Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-02-09
In the most maddening way.


He made a lunge when his adversary
left an opening which appeared abso
lutely beyond defense. 1t was quick
deXterOus, vicious thrust. The blade
leapcd toward Father Beret's hear
with Il twinkle like lightning.
AT that moment. although warily
alert and hopeful that his opportunity
was az hand. Father Beret came neal
losing his life, for as he sidestepped
and easily parried Hamilton's thrust
w!.ich he had invited. thinking to ell
tGnc!c his blade and dsarm him, ht
cau.l; his foot in Alices skirt and
stumbled. nrarly falling across her
1t wol;ld nave been easy for Hamilton
70 run him through had he instantly
fa,'OWcd up the advantage, but the
moonlight On Alice's face struck his
eyes. and by that indirect ray of vision
which is often strangely effective he
recognized her lying there. 1t was O
disconcertins thing for him. but ht
rallied instantly and sprang aside talk
ing a new position just in time to face
Father Beret again. A chill crept NJ
his back. The horror which he could
not shake off enraged him beyond
measure. Gathering fresh energy, hi
renewed the assault with desperate
steadiness, the highest product of absO
lutely molten fury.
Father Beret felt the dangerous ac
cess of power in his antagonists arm
and knew that crisis had arrived
He could not be careless now. Hero
was a swOrdsman of the best schoo
calling upon him for all the skill and
strength and cunning that he cOulC
command Again the sanity element
was near being thrown aside by the
worldly in the old mans breast. Alice
lying there seemed mutely demanding
that he avenge her. \ riotous some
thing in his blood clamored for q
quick and certain act in this drama by
moonlight, tragic close by stroke
of terrible yet perfectly fitting justice
There was but the space of breatl
for the conflict in the priests heart
yet during that little time he reasoned
the case and quoted Scripture to him
self.
Domino percutimus in gladioT
rang through his mind. c'Lord, shall
we smite with the sword?')
Hamilton seemed to make answer tC
this with a dazzling display Of skill
The rapiers sang strange song above
the sleeping girl, lullaby with corus
cations of death in every keen note.
Hamilton plessed, nay rushed, the
fight with a weight and ut pace
which could not last, but Father Be;et
withstood him so firmly that he made
no farther headway. He even lost
some ground moment later
You Jesuite hypocrile!' he snarled
"You lowest of vile brotherhood OF
liars
Then he rushed again, making n
magniff ent show of strength, quick
ness and accuracy. The sparks Missed
and cracked from the rasping and
ringing blades.
Father Beret was in truth Jesuit
and as such zealOt, but lie was not a
liar or a hypocrite. Being human, he
resented an insult. The sanity spirit
in him was strong, yet not strong
enough to breast the Indignation which
now dashed against it. For moment
it went down.
Liar and scoundrel yourself.' he re.
tOrted, hOarsely forcing the words out
of his throat. Spawn Of a beastly
breed!'
Hamilton saw and felt a change pass
over the spirit of the old priests move
ments. Instantly the sword leaping
against his own seemed endowed with
subtle cunning and malignant treach-
cry. Before this it had been difficult
enough to meet the fine play and hold
fairly even. Now he was startled and
confused, but he rose to the emergency
with admirable will power and clever
ness.
Murderer of poor orphan CIR" '"
Father Beret added with hot concen-
trated accent, death is too good for
YOU
Hamilton felt nearer his grave than
ever before in all his wild experience.
for somehow doom, shadowy and FORM
less, like the atmosphere of an awful
dream. enmisted those words, but he
was no wcakling to quit at the height
of desperate conflict He was strong,
expert md game to the middle of his
heart.
III add Il traitor Jesuit to my list
of dead" he painted forth, rising a;.ain
to the EXTREMIST tension of his power.
AS he did this Father Beret settled
himself as YOU have seen Il mighty
horse do in the home stretch of Il race.
Both men knew that the moment had
arrived for the final act in their i'm
promptu play. 1t was short, n duel
condensed and crowded into fifteen
seconds of time, and 1t was rapid be-
yond the power Of words to describe.
A bystander, had there been one, could
not have seen what was finally done or
how it was done. Father Beret's sword
seemed to be revOlving-it was a halo
in front of Hamilton for mere point
of time. The old priest seemed to
crouch and then make quick motion
as if about to leap backward. A
wrench and a snip, as of something
violently jerked from fastening. were
followed by semicircular fight of
Hamilton's rapier over Father Berets
head to stick in the ground ten feet
behind him. The duel was over, and
the whole terrible struggle had occu-
pied less than three minutes.
With his wrist strained and his fn-
gers almost broken, Hamilton stumbled
forward and would have impaled him.
self had not Father Beret turned the
point of his weapon aside as he low
cred it.
Surrender or die"
That was strange order for priest
to make, but there could be no mistak-
ing it's authority or the power behind
it. Hamilton regained his footing and
looked dazed. wheeling and putting
like a porpoise, but he clearly under
stood what was demanded Of him.
"If you call out, I'll run you
through" Father Beret added, seeing
him move his lips as II to shout fol
help.
mn Ctccl ~