Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1918-03-15
The Rivals
By M MARSH

from his father TO give a house party
during the Christmas holidays at their
country place, and I, who was very
chummy with Jim, was of course invit-
ed. They called the place Vieudeleau.
There was everything there to make
life enjoyable; a ballroom, a billiard
room, a swimming tank and g gymnasi-
um.
We were a young party, the mems
ages averaging twenty-five. the girls
twenty. There was u belle among the
girls, Eva T~rowbridge. The principal
reason for her being a belle was be-
cause Of her very lovely disposition.
Tt was natural for her to be consider
ate to everyone. This included me,
but since her kind of treatment of me
was the same as the others, l didn't
put 1t down for a preference, though
I would have been glad to think that
I was the prime favorite.
Some of the other men didn't take
my view in respect to themselves, and
there were two guests who were madly
In love with her. They were Jack
IPierson and Ned Armstrong.
Jim Farleigh was fond of boxing,
fencing and other athletic sports, and
had reserved q corner Of the gymnasi-
UNI for the use of the gloves and the
lfoils. One morning when / was in
the gymnasium doing some stunts on
the parallel bars, Pierson and Arm
strong came in and walked straight
Ito the reserved corner. They called
to me as they passed and gave me to
understand that they were going to
fence, and wished me to act as umpire.
I noticed that each had a foil under
his arm which he stood in a convent
ent place against the wall.
I took a seat where I could watch
the fencing. They took off their coats
and vests, and each taking a foil from
the rack, put themselves In position
for the fray. I wondered why they
had brought in foils and used 9th
ers. But this was a passing thought
with me. Before beginning to fight
Jack Pierson examined the button on
the end of his foil, and coming to me
asked me If I didn't think 1t might
break off if tried too severely. l
looked at it, and told him 1t was per-
fectly safe. Ned Armstrong did the
same, and I also approved his foil.
They fenced for a while, but it
didn't seem to me that either was do
ing his best work. Finally Jack pro-
posed to rest for q while and smoke
a cigarette. Neither n Of US had
any cigarettes, but my case was in my
coat pocket at the other end of the
gymnasium. I went for 1t and, return
ing, each one of us took a cigarette
and lighted 1t. The fencers took only
a few puffs, when they threw theirs
away and again placed themselves on
guard.
While previously they had fenced
llanguidly, now every nerve, every mus
Gle, was at a tension. They could not
have been more alert if they had been
fighting for their lives.
: The two men were quite evenly
matched, and / should have enjoyed
the contest had it not been that 1 did
not like the spirit with which they
were fencing. Instead of friendly o n
test, 1t seemed a serious one. Their
faces were red and their eyes gleam-
ing.
Finally l arose from my seat and put
myself between them. So great was
their antagonism that I was in some
danger of being punched by their
foils. Finally I succeeded in stopping
them, and they lowered their weapons.
"If you fellows can't fence in a
friendly way" / said, you had better
stop. If one of you should hurt the
other, it would be poor return for Jim
Farleigh's hospitality"
Instinctively I looked at the top
of Jacks foil, and could not see the
button. I seized the foil and held it
hear enough to observe the tip. There
was no button on it. 1t was sharp as
a bayonet. / took up Ned's foil, and
it was the same.
"What does this mean?" I asked an
grily.
Neither answered.
"You men," 1 continued, "have dis
lgraced yourselves in fighting on the
premises of your host. And you have
AOPCU hO INV yOdA AShoiAAhhO0o NOh
duct. You intended If either was hurt
to call on me to prove that an accident
occurred through the breaking Of a
foil. You sent me for cigarettes, and
while my back was turned you took up
those foils that you had brought with
you, and then began to fight in earn
est. Give them to me-"
I took the weapons, and as / did so
heard steps behind me. Turning, I saw
Eva Trowbridge and another Of the
girl guests.
81 just got wind of the affair."" she
said, "and that 1t was about me. I de-
sire to say to you. Mr.. Peterson and
Mr.. Armstrong, that I concur with the
words spoken by you umpire. If you
don't hasten to take your departure