Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1904-03-03
Jones' Jousl With
the Duke * *
BY CLYDE NORMAN
(Copyrlght, 1908, by Daily Story Pub. Coz

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 prosy, commonplace life. |
cant help it if l am romantic and
like castles and coats-of-arms and
family portraits and ancestral tradi-
/ tons and liveried servants and all that
sort of thing"
The girl began the speech with 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 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 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 first young man who makes love
to 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. If it were only the good
old days of chivalry when men fought
for their lady loves, you could 60 in
and settle it between you, but I 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 it we're in the good old days and
I rode up in armor on 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
exclaimed, clapping her hands. "But
what's the use of talking about it. We
live in prosaic times and men are as
weak and spiritless as women. It must
be dreadful for a man like Sir Charles,
with all the heroic blood Of his race,
to moon about in dress suit like or
binary men," She ended with 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"
He 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
spend a. fortnight. Mamma is prepar-
ing to announce the engagement. Don't
make it 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
fIxyioo o1i1xo With him a
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 to 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
sutton than the rejected. 1t was at a
reception at the Derwents and as he
made his adieux he whispered to Be-
atrice:
II have arranged that joust with the
duke"
And she looked at him aghast and
replied earnestly:
George! Don't you dare make a
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 at the Milwaukee
depot who wants to see yos' on very i'm
portant matter" he exclaimed, breath
lessly. "The train goes at seven o'clock
and she did not have time to come
here to see you, and asked me to come
and get you. There's carriage wait.
ing at the door. Just throw on your
cloak and come on. There's just
time"
Goodness gracious! what is it al
about?" she gaspcd. "Who is it,"
81 don't know what it is about" hi
replied mysteriously, "but I suspec
and l know you will be sorry if yol
don't go. AS to who - is, promised
DOT to tell you, but it is good frien'
of yours Come on, there's barely time
She wants ten or Is minutes to talk t.
you"