Evening star., 1909-05-03

taken by feT and delayed for hours be-
hind my time. The house was locked up
every one asleep. The night porter who
let me in told me that as l had not ar
rived as by my telegram, the bedroom I
had ordered was let to some one else who
| had arrived In a plight similar to my
own. Another party were his words;
had no clue TO whom or what the other
visitor was. The only place left in the
house unoccupied-for there were many
unexpected guests through the fog-was
that sofa. There / slept. Only a few
minutes ago ] was wakened by some one
it was when l saw who it was-the
woman whom l loved and whom ! in
tended to marry naturally took her in
my arms without thinking" Then with
colonel's face and felt that to prolong
this part of the narration was dangerous,
he went on quickly:
Il trust that you understand, Col Ogil
vie that this explanation in no way in
fringes your right of furnishing me as you
suggest. Please understand-and this is
my answer to your suggestion as to my
appealing to law-that accept your wish
to go through the form of duel.' He
was hotly interrupted by the colonel
Form Of duel! Is this another in
suit? When ] say fight / mean fight
understand that. I fight routrance;
and that way only" Athlyne's COM
posure did not seem even ruffied.
Exactly! 1 took no other meaning. But
surely I am entitled to take it that even
real duel has the FORM of a duel!'
Then what do you mean, sir. by in
Producing the matter that way?'
Simply. Col. Ogilvie. to protect my
self from a later accusation on your part
either to me or of me-of charge Of
poltroonery; or even a silent suspicion Of
1t in your own mind!
How do you mean?''
Sir. l only speak for myself. l have
already said more than once that l hold
my life at your disposal. From that ! do
for my execution"
Your execution. Explain yourself
sir?" In calm. even voice, came the an
swer:
"Col Ogilvie. 1 put it to you as man
to man-if you will honor me with so
simple a comparison. or juxtaposition.
whichever you like to consider it-how
can l fight freely against the father of
the woman whom 1 love? Pray sir" for
the colonel made an angry gesture, be
patient for a moment. / intend no kind
Of plea or appeal. I feel myself forced
to let you know my position from my
point of view. You need fear no new
anger toward me for this expression of
my feelings. ! do SO with reluctance,
and only because you must understand.
here and now. or it may make, later on
further unhappiness for some one Else
some one whom we both hold In our
hearts Col. Ogilvie hesitated before
replying. The bitter scowl was once
again on his face as he spoke:
''Then 1 suppose l am to take it, sir.
that you will begin our meeting on the
field of honor by putting me publicly
through the expression of your intention
lin the position Of murder"
mot so. Surely you know better than
that. I did not think that any honorable
man could have so mistaken another. If
have to speak explicitly on this point.
on which for your sake and the sake of
=" of one dear to you. | would fain be
point: l shall play the game fairly. For
this duel Is game. and, so far as l am
concerned at all events, one for pretty
large stake. If, indeed. that can be called
game which can only end in one way.
You need not, l assure you, feel the least
uneasy as to my not going through with
it properly. I am telling you this now Sc
that you may not distort my Intention
yourself by some injudicious comment on
my conduct, or speech. or action. made
under a Misrepresentation or from distrust
Of me. Sir, your own honor shall be pro-
tected all along, so far as the dong so
possibly rests with me- Here. seeing
some new misunderstanding in the
coloners eye he went on quickly:
II venture to say this because l am
aware that you doubt my being able to
carry out my intention. When l say
rests with me- / mean the responsibility
or actlng properly the TOle nave uiuCi
taken / shall conduct my part of the
duel in all seriousness. 1t must be In
some other country; this for your sake.
For mine it will not have mattered. We
have only to bear ourselves properly and
none will suspect. / shall go through all
the forms-with your permission-of fight
ing routrance. SO that no one can sals-
pect. No one will be able afterward to
say that you could have been aware of
my intention. l shall fire at you all
right: but shall not hit.''
Instinctively Col. Ogilvie bowed. He
did not intend to do SO. He said no word.
The rancor of his heart was not miti-
gated; his intention. to kill in no way
lessened His action was simply spon-
taneous recognition of the chivalry of
another, and his appreciation of it.
Athlyne could not but be glad of even
SO slight rela axation of the horrible ten
sion He stood quite still. He felt that
in some way he had scored with his an
tagonist: and as he was fighting for Joy
might not be good for her. He was
standing we'll out in the room with his
back to the door OF the bedroom. AS
they stood he saw a look of surprise flash
in Col. Ogilvie's face. This changed in
stantly to a fixed one of horror. His
eyes seemed to look right through his an
tagonist to something beyond. Instinc-
lively he turned to see what 1t might be
that caused that strange look. And then
he looked Mortified himself.
In the open doorway Of the bedroom
stood Joy.
(To be continued tomorrow
LAMPS FOR NORTH CAPITOL.