HTINTHE DARK
of a Duel In the Carpetbag
Days In the South.
By ROCKFORD KINO.
Ight, 11)10, by American Press Asso
ciation.]
father was a South Carolinian,
•as graduated at West Point
i twelve years in the artillery,
;d a northern woman and re-
Some time after his death I
myself in possession of a plan
in his native state. This was
y after the civil war, and a plan
in the south was %vorthless un
lade valuable by close attention
ipeciai effort. Therefore 1 re
to go and live on it and mao
myself.
t was the "carpetbag" period,
iiere was a great deal of preju
igainst northerners. Strange as
PASSED HIM HE HISSED "TAJJKEE
CCltl"
; seem, my only Intimate friends
two or three es-oflieers of the I
nded Confederate armies. Among 1
was a physician. Dr. Armitage,
bad been a regimental surgeon. I
men not only called on me, but j
1 me to their houses. When I
hem that I was doubtful as to
er it would pay me to suffer the
sand arrows" constantly fired i
112 by my neighbors they promised j
nd by me, and if I would be pa- j
the persecution would eventually
wu.
alind Armitage, the doctor's
iter, was ten years my junior.
> was in her veins through her
r the blood of Norway. This
her a mingling of physical fea- j
that was peculiar, not to say
iful. She had Titian hair, dark j
fair skin, with roses in the |
s. She was a very hot rebel, J
■lis did not keep us from falling ,
re with each other. Her father, |
;h my senior by fifteen years. }
ue my intimate friend, and he i
no objection to the match. We j
married, a few of the neighbor- j
)lauters coming to the wedding. I
jalance would not attend the uup- j
of a southern girl with a northern !
man who persecuted me most I
lally was an Irishman named;
h.v. He had been an overseer be- j
he war and during the struggle
made money by getting cotton I
gh the Federal lines and selling '
an enormous price. As soon as I
Confederacy collapsed be bought
utation near mine and began to
the society of those who had al- j
regarded lilm as an inferior. Ilia ,
ness against me was intended as
ans of currying favor with them. |
cn it became necessary in conse
cc of an Insult received from Mur
fhat applied equally to me and to ,
rmltage to call the enemy to ac- !
there arose between the doctor 1
ne a dispute as to which should
the post of combatant Murphy i
stated publicly In the bar of the \
n that Armitage in receiving a ;
hern mudsill" into his family was
itor to the south and that he i
phy) proposed to drive me back
i. where I came from. Here were
men insulted. I as the younger
ind the first cause of the trouble
id that I should resent it Dr.
itnge argued that as a northern
1 was not fitted for such a con
with a southerner who had be
xi to the poor white class, and It
his own part, both for himself and
laughter's husband, to chastise
hy. And chastisement, of course,;
it a shooting match.
h Mrs. Armltage and my wife,
knew of the trouble, were very
i frightened. understanding that
ihy's Insult In South Carolina
lie resented and dreading the
xiuences. Armltage called a meet
of several of his intimate friends
nsked thorn what course they rec
lended him and me to pursue,
y were very Indignant at Murphy's
and some were in favor of send
i committee to him to request that
aave the state. Neither the doctor
I would assent to this. Then one
he planters asked If some ruse
d not be adopted by which Mur
would be put out of the fight,
i suggestion found favor with my
ler-in-law, and he adjourned the
ting, saying that he would think It
lie result was that the nest day
old me he had formed a plan. I
to purposely meet Murphy and
) his face. Some of our frieuds
e togo with me to see that Mur
did not draw a knife or a pistol
me. the object being to force him
'bailenge me. The plan the doctor
iu view turned upon the terms,
ob were sure to give me an advan
e over my enemy—indeed, so great
advantage that, while 1 could con
■i him. I uocd not kill him. In otb-
er words, the uffair was to be not u
duel, but a method of ridding us both
of Murphy's persecution.
