Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1912-03-01

Dargan started, and changed look
came over his face. For a moment he
hesitated, then decided on his course.
"You must admit" he said. "that no
man can make such q charge rs that
and not expect to enforce it on the
| field of honor. Before bedtime you
| shall hear from me. Good ni@it."
Raising his hat, the speaker turned
| and walked away.
During the evening Fitz Maurice took
Miss Emmons away from the others
and said to her:
what do you propose to do about
making known the fact that we saw
Dargan pick up Miss Chalmers riding
whip"
Nothing. I never interfere in 9TH
! er peoples affairs"
every well; then she must remain
ignorant that she Is in no way bound
to bestow upon him the reward Offer
ed"
"She won't anyway unless she
wishes to do so. If you think Size
should know the truth, why don't you
tell herr"
Because certain conditions "e
urisen that should I do so | v'""l
| render myself liable to the coH+e:"ht
of nv associates. Nevertheless t2"1'"-
| row | may tell her. / wish lo3 20
| promise me that If do not you VIII
do So"
Explain"
"Not till tomorrow
every we'll. If you don't tell her
tomorrow promise you I will"
The next morning Beatrice Chalmers
awoke before daylight and lay think
| ing about the peculiar position IN
| which she had been placed by the loss
| of her riding whip. She was pledged
| to marry Dargan, whom she dld not
fancy. and considered that she had re-
ceivcd slight from Fitz Maurice
whom she did love. What would be
the next development?
| 1t was soon to become apparent. she
heard footsteps on the stairs, though
| they were barely audible. Had her
| sense Of hearing not been very acute
| she would not have heard them. She
| listened and after awhile door sott-
ly closed directly below her room.
| Getting out of bed. she looked through
her window and saw in the gray Of the
morning Fitz Maurice and one Of the
men guests, who carried box under his
arm. crossing the open space lying be-
| tween the manor house and the road.
That was quite enough in those days,
| when the code duellO was in vogue. 70
fell her what had happened. She dress
cd herself. opened her door and went
out into the hall. 4 door opposite was
opened. and Miss EmmOns. III night
dress, called to her. She went into
Miss Emmons' room and learned that
she had seen Dargan leave the house
on the opposite side. Miss Emmons
thought it high time that she take an
interest In "other peoples business
| and told her hostess all she knew
| abOut what was about to tranSplre.
"Get on your clothes, quick ex-
claimed Beatrice, in tutter. while
I 20 to the stable and bring pony
/ cartr'
Within ten minutes Beatrice hurried
ND to the door as fast as her pony's
short legs could carry her. Miss En-
mons got in. and the two drove off at
gallon in the direction the latter had
seen Dargan 90. There had been
duel before in the family. and Beatrice
surmised that this on" would occur at
the same place When they reached
it the two principals stood waiting
while the seconds were measuring tile
ground.
"Gentlemen." said Miss Chalmers as
she reined in near them, there is no
occasion for this fight. ! an in po-
sition to answer for the dl5honoraEie
act of one of the principals and the
honorable conduct of the other
= Daryan. who saw that lie had lost
his case. turned pale.
"Mr. Dargan. not only did Mr. FitZ
Maurice see you pick up H.! whip soon
after | had lost 1t. but Miss Emmons
saw you do the same thing"
And" interrupted Har::an. with
contemptuous glance at FitZ Maurice.
"he induced Miss EmmonS to tell you
in order to stop
"No such thing" cried Mis- Chal-
mers angri!y. He pledged her to tell
; me after this affair should h" all over.
Isn't that so. Carey:
1T is
Owe both heard you 81 cut" contin-
ed Beatrice. rand followed you TO pre-
vent spilling of blood and t" eXonrrate
Mr.. Fitz Maurice Mr. Dargan. am
astonished at your course. need not
add that feel neither inclination nor
compulsion 70 hold to my part Of
silly contract
Dargau turned ard walked away
. from the field. 1t had not occurred to
him that Miss EmmonS had also seen
him pick ur the whip. and. confident
that he could kill FitZ Maurice. he ex-
pectcd to cover up bis diShonor with
the latter's death. He did not go to
the manor house. but sent negro for
his beloncings He Wns mover again
heard of il Virginia. hut visitors from
l there to New OrIcan; learned that he
1 was an adventurcr and duelist of
considerable distinction.
Miss Chalmers married Mr.. Fitz
Maurice who during The Revolution
became one Of the principal figures
who resisted the encroachmentS of
King George III. and brought about