The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-07-31


"'I am at your service, says he,
bowling and with that away he went,
without another word. As for me,
stood like fool for good five minutes
before I could recollect myself, the
whole thing took me so aback This
was worse than had ever dreamed Of
All that ever bargained for was little
flare-up between Montfort and the
Frenchman, which would blow over and
leave all clear again but here was fa
more serious business. Whether the
De Courcy had got tired of having LIE
valiant always hanging after her, and
wanted TO get rid of him, or whether it
was only her confounded vanity that
was tickled at the idea of setting men
fighting about her, can't tell; but I've
always thought (though it seems hor-
rible thing to say of any woman) that
she was riled at Montfort for not bowing
down to her as every one else did, and
that she meant 10 punish him by get
ting him knocked on the head. Look
mt it which way would, it was very
bad business. Apart from my liking
for Montfort, I couldn't abide the
thought of an Englishman being killed
by a Frenchman, and the whole town
growing over it, as they'd be sure to
do. And yet-how was L to stop it j.? /
and the other two men were invited
that very day to dine with some Vir-
ginian bigwig (Fortescue, think his
pame was, and then to go to ball that
Colonel De Oourcy was giving the same
evening; so that even if they missed
each other at one place, they were sure
to meet at the other. Altogether, it
really seemed as if the powers for mis-
chief had contrived it and went home
feeling bad all over.
"Well, to Fortescue's I went, and
didn't manage to get near Montfort till
dinner was done but when we turned
out to have our smoke in the garden Ga
famous big place, with fountain in the
middle, and dark shrubberies all round
hung with colored lamps, just like a
scene in q theatre got hold of him,
and drew him into conversation, mean
ing, at least, to stick by him all the
evening, in of anything happening.
But Just then, as ill-luck would have it,
who should come staggering past but
that beast LeValliant, with his chorus
Of worshipers about HIM, and of course
he must bring out Miss De Courcy's
likeness, and begin Dragging about it
before them all.
"Thus it is that we Frenchmen win
the day. said he, in his boastful way !;
everything is possible to those who
dare 1t is only those who hang back
that get nothing, like those English
towards in the Crimea -
81 jumped up like shot at that, you
may be sure but Montfort was before
me. With one stride he was through
| tho ,,iro1o o,,1 frantoI fl,a Franob
man, looking him full in the eyes,"
odd understand Monsieur to say,
asked he, bowing, that the English are
towards ?"
81 did,, answered the other, looking
up at him insolently.
"You lie, then J., says Montfort, and
gave hima slap in the face with his open
hand, that echoed all over the garden
hike pistol-shot.
Then there was a row, if you like.
Everybody ran forward at once, shout
ing and screaming. In an instant the
two had their coats off, and were stand
ing face to face, each with small
sword in his hand, on the bit of smooth
turf beside the fountain. 1t was evil
dent, as soon as they began, that LIE
valiant was the better swordsman of
the two; and in few minutes, Gust So
[ had feared,) Montfort got thrust
through the arm, below the elbow, that
made him drop his weapon. OF course
all LIE Vailant's chums shouted for Joy;
but how they stared when NJ mt fort
coolly twisted his handkerchief round
his right arm, drew the knot with his
teeth, took up the sword in his left
hand, and said, quietly-'En garde,
monsieur %
"It was then, for the first time, that
the Frenchman began to look disturbed;
and certainly there was something aw-
ful in this dogged, bloodthirsty persis-
tency, which no pain or danger could
shake. Two or three of LIE Valiant S
party tried to protest, but the Others
overruled them, and the fight began
again. The two faces were sight LIE
Valiant looked like wolf in a trap
full of kind of frightened fury Mont
forts face was quiet, and cold as mar
ble, but with look of grim satisfaction
on it, as ii he We're sure of his man at
last. And so, indeed, lie was. In those
days, the French schools didn't gener.
ally teach their men how to meet left
handed attack; and LIE Valiant, who
had never seen anything of the kind
before, was fairly puzzled. His breath
began to fail, his hand shook and al
last, as he overreached himself in max
ing thrust, Montfort sprang in, and
went clean through him. from breast tt
back. Then, picking up the miniature
he flung his coat loose over his shoul
ders, and flew out of the garden like {
wildcat. 1 followed him as hard as
could pelt, (you know 1 couldn't tel
what he might do in the mad fit tha
seemed to be on him), and I tell yor
? that in all my life never had such arun
He never slackened pace once till he &c
to Colonel De Courcy's, where the bal
was just at its height and there, h,
bolted through the gate, burst into tn,
ballroom, right through the midst O
the dancers, and rushing up to wher,
Miss De Courcy was standing, flung thu
miniature at her feet.
"Talk of theatres that scene bea
'em all. Everybody seemed turned t.
stone and several ladies tainted out
right, without any one minding them
And well they might. Montfort wa
white as corpse, in spite of his hare
run; his clothes were all splashet
with blood; his right arm hung dow
at his side; and his face glared as if h,
were mad.
"'Are you satisfied p lie asked, in
voice as if some one were choking him
| & W., oaI