The next evening I went to the bar
room of the tavern where Murphy had
given the Insult and where 1 knew be
was to be found every evening drink
ing mint Juleps. 1 entered the mom
with two friends, and, that 1 might
not be considered to have come espe
cially to find him, we called for juleps,
paying no attention to Murphy, who
sat at a table with another man. On
seeing me he scowled, but said noth
ing till we had finished our Juleps and
were about to leave. As we passed
him he hissed:
"Yankee cur!"
I brought the palm of my hand
across his cheek and quickly stepped
back, and my frleuds placed them
selves between hltn and me. One of
them said to him:
"You have repeatedly Injured a man
whose ancestors were South Caro
linians. Ue is worthy of his fathers
and, though they were gentlemen,
which you are not, he is ready to give
you satisfaction 1 shall expect to
hear from you at my house at your
convenience."
With that we left the tavern.
Mr. Murphy now had to choose be
tween sending me u challenge and be
ing considered in the neighborhood
what he had called me—a "cur." The
challenge came, and I handed it to Dr.
Armitage. A reply went back that I
would meet Murphy, but. being tin'
challenged party. I must Insist on my
own terms. These were cavalry sa
bers in a dark room, the time limit of
the contest to be fifteen minutes, at
the expiration of which the doors
were to be thrown open and the affair
ended. The hour of the meeting was
to be S o'clock p. m. or at twilight.
Twenty-four hours elapsed and »>
were beginning to think that Murphy
had been bluffed when a reply carat
accepting the terms A bedroom wu>
secured at the tavern from whi'-h ev
ery article of furniture was removed
except the carpet. There were but tivi
windows, which were boarded up. ren
deriug the room ns nearly dark as pos
sibie.
At halt past 7 Dr. Armitage, my sec
ond, and myself entered the tavern
and passed upstairs to a waiting roon
that had been assigned us. The doc
tor took out of his vest pocket a via!
and a camel's hair brush.
"Sit down there," he said, pointing
to an easy chair.
I obeyed, and. dipping the brush in
the vial, the doctor drew the formet
across my eyes. This done he band
aged them, and 1 remained for some
twenty-five minutes In total darkness
At 8 o'clock the bandage was remov
ed. 1 passed across a hallway and en
tered the room where I was to meet
Murphy. There was another door by
which he was introduced to the room
The two doors were closed simultane
ously, and we were in total darkness
At least we were supposed to be in
total darkness Murphy was really bo
I was not. Dr. Armitage, having dilat
ed the pupils of my eyes by means ol
a drug and then having kept them
bandaged for awhile, had etiabled mt
to take advantage of the little light
that filtered through any crack in tin
windows or between the door and tin
sill. 1 was astonished, knowing, as I
did, that every possible ray had beet
shut out from the room, that 1 could se<
Murphy with fair distinctness. 1 cuu.e
also see that he was oblivious to ever)
object in the room, including myself.
I advanced stealthily and touched
his chest with the point of my saber
Lie drew back, and 1 made a detour
to another part of the room. It was
amusing to see him grope, every mo
ment expecting that he might receive
a thrust I could not discover the ex
pression on his face, but his attitude*
were quite plain to me. Most of tin
time he sidled along the wall, but ai
the slightest sound from me wouM
retreat in any direction his fright di
ta ted.
i-'or awhile I amused myself by
getting quite near him and touching
him with my saber. His agony r.t
such times must have been extreme
But, finding that my increased sight
was diminishing. 1 presently begat
to give him some stinging blows wit I
tho Oat of the steel. In this way li
felt justified in punishing him for hi*
insolence and now and again be
labored him soundly. lie struck at
me wildly, but 1 was never where hi>
thrusts came or his blows fell. Onct
he made so quick a stab that I barely
had time to avoid getting the poin<
of his weapon In my ribs. Irritated
I approached him and gave him :
blow on the cheek that drew blood
At that moment the doors wen
thrown opou, and, with a cry ot
"Time's up!" the seconds rushed it
to stop tho fray.
The strain ou Murphy had been si
terrible that ns soon as it was ovet
he swooned. I think I should turn
done the same had an unseen enemy
been thrusting a saber at me for :
quarter of an hour, 1 expecting wit I
every thrust to be killed. As It wa- j
I gut credit for extraordinary noi v.
no one being in the secret exc-npt
Dr Armltage, my second, and my
self. Neither Mr. Armltage nor mj
wife knew anything about the nlTai:
till it was all over
Murphy never troubled us again
The Psychological Moment.
