The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-10-10
e come" said Denis O.har


sfrom me friend Captain Spoicer.
net him whole ago, fiuttering down
Gay street, Ieaping like a hare with
he hounds after him, by st. -Patrick.
You're running away from some one.
Spoicer,' says 1. And says he, I'm
running away from that Dlithering
mailman Sir Jasper Standish' Excuse
ne. Sir Jasper, those were his words,
re see"
.And what, sir" interrupted Sir Jas
per in an ominous voice-"what, sir,
may ask. was your purpose in walk
ing this way tonightT'
En- cried the Irishman. what is
that ye say?"
"Oh, go on, O'Hara," cried Stafford
impatiently, and under his breath to
standish, Faith, Jasper" said he,
keep your manners or I'll wash my
lands of The whole matter"
"Oh. is that the way with hime'
said O'Hara, behind his hand to Stat
ford, and winked jovially. well,
was saying, gentlemen, that to see q
man run, unless it be Frenchman,
8 thing that goes against me- why,
what did he do to you? said (mean-
ing you, Sir Jasper. Oh says me
gallant captain, L went to him with
gentlemanly message from friend,
and the fellow irsulted me SO grossly
with remarks about my hair that sure
says he, its only fit for Bedlam he
is Insulted you,' says 1, and where
are We running to? To look for a
friend, / hope says 1. Insults are
awful things Sure says he, he is
mad says he. We'll, what matter of
thatY says 1. Sure. isn't it all mad
we are, more or less? Come says 1,
'Spocier, this will look bad for you with
the ladies, not to speak of the men,
Give me the message, me boy, and 1
will take it; and sure we will let Sir
Jasper bring his keepers with him to
the field, and no one can say fairer
than that"
Sir Jasper sprang to his feet.
"Now, curse your Irish insolence,"
he roared; this is more than l would
stand from any man! And if / mis-
take not, Mr.. O'Hara, we have other
scores to settle besides"
rs it WEI" cried O'Hara, jumping
up likewise. "'Tis the first I've heard
of them-but, be jabbers, you will
never find me behindhand in putting
me foot to the front, L will settle
as many scores as you like, Sir Jasper
so long as it is me sword and not
me purse that pays them"
Draw then, man, drawn snarled Sir
Jasper, dancing in his fury. He barred
his silver hilted sword and threw the
scabbard in corner.
Heaven defend usv' cried Stafford,
in vain endeavoring to come between
the two.
"Sure, you must not contradict him."
cried O'Hara, unbuckling his belt
rapidly and drawing likewise with
pretty flourish Of shining blade. "'Tis
the worst way In the world to deal
with a cracked man. Sure. We must
soothe him and give in to him. Don't
/ know? Is not me own first cousin a
real raw lunatic in Kinsale asylum this
blessed day? Come on, Sir Jasper, I'm
yer man. Just pull the chairs out of
the way, Tom, me dear boy
'Now, sir! Now, sir" said Sir Jasper
and felt restored to himself again as
steel clinked against steel. And he
gripped the ground with his feet and
knew the joy Of action.
We'll, what must be, must be-" said
stafford philosophically, and sat across
a chair. And good fight is good
fight all the world over. Ha, that was
a lunge! O'Hara yields pretty blade.
but there is danger in Jasper's eye.
vow l won't have the Irish boy killed.
Ha" He sprang to his feet again and
brandished the chair, ready to inter
pose between the two at the critical
moment
O'Hara was as buoyant as cork
He skipped backward and forward
from one side to another in sheer en-.
joyment of the contest. But Sir Jasper
hardly moved from his first position
except for one or two vicious lunges.
Stafford had deemed to see danger in
his eye. There was more than danger
there was murder! The injured hus-
band was determined to slay, and
bided his time for the fatal thrust the
while O'Hara attacked out of sheer
Iightness of heart. Now his blade
grazed Sir Jaspers thigh. Once he
gave him a Ticking prick on the wrist
so that the blood ran down his fingers.
''Stop, Stop cried Stafford, running
in with his chair. ''Sir Jasper's hitr
mo, dash your" cried Sir Jasper. And
click, clank. click, it went again with |
the pant of the shortening breath and
the thud of the leaping feet. Sir Jasper |
lunged third time. O'Hara waved his |
sword aimlessly, fell on ore knee and |
rolled over.
HALT yelled Stafford. 1t was too !
late. Sir Jasper stood staring at his |
red blade.
You have killed him. cried Stat |
ford, turning furiously on his friend. |
and was down on his knees and had |
caught the wounded man in his arms /
the next second.
Devil Bit said O'Hara, and wrig-
gled in the others grasp too vigorously |
indeed for a moribund. found his feet |
IN jifTy and stood laughing with a |
white face and looking down at his |
dripping shirt. "'Tis but the sudden |
cold feel of the steel, man, Sure I'm all /
right. and ready to begin again. IT'S |
but a rip in the ribs, for can breathe |
as right as ever" He pulled noisily as /
he spoke to prove his words, slapped |