Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-11-29
Her Champion.
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I lpilf.is1.!
Miss Wcdgcwood an American girl
travelling abroad. found II necessary TO
Journey from London 10 Paris attend.
ell only by Der maid. On reaching
Calais slin was ushcrcd into compart-
mcnt already occupied by two English
men who, from the dress and the airs
Rl~y put on, might he London swells.
before the train started third man
cntcred. took Il seat Mt the farther end
Of the compartment from Miss Wedge.
wood, opposite the swells. and. taking
periodicals and newspapers from his
pocket began to rehd. He did not even
glance Mt Miss Wedgewood, who ap-
prrcIated his not doing so ihasmuch
MS The swells stared ut her continually.
No sooner had tho train started than
the5' began to discuss her in Indifferent
Spanish. Miss wedgewood spoke
Fcench. German, Spanish and Ital-
Inn. This. IL whit they said, translated
lpto london English:
shes yewy pwatty." snid one.
wy.-she's Amewican.
Somewhere IN Amewica, / believe.
Ih2y haven't the generations OF re-
iiheInent over there to make beauty"
Took At the way she does her hair"
.,iAnd tho Int It's Inst seasons
make. I.fhwncy she's rich, but new to
fashion,
Miss Wedgewood noted lowering
onSthe brow of the gentleman sitting
Opli6sitc her criiicr indicating that lie
mi nx,ttl,, S.nhs,,t,1,t t.,,,
their CRITICISMS annoyed him. lie held
a .iewspapcr before him SO that the
men opposite could, not SEQ his face,
though II was Visible 10 Miss Wedge
wood, occupying a different position.
lie glanced aside as thought desiring
IN 20 tIsfy himself, OF the Justice OF
tlieir Structures. bu; >liss wedgewood.
Fortunately, she .cri,sidercl ii, was at
tho stlnic just turning her eyes from
lib side OF The coach 10 her own, MS.
Bnihlng an iinpcriiirbable countcnancc.
apparently unconscious OF what was
going on.
Suddenly tho gentlcmnn who was
reading lowered his paper aud I'D
dressed the, critics In, Spanish.
'"Gentlcmrn. aim surprised that
Englisliin0n. whom Judge by appear
anecs 10 be,ong TO the upper classes,
should criilcise n lady"
One OF the uicn addressed apologizod,
stating. that they had supposed no ono
in The compartment. understood them.
The other seemed Inclined TO resent
the strangers Interference.
II, wish you To under ,tnnd, air. he
said. "that II Mt Of private couycrsn.
tion between two gentlemen is not
matter for rcmarl, by third person.
You are very impi,lcnt 30 object, I
would have you know. Sir"
Very well, sir.'' Hnil The other, ,,pro.
cced to make cad of yourself. only
don't 90 SO far rs TO force me TO take
the lady under my protection" And
he, resumed his reading
The man who had last spoken re
sumcd his remarks about Miss Wedge
wood. making them far broader and
boldcr than before. Miss Wedge
woods champion again laid down his
paper and said:
"The presence OF The Indy renders an
insult impracticablc. Will you kindly
consider yourself insultcd." And. first
glancing ut Miss Wedgewood to see
that, she was not observnnt. The tossed
his glove at the man; then. drawing Il
card from his pocket. handed 1t TO him.
Before looking Mt IL The man handed
him one OF his own cards.
Count. I.ichtenstcin!" exclaimed the
Englisliman.
And yon.. perceive. are Lord Bat
terton. viii be ready to receive any
friend your lordHh!p nlny send at the
Grand hotel within two hours after
our arrival iu Paris
II know Son by .reputation-th the repu-
tatlon you made at your university
with the smal sword-but as the chal.
lenged party l. prefer pistols. Will
teach you Germans. whose counts are
as plentiful MS tram drivers IN London.
that you can't have your own wny
with a British .nobleman.r
ANY weapon yon prefer. Lord Bat
terton." And the count resumed hia
reading as though, nothing OF consc-
qnencc had happened. Batterton In
!structc'l Ills companion, Mr.. Older
shaw, 10 ret for him, and tho count
agreed to meeting at n spot near
Versailles nj . O'clock on tho morning
after their arrival ia Paris. Older
shaw was to visit the counts friend,
Edward Wedgewooi. an4Amcrican, and
with him arrange the minor details.
The most astonishing part Of this
slushlar affair, every word OF which,
Miss Wedgewood understood. was TINT
Der defenders second VIA TO be hcr
own brother. Wheu the preliminarics
were all scttlch<shc turiisd. TO the par
lies IN question. ~
Gehtlemen.' slie said in excellent
spanish, there "a no occasion for. this