The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-01-21

Her Champion.
..,s.ss.3 .*44@**&#***@@s

Miss Wedgewo0d. an American girl
travelling abroad, found It necessary to
tourney from London to Paris attend.
cd 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 sweIls.
Before the train started third man
! entered. took 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 10 discuss her IN Indifferent
Spanish. Miss Wedgewood spoke
French German, Spanish and Ital-
Ian This is what they said. translated
Into London English.
shes vewy pwetty," said one.
"II'm--awdinawy- she's Amewican. |
saw Cleveland on her twunk That's
somewhere in Amewica. / believe.
They haven't the generations OF re-
finement over there to make beauty"
Look at the way she does her hair"
"And the hat. It's last seasons
make fawncy she's rich, but new to
fashion,
Miss Wedgewood noted lowering
on the brow Of The gentleman sitting
opposite her critics. indicating that he
not only understood Spanish. but that
their criticisms annoyed him. He held
newspaper before him so that the
men opposite could not see his face.
though It was visible 10 Miss Wedge
wood, occupying a 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 at
the time just turning her eyes from
bis side Of the coach to her own, as
sumlng an imperturbabie eountenance.
apparently unconscious OF what was
going on
Suddenly the gentleman who was
reading lowered his paper and adj
dressed the critics in Spanish
Gentlemen. am surprised that
Eng shmen. whom Judge By appear
ences to belong to the upper classes,
should criticise i lady"
One Of the men addressed apologized.
stating that they had supposed no one
In the compartment understood them.
The other seemed Inclined to resent
the strangers interference.
4 wish sou to understand, sir" be
said. that d bit OF private conyersa-
ton between two gentlemen is not
matter for remark BY third person
You are very impudent 10 object !
would have you know. sir
Very we'll. sir said the other ''pro-
coed TO make cad Of yourself. only
don't 50 50 far as 70 force me to take
the lady under my protection" And
he resumed his reading
The man who had last spoken re
sumed his remarks about Miss Wedge
wood. making them far broader and
bolder than before Miss Wedge
woods champion again laid down his
paper and said
''The presence OF the lady renders an
Insult impracticahle. Will you kindly
consider yourself insulted And. first
glancing at Miss Wedgewood to see
that She WINS not observant, he tossed
bis glove at the man; then. drawing a
card from Bis pocket handed it to him.
Before looking 1t 1t the man banded
him one Of bis own cards.
"Count Llchtensteln! exclaimed the
Englishman
and you. | perceive. are Lord Bat
terton Wi Re ready to receive any
friend your Iordship may send at the
Grand hotel Within two hours after
our arrival ia Paris.
II know vou hy reputation the Fepa-
tation you made at your university
with the small sword--but as the chal
lenged party | prefer pistols. ! win
teach You Germans. whose counts are
as plentiful as tram drivers In London,
that you can't have your own way
with a British nobleman-"
ANY weapon YOU prefer Lord Bat
terton" And the count resumed his
reading as though nothing of conge-
ouence had happened Batterton IN
structed his companion, Mr. Older
shaw, To Get for him, and the count
agreed to a meeting at a spot near
Versailles at 6 O'Clock on the morning
after their arrival In Parts. Older |
shaw was to visit the counts friend,
Edward Wedgewood, an American. and |
with him arrange the minor details.
The most astonishing part of this
singular affair, every word Of which |
Miss Wedgewood understood. was that |
her defenders second was to be her |
own brother When the preliminaries
were all settled she turned to the par
ties IN question
Gentlemen" she said IN excellent |
Spanish. "there ii no occasion for this F
quarrel If needed TO be championed, I
my brother. Mr.. Wodgewood, would I
be the person to see ME righted. Count +
now think Of it. have
beard my brother speak Of you as a /
fellow student at Cottingen and Of /
your exploits IN fencing and marks
cannot permit you to shoot
1t any one on my account Gentle +
men. please consider this affair set
lied on pain Of being called to account
BY the Partisan authorities
II a bomb had exploded in the car
riage it could net have produced more
surprise and CONSERVATION than this