Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1904-03-17

lie smiled with mingled self-scorn
and bitterness as he recalled Bertie's
face and passionate words.
'Duels are out of fashion" he muir
INJURED. "But so is poison, yet men
poison themselves. 1t will be fit
ting end to a life like mine to lie out
side there on the sand hills with a
bullet in my heart. What does it
matter? Life is not so pleasant n
thing to me that | should care to pro-
long it, and even if it were ii would be
dearly purchased at such cost. Poor
Dewsbury! 1t will be rather hard
upon him If he should wing me; there
will he fuss and trouble for him. All,
well We are sport for the gods, and if
they laugh We must be content.o
With weary sigh he drew a chair
up to the fire and lit cigar. Bertie's
messenger would be there before many
minutes, he knew, and he could wait
without Impotence. In the course o.
half an hour a footman announced
Lord Fairfax.
Stuart Villiars rose and bowed. and
offered MIN chair, and the young
man drew It up to the fire.
81 dare say you know what I have
come about, Lord Villiars?" he said,
awkwardly.
Stuart Villiars nodded.
Yes he said; you came from
Lord Dewsbury.'
Yes" assented the young man,
rising, and standing with his back to
the fire. tits the most extraordinary
quarrel | ever heard Upon my soul,
when Dewsbury came to me | thought
, he was joking; did indeed" and he
! laughed uneasily.
Il dare say Lord Dewsbury soon CON
WINGED you that he was in earnest"
| said Stuart Villiars, quietly
by George. yes. and he's deucedly
in earnest. too! regular freeater!"
! responded Lord Fairfax. HE seems
bent on this affair. | tried to laugh
him out of til beg your pardon, no
! offence, meant"
you will not offend me-. said Stu
art Villiars. with a smile. You did
right"
'Yes | told him. by George. that it
, was ridiculous to talk of duels nova
days! That men went to the law
courts, and-and all that sort of thing,
Consult my solicitor. Ell. you know"
Il know" assented Stuart villiars.
That is the way men settle their
quCrrels in England; but we are not in
England now. Lord Fairfax
Just what Dewsbury said," ex-
claimed Lord Fairfax. But you are
both Englishmen; reminded him of
that "
yes: and he was not satisfied to
take your advice and go to law instead
.of pistols-is 1t to be pistos?"
Lord Fairfax laughed uneasily.
Pom my soul don't know what to
say. The whole affair Is so-so--"
Ridiculous" put in Stuart vflliars.
Il dare say II is ridiculous for any man
to mind being called a liar and
coward nowadays"
Lord Fairfax flushed.
He called you that" he said. look
ms up with dismay.
Stuart VilIars nodded
Yes, for want of stronger words.
which he would have used if he could
have found them"
The young man bit his lip.
Perhaps he'll apologize, He's
he's bit quicktempered, is Dewsbury.
ana he'll think better of it?"
Stuart Nilliars smiled,
Il am afraid not" he said
The quarrel was about this Internal
roulette. wasn't it?"
Stuart Villiars inclined his head.
1T is on that score that. we differ,
he said, evasively.
The young man looked at him with a
quicker glance.
Something more serious?" he said.
slowly.
1T does not matter. Lord Fairfax. .
II Lord Dewsbury will not take back .
his words"
You mean to fight? Great good.
ness! | never heard of such thing.
When Dewsbury spoke to me about il.
consented to come and see you. 1
suppose | ought to have zone to your
second. chi"
Il think So" replied Stuart Villiars;
but purposely asked Lord Dewsbury
TO send someone to me. thought
that we might have come to a peace
able arrangement Lord Fairfax. with
out troubling fourth person."
Lord Fairfax shook his head.
IF nothing but an apology will salts
ty you, | am afraid left Lord Dews-
bury as hard as nails about the
natter"
Quite So" assented Stuart Vilnars.
quietly Then viii give you note
TO man VINO, though only an acuuaint.
ance, will be delighted to take part in
an affair of this kind"
He rang for wine as he spoke and
offered Lord Fairfax cigar.
The young man tossed of a glass of
wine and smoked his cigar in excited
newilderment, while Lord N1niars
wrote his note,