The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1922-09-14

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II have known some liars who were
not cowards."
"You forget yourself"
e "No-nor you."
"You remember promise made
you oncer
Twice" corrected Erskine. Grey's
eyes flashed upward to the crossed
rapiers on the wall.
2 precisely" answered Erskine, "and
whenr'
go AT the first opportunity"
/ a 'sFrom this moment I shall he wait
ing for nothing else"
t~Barbara, reappearing, heard their
last words, and she came forward pale
and with piercing eyes:
Z cousin Erskine, want to apolo.
Eize to you for my little faith. hone
you will forgive me. Mr.. Grey, your
horse will he at the door at once
wish you safe journey-to your com.
mand." Grey bowed and turned---fun.
GUS.
hrskine was on the porch when Grey
came out to mount his horse.
You will want secondsY, Asked
Grey.
They might try to stop us-pow
shall ride slowly" Grey said.
Erskine bowed.
II shall not"
nor did he. Within half an hour
Barbara, passing through the hall saw
that the rapiers were gone from the
wall and she stopped, with the color
ned from her face and her hand on her
heart. At that moment Ephraim
dashed from the kitchen.
Miss Barbary, somebody gwine to
git killed. I was wukkin' in de ole
field an Marse Grey rid by cuss,n, IN
hisseif. Jist now Marse Erskine went
tearin' by de landin' wild a couple O,
swords under his arm" His eyes too
went to the wall. "Yes, bless Gawd.
dey's gone" Barbara flew out the
door.
In few moments she had found
Harry and Hugh. Even while their
horses were being saddled her father
rode ND.
Its murder" cried Harry, "and
Grey knows 1t. Erskine knows moth.
Ing about rapier."
without word Colonel Da,.
wheeled his tired horse and soon
Harry and Hugh dashed after him.
Barbara walked back to the house.
wringing her hands, but on the porch
she sat quietly In the agony Of wait.
Ing that was the role of women IN
those days.
meanwhile at a swift gallop Firefly
was skimming along the river roed
grey mad kept his word and more: he
mao not only ridden slowly but he had
stopped and was waiting at an oak
tree that was a cornerstone between
two plantations.
Inat l may not kill you on your
own land" he said.
Erskine started. "The consideration
is deeper than you know"
They hitched their horses, and Frs.
Kline followed into a pleasant glade
grassy glade through which muir.
INJURED little stream. Erskine dropped
the rapiers on the sward.
Take your choice" he said
There is none." said Grey, picking
up the one nearer to him. II know
them both" Grey took off his coat
while Erskine waited. Grey. made the
usual moves Of courtesy and still Frs
kine waited, wonderingly. with the
point Of the rapier on the ground.
when you are ready" he said, will
you please let me know7"
Ready" answered Grey, and he
'unged forward. Erskine merely
whipped at his blade so that the clanp
OF 1t whined on the air to the break
lng-point and sprang backward. He
was as quick as an syelash and 1.-the
as panther, and yet Grey almost
laughed aloud. Ali Erskine did was
70 whip the thrusting blade aside and
leap out Of danger like a flash of light
It was like an inexpert boxer fall
ing according to rules unknown
ana Grey's face famed and actually
turned anxious. Then, as kindly
rate would have 1t, Erskine's blade
,aught In Grey's guard by accident.
and the powerful wrist behind It seek
ing merely to wrench the weapon
oose tore Grey's rapier from his grasp
and hurled 1t ten feet away. There
g no greater humiliation for the ex.
pert swordsman, and not for nothing
lad Erskine suffered the shame OF
mat long-ago day when a primitive
instinct had led him to thrusting his
lnife into this same enemys breast.
Vow. with his swords point on tho
.aeth. he waited courteously for Grew
o recover his weapon,