The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-07-26

alone. With smoldering fire Erskine
turned TO Grey.
TT seems you have been amusing
yourself with my kinspeople at my ex-
pense" Grey drew himself up in
naughty silence. Erskine went on:
81 have known some liars who were
not towards
You forget yourself"
sNo-nor you"
"You remember a promise I made
You once?s
Twice" corrected Erskine. Grey's
eyes flashed upward TO the crossed
rapiers on the wall
Precisely" answered Erskine, '.and
wheng'
AT the first opportunity"
@From this moment shall be wait
ing for nothing else"
Barbara, reappearing, heard their
last words, and she came, forward pale
and with piercing eyes:
Cousin Erskine. want to apollo
gize to You for my little faith. I hope
you will forgive me. Mr. Grey. your
horse will be at the door at once. ]
wish you safe journey-to your com.
mand Grey bowed and turned--furi-
GUS.
Erskine was on the porch when Grey
came out to mount his horse.
You will want secondsr asked
Grey.
They might try to stop us-nol"
ST shall ride slowly" Grey said
Erskine bowed.
IT shall not
Nor did he. Within half an hour
Barbara, passing through the hall, saw
that the rapiers were gone from tbs
wall and she stopped, with the color
heart. At that moment Ephrain
dashed from the kitchen.
Miss Barbary, somebody gwine te
git killed. I was wukkfn' I'm de ole
field an Marse Grey rid by cussin' te
hisself. Jist now Marse Erskine went
tearin' by de landin' wild couple o
swords under his arm" His eyes toe
went to the wall. Eyes, bless Gawd
dey's gonel" Barbara flew out the
door.
In a few moments she had found
Harry and Hugh. Even while theil
horses were being saddled her fathel
rode up.
'It's murder" cried Harry, "ant
Grey knows 1t. Erskine knows moth
ing about a rapier."
Without word Colonel Dial,
wheeled his tired horse and sool
Harry and Hugh dashed after him
Barbara walked back to the house
wringing her hands, but ON the porcl
she sat quietly In the agony of wait
ing that was the. role of women Ii
those days.
Meanwhile, at a swift gallop Firefi.
( was skimming along the river road
Grey had kept his word and more h,
had not only ridden slowly but he ha,
stopped and was waiting at an oal
tree that was a cornerstone between
two plantations
"That may not kill you on you
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 droppe
the rapiers on the sward.
take your choice" he said.
There 10 none," said Grey, pickin
up the one nearer to him. II know
them BOTH" Grey took off his Goa
while Erskine waited Grey made tn
usual moves of courtesy and still Frs
kline waited, wonderingIy, with tn
point Of the rapier on the ground
when you are ready he said, Evil
you please let me know?"
Ready" answered Grey, and h
lunged forward. Erskine merel
whipped at his blade so that the clan
Of IL whined on the air to the break
ing-point and sprang backward. Ell
| was as quick as an eyelash and 18th
| an a panther, and yet Grey almos
laughed aloud. ALI Erskine did wa
to whip the thrusting blade aside an
leap out Of danger like flash of light
ing according to rules unknown
and Grey's face famed and actual
turned anxious. Then, as a kindl
| fate would have II, Erskine's blad
caught In Grey's guard by acciden
and the powerful wrist behind it seel
| ing merely to wrench the weapo
loose tore Grey's rapier from his gras
and hurled 1t ten feet away. Their
liz no greater humiliation for the e.
| pert swordsman. and not for nothin
had Erskine suffered the shame {
that long-ago day when primitiv
instinct had led him to thrusting hi
knife into this same enemy's breas
Now, with his swords point on tn
earth, he waited courteously for Gre
to recover his weapon.