"Is Miss Whcatou at homo 7" tiskod
one of the neighbors of the spins tor
he called at hor door to get her sign::
ture to a petition.
"She is that," responded Cella Leahy,
throe weeks over from Ireland and a
most willing handmaiden. "Will yoz
step in. sorr?"
"I should like to see her on a matter
of business for a few moments If she
is not engaged," said the neighbor.
Cella flung -wide the door and waved
him in.
"If she has wan. he's neglectln' hor
shameful," she said in a hoarse, confi
dential whisper, "for 'tis three weeks
tomorrer since I come here, and he's
not put his fut over the t'reshold in all
that toime! Sure, 'tis your chanst!"—
Youth's Companion.
Airy Persiflage.
Passenger on Aeroplane What's
that dlngdongiug noise? Can it be
(tie cowbell* on the Milky way? Avia
tor—No; ihat's only Saturn's rings.
Prosperity loads often to ambition
and ambition t « disappointment.
How Man Has
Voyaging
Story of the Conquest of
the Sky by Application
of the Bird Principle of
Aerial Locomotion—The
Wrights the Original
Aeroplane Boys.
By J. A. EDGERTON.
(Copyright, 1910, by American Press Asao
• » elation.J
MEN have wanted to fly for sev
eral thousand years, and now
they are doing it. So strong
has been the desire to emu
late the housefly and the crow that we
have pictured heaven as a place where
we should all have wings. If, as Omar
says, "heaven Is the Image of ful
filled desire," then the wish to fly has
been the chief want of man. He has
dreamed of It In paradise and lived to
see it come tvue on earth. When
Charles K. Hamilton over the Mineola
Held chased a bluebird hither and yon
until he had the poor thing scared out
of its wits tho feat marked a new de
parture in human history. In these
days when we say, "Up, up, thou
lark," we can have the proud con
sciousness that Brother I.ark is not
tho only one who can do the "up" act.
Photos by American I'ress Association.
THREE STAGES IN FLIGHT PROGRESS-BALLOON. DIRIGIBLE AIR
SUII' AM) AEROPLANE.
We can do a little tipping and have au
aerial lark ourselves—or at least wo
can If the Wright brothers do not en-
Join us.
The Wright brothers are the ones
who did the trick. We can abuse
them all we want to now. call them
clogs in the manger and get peevish
on account of their lawsuits and in
junctions, but we are bound to admit
that they are the original aeroplane
boys. Langley and Chanute worked
out the theory, but did uot make It
practical. The Wright brothers by
the use of flexible tips to assure equili
brium and of elevation and direction
rudders, ns well as sustaining planes,
motor and propeller, solved the prob
lem of the ages and actually aviated a
heavier than air machine. At Kitty
Hawk, N. C.. In the Daredevil—or is it
the KiUder!!?—hills, they experimented
with gilders until they could slidu
down a breeze. Then at tlu'lr home in
Dayton, 0.. they installed a motor and
began to fly at night so that uobody
would catch them at it.
The Original Fly-by-ui^hts.
Strange stories came out of -Dayton
those days. People were sure the
Wrights were flying, hut had never
seen them do it. The Inventive broth
ers were not yet ready to take the pub
lic into their confidence and until they
were the dear public might as well go
out and lose Itself. It is altogether
possible that they were then planning
to take out these very patents which
are now causing so many grouches
among other aviators. Until they had
perfected their machine and had the
patents safe in their inside pockets
they were not going to let anybody
else steal their ideas. The chief item
of their patent was the flexible tips
which are used to keep their craft on
an even keel. Any one who has watch
ed the buzzard soar has seen him shift
and tip his wings to maintain his equi
librium. That Is Just what the Wright
brothers did with the aeroplane. Why
New Tree Pest.
In a lecture delivered at the Bussey
institute. In Boston, the other day I'ro
-I'essor C. T. Brues of Harvard an
nounced the discovery of the "shot
gun beetle."
