Activate Javascript or update your browser for the full Digital Library experience.
Previous Page
–
Next Page
OCR
~ WILD MARGARET, yal
\rage. “ When he comes, he will be accompanied by the
‘police, no doubt.”
'. The words were spoken with such an ‘icy distinctness
‘that they reached Blair.
| His flace flushed, and he flung his cigar away and ap-
‘proached the others.
\ “Some accident has detained my friend, general,’’ he
said. ‘‘It is getting late, and if we wait any longer we
|may be disturbed. ‘Will one of you gentlemen do me the
favor of acting for me?”’
- The two’ men looked blank; such an arrangement was
utterly opposite to all etiquette.
Blair smiled cheerfully.
‘* Pray don’t mind saying no. Iam quite willing to dis-
pense with a second.”’
This suggestion certainly could not be entertained, and
after a hurried,conference the doctor offered his services;
the general and he selected a level piece of ground, and
the doctor brought a couple of swords.
‘“You have ‘brought no weapons, my lord,’ he said.
‘‘The prince begs you will make choice.”’
Blair chose one at haphazard, then took off his cloak,
and coat and waistcoat, and turned up his wristbands.
The doctor eyed him approvingly. .
‘“‘Tf the result depended upon strength, my lord,’’ he
said, ‘‘I should have little fear for you, but——”’
“Strength is little to do with it, I know,”’ said Blair
smiling; ‘* never mind, sir, I will try not to discredit you.”
‘You are sure there can be no apology?’ said the doc-
tor earnestly.
Blair shook his head. ;
‘‘T fear not. I think if I were to apologize, the prince
would not accept it. He has set his heart upon a fight,
and ’—he smiled again—‘‘I am not at allinclined to balk
him.”
The doctor shrugged his shoulders; there was a short
and hurried conference between the two seconds, and then
they placed their men.
The prince stepped up to his position slowly, and took
his stand with that calm, resolute expression on his face
which indicated a settled purpose. The gray of coming
morning fell upon the open space, the white shirts of the
duelists shining out conspicuously in the half light. The
general stood at a little distance between them, his hand-
kerchief in his hand, and both men fixed their eyes upon
it. Then it. dropped and they approached each other
_ slowly and steadily, and looked into each other’s eyes. -
And in the prince’s fixed gaze Blair read his intended
Sane
8
CEE
ee
z =
WGA oy mene egies
a OUTER Rpg enon
DSTI goes
agh dip rneseer ein
SARE UR ee oe ae,
“et
ES aE Oct NO api rme.
Een epee ae