Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1904-06-04
THE DUEL IN THE DARK.
BY KATHARINE lyman.

his father had killed his own brother II
a duel and was an unhappy man till the
day he died Many people were against
dueling At his time. Men had round
that they had better use for FRIEND
than to Kill him because of some pune
tili0 or to be killed by him. SO Crosby
! French was not single in mis- opinion.
The man with whom he fought. Claudi-
us Gregg, was a rire-eatcr by profession,
at least. for, although he staggered a
good deal, there was not duel to his
account III which his adversary had been
able TO shoot straight. He was Il good
shot himself but many people said that
he had forced his quarres only on those
who were likely TO be killed by him and
not TO kill him. He had Killed good
many gay and pleasant fellows on very
little prJvocation 1t had been whispered
against him that he had not always shot
fair. Anyhow, in these latter days de-
cent people avoided him. There were
other things against him as well as The
dueling which made him unfit for decent
company. Yet he had the presumption
/ to lit his eyes to Mary I'Estrange, ANA
the WlrkcdnCSs 10 win her consent to
marry him by trick and SANDER
against the dead.
/ Any man of sense could have site the
story and found it false; but Harvey
/ J. EStrangc'S widow was n gentle. easily
. go AZ u w 'ii-'lHs ldltlUN AEINSS HItlll~
i>c> 10 beStow much money on her il She
/ forwarded his marriage with her daugh-
+ ter were received with scurnful amaze
rcnt. II was another matter when he
! produced the document which made Han
fry J. EStrange, III his grave, Il liar, a
cncat aud Il deceiVVr of women
( So IN terror Of his publishing the story
! to the world. The widow urged the mar
riaee on the girl in her teens. guilelp>s
/ rs Il lamb. lovely rs an angel. gentle
/ ana nnocently gay, and charming in her
whole disposition. And the girl consent
/ ed. TO save her dead fathers honor and
/ her mothers heart from breaking.
/ But indeed, she booked like an An
dromeda when Crosby French first he
held her And when his eyes met her
eyes it seemed to him that the soul he
( innd them cried ont dumbly TO him for
( delivcrancc.
lie was a handsome youth in his pow
/ der and coat Of peach blossom velvet,
! with eyes bright rs the sword that hung
by his side, and Il gallant and high-heart-
ed mir
There was nothing sophisticated in him,
| as there was in the town gallants, since
! he was newly come To town. And il must
! be confessed that, seeing Mary l. Els
TRANCE sitting opposite HIM, with her pur-
I pie faced, elderly lover by her side, ut
! the supper table ON the occasion of a ro-
/ tGnda ball, he stared more than good
/ manners warranted.
The first passion that possessed him
was not so much love as pity. or. perhaps.
/ it was Love that wore PHYS face. Any
how, at the sight Cf her, in her gown of
white and silver, as piteouS as Il bird in
| the snow, he stared, feeling all the time
as though his heart were being drawn out
of him by her appealing eyes.
Nor WAS he aware ut all of Claudius
Gregg in his mulberry velvet suit, his
cheeks darker than usual because of an
ger, his little eyes malignant his upper
lip drawn up over his yellow teeth
Those who We're aware of what was
/ passing looked on ut the scene as though
II had been stage play. There was a
I pause of Il secord or two while Crosby
French, like Il man in dream, stared.
and the girl turned as rosy as she had
been pale under that steadfast regard.
Then Claudius Gregg stood up and
flung the glass from which he was drink
i ing. wine and ALL in the young fellows
face.
There was connection. and in the
midst Of it Claudius Gregg and the lady
disappeared.
y doctor was sent for to see to Crosby
Frcuch'S injuries which seemed serious
enough. The glass had smashed on his
face. cutting and almost binding him.
, fol the time he was in agony and could
: think of nothing.
Some benevolent person fetched a coach
and, after his eyes had been dressed and
/ handased. he was driven to his lodgings.
! There was some one in the coach with him
/ whom at first he took To he the doctor.
! When they had reached the lodgings this
+ person assisted him to alight, with great
I kindness. and led him up the stairs to his
/ room. Then, having pushed him into an
easy chair, his companion proceeded to
stir the fire noisily and to find the wine
and glasses.
4 You don't know me-. he said, "hut
some one told me who you were. am
J Tom darcy of Grange. from your own
county, would not have You left with
out friend Ia see YOU through the affair
/ with Claudi,S Gregg"
"Hou are very kind" said the other
'itut, for the matter of that, shall not
Right. | have reasons against it,"
You don't know the manner of man
. ClaudiuS is Said Tom darcy, "or YOU
/ would esteem il a privilege In have n
chance of putting an end to his career
have inSulted him many Il time, but he
Viii not he inSulted by me, | have an old
grndge against him. He killed a friend
OF mine in duel. one who would not hurt
4 lily, who was loved bv men and women
BESIDES. there is Harvey L'EStrange'>
. u'uEhltf, VINO - gong Ia marry him. and
looks like lamb when il secs the butch.
cr> kuife. lie has cheated her out of her
promise. somehow, although | do not know
how. The man who would put bullet
through Claudius would save that lady. =
lie looked keenly at the young face
with its handaged eyes, and saw the sud
den color surge in the cheeks.
II would DO much 10 save the lady. "
SAID Crosby French; but as for lighting,
why, | promised my father never would
fight
Then shall fight in your place" said
Tom darcy.
And if he Kills you, your blood will
lac On my head"
lie win Kill me, or shall kill him.
II ! kjll HIM, the lady will he free
1T would be impossible that | should
LEI You fight in my place" said Crosby
French, leaning forward with his hands
cn his knees.
Then yop will ight:" Tom Darcy
eyes We're eager. Il swear that If Won
DO not / Will. II is time the world were