Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1872-05-30

esprit, ! also telt that1 mao not tnae
trust necessary for alcver to feel be-
fore he places his happiness in the
chosen one. One evening after meet
ing her, surrounded by group Of
Young officers on the Boulevards, !
attended party where she shone
the brightest and gayest there. In
a fit Of unaccountabte pique, I re-
marked to some gentleman with
whom l was conver ing:
"'That poor girl is evidently look
ing for husband bnt, alas! she
will never get one
az Why not'?' asked a bystander.
We were chatting gaiiy and light
ly, as men are too prone to do. l
meant to be witty was cruel.
90 Because, pauue enfamt she has
a wooden leg.
AT this al! eyes were turned to-
wards Mdlle. Lavalette. To my ut
ter discontinue, she was within ear
shot, and overheard every word Of
my malicious joke. A deadly pale
ness overspread her countenance. I
was horriied; and having to leave
Paris the next day, knew not that my
sorry Jest was the joke OF the day.
Nothing was talked OF but Mdlle.
Lavalette's wooden leg. .Lavalettes
wooden leg was the standing jest OF
the club, and the ladles-Aeaven
forgive theml l have avoided them
ever since-said ever, thing. Now,
the only foundation for tins, except
my canard, was an almost impercep-
tible halt in Madeline's step. This
defect had never before been nuticed,
out now it was the theme Of thou
sand female tongues. The auimus
that had long 3been .nourished now
found vent, and nothing was heard
Of but the jan,be de bois.
Madaline Lavaleste, courageous
as she was, could stand it no longer.
She disappeared from society, and
nothing could be asosrtained Of her
whereabouts. The jaa,,bs de bois had
killed her as efectuallya as though
she had committed crime. Ridicule
is more potent than hate.
ION my return to Paris, heard,
with dismay, of all this. I have
never ceased TO regret my cruelty. l
endeavored in every way to find her
address; and my life was, one long
search for the gay, young, thought
less maiden, whose future | had so
marred. I expected hostile cartel
from some of. her numerous admirers,
but although my address was we'll
known, I received none,
"Time wore on, and my regret be-
came soft med when, walking home
ore evening from the theater at Tou-
lon, on the 18th of May, 1880, was
suddenly confronted by a stranger,
whose striking likeness to Madeline
Lavalette stamped him at once as her
brother. 1, attempted to apologize,
but, calling me by name, he challeng
ed me on the spot, and, bidding
defend myself, fercely assaulted Inc.
Il soon found l had no mean an
tasonist. He parried my favorite
lunge, and but for a RIB, his sword
would have pierced my heart. The
avenger OF a sister S lame disappeared.
| remember nothing more.
Again l was met in the Bois de
Boulogne, and again we fought. The
unknown would not hear one word
of his sister. Again we met ct Fort
Brotteaux, and here l lie. l know
nothing Of my tormentor, accept that
he is an accomplished swordsman,
aud has always aimed at my leg; AID
I have no doubt it is brother OF
Mdlle. Lavalette, who is determined
TO avenge the foolish fling | made at
his sister.
Thoroughly exhausted with his long
confession, the Captain faiuted, and
his alarmed friends thought that tho
end had come. A good constitution,
and every care, however, trinmphed'
over the grim monster Death, and
slowly but surdiy Captain Malsherbes
recovered then !. relapse occurred
when hope was brightest, and then
again he. slowly recovered his health,
his sold'erly bearing unaltered but
alas he had a wooden leg.
There Is little doubt who has Il
wooden leg now" he said to me with
IL forced smile bns although feel
iiercely lncensed at the loss of my
leg l look upon it as just revenge
"a lesson to me, as to every other,
never, even in jest, to wound the
feelings of another.
Captain Malsherbes soon threw up
his commissiok and retired to Toulon,
and in the enjoyment OF a moderate
competency almost forgot The myste-
rious fatalities OF his past life.
The marriage OF an old comrade
drew him again back to Paris. The
week after, the Paris journals were
filled with the accounts VI severe
duel in the Bois de Boulogne between
Mons. Malsherbes and Lieutenant
I,ayalette. At this time the use of
side arms had fallen into disrepute,
and such affairs were settled with the
pistol. The papers stated that the
antagonist Of Mons. Malsherbes was
seriously wounded, and / hurried to
the city to hear the true particulars.
was stopping at the st. Cloud then'
and soon reached the quarters Of my
friend, who, in an agitated manner,
gave me the following:
"a day before the duel l received
a cartel from the hands OF Captain
in the navy, in which the writer, who
signed himself Lieut.. LavaIette, con-
graduated me upon my recovery;
and imagining desire for revenge
must actuate Capt. Ma:sherbes, offered
a full opportunity to crafty that
revenge, ii Mons. Malsherbes did not
feel himself unfit on account OF his
wooden leg. The writer would meet
Elm at any place appointed, the chal-
i