The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1908-06-06

IT it depends on me, doctor. you'll
have nothing to do but certify to a
Il didn't mean it that way, my
lord" said the doctor. gravely.
But l do asserted ~strathgate,
turning away.
Every word Of the conversation had
been heard by Ellen and Deborah. The
whole situation was 0 clear to
them both. This was to be a duel.
Darlington and S~trathgate were TO
meet. Strathgate's deadly purpose
was evident from his grim remark to
the surgeon. Ellen could not doubt
but that Darlington shared the same
ruthless feeling to the full. He was
coming to battle about her. Her
heart leaped at first at the thought
and then contracted like a lump of ice
at the possibility of disaster and
death which lay before the man she
loved.
Her first impulse was to rise, dash
into the clearing and denounce Strath-
gate, but a second thought assured her
of the folly Of that purpose. Those
men we're bent on fighting. They
would only fight the harder and more
iercely If she interfered. She would
simply be removed from the scene Of
action and the duel would go on,
The situation was an intolerable
one whichever way she turned, what.
ever she did. That she should lie
quiet in a thlcket and watch her hus-
band fight for his life was unbearable.
That she should burst out and inter
rupt them and then simply be removed
and the battle be waged the more
fiercely was also uncomfortable. Yet,
she would have chosen the latter
course had it not come across her
mind like a flash Of intuition, that her
appearance at that iuncture would
probably greatly agitate her husband,
and that his chance for life would be
worse in that he would be less cool
than S~trathgate. She had sense
enough to see that Strathgate would
welcome her arrival, and how easily
he could turn ii to his own advantage
by claiming, in spite of any protest
she might make, that she al there
by her own contriyance and at Strath-
gates request.
She dug her feet into the ground
and locked her teeth in anguish. The
sweat stood out on her brow. But
there was nothing to do but lie still
and keep watch.
1t was Debbie who broke the silence
by approaching her ear and whisper
ing:
Lord s~trathgate is going to fight a
duel with Lord Darlington. Let US go
out and stop it."
we can't" answered Ellen. IT'S
impossible"
@Are you going to lie here and
watch them kill each other?' asked
Deborah, to whom the situation did
not present itself as it did to Ellen.
There's nothing else l can do" re-
turned Ellen. Don't you see if they
were here, they would simply take us
away and continue the aght, and il
we came out now, it would appear as
If we had been with Lord ~Strathgate
It would unsettle Bernard So"
"Ohi" said Deborah, turning to look
closely at her wretched comrade.
What she saw moved her to in
slant pity. She drew closer to Ellen
and reached her arm around the
others neck.
my poor grill" she murmured
kissing her softly.
There's only one thing WI can do
Debbie," whispered Ellen.
/ whats that?'
I'VE can pray that no harm viii
come to my lord"
! Her under lip trembled ~piteously al
she buried her face in her hands. |
I was a strange prayer-what strange
prayers we make in hours of distress
, IAN appeal to God that one of the TIVE
men about to battle for life might b
: spared. There was no thought Of thu
! necessary inference from the prayer
, and in Ellen's distracted mind shI
! did not even think to pray that tn,
/ duel itself might be stopped. Shl
4 poured out her whole soul in an
guished petition that Darlington
q whom she loved, might come to n
hurt, and In that petition with les
|. feryency, but with true Puritan zeal
Debbie unhesitatingly Joined. Wha
would Elder Brewster say, sh
. thought, IL he could see her now pray
ing for one d%uelist, when both, in az
o cordance with her iron creed, woul
be equally guilty?'
The course Of the prayers wa
n broken by Bl~ythedale's voice.
. Here they comet" he cried, a not
OF relief and pleasure In his speech
Ie "Yonder'
X He polluted to a carriage slowly mai
!" ing its way across the drive.
How viii they know how TO IS
heregs
u q have stationed men who wi
81 fetch them
Is "The carriage has stopped, YeI
ID here they are
eNote-Think Elder Brewster die
hs i conturv before this time.l