Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-03-01
DAILY. STORY
HER CHAM iON.

one evening III June. 1914, when the
army of King Charles l. of England
was marching to attack the parliament
riding along a country road heard the
5oices of women singing Puritan
srmn. AS he proceeded the sounds
grew nearer till at last reaching
country home, he saw a group of wo-
men on the porch at their devOtiOns.
Riding into the grounds. he threw him
self from his horse and. mounting the
steps, asked for some supper. The wO-
men there were no men present: they
were all with CROMWELL paid no atten-
ton to the soldier till they had finished
their evening service, when a girl of
twenty invited him in and with her
own hands laid 4 supper for him.
The Cavalier was John Hinchelwood,
Il younger son of a nobleman, but
twenty years old. a born soldier. and
knew no law save that of the army.
While the girl was laying the supper
he was feasting his eyes upon her.
And we'll he might Unlike the pre-
I
brunette, tall, willowy of figure, with
large. lustrouS eyes. while her face had
the finely chiseled beauty of cameo.
! When the young soldier had finished
he arose from the table and said:
"Silver and gold l have none. but
such as | have | give unto YOU
Throwing his arms about her. he
held her in Il tight grip and kissed her
again and again. Then. leaving her,
the blood burning in her cheeks and
| her eyes flashing upon him in anger,
| he went out, mounted his horse and
rode away. 1t was not long before he
| heard a horse galloping behind him
and, turning, saw boy riding toward
| him.
"AIy sister," said the boy. sends this
word TO you: You are a coward to at
| tack a woman, and she expects that
You will return and give satisfaction
| to one whom she may select as her
| champion
Tell your sister," said the soldier,
that | am expecting a bigger fight
with the kings enemies. but when it
| is over if l come out alive, | will do
her bidding"
A few days later HinchelwoOd,
wounded and exhausted with his part
i'll the battle at MarSton moor. rode up
to the house of the girl he had insult
ed. He found her on the porch. AS
she looked upon him thus altered an
expression of pity came into her face,
and she said:
If you will apologize, sir. for Your
brutal conduct you may go unpun-
ished."
THAT / will when l have put a
sword hole through your champion
I'll crave your pardon on my Blended
knee"
I'm that case he will meet you. II
Is now O'Clock. At you will find my
defender at the bridge half Il mile up
the road. He will teach You how to
insult a weak woman"
Il shall he pleased to kill him that !
may step into his shoes as your de
fender. And after | have killed him
will champion you against all cOmers.'
The girl turned away. and Hinchel
wood left the house. When the clock
stood at he was waiting Mt the
bridge SO exhausted was he that he
; leaned against the rail for support
His wound had broken out and was
; bleeding afresh. Presently he saw 6
man coming on horseback. When he
drew near. Hinchelwood noticed that
he wore Il helmet with the visor down
: care you the ladys champion?" he
asked
Il am"
: Judging from your voice. You are
: but IL boy. Take off that old fashioned
headpiece and let me see your face
My father fought in this armor. ant
choose to do the same"
Suppose l refuse to fight an un
known enemy
"One who would insult woman
would likely take that ground
This was quite enough for Hinchel
wood. He drew his sword, his enemy
dismounted, and they took their posi-
| tons. Hinchelwood said:
Il conclude that you. being the la
= dy's champion. are in her favor. Be
Z ing ambitious TO be first in her favor
myself. | shall brook no rivals"
These are fine words, sir We shall
see whether you will make them good.
, HinchelwoOd made a thrust. which
was clumsily parted by his opponent
Indeed. from the first it was eviden
that he was no swordsman. He STOOD
continually on the defense and never
made thrust till Hinchelwood asket
him if he was going to let himself b,
killed like a lamb. Then the un
known's sword point struck Hinchel
,, wood in the cuirass. At that momen
HinchelwoOd saw the sky. the fields
his enemy. swim before him in circles