"The beetle has already destroyed
many trees," said the professor, "and
might be called the shotgun beetle
from the round boles which the larvae
pierce In the bark of elms after dig
ging a perfect mass of tunnels under
the bark, often completely girdling th»
trees."
Achieved
by Air Route
Operation of the Heavier
Than Air Machine De
scribed In Detail Some
of the Startling Stunts of
Hamilton and Other Avi
ators Who Dare.
should they not patent It? If any in
vention should be protected from petty
larceny, why should not this, which
may prove the greatest luventlon of
the ages?
As the aeroplane is now perfected
its resemblance to the bird is quite
startling. The elevation rudder in front
takes the place of the head, and the
planes are widespread like the wings,
the flexible tips answering to the slant
of the wings, the guiding rudder be
hind acting as the tail. There is one
fundamental difference, however. The
bird gets its niotor power by flapping
Its wings. Now, man has never dis
covered how to Cap his mechanical
wings. The only times ho ever tried
It ended in disaster. Rut he has learn
ed to run six cylinder gasoline engines
and screw propellers. Thus it is that
the aeroplane blows people's hats off.
smells like an automobile and buzzes
like a swarm of bees. There is one
advantage in the propeller, however. It
gets speed It would take a rather
husky bird to fly from Albany to New
York in one forenoon or togo from
New York t<> Philadelphia and back In
one day. yet the aeroplane manages
both with seeming ease.
Abandonment of the Balloon.
For a century or more the aeronauts
confined their attentions to the balloon,
finally perfecting the dirigible, which
reached Its highest standard under
Santos-Duinout In in me and Count
Zeppelin in Germany. The aeroplane
is an American invention. Since its
advent the balloon, dirigible or other
wise, has become a back number The
gas bag. which rises on the same prin
ciple sis does a bubble in water, may
be all right for county fairs, but for
real air travel it is out of It. passe and
a has-been.
The mechanical arrangement of the
aeroplane is simplicity Itself. For ex
ample, take the machine u-vd by Glenn
11. Curtiss In his flight from Albany to
New York, a distance of 150 mik>s.
The same principles are involved in
this as in the Wright biplane, as evi
denced by the suit of the Wright
brothers against Curtiss for infringe
ment of patent. The two sustaining
planes of the Curtiss machine are
thirty feet from tip to tip and four
fc'ot apart. The seat of the operator
and the engine are situated between
these planes, the screw propeller being
just behind the engine. The steering
wheel is immediately in front of the
operator and controls both the eleva
tion planes, which are ahead, and the
steering rudder In the rear. The eleva
tion planes are controlled by a back
ward and forward motion of the
wheel, steering rudder by a turn
of the wheel, ns on a ship or an auto
mobile. The equilibrium planes are at
the ends of the main sustaining planes
and are controlled by a movement of
the operator's body, which also moves
the back of his scat, which In turn is
Camel Carriages.
Camel carriages arc uot common
conveyances in most parts of India,
but on the great trunk road leading
to Delhi they are frequently to be seen.
They are large, double story wagons,
drawn sometimes by one, sometimes
by two or even three camels, accord
ing to their size. Iron bars which give
them a cagelike appearance were orig
inally intended as a defense against
robbers, and the carts were probably
also used for the conveyance of pris
oners.
conhecte9~wlEh the planes by means of
wires. The same motion that tilts ono
of these planes downward tips the
other upward. Thus If the operator
feels the left end of his machine drop
ping he leans to the right, which la
the natural movement for him to
make. This motion carries with it the
back of his seat which tips the left
hand equilibrium plane upward and
the right band one downward, thus re
storing balance. For shutting off the
engine be presses a foot pedul, which
short circuits it; otherwise the engine
is controlled by levers at his band.
We're Off!
