Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-07-30

The Major drew off his gloves and
carefully laid them down with his hat.
Then he removed his coat, folded 1t
neatly, and picked up one Of the wea-
pons. The Carpetbagger carelessly
threw aside his hat and coat and be-
Fsan~ -roil-up hts esfrfrt-sfeeves.9 ves9r'-------
This is a bad way, Major, to sprin-
kle the lawn" he remarked, grimly,
as he seized the remaining saber.
II haven't come here, sir, to talk"
said the Major.
"Well, 1 have" responded the Gov
ernor, the point of his weapon rest
ing upon the greensward. II want
to tell you something. I didn't seek
this thing. You have forced 1t on me.
If you insist on going ahead with it
now, I'm going to kill you"
The Major smiled.
And I'm going to kill you," con-
tinued the Carpetbagger. mot because
1 want to, but because I've got to-"
The Majors saber cut glistening
circle in the moonlight as he gave a
military salute with it. Take your
position, sir" he said. A moment la
ter there was a sharp flash Of fire as
the two weapons met in midair with
clang that re-echoed through the
little grove. The two men were not
equally matched. In point Of physi-
cal strength Major Reynols outclassed
his antagonist, although the later had
more agility and greater nervous
force. No time was lost in petty pre-
liminaries. The Mayor went at his
work as If he were in hurry to get
through a disagreeable task, and the
Governors saber seemed as eager as
his own. Though the Carpetbagger
repeatedly broke ground and gave
way before the superior strength Of
his adversary, his stiffness made him
a dangerous antagonist and the Ma
jor frequently fought upon the de-
fensve. Not a word was spoken and
no sound broke the stiffness of the
hour save the swish Of the circling
blades and the clang Of opposing
steel. Suddenly a woman's startled cry
rang out, there was a rustic of silken
skirts among the magnolias and Mrs.
Fairburn ran toward the duelists.
Straight between them she rushed,
her white hands upraised as If to part
the angry weapons. The two men
recoiled instinctively; she seemed to
throw them apart as a strong man
might separate two street urchins en-
gagged at fisticuffs.
"Gentlemen!" she cried. 1t was
both command and an entreaty.
Put up your swords!"
| Neither man moved.
| You may be enemies of each
other You are both friends of mine.
Put up your swords"
There was no answer save the soft
soughing of the wind among the trees.
Were not four years Of this
enough?" she continued. us this
soil still thirsty for blood? Have you
ernor, you are a man of sober judg-
ment. l am sure that you did not
seek this of your own accord; 1 am
certain that an appeal to your reason
will lead you out of it. Put up your
sword
The Carpetbagger glanced at his
antagon ST. but he saw in those cold
gray eyes nothing but implacable ha-
tired.
Major" pleaded the woman be-
tween them, you may regard this
man as a political enemy; but If you
had seen what l saw tonight. you
would esteem him as your personal
friend. AS soon as he learned of the
lindignity that had been put upon your
father and your old mother, he order
I er their release, and, even against
your fathers protest, sent them home
in his own carriage, and ordered
them to be set down at their own
door. This was not the scheme Of a
political enemy, Major, but the act of
an honorable, compassionate man.
The Southerner's grasp relaxed.