The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-01-04

heart bleed fer me? Pity me, pity me, Dolores;
tormented by this terrible fear, and helpless
before this cruel destiny"
"Frank, my heart does bleed for you; but
how, how car help your have no power"
The per6dious lover clasping her in his arms,
tears rose in his eyes. 'You have the power"
he cried. 'grell me your fathers secret OF
success. My father, knowing this, can bafhe
him and disalm him. As I hope for succol in
my last hour, it is only to save my father tsiat
ask this"
Dolores sank her head for moment; tf.en
she flung her arms round Cisson's neck hnd
kissed his forehead.
aFrank," she said, "though We may never
more see each other in this world, I cannot re-
fuse this request, for I know how deac q
fathers life iD. I can trust you, Frank, know,
bound Ssn I1S up with With mine. mime My father Years ago.
lost his left arm at @ siege in India; it was re.
placed by one Of wood, skilfully made, working
with metal Bprings, and strengthened below
the elbow by metal bands. On this he receives
his adversarY's first thrust; then, quick as
thought, he breaks in two his enemy's blade
with heavy side blow, and delivers his fhtai
thrust under the left collar bone.'
Clisson's lips were pressed to hers, whe q o
warning from the black nurse OF the colonels
carriage stopping at the hotel door, DISTURBED
the lovers, and they parted with hurried but
passioned embrace.
That same night-to the astonishment Of
the club and the no great sorrow OF the He1t
combatant-CGsson announced his intention OF
being the next man to cross swords with the
colonel.
'T have my reasons" he said; "and tonight
carry off the girl"
''But that confounded thrust2" suggested
thu chairman.
80, leave that to me. did not learn fenc-
ing Of Destouches for nothing; never you fear
me-"
"Clisson has got some mischief in hard"
said one of the men; 'shis eyes sparkle 80, and
he is in such mad spirits. Well, I'd just as
soon he fought this colonel before me: I'd
rather the old fellow got thrust or two in his
sword-arm before my turn came"
The duel took place the next morning. The
colonel paused when he saw CGsson. The
doors closed, and they were left alone.
ana e nHp We we H mse Have sy YOU inc
wirning by your companions2 Will nothing
teach you wisdom2 thought Ill Of you in
Guadaloupe, and refused you my daughter, Ind
here find you the member OF club OF assas-
sins. Come, draw, sir"
"Colonel Massard,' said Clisson, biting his
under lip till the blood almost came, s'you owe
more to good fortune than to skill or courage.
I, too, have been fortunate with the sword.
Luck may turn this time. have my comPan-
IONS to revenge, and your insults, old and rev,
to repay tllreefold."
The colonel threw his hat behind him, and
drew his sword.
.i'Young man." he said, 'T am told that in
your club priority goes according to the NUM-
ber of homicides you have effected. In that
two or three widows. Now, sir, conner death
waits for you."
The colonel was cold and sternly resoltlte;
but there was no eargerness for blood IN the
manner in which he advanced to the attIck.
There was more OF the judge than the execu-
toner about him as he looked around the linn
ghastly room. He seemed as confident Of VIC
tory as if he had been sent from heaven to
perform punishment that had been prophe-
sled. He stood there q frame OF steel, his
sword feeling along his adyersary's blade, FEN
sitive of the finest vibration and thirstine for
the thrust.
Clisson also stood keen OF eye and watctful.
Suddenly tho colonel dashed his left arm at his
point. The wooden fingers opened to clutch
the blade. Clisson saw the moment had arriy-
ed. he passed his point to the right, threw
of his adveysary's sword, and then, with q
swift clinging pressure toward the hilt, bent it
to the floor. The colonel drew back astorlsh-
cd; but careless Of his life. he did not retire
from the threatening sword that was raised to
strike him to the heart. Cisson delayed his
| yengance only to taste it the longer.
| He had pierced his adversary's left shoulder,
| and the sword was raised for the coup de grace,
when the folding-doors Of the inner room lead
! ing to the balcony were dashed open; 1t was
| Dolores who rushed in, and drawing pistol,
fired at her cruel and faithless lover, who fell
| to the ground, pierced by ball in the clest.
| The brave girl, soldiers daughter, perfect
| ly reliant on her lovers truth, yet still, she
knew not why, apprehensiye OF the result of
the duel, had concealed herself, armed, in the
| inner room OF the club, with the cooperation
of her faithful black nurse. The first word
spoken by Clisson proved to her that she had
been betrayed; and hearing her father in tlan-
ger, she at once appeared on the scene as an
syenping angel, to save her father, and punish
| her worthless and lying lover.
"Gentlemen," said the Colonel, who had
heard all from Dolores, as he threw open the
door and admitted the now terrified club. sit
was my daughter who struck down this man,
| not I. He was liar and scoundrel; he broke
| his word. and he has deserved his fate, even il
| it be instant death. Take up your champion;
have punished you now enough. Tonight
nv daughter and myself depart for New Or
leans, where can be heard of by any OF your
| club still wishing to cross swords"
Cisson eventually recovered, and 1ec to
South America; he reappeared during the War
| of Independence, but sank lower and lower IN IN
| fanny, till pistol shot over gambling tatle at
Callao finally rid the world OF hopeless vii
lain. AS for Colonel Massard, ne settled after
| the peace in Arkansas, and mainly helped to
| reclaim that wild territory from the Indiars.
| Dolores Massard, three years after the down.
! fall of the Deaths Head Club, married rela-
| tive of George Washington. Her descendants
are now wealthy people in Louisiana, and have
large estates few miles from Baton Rouge,
| m the honka of the Mississippi.