After starting the motor the opera
tor takes his sent, attendants In the
meantime hanging onto the machine
until given the word to let go. Then
the aeroplane starts forward on its
three wheels until It gains sufficient
momentum to take the air. By pulling
the steering wheel toward him the
operator lifts the elevation planes, the
machine shoots upward, and the jour
ney Is begun. After that It Is a mat
ter of guiding, finding the proper ele
vation nnd keeping an even keel. When
ready to alight the operator chooses
his landing, which must be an open
level field, shuts off his engine, turns
his elevation planes downward and
goes earthward with a swiftness which
takes the breath of the groundlings
below. At the proper distance from
terra flrinn he elevates his plnnes
sharply, which serves both to check
the motion and break the descent. The
result is that he glides forward and
lights as gently as a bird.
At tho Mlneoln field on Long Island
Charles K. Hamilton lu a Curtlss bi
plane recently did some surprising
stunts. Cutting figure eights In the
air were among his most commonplace
performances. One of his most dare
devil feats was stopping Ills engine at
a great height and dropping to the
earth. When It seemed that he would
be dashed to certain death he would
start his engine again, elevate his
planes and glide away. lie would also
swoop down to within a few feet
of tho heads of spectators, causing
them to scatter In all directions, then
rise ngalu and sweep away until he
was like a bird on tho distant horizon.
Ho habitually smokes a cigarette on
his machine. Despite his pranks he
did not suffer an accident at Mlneola.
A Few Aeroplane Thrillers.
Since the first public exhibition by
the Wrights the aeroplane has made
marked advance and accomplished
ninny thrilling feats. In France Wil
bur Wright had the kings and nota
bles of the world his eager spectators.
Afterward Orvllle Wright at Fort Myer
fulfilled all the government require
ments, making a straightaway flight
to Alexandria nnd return without
alighting, also breaking the record by
remaining in th* air with a passenger
for more than an hour. Later In Ger
many Orvllle repeated the triumphs of
Wilbur in France, making at one time
a 1,000 foot ascension, the highest up
to that time. Another notable aero
plane feat by the Wright brothers was
Wilbur's circling of the statue of Lib
erty and Grant's tomb during the llud
son-Fulton celebration In New York.
Of Into the Wrights have settled
down to manufacturing nnd training
operators. They never did fly in prize
contests. Their whole purpose now Is
to protect their patents and perfect the
aeroplane ns n commercial proposition.
Their dropping of the thrill muklng
line has not been followed by other
aviators, however. Count that month
lost that does not break some aviation
record. Louis Blerlot's feat of cross
ing the English channel was afterward
beaten by another Frenchman, who
went over In shorter time, nnd this In
turn was cast in the shade by the Eng
lishman Rolls, who, in a Wright bi
plane, crossed the channel nnd back
without alighting. Louis Tnulhan has
made some of tho most wonderful of
all the flights recorded, going from
London to Manchester, n distance of
180 miles, covering 117 miles without
alighting, in 2 hours and GO minutes
ratilhan also reached the highest alti
tude attained by an aeroplane, 4,103
feet, at Los Angeles. At Kheinis.
Francs, Ilenrl Farinan remained In
LOUIS I'AULHAN, WHO I'LKW FltOM LONDON
TO MANCHI'-STEIt, 180 MILLS.
the air 4 hours, 0 minutes and 25 sec
onds. Glenn 11. Curtiss' two most
notable flights were his winning of the
speed prize at Uheims and his recent
trip from Albany to New York.
All these aviators and others who as
yet have not succeeded in flying into
the universal limelight are willing and
waiting for opportunities to break oth
er world records In aviation.
What they may be able to accom
plish in the days to come is not for us
to forecast.
Finding Him Out.
Indignant Constituent—This is the
fourth time 1 have called to see the
senator by appointment and found him
out every time. Private Secretary (of
eminent statesman)—Oh, well, I would
not make a fuss about that. Accord
ing to what the papers say. everybody
is ftndiug him out.—Chicago Tribune.
Own Up.
A man should never be ashamed to
own he has been in (lie wrong, which
is but saying, in other words, that he
is visor !'■ ' :y ' t:'u he was yesterday
BUILDINGJI NEST
A Story of a Love Developed
From Childhood.
