The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1911-02-23

seized the hits Of their swords.
One morning each received a note
from Jeanette Louton inviting him
to call at o'clock in the afternoon
Of certain day. At the appointed
hour Visconti appeared, and Strozzi
was admitted a few minutes later.
They were received in the cabinet of
arms. Each started as he saw the
other. glared and awaited develop
ments.
your highness,' said Jeanette.
you have both done me the honor to
propose for my hand. From both l
have listened to accounts Of the Prov
ess of your ancestors. You have trans
ported me to those romantic times and
kept me there till 1 almost feel that
/ am a part Of them AS l under
stand it, the families you represent
took an equally important part in Ital-
ian history. You are both fine repre-
sentatives of splendid race. Few
women have been honored by a choice
between two such offers. Can you
blame me for not being able to choose
between the two? l must ask you to
decide which shall defer to the other.
l will leave you in this room and ask
you, when you have decided. to let me
know"
She went out of the cabinet and shut
the door.
For a few minutes there were low
voices. gradually rising till they rang
out in trumpet tones.
Meanwhile Ned Sackett, a young st.
Louisan, who had been counting jean
nette Louton for several years. fearing
that among the princes and dukes
abroad she might slip away from him,
had decided to follow her. arriving in
Florence on the very day the young
lady had suggested to the two princes
to settle between themselves which
should give way to the other.
The same afternoon he sauntered up
to the Palazzio v. He was admitted
to a surprise, The door to the cabinet
of arms was open, and two men were
fighting with swords as long as the
antagonists themselves, while Jean
nette was making frantic efforts to In
duce them to desist. The two princes
had come from words to blows, and
each had caught up weapon. Prince
Visconti, having been hurt in the head.
seized a helmet and put it on. Prince
StroZzi, seeing piece Of armOr of the
thirteenth century. in order to get
even with his enemy caught it up and
got it partly on his thorax. Visconi
picked up shield used in the cru
sades, Strozzi defending himself with
an andiron 700 years old, but as Sack
EFT entered he dropped it and replaced
it with an immense iron punch bowl
that had belonged to Viscont.
To add to the terror Of the scene,
Visconti's face was bloody and Strozzi
limped from a wound in the leg. Wis
cont holding the longer sword, his en-
envy dropped his own and grabbed
pike This gave him such an advan-
tage that it enabled him to drive his
enemy into a corner. But near Wis
cont in a rack was a gun with barrel
nearly as long as the pike. Selling 1t
and deriving an advantage owing to
his own superior length, he began to
poke his adversary with it on some
thing like equal terms. In this way
the cornered man gradually forced his
adversary to the middle Of the room.
These changes in the situation re-
quired but very little time. 1t required
more time by far for Sackett to re-
cover from his establishment at this
medieval struggle in the opening of
the twentieth century. He didn't know
whether to be the more amused or
astonished. The scene may have been
absurd. but there was no time for
laughter Jeanette gave Sackett an
imploring look. Selling battleax, he
ran up to the combatants and began to
beat down their weapons. He was
not so furious as they, and this abb
sence of anger gave him a decided ad-
vantage. Finally he secured position
between the two.
Gentlemen" he said, what means
this unseemly row in the home Of a
lady?'
""They don't understand English"
said Jeanette. In word she ex-
planned the situation.
Sackett understood no Italian, but
he was capital at pantomime. Putting
his left arm about Jeanette, he waved
his right in the air, while a sublime
look rested on his face. as much as to
say: Il am the victor in this case.
The lady falls to me-
Jeanette. fearful that if she denied
mis- right to her the two princes would
renew the fray and kill each other,
denied nothing Indeed. she chung to
the party of the third part as her only
refuge.
"Senorina," said Visconti, do we
understand that this gentleman is your
betrothed?''
This being in Italian. Sackett did
not understand word Of it. and the
lady was free to say what she liked.
II have loved him since l was a lit
tie girl" she declared.
'"Then, senorina." interposed StroZZ1.
may l ask what is the use Of this
combat?'
"No use whatever, l assure you"
Both men had words Of reproach on
their lips; but. to do them justice.
they were too gallant to speak them.
They threw down their weapons.
threw off their accouterments and.
making bow to the lady. in which
they nearly bumped their heads
against the floor, turned and marched