The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-03-27
Copyright. 1907, by r. F. Fenno & Co.

opposite the gallery In Wnlcn Princess
Daria sat.
The princess rose, and saluted her
gravely, wondering If at that moment
the same thought ran through both our
brains-the thought of the handker-
chief which she had given and which
even then was lying close to my heart.
Then | rode back and stood beneath
the marshars gallery.
"IIeralds. sound the challenge of the
Knight of the Silver Star-Once" he
cried.
The trumpets' music filed the air.
and before the echoes had died among
the hills the barrier at the opposite
side of the lists to which had enter
ed was thrown open. and Count Vasca
rode into the arena.
81 accept the challenge" he cried,
and then, approaching me, he said In
lower voice: "No love creeps into
our combat, Sir Vcrrall. You have
wilcd that it shall be for honor"
For honor. Count Vasca, and for
love. too, If you WILL" l answered de-
family.
$50 soon a different talel Danger
gives increasing beauty to n fair face
likely TO be lost"
at is rather to challenge you to
your best. You harp on love so con-
stantly perchance honor is not enough
TO strengthen your arm against me-"
A hiss of rage was his only answer.
"To achievement, knightsr" cried the
herald. Sound trumpetsw
As the blast rang out ] turned my
horse. and the next moment the count
and | were rushing madly at each 9th
err. In that instant my mind was a
blank. Action had driven out even
the thought of fear. We met. His
lance shivered against my shield, n
blow which shook me, but did not
make me reel I'm the saddle. Either
my aim was untrue or he avoided the
blow, FOR my lance only glanced along
his armor, and / continued my rush
toward the opposite side of the lists.
Perhaps there was some surprise that
was still I'm the saddle, n satisfac-
ton that the combat was not to be a
one sided affair, that If not all claim
ed to be | was at least no craven car
pet knight At any rate. cheer rang
out. and felt encouraged
Turning. l saw that the count had
been supplied with another lance and
was ready TO charge again. There was
a moments pause; then the trumpets
sounded and once more we rushed
upon each other. The spirit of battle
was upon me. had more confidence,
and / dug the spurs into my horse,
leaning forward to the charge.
| hardly knew what had happened,
brought ms ! was TO sudden standstill
by n blow which seemed TO strike me
| full I'm the body. l reeled backward,
but my horse, being thrown upon his
launches. saved me, and with n
mighty effort | succeeded in keeping
my seat. AS my horse struggled up
regained my full consciousness. to find
Vasca's horse also struggling to his
feet, his rider still in the saddle, and
to see that both our lances were bro
ken short to the handle. My blow had
Dttu uN Ills. was
with neither Of us yet.
A great roar of applause arose
around us as we passed to opposite
sides Of the lists.
Both OF us had to be given n fresh
lance. and probably the count, like
myself. felt the need OF recovering
himself little before again rushing
/ TO the onslaught. | had no knowledge
of how much Of this kind of thing he
could stand without showing signs OF
weakness. but was perfectly sure
that another blow like the last would
be quite enough for me.
Even now we seemed long time
reaching each other. and my eyes re.
fused to see my enemy clearly as he
came. yet | felt that he, too wished
| 10 end the combat; that he, too. was
bent on making a desperate endeavor
Gathering all my strength together,
rushed to meet him, and even as / did
so / remembered Organs advice.
| Perhaps even at that late moment |
| feared TO receive such blow as the
last, but whatever the motive was
| that decided me I acted upon the al.
vice. | slightly checked my pace, and
rs we met | swerved n little and lev
eled my lance at Vasca's helmet. The
sudden action made me reel, and had
the counts lance struck me then |
should have been endorsed But for
tune favored me. vasca attempted TO
alter his course In a similar manner.
but his horse. going faster than mine,