By CHAUNCEY WARDWELL
ICopyrtght, 1910, by American Preaa Asso
ciation.J
It began by our capturing the sugar
bowL She was a black eyed girl of
Ave, I ft towheaded boy of six. I was
playing with her brother, who was fly
ing a kite. The kite broke away, and
be ran after It Nellie took me to the
sideboard and showed me the bowl full
of big white lumps. The back door was
standing open, and I could see the sun
shining on the trees. There Is a nat
ural connection In a boy's mind be
tween the greenwood and robbery.
That's what makes the story of Robin
Hood so fascinating to him. 1 couldn't
help taking up the sugar bowl and run
ning like a deer to the wood, Nellie
following. She wore a sunbonnet,
which as she ran fell onto her back
and was held there by the strings tied
around her neck, her hair flying in the
wind.
We were chased and captured, hav
ing perpetrated the crime without reap
ing Its fruits. The bowl was taken
from us before we had had a chance
to eat a single lump. 1 was sent home
and received a whipping. Nellie was
let ofT with a scolding. 1, being older
than she, was held accountable for the
whole affair.
"Shame on you," cried my mother,
"to lead away a little girl only five
years old!" And she administered an
other dose of her slipper.
The nest time It was 1 who led. 1
was eight; Nellie was seven.
"Let's go to the woods and climb
trees," I said to her.
"Mother has forbidden me togo
there," she replied.
"I'm golns," I said.
I started, but presently looked back.
She was following me. I waited, and
she caught up with me. The wood
was quite dense, large trees Inter
spersed with saplings and little shoots.
I sat down on the root of a tree, she
on a log opposite mo. It was very
"so JACK AsncnsT CCT THOSE LETTEBS!"
still In there, the only sound being so
light that It might be Imaginary,
something like the rustle one hears by
putting a seashell to the ear.
"Do you hear the leaves grow?" I
said.
"1 don't hear anything," she replied.
"Yes. you do. Listen!"
She listened and heard what I did.
a faint confusion of whispers. "Is
that the leaves growing?" sbe asked.
"Of course It is."
If a modern scientist should hear the
leaves grow he would consider that sin
Important discovery hail been made.
To the child it was simply one if
those incidents common in fairy tales.
There was a large beech tree near,
and, taking out my knife, 1 cut a big
"N" on the bark, the Initial for Nellie.
She watched me, much pleased with
the crooked letter. Then 1 said:
"Let's piny we are birds and build
a nest up la a tree."
"Let's," she said,
A fallen tree leaned against the
beech on which 1 had cut the letter
"N." I scrambled up the fallen one.
Nellie following. She stopped at the
lower branches, while I climbed high
er, looking for a convenient spot for
the nest. At last I found one.
"Here It is," 1 cried—"three shoots
from one stem. It will rock the little
birds when the wind blows. Come up
aud see it."
"I'm afraid."
"What are you afraid of, you little
goosel Come on!"
She did come on. but slipped, and 1
heard a thud on the ground. I looked
below and saw her lying In a heap. ■
Her face was toward me and white
as marble. 1 scrambled down and
shook her, thinking to bring her to
herself, but she did not respond. Then
I called to her. Still there was no
awakening. I began to be frightened.
I was a strong boy. I took her tip and
carried her to her home.
It was a long while before she re
covered from that fall. I received
another whipping on her account. I
•vas rather pleased at this, for I con
sidered It In the nature of penance
for persuading her to climb the tree.
Neither of the whippings 1 received
Impressed mo as a consequence to the
offense. Children don't bother them
selves as to the cause of their nun<>ih
ments. They simply consider them
something to be endured like othei
disagreeable events. Nevertheless 1
was very 111 at ease till I heard that
niy little chum was out of danger
and that she would suffer no lasting
111 effects from her fall, for at first
It was feared she had been killed and
Inter thnt she would be a cripple. 1
occupied my mind by going out to the
wood and cutting the other letters to
the name I had begun on the beech
from which she had fallen.
I was not allowed to see my little
girl frleud again, tier parents con
sidered me u very bad buy indeed, and
1 was forbidden to come to theti
house. My own parents probably
agreed with them, for they sent OM
to a boarding school for Uttle boy*
Before 1 went home for my flrat
vacation our family bad changed out
residence, so that the childish asao
elation between Nellie and myself wta
ended.
