Gilpin observer., 1905-02-09
"No why;." ans rered bIuntly. "1dle


mo why" ans wered bluntly. idle
! curiosity as yop will"
Curiosity" he echoed "A wom-
ans excuse. And what pray is that
doing in your pocket?"
He touched with his sword, which
he had been playing with since his
advent into the room, the heel of the
slipper sticking from where had
dropped it.
'My property, bought and paid for"
answered jeaiously.
Bought from a thieving maid" he
said, while he glanced scornfully at
her, who with her handkerchief to
her face seemed doubled up with fears
and tears. Since you value it so
highly, perhaps you'll not mind fight
ing for it?"
You see that am unarmed," re.
piled with a shrug.
That can be soon remedied," he
said.
He stepped to the wall and took a
rapier from the rack hanging there
He held it out hilt to hilt with the
one that he had, measuring them.
| bowed and accepted the sword
| could do no less.
Surely not here?" / made one
more protest.
'Oh, lud!" the maid cried.
Silence, you have brought it upon
yourself" he said to her. To me with
a bow, '"Tis as good a place as an
other!
| intended to lesson him quickly
and have done with the business,
which conferred no honor upon me-
Back and forth we swept. l would
not forget he was her brother!
| soon found that his slender wrists
were like steel, and that he was as
| agile as a cat. l was warm parrying
| his dexterous thrusts and sought an
| opportunity to end the affair with as
| little harm as ! could; but fighting
gets into the blood when you have a
bright point before you, and we both
| fought as though we loved it.
! had him against the wall-he was
almost tired out-his breath came in
| gasps. | looked into his face with
half laugh before giving him the
|
God, he had eyes like his sisters.
and the same daintily curved lips. 1t
put me of my guard for the briefest
| second. but it was enough. Being a
| youth of great quickness, he took ad-
| vantage of my momentary alteration.
| | received a thrust in the shoulder
He lowered his sword.
First blood" cried the maid au-
thoritatiyely. 1T is enough"
Honor was satisfied. The young
spark was smiling slightly, but his
| face was as white as the lace hand
| kerchief he drew back and forth over
the cleaning length of his rapier, red
dening ii.
AS the gentleman has paid twice
| for the shoe in both blood and money,
! | think. sir, it belongs to him." said
the maid persuasively.
The youth shrugged his shoulders
while he muttered something about
its being an old thing, and conse-
/ quenly of no account-a brothers $
view.
Il am afraid, sir. that you are moro
! seriously wounded than you think, ''
I ue Sdlu- dS it pOIlttu " tle udTh Spot
gradually enlarging on my shirt.
"A scratch: no MORE" | hastily said
Let me bind it up" begged the
maid.
Il pray you accept of the maids s
services" said the youth: you will
find her an adept at all such tasks"
He gave out Soft laugh.
Castle Drout will yet be your un.
doing. sir. I'm afraid he then OBJ.
served
Evidently the youth Lad heard of
the other scratch | had received from
the falcon. | replied rather roughly
as reached for my coat and put it
on:
1T is nothing. | assure you sir.
bow before your superior handling of
the rapier and-a pair OF blue eyes
eyes wonderfully like"
Like what. sir?" he snapped.
ke-like-nothing in the world
but another pair of blue eyes" | re.
piled. Il bid you good day. In Lon.
don | may again be so fortunate as
to meet you