The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1908-06-11
Her Champion.
[Original.]

[Original.l
Miss Wedgewood, an American girl
travelling abroad, found it necessary to
Journey from London to Paris attend
ed only by her maid. On reaching
Calais she was ushered into compart-
ment already occupied by two English
men who, from the dress and the airs
they put on, might be London swells.
Before the train started third man
entered. took a seat at the farther end
of the compartment from Miss Wedge
wood, opposite the swells, and. taking
periodicals and newspapers from his
pocket, began to read He did not even
glance at Miss Wedgewood. who APP
preciated his not doing so inasmuch
as the swells stared at her continually
No sooner had the train started than
they began to discuss her in Indifferent
Spanish. Miss Wedgewood spoke
French, German, Spanish and Ital-
ian. This is what they said, translated
into London English:
"She's vewy pwetty," said one.
"H'm-awdinawy-s Amewican. i
saw Cleveland on her twunk That's
somewhere in Anewica. l believe.
They haven't the generations of re-
fnement over there to make beauty"
"Look at the way she does her hair. y
'And the hat It's last seasons
make. l fawncy she's rich, but new to
fashion"
Miss Wedgewood noted a lowering
90 the brow Of the gentleman sitting
opposite her critics, indicating that he
not only understood Spanish, but that
| a newspaper before him so that the
men opposite could not see his face
though it was visible to Miss Wedge
wood, occupying different position
He glanced aside as though desiring
to satisfy himself of the justice Of
their structures, but Miss Wedgewood
fortunately, she considered it, was a
the time just turning her eyes from
his side of the coach to her own, as
Stunning an imperturbable countenance
apparently unconscious of what wa
going on.
lhC 6ShliSihd't NV w %
reading lowered his paper and ad
dressed the critics in Spanish.
Gentlemen, am surprised tina
Englishmen, whom judge by appear
ances to belong to the upper classes
should criticise lady"
One of the men addressed apologizeC
stating that they had supposed no on
in the compartment understood then
The other seemed inclined to resen
the strangers interference.
81 wish you to understand, Sir" b
, said. that bit Of private converse
7 ton between two gentlemen is not
matter for remark by a third person
You are very impudent to object,
would have you know, sir"
ceeH e make ca cad 6 Of tS Yourself Irsa on
r don't 60 so far as to force me to tai
n the lady under my protection Ar
|. he resumed his reading.
: The man who had last spoken r
. suned his remarks about Miss Wedg
!. wood, making them far broader an
bolder than before. Miss Wedg
: woods champion again laid down b
| paper and said:
d THE presence of the lady renders q
! insult fmpracticable Will you kind
}. consider yourself insulted" And, fir
glanctng at Miss Wedgewood to 81
> that she was not observant, he tosse
e his glove at the man; then, drawing
: card from his pocket, handed it to hi1
| pSforo OF ~ IL
). him one of his own cards.
J. Count Lichtenstein!" exclaimed IL
It Englishman
- "And. you, l perceive, are Lord Ba
- terton. l will be ready to receive al
+ friend your lordship may send at II
q Grand hotel within two hours aft
= our arrival in Paris"
n 81 know you by reputation-the rep
Re tation you made at your universe
with the small sword-but as the CHI;
a lenged party I prefer pistols. W
teach you Germans, whose counts q
as plentiful as tram drivers in Londo
that you can't have your own W;
with British nobleman"
4 "Any weapon you prefer, Lord B,
s, terton." And the count resumed /
y reading as though nothing of cons
- quence had happened. Batterton
> structed his companion, Mr.. Oldt
70 shaw, to act for him, and the cou
IF agreed to meeting at a spot ne
o. Versailles at o'clock on the morni
Or after their arrival in Paris. Old,
" shaw was to visit the counts frier
Or Edward Wedgewood, an American, a
~ with him arrange the minor details.
The most astonishing part of Il
a, singular affair, every word Of viii
rs Miss Wedgewood understood, was til
10 her defenders second was to be b
n, own brother. When the preliminar!
to were all settled she turned to the p,
y. ties il question.
3 Gentlemen" she said in excelle
"a Spanish. there is no occasion for tt
quarrel. If needed to be champion,