Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1909-12-21
CHAPTER L

-. ne summer Gay was al! out spent
when Richard Jennifer, riding express.
brought me Captain F'alconnet's chal-
lenge. Twas a dayfall to be marked
with a white stone, even in our Caro-
lima calendar. The sun, reaching down
to the mountain grit horizon In the
west, filled all the upper air with the
glory of its departing and the higher
leaf plumes of the great naples be-
fore my cabin door wrought lustrous
patterns in gilded green upon a zen
fth background of turquois shot with
crimson, like the figurings of some rich
old tapestries / had once seen in my
FIELD marshars castle in the Mark Of
Moravia
Beyond the naples a brook tinkled
and FLASHED over the stones on it's way
to the nearby Catawba. The road
made for the river lover down and
followed it's windiAss Up the valley;
but Jennifer came by the Indian trace
through the forest l can see him now
as he rode beneath the naples. bend
ing 10 the saddle horn where the
branches hung lowest; pretty figaro
of handsome young provincial. clad
in fashions three years behind those
/ had seen in London the winter last
past
Now 1 had known this handsome
youngster when he was but a little
lad; had taught him how to bend the
Indian bow and loose the reed-shaft
arrow in those happier days before the
tyrant Governor Tryon turned hang
man, and the battle of the Great AL
amance had left me fatherless. More
over. l had been with him at the Meek
lenburg Arms no longer ago than yes
terweek. Hence, l much needs be
somewhat taken aback when he drew
rein at my door-ston dotted his hat
with sweeping bow worthy a cour-
tier and said:
Il have the honor of addressing Cap
tain John Ireton. sometime of his Ma
jesty's Royal Scots Blue. and late OF
her Apostolic Majestys Twenty-ninth
Regiment of Hussars?
1t was but an euphism of the time.
this formal preamble, declaring that
his errand had to do with the prelimi-
naries of a private quarrel between
gentlemen. Yet l could scarce restrain
a smile. For these upcroppings of
courtier etiquette have ever seemed to
march but mincingly with the free
stride of our western backweods. None
the less. l made shift to match his
bow in some fashion. and to say: AT
your service. sir"
Whereupon he bowed again. clapped
hat to head and rendered me a sealed
packet.
From Sir Francis Falconnet, Knight
Bachelor OF Beaumaris. volunteer cap
tain in his Majesty's German Legion, !"
he announced. with stern dignity.
Since my enemy had seen fit to
come thus far on the way TO his end
in some gentlemanly manner, II was
not for me to find difficulties among
the formalities. In good truth, i was
overjoyed to be thus assured that he
would fight me fair: that he would not
compel me to kiln him as one kills a
wild beast at bay For certainly 1
should have killed him In any event:
so much I had promised my poor Dick
Coverdale on that dismal November
morning when he had choked out his
life in my arms, the victim first OF
this mans treachery. and. at the last. {
OF his sword. So. as say. was MOTH
ing loath. and yet l would not seem
too eager.
Il might say that I have no unset
tied quarrel with Captain Falconnet." I
demurred. when 1 had read the chal-
lerge. "Ae spoke slightingly OF a lady.
but I did but
Your answer. Captain Ireton, Z"
ouoth my youngster. CURLY.
Let 1t be tomorrow morning at
sunrise in the oak grove which was
once my fathers wood field. each man
with his own blade. And give You
fair warning, Master Jennifer; l shall
KIN your bullyra sizing captain of light
horse as I would vermin OF any 9TH
er breed"
IF YOU cam he qualified win you
give nue. bite and sup before mount
end ride again? It's long gallop
back to town"
Here was my fresh-hearted Dick
Jennifer back again all in a breath.
and made haste TO shout for Darius,
and for Tomas TO take his horse. and
otherwise 10 bestir myself to do the
honors OF my poor forest fastness as
we'll as l might
There were presently q bit OF cold
deerss meat and some cakes Of make
bread baked in the ashes 10 set BEFORE
the guest. And afterward. though tbs
evening was no more than mountain
breeze cool. we had 8 handful OF fire
on the hearth for the cheer OF It Their
Jennifer unburdened himself OF tbs
gossip OF the day in oueensborough
Have you heard the newestg Tbs
war has shifted from the North IL
good earnest at last. and we ara Ike