Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-12-24
CHAPTER vi.
EtheI's Choice.

ment his impatient strides up and down
the little woodland path. It's five min
utes past the time"
You're in a confounded hurry to get
shot," answered Fred Bradford, who,
with his back against a tree near by,
was nervously trying to light cigar.
"Perdition take the weed! I'm as shaly
as q woman. hope to Heaven he won't
put in his appearance at all. It's a bad
business altogether, Larry. / thought
duels were obsolete"
BLESS you. MOI" said Lawrence air.
lily. Continental gentlemen still assu-
age the pangs of wounded honor in this
fashion. and it's good, you know, to hu-
NOR a man In his favorite whims.
Dame! as the French say, what does
the count mean? It's scarcely courte-
Gus to keep the challenged party wait
ing"
The place was a quiet opening in a
chestnut wood, at little distance from
Lucerne. The sun was not yet up. Dew
lay thick on the forest leaves, on the
tufted grass, in the cups Of the wild
flowers bordering the path. Harding
was walking swiftly up and down as
have said, his hat in his hand, a frown
Of impatience on his brown, handsome
face. His friend, quite as uneasy, puff
ed ftfully at his cigar and watched the
far end Of the path which entered the
forest from Lucerne. Along the edge
of the wood an old peasant woman.
passing at that moment with a bundle
of sticks on her shoulder, turned to
look back curiously and wonder what
the two gentlemen could be waiting for
there, under the chestnut trees.
.Tt will make no end of talk" grum-
bled Bradford. Mighty unpleasant for
Miss Sardis, should say, or do women
like the notoriety Of such things? Hea-
ven knows, they are queer cattle. The
counts a sure shot, have heard
wings his man every time"
"A foeman worthy Of my STEEL" said
Larry, with a short laugh. Excellent!
There will be no scandal, my dear boy.
Both the count and myself intend that
everything shall be done, not only with
due decorum but with as much secrecy
as possible. Look yonder! Is not that
his manly figure which I see approach
ing, at last?"
At the other end Of the path, Count
Stahl and his second appeared, follow
ed by third party, French surgeon
from Lucerne. The counts second was
a Swiss gentleman, short, stout and
puffy. He shook hands with Bradford,
who looked stiff and uncomfortable
enough, and the count and Harding ex-
changed civil bow.
1t was the morning after the affair on
the quay. A prompt challenge from the
count had forced Lawrence to postpone
his departure from Switzerland for
still another twenty-four hours, and
now the two were prepared to settle
their little difference as became men of
honor.
"a fine morning" said the little sur
geon, cheerfully; "a glorious morning,
gentlemeni" AS If men with such a
purpose as this pair had in their hearts.
could care anything for the weather
Harding looked cool and disdainful
the count flushed and excited. Evident
ly the latter had not slept well. HIS
blue eyes, as they rested furtively or
his antagonist, were full Of bitter
deadly hate. Harding had made fol
himself a pitiless enemy and he knew
1t, but was totally Indifferent to the
fact.
The pistols were drawn from their
cases and carefully examined; the dis
-tance measured; all preliminaries
speedily arranged. Harding and the
count took their places in the little
path.
"One!"
A bird perched high among the chest
nut boughs overhead broke into a tri:
of song.
"Two!"
Sweet scents Of green summer things
famed through the wood, and the
tinkle Of a waterfall near at hanc
mingled with the voice of the bird.
"Three!"
simultaneously two reports echoed
through the quiet glade, two puffs o.
blue smoke curled up into the early
sunlight. Harding's shot, made will
cool deliberation, struck the counts
right arm, and laid 1t, broken and help
less. against his side. The counts bull
let, aimed straight at Hardings hear
with fierce, confusing haste, missed 1t!
vital mark by little space. and simply
grazed the Americans side.
AS the weapon dropped from his dis
abled hand, the wounded man stagger'
ed back against his second, and grew
deadly pale, partly with pain, partl!
with wrath and disappointment.
Gentlemen, are you satisfied?" criet
the French surgeon. Pray acknowl
edge that you are satisfied"
Pale bleeding, and with face full
of baffied fury, the count looked
Lawrence.
Further satisfaction of this natur
Is impossible to me this morning" h
answered, sullenly. II am disabled, a
you see."
"I can give you no further oppol u
nity for settling the matter" said Law
renee calmly, for leave Lucerne to
day. For my own part, am content t
call 1t well ended"
He half put out his hand. but tn
count drew back with most unpleas
ant smile.
There are many places in the worl
besides Lucerne," said he. "Adieu, sil
we part now, but let me venture to eX
press a hope that some day we shal
meet again. 1 give you my word tina
I never made so bad shot before Il
my life"
'Insolent beggar!" said Bradford. a
the count hurried off with his frien
and the French surgeon, to carrlag
waiting near by in the wood. he doe
not understand the first principles O
IL