The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1904-06-01
BY ". " HINES
Copyright. 1908, hu u ". Hines

the mind of Donald ordWay, brave
hearted gentleman, aged fourteen. that
this fit Of tears had 10 do with the
visitor who had just left her There
fore it was betittng that this visitor
should return and make prompt apol-
ogy to Miss Lettice for anything in
his words or actions which might have
caused tears. 1t seemed to Donald
that il WIS both his peculiar duty and
much to be valued privilege To bring
back this visitor and see that the apol-
ogy was made, even II ii should be
necessary TO resort to force to accom-
plish the desired end.
There would be odds against him, he
reflected. as he thought of the stran-
gers broad shoulders and athletic APP
pearancc. but odds in battle were not
To be considered by an Ordwny. nor
was it we'll that one of the family
should contemplate the bare possibili-
ty of defeat in any warlike undertake
ing OF course defeat was possible,
but one could and did put 1t out of his
mind in going into battle.
Therefore Donald set out hastily
along the oak arched driveway which
led to the big gate 1t was his calcu
lation that he would be able to over
take the late visitor Just outside the
boundary of the Ordway demesne. and
this cheered him, for il would not do
TO attack guest within your gates.
once outside the gates the duties of
hospitality do not SHIELD the offender.
This was in the code of Donald's blue
grass country and was not To be ques-
toned by one who was raised upon
the lessons furnished by that code.
And Just beyond the big gates he did
overtake the visitor, who was walking
along the roadside toward the station,
slaShing angrily Mt weeds with his
cane Donald had not figured on the
cane and wished that he had thought
to provide himself with II weapon of
some sort But there was no time to
hesitate and he made haste to put him.
self alongside his adversary TO be.
Pardon mo. sir" said Donald. for
interrupting you" The whole pro
e=&&ae must be carried through with
perfect peliteness. Rudencss, even To
an enemy, was never jnstitinble Don
aid recollccted having heard his father
often say that
stop.
"Wcll. what is 1t, young man, he
said. somewhat brusquoly. This
brusqucncss was very ungcntlcmanly,
thought Donald. but the man was
northcrncr, and this. in Donald's eyes.
showed that he knew no better.
You are Mr. Douglassf" He had
seen the card on the tray In the hall
Eyes. What of IT," this brusquely. ns
before. Then. Did Miss Mason send
you after me-" with n trace of eager
ness in his voice.
"Certainly not, sir" said Donald
with dignity Il have come on my own
account. sir" 1t was not in the code
that one should drag the name of II wo-
man in the quarrcls of men
well. what do YOU WANT The
brusquencss was again quite evident.
1T will be necessary for YOU, sir, to
apologize to my cousin. Miss Lettice
Mason"
"Apologize to Miss Mason!
You have heard me correctly, sir.
Donald WAS greatly reioicpd at the
firm dignity of his Own tones He felt
that he WIS carrying through his part
In the affair in n way which would
have Won the sincere conmcndation Of
his father and even of his grandfather
wlo had been the most famous dueliSi
of his day and state
But, young man. | don't owe Miss
Mason any apology
THAT. sir, Is II question which you
must permit me to decide. Miss Ma
son is. as | have said, my cousin. We
Ordways" there WAS a culver Of pride
In the way which Donald pronounced
the name-"are not accustomed to re-
celvc instructions from outsiders upon
matters Of etiquette"
What makes you think | owe Miss
Mason an Apology
rs it not enough. sir. for you 10
know that deem an apology neces
snryE"
Now his prospective antagonist threw
back his head and laughed loud ana
long. Donald waited patiently until
the fit of laughter had passed 1t was
merely another item to be added 10
Mr. Douglass count of rudeness.
There had been nothing in the Ordway
blood or the Ordway upbringlng to
teach this fourteen ear-old descend
ant Of the cavaliers that there was
anything ridiculous in his demanding,
without condcscending to explain. an
apology from n bearded man Of thirty.
NO" said Mr.. Douglass. still half
choked with laughter. 1T is not
enough for me to know that you con
slider an apology necessary. | must
catch my train and will bid you good
afternoon" With this he turned and
would have walked forward, but that
Donald laid a OBTAINING hand on his
arm.
"Then you must fight me, sir"
"Now, look here. you young savage,
why don't you pick out a man of your
size instead Of trying TO pick a quarrel
with little fellow like myselfr Evi
IDENTIFY Mr. Douglass was inclined to
fOlSiltI lHc w iIDIt aildlI IL Jpht. lOi iIt
threw up his arms in a position Of de
Tense which Donald could readily sec
was burlesqucd.
All that could be demanded of even
the Ordway courtesy was passed. and
the limit reached. Donald struck with
all his might Mt the head Of his antag
onist But the antagonist would no,
fight fairly. He simply grasped both
of Donald's small hands IN his own
big palms. held them fast. and when
the upholder of the Ordway name at
tempted to kick he found himself lying
fiat on his back.
"Now, youngster, come down off your
high horse bit and tell me what Is the
matter with you"
Searching his memory for some prece-
dent of his own condition, Donald
found none. His ancestors had, some of
them, been imprisoned for upholding
what they believed to be their right