is in |
he weapons. Good night"
lie turned abruptly to leave her.
Now. don't be ugly and horrid |
about It, will you?" she said. "Sir |
Charles is to be here next week to /
lpend a fortnight Mamma is prepar-
ng to announce the engagement Don't /
make It harder for me"
Depend upon me-" he replied, smil-
ng broadly.
In due time appeared Charles Arthur
Tltzmorris. twenty-hrst duke Of Bat
leborough. viscount Of Chiselhurst.
aaron OF something OF other and a
,aronet The papers never did get his
tile in twice alike. with him was
Ireat array Of boxes and bags and
runks, servants and paraphernalia,
he details Of which only travelling no
,ility knows. George Jones was duly
Introduced 10 his rival and greatly
iuzzled Beatrice Derwent by the con-
friendliness Of his manner.
10 seemed almost to pity the foreigner
nd acted more like the successful
uitor than the rejected. II was at
eception at the Derwents and as he
made his adieux he whispered TO Be
trice:
Il have arranged that joust with the
uke"
And she looked at him aghast and
eplied earnestly:
"Georgel Don't you dare make
candal"
A few days later shortly after six
clock in the evening she was sum-
loned in haste to the reception hall
nd found George Jones.
There's somebody at the Milwaukee
epot who wants to see you on a very i'm
ortant matter" he exclaimed, breath
sssly. "The train goes at seven o'clock !
nd she did not have time TO come
ere to see you. and asked me to come
nd get you. There's a carriage wait
lg at the door Just throw on your
Ioak and come on There's Just
me"
Goodness graciousi what Is II all |
bout?" she gasped. "Who IS it?"
Il don't know what It is about" he |
splied mysteriously. but ! suspect
nd / know you will be sorry If you
ont go. AS TO who It is. promised
OF to tell you Sat It Is a good friend
yours CYne on. there's barely time.
hs wants ten or 10 minutes to talk TO
ou."
''But II is so funny" said the girl.
well, suit yourself" replied Jones. =
ifenIng with dignity. "Its nothing !