You would have said that they were bloody minded--the
busy-bodies--and bent on trouble; that their aim was to profoundly
enrage me, and cause bloodshed. George had laughed at me, they said;
never had had a moment's doubt of the young lady's sentiments; had
often jested about me, and expressed his pity for my 'silly
presumption;' had even amused himself and the young lady, by mimicking
my peculiarities, and raising a laugh at my expense.
"These reports were persistently and regularly repeated for my
information: I was baited, and worried, and driven nearly mad by
them--finally a duel nearly resulted; but that last step was not taken.
I simply made my bow to the happy pair, left them without a word, and
returned home, determined to drop the whole matter--but none the less
enraged and embittered.
"From that moment George and myself rarely met, and never as friends. I
had been brought to hate him--he knew the fact--and although he was
innocent of all wrong to me, as I know to-day, made no effort to win my
regard again. He was as proud as myself--he said nothing--and our paths
here separated forever.
"Such is the necessary introduction, colonel," said General Davenant,
"to the events which I propose to relate."
XIX.
THE MURDER.
"More than twenty years had passed," continued General Davenant, "when
that old hatred which had been aroused in me, toward George Conway,
produced bitter fruits.
Pages:
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377