Hearts Afire - By J. D. Rawden Page 0,15

solemn hours, when the world was shut out of his life, Sir Edward reviewed his position; but he could find no Honorable way out of his predicament. Physically, he was as brave as brave could be; morally, he had none of that grander courage. He was quite sensible that his first words to Harleigh Daly that night had been intended to provoke a quarrel, and he knew that he would be expected to redeem them by a formal defiance. However, as the idea became familiar, it became imperative; and at length it was with a fierce satisfaction that he opened his desk and without hesitation wrote the decisive words:

To Harleigh Daly:

SIR: A person of the character I bear cannot allow the treachery and dishonorable conduct of which you have been guilty to pass without punishment. Convince me that you are more of a gentleman than I have reason to believe, by meeting me tonight as the sun drops in the wood on the Kalchhook Hill. Our seconds can locate the spot; and that you may have no pretense to delay, I send by bearer two swords, of which I give you the privilege to make choice.

In the interim, at your service,

Sir Edward Van Heemskirk.

He had already selected Guy Barrington as his second. He was a young man of wealth and good family, exceedingly anxious for social distinction, and, moreover, so fastidiously honorable that Sir Edward felt himself in his hands to be beyond reproach. As he anticipated, Barrington accepted the duty with alacrity, and, indeed, so promptly carried out his principal's instructions, that he found Harleigh Daly still sleeping when he waited upon him. But Harleigh was neither astonished nor annoyed. He laughed lightly at “Sir Edward's impatience of offence,” and directed Mr. Barrington to Ewan Rawden as his second; leaving the choice of swords and of the ground entirely to his direction.

“A more civil, agreeable, handsome gentleman, impossible it would be to find; and I think the hot haughty temper of Sir Edward is to blame in this affair,” was Guy Barrington's private comment. But he stood watchfully by his principal's interests, and affected a gentlemanly disapproval of Harleigh Daly's behavior.

And lightly as Harleigh had taken the challenge, he was really more disinclined to fight than Sir Edward was. In his heart he knew that Sir Edward had a just cause of anger; “but then,” he argued, “Sir Edward is a proud, pompous fellow, for whom I never assumed a friendship. His street corner friendliness I regret in any way to have abused; but who the deuce could have suspected that Sir Edward Van Heemskirk was in love with the adorable Charlotte? In faith, I did not at the first, and now tis too late. I would not resign the girl for my life; for I am sensible that life, if she is another's, will be a very tedious thing to me.”

All day Sir Edward was busy in making his will, and in disposing of his affairs. He knew himself well enough to be certain, that, if he struck the first blow, he would not hesitate to strike the death blow, and that nothing less than such conclusion would satisfy him. Harleigh also anticipated a deathly persistence of animosity in his opponent, and felt equally the necessity for some definite arrangement of his business. Unfortunately, it was in a very confused state. He owed many debts of honor, and his bill with Hildebrand was yet unsettled. He drank a cup of coffee, wrote several important letters, and then went to Fraunce's, and had a steak and a bottle of wine. During his meal his thoughts wandered between Charlotte and Hildebrand. After dinning he went straight to Hildebrand's store.

It happened to be Saturday; and the shutters were closed, though the door was slightly open, and Hildebrand was sitting with his granddaughter in the cool shadows of the crowded place. Harleigh was not in a ceremonious mood, and he took no thought of disturbing them. He pushed wider the door, and went clattering into their presence; and with an air of pride and annoyance Hildebrand rose to meet him. At the same time, by a quick look of intelligence, he dismissed Miriam; but she did not retreat farther than within the deeper shadows of some curtains of stamped Moorish leather, for she anticipated the immediate departure of the intruder.

She was therefore astonished when her grandfather, after listening to a few sentences, sat down, and entered into a lengthy conversation. And her