I forgot all the children with whoa
1 had played at that early age except
Nellie. It Is a mistake to suppose that
children have no love affairs. I did
not know when I suggested to Nelll*
that we go up In a tree and build ft
nest like the birds that I was obeying
a law of nature. That something
which draws the birds to mate and
provide for their young was la DM.
At any rate, I considered Nellie my
sweetheart and my sweetheart ah#
remained.
I will admit that fifteen years latet
whatever remained of this chlldlab
affection lay dormant Neverthelatt
it was In me aud, like a spark, needed
to be fanned Into a flame. I had
prospered for it youngster of twenty
four and, though I was far from
Nellie, 1 longed to see her. At last
business called me to a city near which
she had lived, and I determined togo
and discover If she was still there.
Upon inquiry on my arrival )
' learned that she had not yet left thfl
j parental home—the homo she had oc
i eupied when I had seen Iter last It
was a bright summer morning, and J
strolled up a familiar Btreet and stood
before the house 1 sought. I did not
wish to make a formal call, so t
loitered In the neighborhood till a
young lady came out into the front
yard to water some plants. Approach
ing her, 1 asked:
"I believe a family of Ashursts once
| lived opposite you In that house over
I there. Do you remember them?"
"Indistinctly. I was very young
when they lived here."
"I think there was a boy—an Incor
rigible young rascal. I suppose yon
were too young to remember him?"
"I remember him. There was a cir
cumstance that fixed liltn in my child's
brain. I was with him one day In that
wood back yonder, or In what Is now
left of It, and we climbed n tree to-,
gether. I fell and was severely hurt."
"That must have been Jack Ashurst
He was always trying to break Ills
neck or Inducing his playmates to
break theirs. What became of him?"
"I don't know.l never saw him aft
er my fall. May I ask if you are a
connection of the Ashursts?"
"A very near connection. Jack told
mo about this escapade you mention,
lie said he cut your name on a beech
tree out In the wood. Is that tree still
standing?"
"It Is. The letters are barely distin
guishable."
"I'm going out to see it."
"I'll show you where It Is." she re
plied, and. opening the gate for me.
we passed through the yard and over
open ground to the wood. She led me
to a tree and showed me the name
"Nellie" on its trunk. The N nnd the
two l's were the only letters distin
guishable.
"So Jack Asburst cut those letters!
Well, well, well! He must have beet*
between eight and nine years old. and
you. I suppose, were"—
"About seven. I believe."
. "I understood Jack to say that he
had cut only the letter Non the day
you fell." -•
"When 1 was recovering he came out
here and cut the others. They told me
he was broken hearted at having sug
gested my climbing the tree."
"Why did he wish you to climb it 7"
"He suggested that we play we were
birds and build a nest. He found a
place for ono nnd called me togo up
whero he was and see It In doing so
I fell."
"I think Jack never recovered from
the shock of that fall. As he grew
, older he realized his responsibility In
' the case. He should not even have
permitted you to do that climbing,
much less to persuade you."
"Nonsense! 1 did it of my own ac
cord "
There was silence between lis fot
awhile, nt the end ot' whi-li i said:
"You have not I milt a nest yet?"
She looked at me v.lth a puzzled ex
pression. I repeated the remark la
another form. "1 mean you have not
married and made a home of yout
own."
She still kept her eyes tixed on me, a
bit of surprise t owing her want ot
comprehension • Why did jpu express
It the other way?" she asked.
"It has seemed 'o me that a boy
and a girl playing they are birds and
building a nest rather prettily typifies
their marrying and making a home.
Did It never occur to you in that
light?"
She was silent. I took her silence
for admission.
"Nellie," 1 said, permitting the feel
ing I had been keeping back to influ
ence the tone in which 1 spoke, "you
don't know me."
"You are Jack Ashurst?"
"I am."
"1 half suspected as much."
"I have come back and brought you
out here to ask you if we may not
build that nest"
And we did.
loin
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