The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-10-18

IenSlIc, e---. a. pos
lively unfit for u gentleman to spea.
to him..
Nov, my lord" said O'Hara, resum
ing his easy dignity.
But that her comedy should drift III
to tragedy was none OF Mistress kit
tvs intentions. Briskly stepping be
tween the laboriously pugnacious Yer
ney and the poor Irishman, whose eyi
(for all his present composure) shon,
with the lust OF the fray, she thus ad
dressed them collectively and in turn
Shame shame, gentlemen! l pro
test. Is it not enough that poor wo
mans heart should be set a-fiutterine
by overnuch love? Must it now &C
pitapat again for overmuch hate? My
Lord Verney, think of your mother
think of her of whose declining years
you are the sole prop and joy Re
call to mind those principles of higi
morality. of noble Christian duty
which that paragon of women so Sedu
lousy inculcated in YOU Her voice
quiyered on the faintest note of mock
cry. 'Oh. what would that worthy
lady's feelings be We're you to b.
brought home to her--a corpse? What
alb. what indeed, would your feeling.
be if by some accident''--here she sho
inEoluntarily what was almost the
suspicion of wink in the direction o.
O'Hara-"you had to answer for tbs
life of fellow creature before to
morrow's dawn? Why, you could nev
er open your Bible again without feel
ing in your bosom the throbbing heart
of a Cain.' She stopped to draw
breath
Mr.. Stafford, one delighted grin, slid
the whole length of the table on which
he sat with dangling legs to get a
fuller view of the saucy face. s'Incom-
parable Bellairs," he murmured to him.
self with keen appreciation. ard 80.
no, my noble friend" thought he as
he shot glance at the solemn Nerney
now do l know what has closed to
YOU forever the gates CT paradise
And yol, Mr.. O'uara," resumed
the lady. turning her eye. full of indie
Unable and enhancing subtleties, up
on the honest gentleman, would you
have me forgive you this nights work ::
Do not, then-do not force this impetus
Gus young man to an unnecessary
quarrel. Allow him to withdraw his
challenge Do that in atoncren., sir"
said she, with much severity Of accent
but her eye said sweetly enough do
that for me-" and gave further promise
Of unutterable reward
Madam" said O'Hara, glancine
away as if the sight of her beauty
were now more pain than pleasure to
him, "'tis for my Lord Verney &c
speak. / am entirely at his orders.
understand" and here, for all his chiv-
alrousness, he could not refrain him
from point OF satire-"I understand,
ma'am, that you have given him the
right to espouse your quarrels."
Most certainly said the crimson
Verney. who had been monstrously I'M
easy during his lady's sermon, not only
because every word of it hit some ten
der point of his abnorn1ally developed
conscience, but also because of an in
def1nable sensation that he was being
held up to ridicule, 'most certainly.
sir, it is as Mistress Bellairs' future
husband that l find it incumbent, that
/ find myself forced, reluctantly; no.
I mean Here he foundered and look
ed round for Spicer. who. however, was
Ostentatiously turning his back upon
the proceedings and gazing at the
moon. I'm fact" resumed the poor
youth, falling back on his own unguid-
ed wits, Il have no alternative but to
demand satisfaction for an outrage
against the future Lady verney."
Mercy on u.s. cried Mistress Kitty.
with a shrill. indignant little scream.
'Oh. fe, my lord. who would have
deemed you so bloodthirsty: Before
heaven" she cried piously. glancing at
the raftered ceiling, before heaven, 1t
would be the death of me were there
to be quarreling. strife. contention for
me. Who am IL she said.
with the most angelic humility. that
two such gallant gentlemen should
stake their lives for me? Rather
said she, will I give you back your
word, my lord. Indeed" this with a
noble air OF sacrifice. Il feel Providence
has but too clearly shown me my duty.
Hush, hush, yerney, bethink yourself
How could I ever face your mother
(were you indeed to survive the en-
counter) with the knowledge that had
exposed you to danger; that for me
you had loaded your soul with blood