Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-11
CHAPTER V-Continued.

| though it was yet early in the morning
| when called. intending to fetch my lady
| to Plymouth by coach, a special coach
| which I had engaged, by the way. His
| sister said that Mistress Wilberforce was
| in the garden and that she had COM
| pany. She offered to show me to her
presence. but I said 1 knew the way and
could go there myself. 1 did not like
| the word company overmuch. Her fine
| friends had more or less forgotten her.
| One or two of the old families which
had been associated with hers had Of
! fered her such hospitality and such COM
| fort as they had until she could decide
| otherwise: some of the women had called
| upon her; one or two men had sought
| her OUT but she was a proud little Wom-
an, as you can divine, and would have
| none Of them. She had dropped out Of
their lives ana latterly no one had dis
| turbed her, therefore 1 was perturbed at
! the tidings.
1 passed through the hall, out Of the
| back door and into the garden. The
| path to the brook wound and twisted so
| that you could not see the stream for
| the trees and shrubs / stood a moment.
| hesitating wondering whether after all
| had the right or the privilege to break in
| upon such company as she might be en-
| PERTAINING, when a scream which came
| family from the end of the garden de-
| cided me.
ments came upon my lady struggling in
| the arms of man. What man. you ask?
| The Duke of Arcester He had his arms
| around her. and although he was no great
| shakes OF a man he was much stronger
| than the slight girl he was graphing
with. He held her tightly by the waist
| with one hand and with the other was
trying to turn her head SO that he could
| kiss her
1 was upon them before they realized
| my arrival. 1 grasped the duke by the
| collar Of the coat with my left hand and
with my right 1 fairly tore him away
| from my lady.
THANK God. you have comet" she
| cried, Keeling and staggering, her face
flushed. her hair disheveled, her dress in
disarray.
was upon me. Gritting his teeth and
swearing frightful oaths he got to his
feet-I had thrown him prone-dragged
| out his sword and rushed at me.
You dog!' he cried, you have baked
me before and you interfere now. 1 have
had enough OF you and the world has
He did not intend to give me any
chance to defend myself apparently. My
little mistress screamed. I heard her
call my name and l suppose she thought
l was done for, but sailors are proverbial-
ly quick witted, footed and handed. and
1 was not the least alert of seamen. 1
was wearing hanger. heavier weapon
| than the dukes dress sword. but it's
weight was a matter Of no moment to an
| arm like mine. L stepped aside he
| lunged at me, drew it and the next mo-
ment our blades clashed in earnest For
| myself. 1 rejoiced in the opportunity.
| Some men of humble birth might have
been disturbed at the thought Of crossing
| swords with great noble, but nothing
| of that occurred to me. j wanted to
show my lady. l confess. that even with
! gentlemen's weapons 1 was this mans
master. And so / fell to eagerly.
| Now. I am a good fighter and no mean
| fencer. l can cross blades with any one
on earth. I did not know all the niceties
| and refinements of the game. I lacked
| grace. perhaps-but when it came to at
| tack and defense there were few men who
| could beat me-certainly the duke was
not one of them. My swift play must
| have looked to the duke as if were sur
rounded by a wall Of steel Therefore,
he realized at once that his only chance
| lay In the energy and rapidity of his
fence. Lunge succeeded lunge with light
ning-like speed. l will admit that 1 was
| hard put to it for a time. 1t was with
| the greatest difficulty that ! parted. but
| my lord was not built for the continuance
| Of such violent exercise. Sweat came into
| his eyes. his thrusts grew less swift, If
not less vicious in their intent After a
| few moments I saw that had him. 1t
| was now my turn to attack Something
| of the fury of my Saxon ancestors sud-
| denly filled my veins. I beat down his
| defense by a series of terrific blows and
| finally shivered his sword. He stood be-
| fore me painting, weaponless. yet, to give
| him his due, more or less undaunted.
| raised my own blade
"WOuld you strike a defenseless man?'
he cried. haughtily. still not blanching.
You had no scruple in attacking de-
fenseless woman" replied. Nay" I
| Numbered. as he made a sudden motion,
stand where you are. What I shall do
| to you depends upon what I hear. If
you move 1 swear to you that will beat
you down like the dog that you are
was amazed afterward at my temer-
ity in thus addressing duke, but you
will understand my feelings. Without
taking my eyes off Of him, I next ad-
dressed myself to my lady.
viii you tell me now. Mistress Lucy"
| said I, softly, what this man purposed
or said? I can see what he tried to do,
but what was his meaning and intent?"
| 'He-he-wanted-me to go with him."
faltered my lady.
HE renewed his offer Of marriage?"
| asked, with a sudden sinking of heart
| ! had a good deal Of reverence for the
nobility. except in the heat Of battle, and
even as bad man as Arcester was. he
| was a duke and parsonage. Perhaps
my lady ought to marry him.
NO" whispered the girl.
my God!' l cried, did you dare to-
why should I marry penniless bag
gage?" he sneered. 1t was a reckless
She would not go with me. she refused
even to take my hand, the little fool so I
seized her. Was it because she preferred
you. yokel?" he added.
And I shall insure that you will re-
| member" said. quietly. although was
blazing inside. ''all the days Of your life
what you tried to do; the insult that you
| put upon this lady,
Would you kill me?" he cried. as I
! stepped nearer to him.
No." said 1. that would be too
quick and easy an end to your punish
ment. will put my mark upon you, her
| brand as a coward. Everybody who sees
you will ask you about it and you can
explain it as you WILL Two persons at
| least will know what the mark signifies,
| my lady and myself
| He stared at me absolutely uncompre-
hending. but before he could make
move I caught him around the breast