Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1908-07-10

Il didn't mean 1t that way, my
lord" said the doctor, gravely.
But | do" asserted Strathgate,
turning away.
Every word Of the conversation had
been heard by Ellen and Deborah. The
whole situation was now clear to
them both. This was to be a duel.
Darlington and Strathgate 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 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 denounee Strath.
gate, but a second thought assured her
Of the folly Of that purpose. Those
men were bent on fighting. They
would only fight the harder and more
fiercely 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 thicket 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 fash Of intuition, that her
appearance at that juncture would
probably greatly agitate her husband,
and that his chance for life would be
worse in that he would be less cool
than Strathgate. She had sense
enough to see that Strathgate would
welcome her arrival, and how easily
he could turn It to his own advantage
by claiming, IN spite Of any protest
she might make, that she was there
by her own conrivance 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.
It was Debbie who broke the silence
by approaching her ear and whisper
ing:
Lord Strathgate is going to fight q
duel with Lord Darlington. Let US go
out and stop it."
I'VE can't" answered Ellen. "'Tis
impossible"
Are you going to lie here and
watch them kill each other?" asked
Deborah, 30 whom the situation did
not present itself az 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 fight, and II
we came out now, It would appear az
II we had been with Lord Strathgate.
It would unsettls Bernard So"
: Obi" 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 we can do
! Debbie," whispered Ellen.
What's that"
1--WE can pray that no harm will
come to my lord"
Her under lip Irembled piteously as
she buried her face in her hands. II
was strange prayer-what strange
prayers We make in hours of distress!
an appeal to God that one of the two
pen about to battle for life might be
spared. There was no thought of the
necessary inference from the prayer
and in Ellen's distracted mind she
did not even think to pray that the
duel itself might be stopped. She
poured out her whole soul in an
guished petition that Darlington
whom she loved, might come to nc
hurt, and in that petition with less
fervency, but with true Puritan zeal
Debbie unhesitatingly joined. What
| would Elder Brewster say, she
thought, II he could see her now pray
ing for one duelist, when both, in &C
cordance with her iron creed, would
be equally guilty?'
The course Of the prayers was
broken by Blythedale's voice.
Here they GOMEZ" he cried, note
Of relief and pleasure in his speech
"Yonder."
| He pointed to carriage slowly max
ing its way across the drive.
How will they know how to &c,
here?"
Il have stationed men who viii
fetch them"
"The carriage has stopped. Yes
here they are" o-.s-.-...
eNote-Think Elder. Brewster died
Q century before. this time. -