Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1911-03-21


was puzzled leok on her face for a
few moments; then she palsd. Could
| it be that this man who had flushed
when the officers We're looking at her
had taken up the matter in her de
| Tense? ga e2''~
After the officers departure she saw
| Claybourne 90 into the writing room.
Exeusing herself TO those with her, she
went in there. He was sitting at
desk writing, the only person in the
room. She stood looking at him
through u very large and very beau
tiful pair of eyes He rose and stood
deferentially
"Are YOU English:" she asked.
american
"Would you mind assuring me that
the visit just paid you has nothing to
do with me?"
no reply.
SIS there to be-a duel?" she went on.
"rhis is very unfortunate" was the
only reply.
~ forbid you to fight on my &c
count"
at would be impossible for me to
obey your order"
II will go to these men and forbid
them as we'll"
She looked so resolute that Clay
bourne was troubled. He feared to
be placed in a false position.
Il see only one possible way out of
it," he said. Il am writing tele-
gram to a friend in Berlin to come
and be my second. l win tell him to
say something to the man | have
challenged that may influence him.
He doesn't know that l am student
at Heidelberg, member of corps
there and that / have vanquished
every man who has been brought
against me-"
Don't send your telegram. This
news can be conveyed without your
Berlin friend. My brother
would not do at ALL"
"My father
"Worse"
"Give me the address of this officer"
Impossible"
"Give it to me-" she repeated inn
periously. Il am the cause of this
quarrel. What right have you to take
up my case and ignore mel"
None" replied Claybourne, hanging
his head, and gave her the address.
Without paying any more attention
to him she left the room.
sion very common among English
speaking people. He crammed his
fists down into his trousers pockets
and strobe to and fro
what fool | have BEEN" he said
to himself, ito receive that fellow
here. The whole thing is spoiled. /
shall not only be deprived of the
pleasure of Furnishing him-I should
like to cut off his nose-but they will
think l gave 1t away to the girl to in
duce her to break it up. What the
dickens am / to do? Nothing till l
hear from her This is pretty
messw
for an hour, walking the floor like q
Gagged tiger Then he heard wheels
draw up in front of the house, the
bang of carriage door, and in few
moments in came Miss Hathorne,
flushed with the effort she had made.
"For heavens sakev he said.
What have you donef'
She handed him paper addressed
to him. 1t was written apology for
the insult that had been offered her.
''How did you get itf'
asked for it. They at first declin-
ed to address it to you. but / declined
to accept it unless they did"
''You have made a mess of It," said
Claybourne, In an irritated tone, for
the moment losing his self control.
1T would have been worse mess
for your opponent IL | had not inter
fered. Do you know what his second
said to him after 1t was all over?
didn't tell him who you were till then.
Well, he said: 'Achi Donnerhoff,
you're lucky. IL you had met that
fellow you would have gone about for
the rest of your life without nose
They say he always finishes his OPP
ponents by cutting off their noses"
That's exactly what | intended TO
do cried Claybourne passionately,
"and you have spoiled 1t ALL
The girl burst into q laugh.
Gradually the comical view Of the
situation dawned upon Claybourne, and
his face took On an unwilling smile
To a
smile she had ever seen on a mans
face
"You didn't go to them alone, did
you?" be asked.
"Yes, did. It's no time to be prud-
ish when a nlan's-nose is at stake"
She laughed again. SO did Clay
bourne.
81 would like very much to make
your acquaintance said the Ken
tuckian.
There was another laugh on the part
Of both of them.
We'll" she said, ''since you've taken
my Interference so considerably
think I'll permit you to call"
He called the next morning, and his
call lasted during their stay In Mu-
mich. during their journey with fire.
quent stops to London and during a
voyage to America. In short. the call
has never ended. Mr.. and Mrs. Clay.
bourne live in the blue grass region
OF Kentucky. but the husband never
fourfshes bowie knife and has no
desire to cut or peoples noses.