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"And leave me to the chance of hood?"

Sir Peter whitened to a deathly hue; his distressed eyes traveled from her to me; he made to speak, but no sound came

"This is all useless," I said quietly, as a knock came at the door I stepped back and opened it to Walter Butler

When he saw lare I knew already Then he turned, bowing to Lady Coleville and to Sir Peter, who, pale and astounded, stared at the h the fiend hian his eneht----"

But I cut hih

"Sir Peter," I said, "Mr Butler is here to say that he is not wedded to his Tryon County mistress--that is all; and as he therefore has not offended you, there is no reason for you to challenge him Now, sir, I pray you take Lady Coleville and return Go, in God's name, Sir Peter, for time spurs me, and I have business here to keep me!"

"Let Sir Peter remain," said Butler coldly "My quarrel is not with hiaily, "it is with me, I think"

"Carus," cried Lady Coleville, "I forbid you! What senseless thing is this you seek?"

"Pray caler of the gallows than ofhi: "Did you not hear the o, Carus; do you think such an insult to you can pass me like a puff of sea-wind?"

"It strikes me first," I said "It is to entlemen, to me!" said a low voice behind us--the voice of Elsin Grey

A our white faces Calht-eyed, a smile that I had never seen imprinted on her closed lips, she walked to the table, unlocked the case of pistols, lifted theht

"Elsin! Elsin!" staoneon me so fiercely that I stepped back "If any shot is fired in deference to me, I fire it; if any bullet is sped to defend entlemen Why"--and she turned like a flash upon Sir Peter--"why do you assume to interfere in this? Is not an honest man's duty to his oife first? Small honor you do yourself or her!--scant love must you bear her to risk your life to chance in a quarrel that concerns not you!"