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

Darlington smiled as he parried. He
had been in some doubt as to his ahil
ity to sustain Strathgate's attack. He
was no stranger to the field of honor,
but he had never faced a sword so inn
bued with venomous life as that that
sIivered along his blade this morning
Yet he imagined that Strathgate had
done his best. He had shot his bolt
He could do no better than he had
done. and there began to come into
Carrington's mind a sense of mastery.
Again he met Strathgate's furious at
tack. This time it seemed to Car
rington that the onslaught a less
rapid and less dangerous. Probably
this was a Misrepresentation and the
fact that Darlington parted the vi
cious thrusts more easily may have
been due to a growing sense Of famil-
iarity with strathgate's method.
Btu ~Strathgate was not yet spent.
There were certain dangerous thrusts
he knew of, dangerous in that they
exposed the one who used them to a
counter-attack, and dangerous from
their unexpectedness to one against
whom they were made; consequently,
Strathgate was usually doubtful about
employing them, but Darlington had
confined his attention simply to parry
ing, save the first thrust, and Strath-
gate, thinking rapidly, determined that
it would be safe to employ this un
usual stroke. After a marvellous
burst of speed in which he seemed to
have regained all his power. he sud
denly dropped almost upon one knee,
leaving his body uncovered, and thrust
terrihcally upward.
If Darlington had been returning
stroke for stroke, that moment had
been Strathgate's last. AS it was, the
parry vas rather slowly executed and
~Strathgate's point got fairly home in
C%arrington's side. It was not a thrust
through the body, nor was it a Craze,
1t was betwixt the two.
Strathgate sprang violently back
ward as Darlington made an inefec-
tive reply with his weapon.
The two faced each other once more.
stop, gentlemen" cried Blythedale
[ and Parkman in one moment, inter.
, vening between the two.
/ "Nevinson!" called out Parkman.
) TIE surgeon came bounding for
5 warl.
! t.s naught." cried Darlington
way them aside. Sect
j only a flesh wound" said Neyin
- son, examining it quickly.
r Back. gentlemen, you are giving
e Lord Strathgate a breathing space"
a a am of the opinion that enough
d has been DONE" began B~lythedale
e for honor"
Not while one of US lives" an
n swered Darlington.
y MY lord speaks for me-" crie'
Strathgate; away. g%entlemenl"
= And once more the two men fell O.
guard.
) Why Ellen had not tainted at tina
moment she could not tell. The worl
swan before her vision, but by an e
y fort she commanded herself. The ba
d tie was not over, and she must Sc
: it until the end. She had c%onfdenc
= yet. My lords wound was not a S,
" rious one and certainly now Strait
I gate had shot the bolt.
But no, Strathgate attacked as fur
ously as ever, but this time my lord
Il tactics were different AS if the sigh
= of his own blood had maddened hin
he vas not content to parry, but h
himself assumed the offensive. Lik
diamonds the points of the blade
sparkled in circles of light. The rim
Of steel on steel and the grating as on
= blade fell upon another blade was col
. t%inuous. 1t was be~wildering to Ellen, b.
~ wildering to everyone except the tw
- men. Blythedale and Parkham stoo
staring as if their eyes would /
- strained from their heads. The
~ breaths came shorter and shorte
a Even the cool, phlegmatic doctor can
= forward and stood gazing. Ellen an
= Deborah had long since passed Il
stage of expression They lay scare
-. ly breathing, their eyes following
81 they could every movement Of Il
~ straining men, Of the flashing swor
There was no advantage for eth,
of the combatants yet, save tn
e thrust of strathgate's, that is, no on
ward advantage; but Strathgate WI
beginning to pay the penalty Of h
life and of his desperate %endeavors
n the commencement Of the attack. H
~ breath came shorter, the sweat stoC
~ thick upon his brow. Darlington gre
cooler after the first flush Of passiC
90 consequent upon his slight wound. II
% strength grew greater. He press,
~ Strathgate harder. But the earl W
not yet done. Nerving himself, SUI
~ moning all his resolution to his al
in a series Of brilliant ~onslaughts
ii. sought to bring to a sudden end an
u fair for which, if it should be mu,
n. more prolonged, he knew his streng
an would be unequal.
til But Darlington met him with
wrist Of steel and a blade quicker tn.
70 the light itself. How it was dor
AZ no one could see, but after a series
ks rapid thrusts and Homogeneous, I
10 spectators saw strathgate sudden