The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-10-31
The Fad for Fenci1g.
By AUDREY NE WTON.

Copyright. a1p(S. by Joseph II. Bowleso
Dear stan: There's not IA word OF truth
in 1t. as I telegraphed you ana noI,
read the papers. il YOU could sne III, sna
headlines: .'Nvhat the New Woman .. = ~ uu
for Fencing Is Leading 70, ana me ,,r lew T.,
crs dragged into II, and my picture ~
fencing cot hes-oh, don't look AZ slist ~
papcr Until tell you!
TO begin with. why did YOU iehve me
Why did you leave me IN the care O
your dear little Chum r.
Early Tuesday morning nc SEM w. W..
from tho hospital with q note ASKING me
to go with him to sec sherlock tonnes.
we'll we went.
There's q lots OF high lights and lots
of inky darkness In that play hna ) ). -
a play where you want TO watch We .! sag ~
every minute; but. right In iron. ~ OF ,y as
the girl who! fenced with mo IN the tour-
nar,ent LIS t spring; the one VINO WIS so
angry with the fcnccrs FOR soillet e,.l
Crawford said about II foul thrust. Sllc
gone on the stage and Is to lead III u
she wore a black hat with three cnornl-
Gus pume., so that neither Herbert no!
i could see a all, and We couldh cna1's =.
our seats, and shclrefused TO take y OIL.
Finally Herbert wrote on tho margin
ar are we p going TO stand it7'' And ! wrote
back: II ! had pair OF scissors $
Well, Just then the lights were turned
down I In the house and on the stage.
and aIsfclt Herbert lay something heavy
and cold In my banda huge pair OF car
tilage scissors. that he bad In his pocket
when he left the hospital ] suppose.
Dare YOU. he. whispered.
Now comes the horrible part. Gtanley.
you know 7 never could take dare
didn't mean to cut of her feathers!
wouldn't do such thing. In only meant
to pretend lifted tho scissors-in the
dark, you know-and opened them close
TO the feathers and the deadly things
must have been razors. Before knew II
Stan. I'd have given my life to put
those feathers back But there they WERE
light and long and curling, In my hand.
Melody saw 1T i done Amy is,t PVT Y me ne5
been jostled but she did not feel that
the feathers were gone. Well. Herbert
was enchanted. md the play went on.
-oh. has Herbert written to you? He In
sists on treating 1t MI as joke
Finallvt the play cameto an end. Every
body rose to leave the theatre, and
very sorry.. | said, "but--bu cut these
off accidentally" and I handed her the
feathers before Herbert could stop me.
She just stared = moment and then
hear Herbert catch his breath. can
see her face the bewilderment changing
Into indlgna ton. the--oh. the everything
the. people all pouring past us, dropping
laughing and criticlsing the play.
Then Herbert put his oar in and started
to take all tho blame. but, she turned
squarclyi away from him and sad to me
shall pay dearly for this little joke. 1
demand an apology.
with all my heart.'I said. y feel
worse about this than. you 40,
speaking about the hat" she exclaimed.
II want you to make your fencer's friend
you remember wlom-retract what you
got him tosay against NY n fencing ,s, IN the
myself self up and sud: II had nothing
TO do with the judging. Miss IVilmot, but
that has nothing to do with this! n, for
to do anything to prove. It.
Miss Wilnlot did not lift her head. but
she raised her eyes so that they met
mine sqarey
again without the buttons on the
swords?''
.'liold on said Herbert: but put him
aside and said: whenever you choose. =
'"rhen come here to the theatre to-mor.
row morning at 10 80. l have a rehearsal
Mt II, and little practice beforehand
will do mo good. We shall have the stage
"Ths is all nonsense" Herbert inter-
rplel. !. MISS WhltesIde will do no such
| thing"
| herself" said angrlly. II will come
| at 1880 tomorrow morning, with tho
! greatest pleasure. r think can demons
strate that, party to your entire sails
| faction" +, ts
You understand" she said, smiling for
the first time, that am not given to
| little jokes. ] have n pair OF excellent
/ swords. but Il you prefer to select your your
| own
~ shall be quite satisfied, said; "but
| about the feathers? 2"
1.-THE gentleman with the SCISSORS may
! keep them as a souvenir" And she swept