Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1914-11-05

be some little thing that escapes us in
this world or we should no longer be
mere men and women. was little
younger than you. though we often
played together, and | was very I'M
happy when you went away to study
and become a great man. When you
returned during the holidays that al
ways seemed so dreadfully short the
child admired you. and you were al
ways very kind 10 her. At the ex-
pectatiOn of your homecoming her
heart would beat Il great deal faster
AS the seasons passed into years that
admiration and those heartbeats chang
ed into something that was Il longing.
n wonderful desire. yet you began to
come more seldom. and the time you
could spare 10 me grew less Your
thoughts Travelled beyond me. from the
world at your feet 10 greater worlds
you meant - conquer You seemed
90 me TO he growing greater and great
er and always going further away;
yet as the distance between us increas-
ed the longing became keener until it
became pain that clutched that lit
night | had TO weep with the pangs ii
brought me. was a big girl then.
Indeed. had become n woman.
Poor little Lottchen" said the old
Ing to make him pay for spelling that
shirt
A faint smile cured the Frenchnan'S
lip. but he took care that Ned should
not see it,
We'll. what are you going to do
about it,"
challenge him. OF course You 20
right Off and attend to the matter for
me"
Had l not better try to settle it: He
may accept an apology
II apologize to him? Not a bit of it,
But suppose he will apologize to
you?"
I'll accept no apology from the man
who spoiled that shirt. I'll spoil one
for him. only there'll be blood on it in
stead of claret."
At the moment Paul Desmoulins. an
other OF Neds friends. came in. and
Munier communicated the affair TO
him. taking care TO repress his mirth
that the American was intending TO
fight the foremost duelist in France.
and willingly. since he had spoiled his
shirt. Desmoulins protested against an
encounter in which ThOrne would sure
ly be killed. and the picture he drew of
Ned's chances staggered him. But a
glance at his shirt. which he contin-
ued to hold up for inspection. brought
the blood 10 his cheek. and he swore
he would have the hearts blood Of the
man who had ruined It.
Half an hour later Munier entered
the room of Louis Girardet. a strug-
Cling artist. and. laughing. said:
It's working famously. He says
he'll have your hearts blood"
"Why is be so vengefu? Was it the
wine in his face?"
mo. the wine on his shirt. You
ruined the best one liz his wardrobe"
did you tell him that I only fight
to kill?"
Eyes. and it would probably weaken
him if he were not so enraged about
the loss of his pet shirt"
Girardet looked grave.
'1've come" said Munier with a
arranged. OPPORTUNITY, and agreed 10
act as Thorne's second"
"But what are we to do?"
II don't exactly know. We must
find some way out of ii. never
dreamed that he would insist on fight
ing when ] told him you--or, rather.
lie Crux. whose card you used-was
the most noted duelist in France.
Don't you think you could stand him
OFF with foils till we can persuade
him to cry Enough"
II stand him Off with foils? I'm
no fencer."
That's bad" thoughtfully. PTS
tolls won't do. Either he or you might
get killed"
"What did you fellows mean by get
ting me into this scrape. anyway
"Why. we supposed his talk about
dueling was boyish fancy bubbling
up in him. 1 think all would have
gone we'll IL you hadn't made him
mad You might have called him an
ass or a puppy or anything like that
but when 1t came to bespattering the
front of that immaculate shirt it was
too much
How would it do for me to apollo
gizeY
He says he won't accept any apol-
ogy from the man who ruined his
shirt"
How about getting him another
oneT
81 don't believe we could match It,"