The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1874-10-13
Setfrf Sfou'.
THE FATAL SWORD;
The Duelist Of New Orleans.
By PROF. wM. HENRY PECK.
ICONCLUDED.l |

June, 1856, where we see q giant and 6
STRIPPING engaged in deadly combat
Monsieur Raphael beheld this same darl
eyed, dark skinned, black haired STRIPPING
enter his paror.
81 wish=to see Monsieur Raphael
81 am he''e
"Good. ] wish you to invent for me
a new sword aud then to make me per
feet in its use"
Monsieur Raphael stared at thi;
strange proposal, but the. stripping con
tiuued:
"My name is Percie Lightfoot. 1 am
rich. Here is pay in advance and Mon
sieur Raphael saw that his saloon rent
long over due,was three times over paid
that very instant "Take it. Inven
the weapon, the practice, teach me, anG
l will give you ten times rs much -
"Ah, then you wish to kill an enemy ?
81 wish to rid the world Of mon
ster, and to avenge beloved friend"
"Call at the end of Two weeks, sir, ,and
1 viii have the sword and its practice in
vented. True, / have never invented
anything, but something tells Inc it is
because L lave never tried, and l have
never tried because l have never beer
paid for trying"
Percie Lightfoot retired, and when
alone the old fencing-master exclaimed
"Great Heaven! have promised to
invent new sword l who have q
skull as thick as a wall! Come. it shall
be done, or Paul Raphael dies by his
own hand"
1t was done. When Percie Lightfoot
returned,at the expiration of two weeks,
he found the delighted old swordsman
contemplating his invention.
81 understand you," he said. "You
intend to fight duel. You wish to use
a style of sword never used before p
Good! Then you will have every ad-
vantage over your antagonist: See, how
unusually long the blade-almost a
lance! How thin, how narrow, how
flexible, how light, Then | have invent
ed for tia formidable attack, a sure de-
fense." ..., .,.---, ...-.la fr
81 am pleased, land am ready to take
my first lesson"
swat" said Raphael, sternly. "Will
not such duel be species of assassi
nation ?"
"All duels are species of assassina
.tiop," replied Lightfeot. .The man ]
wish to kill is an assassin-twenty times
an assassin. His name is Hector Gray
mart"
"Oh! if that is true-still-"
"Stop. You were acquainted with the
late Mr.. Charles Alven :"
Ale was by best friend. When I came
from France-poor, sick, an exile, he
gave me money, attendance, and when l
recovered he established me in my bu
Isiness. A thousand times have cursed
the hand that slew him." cried Raphael
passionately.
"And you knew his wife, who died
three weeks ago p
"She was an angel to me when I was
sick! oh, she did not long survive that
noble husband"
"True. And II who loved them
both-l who am their nearest of kin
mean to avenge them and their destroy
ed happiness exclaimed Percie Light
foot. "Will you give me the power to
punish the assassin-to punish him as he
destroyed others-in the duelf p
"Enough! l and my invention are at
your service."'
After that Percie Lightfoot praeticed
in private with Raphael every day.
One day old Raphael sat alone, shak-
ing his head mysteriously.
81 am sure Of it," he muttered. "My
pupil, who learns miraculously every
trick of the sword, is a womanr'
No one was present, and he contin-
ued:
"She is woman, with the resolution
of man. Her frame, slight, elegant,
graceful, has the strength and activity of
man. But who is she? That is not
my business. No, yet have some Gu
riosity. / will find out"
Patient, sagacious and circumspect,
the old fencing master did find out; yet
he kept his knowledge sacred secret.
At the end of each month Percie
Lightfoot would ask:
"Now, my master, am sufficiently
practiced ?"
"Not yet Wait. There must be no
failure in this affair. Remember, Hector
Graymart is one of the most, fatal
swordsmen in New Orleans, and where
can we find better ?"
He gained variousi opportunities in
which he pitted HE skill against that Of
the duelist. He learned all his cunning
tricks of defense and attack-his favor
ite guards, feints, ,thrusts and parries, ,and
taught them all to his apt pupil.
When nearly ten months had expired
he said to Percie Lightfoot:
81 have taught you all know. Now
fix the challenge upon him. But in the
combat be cool and resolute ;he is very
dangerous man: he is very treacherous
strong, quick as lightning; he has nc
1 fear; he fights to slay."
! A few days alter this warning Perclt
Lightfoot made his first appearance ir
that sphere in which Hector Graymar
revolved. On first opportunity Percit
insulted the fierce duelist by calling hin
scoundlel and tossing wine into hii
eyes.
"Poor foolw said the spectators
"Hector Graymart will kill him; This il
a mere boy; we must persuade him tc
apologize"
But Lightfoot refused to apologize
saying:
81 wish to fight this great bully; if hi
is not a coward he will challenge me-"
Graymart twisted his mustache ant
gloated over his intended revenge. II
challenged the rash insulter, and thus i
came about that the rising sun of Jun
8, 1856, saw Graymart and Lightfoot il
deadly combat
A few rapid passes proved to the eS
perienced duelist that his despised 70
was exceedingly expert with the sword