The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-01-29

al ny HAsris Dickson
Wen. now. comrade. of your own
intrigues. You were saying"
Nay, nothing OF that kind. I jour
ney to Paris simply for my own pleas
ure." Levert, who half listened at q
advice, though I misdoubted his mo-
tive. and again tool up his pacing to
and fro.
Aye. my dear captain. but ills . long
trip for such an errand?"
Yes. quite q long trip, but I weary
of the life at Biloxi. and would amuse
myself for q while In France"
But h garrison at Biloxi; is that
strong enough to spare SO good q sol-
der? then the Indians. do you not fear
them I"
I glanced at him quickly, only half
betraying my thought. but replied nom
chalantly:
No. the Indians are quiet, at least
30 u scouts tell US. and az for the
enough ashore to know we are strong.''
All. then. there Is another motive;5 a
woman. Come, Is It not true? Con-
Tess z.
I blushed in spite Of myself; It was
an idle way I had. for I had seen little
OF women. My confusion threw him
completely on the track; had I only
guesseastt. would have taken refuge in
that device sooner.
mo, no. comSade; you are wrong
but still somehow my color came and
went like q novice out OF the convent.
His good-humored raillery continued
until ! became annoyed In earnest, yet
waS gladshe took the matter SO serious
Nv. Whe Levert passed US again ON
his walk Ispoke to him.
Now. my dear Levert. we will try
Y fortune with the foils II 1t pleases
Iyou."
mo. my humor Is past. Do you try
with Broussard: methinks he had rath-
er h better of you yesterday. You
agree. Broussard?"
Yes. yes" he replied. eagerly. .1et
He fenced rather worse tina usual,
80 \ had no trouble in touching him as
I pleased. This begat an irritation Of
manner. and noticing 1t I suggested we
leave on.
He would not hear to It: I saw the
color slowly leave his face; his thin
lips curled back and showed his teeth,
until. fearing a serious outbreak, I
stepped back n IL I would lay aside
the foil. depressed me close, 50 close
ndeed could not II would drop my
guard. He touched me once or twice.
call the bout a draw" declared
Levert. who had himself observed
Broussard's unusual energy.
Nay Q So n SO: he gives back.
Eve much the better" and he lunged
at me so vigorously I was forced to
act with more aggression. The button
snapped from the point OF his foil: I
cared not. and he affected not to see II,
though something made me sure he
realized his advantage. I determined
now tosshow him = trick OF my own.
my youth I had the peculiar
Faculty of using one hand quite al vel,
a. b other. and had often practiced
changing my sword swiftly from right
to left. It was a simple feat, much
tinEly bewildering to an adversary. Ia.
this Instance It AFFORDED mo an easy
means of reaching his u~ndefended side.
So 7 feiEned to be driven back. and
watching for ASmore headlong and
careless rush. my weapon was appar-
emily twisted from my hand and for an
instant seemed to hang suspended In
the air. / caught It In my left and be-
lore hs srecovered his footing had
thrown his foil from him, sending IL
whfzxing overheard. It took but an
instant to press my point firmly against
his Chest, as he stood painting and dire
armed Never was man more SUR
Iprised.
.Bravely done. cried Levert.
"a most foul. and dishonorable trick.
IAchille snarled.
mot So" Levert corrected him
gravely. looking at me to observe the
effect OF the insult. I stood still at
guard. but made no move
Broussard. you are & now. and
/ vIlSfQ ka M hQoAI nj vrnyire haakN :.
But tomorrow you must make a gem
tlemanss famends.s
flush, tush,, Levert ~interposed. ",tis
the quarrel Of q child. He means noth-
Ing
Broussard said no more, but looked
surly 2 ~ pleased. was secretly
eiated at the cce OF my coup
against such a skilled swvordsrnan. and
only remarked quietly:
"Broussard, when your anger has
passed 4 U YOU viii do me tho honor
of an apology"
Behind II all I cared little, for I felt
myself his master with his chosen
weapon and could AFFORD to be gem
erous. He am up In very manly
fashion. after q time, and crayed my
forgiveness. but we played at foils no
more.
Tho iookouts were beginning to
watch for land. I growing mbre and
mOfG impatient a. the end Of our
voyage drew neari And now I had.
much leisure to contemplate, ana won
der al the strange turn Of fortune
which had called upon me to play 4
part In the affairs of state, though
what tho drama a and what my
lines might be. 4 could only guess. The
story OF Colonel D'Ortex, too. furnished.
me much food for reflection these long
~starlit nights. when I sat In my favor
lite seat In the very Prov OF the vessel.
There would I sit night after night
watching the phosphorescent waves
Irippling against the vessel. cleaning
ftful in the gloom; there observe the
steadfast stars. and seem alono with,
darkness and with God.
One wet morning. pacing the slip:
perry deck. the sailing master called to
me:
.,see Sir. yonder dim outline to the
.noreastf IT'S the Norman oast; this
night, God willing. we sleep in
Dieppe."
MY errand now consumed my entire
attention, so / thought no more Of my
Ecompanions OF the voyage, bidding
them both good night before We had
CHAPTER Tv