Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1904-05-12

quickly said, but good Papa Rous-
sillon does like little exercise with
the colechemarde."
"'Well, I'm glad to hear 1t. | shall
ask to teach him trick or two" Bey-
erley responded in the lightcst mood
"When will he return from the woodsT'
Il can't tell you He's very irregular
in such Matters" she said. Then. with
a smile half banter and half challenge,
she added, "If you are really dying for
some exercise you shall not have TO
wait for him to come home, | assure
you, NJ. Beverley"
"Oh, it's NJ. de Ronyile, perhaps.
that you will offer up as a victim to
my skill and address," he slyly return
ed, for he was suspecting that a love
affair in some stage OF progress lay
between her and Rene.
She blushed violently, but quickly
overcoming n combined rush Of sur
prise and anger, added with an en-
phasis as charming as it was unex-
pected:
II myself am, perhaps. swordsman
enough to satisfy the impudence and
vanity of NJ. Beverley, lieutenant in
the American army"
Pardon me, mademoiselle; forgive
me, ]. beg Of you," he exclaimed. ear
nestly modulatlng his voice TO slncerest
beseechment. 81 really did not mean TO
be impudent, nor
Her vivacity cleared with a merry
laugh.
mo apologies, 1 command you." she
interposed. I'VE will have them after
have taught you fencing lesson"
From q shelf she drew down n pair
Of foils and, presenting the hilts. bade
BIN take his choice.
There isn't any difference between
them that know Of" she said, and
then added archly, "but you will feel
better at last, when all is over and the
sting of defeat tingles through you, II
you are conscious Of having used every
sensible precaution."
He looked straight into her eyes. try
ing to catch what was in her mind, but
there was bawlldering glamour play
ing across those gray, opal tinted wells
Of mystery, from which he could draw
only mischlevous smile CLINT, direct.
daring, irresistible.
"Well," he said, taking one of the
foils, "what do you really mean? Is 1t
n challenge without room for honorable
retreatY
"The time for parley Is past" she re-
piled. Follow me to the battle ground"
She led the way to pleasant little
court in the rear OF the cabins yard,
space betwAn two wings and vine
covered trelis, beyond which lay n
well kept vineyard and vegetable gar
den. Here she turned about and faced
him, polsing her foil with n fine grace.
"Are you readyY she inquired.
He tried again to force way into
the depths OF her eyes with his, but he
might MS well have attacked the sun,
80 he stood in n confusion OF not very
well defined feelings, undecided. hesi-
tating, half expecting that there would
be some laughable turn 10 end the af-
fair.
Are you afraid. NJ Beyerlcyi' she
demanded after n short waiting In
silence.
He laughed now and whipped the mir
with his foil.
"You certainly are not in carnest?" he
said interrogutivcly. 40 you really
mean that you want to fence with mer
"If you think because I'm only a
girl you can easily beat me. try It,"
she tauntingly replied, making level
thrust toward his breast
Quick M fash he parrlcd, and then
merry clinking and twinkllng Of steel
blades kept time to their swift move
ments. Instantly. by the cure sense
which Ii half sight, half feeling-the
sense that guides the experienced fenc.
er's hand and beverley knew
that he had probably more than his
match, and In te,, seconds his attack
was met by time thrust In opposition
which touched him sharply.
Alice sprang back, lowered her point
and laughed.
"Jc vous salue. NJ. Beverley she
cried, with childllkc show OF delight.
"Did you feel the buttonr'
Eyes, I felt It." he said with frank
acknowledgment in his voice. ut was
clevcrly done. Now give me chance
to redeem myself"
He began more carefully and found
that She too, was on her best mcttle;
but IL was a short bout, ms before
Alice seemed to give him an easy open
ing and Inc accepted It with n thrust.
Then something happened that he did
not understand. The point OF his foil
was somehow caught under his oppo-
nents hIlt guard while her blade seemed
to twist around his At the same time
there was wiring and Jerk, the like
OF which he had never before felt. and
he was disarmed, his wrist and fingers
aching with the wrench they had re-
celved.
or course the thing wns not new: lac
had been dlsarmed before; but her
trick OF doing II wns qllte n mystery
TO him, altogether different from my
that he had ever seen.
"Vous me pardonncrcZ. monsieur"
she moclngly exclaimed. picking up
his weapon and Offering the hllt TO
him. Here ls your sword"
Keep H." be said. folding bis arms
and trying to look unconcerned: you
have captured It fairly. ! am Mt your
mercy: be- kind 10 me-"
Mime. Roussilon and Jean. the
huncbback. hearing the racket OF the