Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-02-21
tContinucd from our last isss,c)

nave knONn some liars WHO
were not towards"
You remember a promise I made
you once?"
Twice" corrected ErSkine.
Grey's eyes flashed upward to the
crossed rapiers on the wall.
precisely" answered Erskine
and when?"
Barbara. ~reappearing, heard thei,
last words, and she came forward
pale and with piercing eyes:
Cousin Erskine, l want to apol.
ogize to you for my little faith. Mr.,
Grey, your horse will be at the door
at once. l wish you a safe journey
to you command"
Erskine was on the porch when
Grey came out to mount his horse.
You will want seconds" asked
Grey.
They might try to stop us-no!''
Il shall ride slowly" Grey said.
Erskine bowed.
IT shall not"
Within half an hour Barbara,
passing through the hall, saw that
the rapiers were gone from the wall
and she stopped. with the color fled
from her face and her hand on her
heart.
In a few moments she had found
Harry and Hugh. Even while their
horses were being saddled her father
rode up.
IT'S murder" cried Harry, land
Grey knows it. Erskine knows
nothing about a rapier."
Without a word Colonel Dale
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 waiting that was the role of
ome in those days.
Meanwhile, Firefy was Swimming
along the river road. Grey had kept
his word. He was waiting between
two plantations.
They hitched their horses, and
Erskine followed into a pleasant
glade-a grassy glade through
which murmured a little stream.
Erskine dropped the rapiers on the
sward.
take your choice" he said.
"There is none." said Grey, pick
Ing up the one nearer to him.
when o are ready" Erskine
said.
Ready" answered Grey. and
'lunged.
Erskine merely whipped at his
blade and sprang backward. He
was as quick as an eyelash and 1.-the
as a panther, and yet Grey almost
laughed aloud.
All Erskine did was to whip the
thrusting blade aside and leap out
of danger like a flash of light. 1t
was like In inexpert boxer failing
according to rules unknown-and
Grey's face famed and actually
turned anxious.
/ Then Erskine's blade caught in
Grey's guard by accident. and the
powerful wrist behind it seeking
merely to wrench the weapon loose
tore Grey's rapier from his grasp
and hurled it ten feet away. With
his swords point on the earth, he
waited c~ourteously for Grey to re-
rover his weapon.
AS Grey rushed for his sword
Ilrskine heard the beat of horses
hoofs. He snatched it from the
ground and turned. and as h rush
ed for Erskine, Colonel Dale swung
from his horse. The sworG-blades
clashed-and Colonel Dale had Frs
kline by the wrist and was between
them.
"Eow dare you. sir?" cried Grey
hotly.
Just a moment" repeated the
colonel sternly. Mr.. Grey, do you
think it quite fair that you with
your skill should fight a man who
knows nothing about foils?"
There was no other wa.," Grey
said sullenly.
Your country is at war. She
needs every mar for her defense.
Do you not both think your lives
belong to your country"
Colonel Dale, your nephew gross
1r inCtr1fn1 Mo n~l vo,rr Jorto1f,-
showed me the door. 1 merely re-
peated what 1 bad been told and I
believed it true. Now that I hear
it is not true, I am willing to ex-
press my regrets and apologies"
THAT is better" said Colonel
Dale heartily, and he turned to Frs
kline, but Erskine was crying hotly:
And I express neither"
AS they rode back Colonel Dale
spoke of the war. 1t was about to
move into Virginia. he said, and
Hugh interrupted him with a glad
I'VE can go!" Colonel Dale nod
ded sadly.
Suddenly all pulled their horses
in simultaneously and raised their
eyes. for all heard the coming of a
horse in a dead run. Around n
curve OIL the road came
Barbara, with her face white and
her hair streaming behind her. She |
pulled her pony in but a few feet
in front OF them, with burning eyes |
on Erskine alone.
"Have you killed him-have you
killed him? If you have She
stopped helpless. and all were so
amazed that non could answer. !
Erskine shook his head. There was
a flash of relief in the girls white
face, its recklessness gave way to
sudden shame, and, without a word,
she wheeled and was away again
Harry flying after her. No one
spoke. Colonel Dale looked aghast
and Erskine's heart again turned
sick.
AS the dusk gathered that even
ing Erskine, looking gloomily
through his window, saw Barbara
futter like a white moth past the
box-hedge and down the path. A
moment later he saw the tall form
Of Colonel Dale follow her. On the
thick turf the colonel's feet too were
noiseless, and when Barbara stopped
at the sun-dial he too paused.
Little girl" he called. and no
lovers voice could have been moro
gentle. Come here.'
She turned and saw him, the low
coon lighting all the tenderness in
his fine old face. and she flew to
him. In wise silence he stroked her
hair until she grew a little calmer.
-..-I