The daily Alaskan., 1905-06-16
AN AMERICAN GIRLS
 DEFENSE OF HER RIGHTS
forlrlnnll

Thcre ace numbcr oc American wo- men abroad whose husbands are in prominent positions, but it is only with- In the past decade or two that foreign mon in powcr have chosen American wives. Rceorc that foreigners of rank rarely married Americans and then h was for love only, The following sto ry narratcs a case in points
 A fun moon shCnc on a hcld ncar Berlin. A young man in the uniform of a lieutenant ot artillery In the rrts sian army was standing In the shadow of a tree. waiting. \ carriage stopped ln the road. from which alighted two women. One held back, Tue othG went on tIu she came face to face wltl the man.
 "NNhat abSuriity Is this, Marlonl Could you not have scUt me what | have asked Instead of insisting on d. avcring it yourself In this ridiculoul tashiony
 ~Ccurs." said the woman. "you can aot expect te play your own game Sith an American girl without paying ,he pcualty. Nou sought me, not yon, and offered me your love and your hand. Finding thct your ambiticns ,chcwcS might be better served by mar ryinr saothcr yoV ask tor your re- lease. have brought with me In writ Ing an that you can deSirc, a rclea7e, eNoncratlnc you trSm any elamc what ever Br' tell me, count you whue~ military code compcls you Co light wiia men at the slightest provocation, how .ap rou expect Co take up and cast ssl6e woman without being called to acccUntF'
 Marion. your ways In America are ct our ways Here we owe duty tc family. to the state There matches s-e made iu S different way. To not rrolouc the distrcss au this gives me | asked for the relcrse against my In eliuahon six months ago. You have put me on from month to mSnth and st last appoint meeting bare by moonlight to grant my request Are sI Americans 50 romanticr"
 Pardon me, count. for the dclay-e delay which has been necessary In or. der Co acccoe to your German customS or, rather. that our American methods may harlnonize with them. Your treat meut of me | consider an Insult To Germany it Is the custom Co give satis' faction for insults Having no male rclatives to fight for me, it Is necessar, that | aghl for myself. You would hardly eNpct mo, count, to fence with you without training Tho time passed since you made your request has been spent iu lcarnilg how to handle 6 sword"
 "Grcat heavens Marion, what ca, YOU mcanT
 "l will show you
 Dropping her cloak to thc ground, she stood before him in gymnasium attire Calling to the woman who had remain ed behind. maid came forward bring Ing two swords such as are used b German ducls.
 There. count" continued the giri throwing on the grass before him . paucr. 'iS your release and there handing him sword. "is something tS protect you against the ConseQucnceI of your asking wumau's love, ther turning it aside as undesirable"
 The count looked at the girl in ansss mcnt ''NI7rion~' he exclaimed.
 Take your weaPon"
 Never
 "Cowardr'
 A flush came to the mans ChecG.
 "I will go through the form" he Ss'd "and if I do not succeed in parryiDs your blows | shah be the victim will not harm you"
 With this he seized the sword.
 IL was not long before the count tVund that In order to parry the girl' tbruSts he must exercise all his skin Indeed his anguish at such a situation sapped his nerve. Twice be exposed bis heart. but neither time did his ad versary take advantage ot the opDor tunity. Both blades were flashing sil yer In the moonlight, tho girl endcavor Ing to prick the man. he aiming only so protect himself Finally, thinklng to touch his arm lightly with hcl point. she lungcd too far and, missing the arm, ran her sword into hi | breast
 Thank heaven" he exclaimed, low T .-l...- il. llnan sIthls hrsinnss Is nnn