The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1905-04-07
CHAPTER !.
IN WHICH I wHET MY FATHERS
SWORD

Twas a dayfall to be marked with a
white stone even in our Carolina cal
endar. The sun, reaching down TO the
mountain grit horizon in the west, nllea
all the upper ar WIN the sios ' W 80
departing, and the higher leaf plumes
of the great maples before my caolh
door wrought lustrous patterns IN glid-
ed green upon zenith background ol
turquoise shot with crimson, IKE the
figurings of some rich old tapestries
had once seen in my Held nlafShai >
castle in the Mark of MoraNia.
Beyond the naples a brook tlnk!ed
and FLASHED over the stones on its way !
to the nearby Catawba; and its peace
full brawling, and the eNensong OF
pair of clear throated warblers poised
on the topmost twigs OF one OF me
trees, should have been sweet music IN
the ears of returned exile But on
that matchless brides month evening
of dainty sunset ara besQues and brook
and bird songs, | was in little humor
for rejoicing.
The road made for the river lower
down and followed It's winnings up the
valley: but Jennifer came by the IN
dian trace through the forest. can
see him now as he rode beneath the
naples. bending to the saddle norm
where the branches hung lowest;
pretty figure of handsome young pro
vincial, clad in fashions three years be-
hind those | had seen in London the
winter last past. He rode gentleman
wise, in small clothes of rough gray
wooden and with stout leggings over MS
hose; but he wore his cooked hat atllt
like a troopers and the sword on his
thigh was good service blade and no
mere hlt and scabbard for show such
as our courtier macaron!s We're just
then beginning to affect.
Now ! had known this handsome
VIZ Star lkr11n IA q
lad: had taught him how to bend the
Indian bow and loose the reed shaft
arrow in those happier days before tie
tyrant Governor Tryon turned hang
man, and the battle of the Great Al
nanac had left me fatherless More
over I had drunk a cup of wine with
him at the Mecklenhurg Arms no long
err than yesterweek-this to a renewal
of our early friendship. Hence, l must
needs be somewhat taken aback when
he drew rein at my doorstone, doned
his hat with a sweeping bow worthy
courtier of the great Louis, and said,
after the best manner of Sir Charles
Grandson:
II have the honor of addressing Cap
tain John Ireton. sometimes of his
majesty's Royal Scots Blues. and late
of her apostolic majesty's Twenty
ninth regiment of Hussars?"
| 1t was but an cuphusm of the time,
his GRAND had to do with the prelim-
inaries of private quarrel between
: gentlemen. Yet l could scarce re-
strain a smile. For these upcropptngs
l of courtier etiquette with the free
i stride of our western backwoods None
e the less, you are to suppose that | made
: shift to match his bow In some fashion,
e and to say: "At your service. sir
n Whereupcn he bowed again, claDped
r han. to head and rendered me sealed
t packet.
a From Sir Frances Falconnet, Knigh;
e Bachelor CT Eeaumaris, volunteer cap
t tain In his maiesty's German Legion,
n he announced with stern dignity.
t Having no second to refer him to.
: broke the seal o. the cartel myself
e Since 1nv enemy had seen At to come
J. thus far on the way to his end In some
n gentlemanly manner, 1t was not 70
II me to find difficulties in the formalities
l. In good truth, l was overjoyed to b.
IS thus assured that he would fight m
d fair; that he would not compel me t
Is kill him as one kills a wild beast a
I. bay. For certainly should have kille
III him in any event: so much had prom
~ Used my poor Dick Coverdale on tina
We dismal November morning when he ha
ed choked out his life In my arms, the vic
IL tim first of this mans treachery. ant
n at the last. of his sword. So. as l sa.
A. / was nothing loath, and yet l woul
ne not seem too eager
re- Il might say that 1 have no unsette
MS quarrel with Captain Falconnet." l de
VI INJURED, when I had read the challeng
ne He spoke slightingly of lady, and
"a, did but"
=, Your answer, Captain lretonl
J" quoth my youngster, CURLY. Il am nj
empowered to give or take in the ma
ter of accommodations.
Not so fast, If you please" l r.
joined. II have no wish to disappoil
your principal or his master. the dew
In Let it be tomorrow morning at sunri
nv in the oak grove which was once n
-. fathers wood field. each man with h
own blade. And l give you fair war;
full ing, Master Jennifer; l shall kill 20,
ng bullyragging captain Of lighthouse
IN, / would vermin of any other breed
~ At this Jennifer flung himself fro
his saddle with a great laugh
ON IF you can" he qualified. 'B
! q enough Of these by your leave, sir
am near famished, and as dry
asst King David's bottle in the smoke. w
you give me bite and sup before
OTIS mount and ride again? IT'S a lol
~ gallop back to town on an empty sto1
ach. and with gullet as dry as N
, Gilbert Stairs wit
,as Here was my fresh-hearted Di
am Jennifer back again all in breat
and I made haste to shout for Dari,
onl and for Tomas to take his horse. al
ON otherwise to bestir myself to do t
honors Of my poor forest fastness
"a well as might.
nv Luckily, my haphaZard larder w
NE not quite empty, and there were pre-
lid emily bit of cold deer's meat anu sol
or. cakes Of maize bread baked in t
:, ashes to sat before the guest. Al
ik. there was a cup of sweet wine, hon
nd blessed from the berries of the Indi
rae scuppernong, to wash them down. A
afterward, though the evening was
ini more than mountain breeze cool,
1t had handful OF fire on the hearth
ed. the cheer of it while we smoked {
hv reed stemmed pipes.
It was over the pipes that Jenni
oW unburdend himself Of the gossip OF
ult day In Queensborough.
uot Have you heard the newest2 Blu
know you haven't, since the post-rid
ne came only this morning. The war
ON shifted from the north in good earn
my at last. and we are like to have to t.
has of the harryings the Jerseymen n
80 had since 49,. My Lord Cornwalils
come as far as Camden, they say;
my Colonel Tarleton has crossed the
old tawba.
~. $50? Then Mr.. Rutherford is lik'
no have his work cut out for him, /
,uld it,
fee Jennifer eyed me curiously. g
90. Rutherford is stout Indian figh
oss no West Carolinian will gainsay t
But he is never the man to ms
CORVALLIS Wen have help from