Evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1907-1913, 1908-03-18
CONTINUED from yesterday
CHAPTER XVIII.
The Witnesses In the CoppIce.

morning. fMkman nau procured a
carriage, and, as the meeting had been
arranged for seven o'clock, the two
drove out to Blythedale hail. whittier
Strathgate had preceded them the
night before. The way lay along the
strand, and Darlington was not too
preoccupied to notice that the Niobe
was gone and the Britannia had re-
turned. His wife was probably on that
ship. He looked long and earnestly
toward It. IL he had consulted his
inciinations he would have repaired
aboard of it at once and asked for
giveness for all his folly and injustice
toward her, but the conventions of
life-spelled in this instance by
honor-constrained him
He gave thought too, to the frig-
ate which had departed without him,
For the first time in his life he had
failed in his duty. Kephard was
kind old man, and well-affected toward
Darlington. who had been a midship-
man under him, but with the admiral
duty was always first and he knew
that there would be no condoning his
offense. He expected an order of ar
rest before the day was out. There
after he would come before a court
martial
To what sorry pass he had
brought his fortunes by his own I'M
mistakable folly, In the bright light
Of the fresh, brisk morning, he saw
Ellen in her right relation to affairs,
woman, brave, strong, noble. true.
What II she did not shine amid the
dollhouse conventionalities of the fast
and vapid life OF the crew whom he
had gathered at Darlington. In
stead of being ashamed of her he
should have rejoiced from the bottom
OF his soul that she was so frank and
fresh and free. What splendid wom-
an she was. Whatever she did, how
well it was done No veteran Of a
thousand exciting nights over the gam
ing table could have played with more
ccolness and daring than she did in
that famous duel at cards with Strath-
gate. And, although the minuet was
outside OF her accomplishments, how
swiftly had twinkled her flying feet
when she danced the sailors horn
pipe. II carried him back to slant
ing decks and fresh breezes and
bright skies. Would they ever re-
turn? Would he himself return iin-
scathed from this adventure? 1t was
by no means certain, for Strathgate
was man of proven courage; he had
demonstrated that. and his reputation
as sword player was deseryedly
high.
His thoughts plunged him into a
gloomy melancholy which Parkman, at
length perceIying. did his best to dis
pei by gentle railIery and pleasant
conversation. Darlington pulled him
self together, realizing that II he gave
way to his depression he would be in
no condition to meet Strathgate.
These gentle thoughts of his wife
did not in any way abate his enmity
toward the man whom he felt had so
wronged and insulted him He was
as determined as ever that the ap.
preaching duel should be no slight af-
fair, but that IL he could he would
kill Strathgate, and eliminate his pos
sibilities Of evil forever from this
world.
And Strathgate had exactly the
same thought for Darlington. BY a
curious mode { reasoning Strathgata
chose to visit upon Darlington his
own Ill success with Lady Ellen. He
came to the conclusion that If Car
rington had not interfered, all would
have gone well with his love affair.
or course, in a measure Darlington
was responsible for Strathgates lack
OF success with Lady Ellen, for Ellen
deyotedly and passionately loved her
husband; loved him still; loved him
perhaps never more than when with
Jealous anguish she saw him In Lady
Cecily's arms. But ii Darlington had
never crossed Ellcn's course. Strath-
gate was not the kind Of man that
would have appealed to her Ellen
WAS too true, 100 simple, too direct in
her thoughts Of life 10 tolerate long the
ahectations, the sentimentalities and
Impurities OF a man like Strathgate.
So soon as her eyes were opened, she
would have abominated him; and her
eyes, unfortunately for Strathgate, had
been opened the minute he turned to
the west when she would have east
ward gone, But, Of course, Strathgate
did not know this; that saving conceit
which keeps some men from despair
was his, and he blamed all his misfor-
tunes upon Darlington
He, too. was early abroad, and
when the carriage drove through the
park gates and was directed by one
Of Lord Blythedale's men to shaded
coppice by little brook half mile
from the gate, Strathgate and Lord
RlythedaIe with surgeon. one from
the fleet named Neyinson. who was
known slightly to both men, were al
ready waiting on the ground.
Lord Blythedale was man who
had gone the pace since he succeeded
to the title and fortune. The FOR
tlae Was not commensurate with the
title apa his seat and the park