Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-18

man IN my country as you are IN yours.
l have not ascertained the date when
| the Fairholme Earldom was created; but
| there has been a Comte Marigny on the
Loire since 1434. Of course you understand
that do not mention this trivial fact in any
ridiculous spirit of Boosting | put it for
| ward only as constituting claim to a GER
| tain equality. That is all. Unfortunately,
recent events in my family have robbed me
of those necessary appurtenances to rank
and position which happier fate has pre-
served to you. | am poor, you are rich;
must marry a wife with money, you can
afford to marry for love. Why then, Wis
count Medenham, should you step in and
rob me of rich wife?
In spite of his loathing of the means
adopted by this self proclaimed rival to
snatch an advantage, Medenham did not
hesitate to reply, My answer to that is. of
course, that have done nothing of the sort.
l simply interviewed between crew of ad-
| venturers and their possible. though most
improbable. victim
Unfortunately, our points of view are
| irreconcilable, went on the Frenchman
airily. I" l might claim that the term adven
| turer, as applied to me, is harsh one. You
| may inquire where and how you choose in
Paris, and you will find no discredit attached
| to my name. But that phase of the difficulty
the main issue. Some three months ago l
made the acquaintance of lady fitted in
every respect to fill my ideal. | was on good
terms with her father, and by no means dis
tasteful to the lady herself. Given a fair
opportunity, thought | might win her, and
was puzzlng my wits to know how best to
attain that most desirable end, when Fate
apparently opened way. But you have no
doubt observed in life that, while one can
seldom misinterpret Fate's frowns, her
smiles can be misleading. Sometimes they
are little else than malicious leers. 1t was
so now, and quickly found that had erred
badly in thinking that l had been vouch-
safed golden opportunity"
Cant you spare me some of this theorlz-
ing?" broke in Medenham with cold impa
tence. "You happened to send for me at a
moment when l was exceedingly anxious to
meet you. The fact that l am here in
response to your request stops me from car
rying out the special purpose l had in view.
That can wait, though not very long. At
any rate, you might save yourself some hair
splitting and me some exercise of self re-
straint by telling me what it is that you
| want"
"A thousand regrets if am boring YOU"
said Marigny, leaning back in the chair and
laying the cigarette on the mantelpiece.
"Yet bear with me little while, pray you;
these explanations are necessary. A sane
man acts with motive, and it is only reason
able that you should understand my motive
before you hear my project"
"Ah, then, there is a project?"
Eyes. You have stepped in between me
and the realization of my dearest WISH of
my main object in life. You are, take it, a
soldier and a gentleman. There is a way
| by which men of honor settle these disputes.
invite you to follow it."
THE fantastic proposal was made with an
air of dignity that robbed it of any in
herent righteousness. Greatly as he despised
this man, Medenham could not wholly con-
ceal the wonder that leaped to his eyes. "Are
you suggesting that we should fight duel? "
he asked, smiling with incredulity, yet con-
| strained to believe that Mangny was really
speaking in cold blood.
'Yes-oh, yes. A duel-no make be-
lieve." A curious change came into Marigny's
voice at that instant. He seemed to bark
each staccato phrase, a vindictive fire
cleaned in his black eyes, and the olive tint
showed beneath the pink and white of his
skin.
Medenham laughed, almost good hui
moredly. The notion is worthy of you,
he said 90 tnioht have eyDected If. b,,t T