Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-06-08

obtain, or missing it, failed to punish his sue.
cessful rival. You are soldier, and you un.
derstand me, SIR" he added, touching his sword
knot with bis gloved hand.
"This is midsummer madness, Raoul," an
swered Henri, with good temper. "Had I
been unsuccessful, painful, fatal as the disap-
pointment would have been, should have re-.
signed the lady to you without struggle"
"That shows the difference between gen.
tleman and a paruenu," retorted St. Prix.
"A parvenu /" cried De Granville, starting
to bis feet.
"Yes. Who knows you? Whence came
you? You are an intruder in our ranks"
II bear the kings commission"
ayes, and have not courage enough to sus.
tain it. I have de6ed you to your teeth, and
you refuse to fight"
my principles are opposed to duelling.
In the words of the lady whose preference
honors me, I honor the soldier as much as I
detest the duellst.' Besides, has not the mar.
shaI strictly forbidden duels in campf Con-
science, reason, authority, every consideration
forbids my acceptance of the challenge"
"Then," said st. Prix, "you shall submit to
an indignity that disgraces a French gentle.
man forever" And raising his sheathed
sword, he struck De Grandville with the fiat
side of the scabbard.
Henri's sword instantly flashed in the lamp.
light, and St. Prix drawing his rapier, they
were instantly engaged in deadly combat
Both were expert swordsmen, and while one
fought with the ferocity of hatred and disap-
pointment, the arm of the other was nerved by
sense of wrong. The metallic ring of their
blades was unintermitted, for neither paused
to take breath, but with teeth set and eyes
glaring, thrust, parried, advanced, and fell
back in the fierce ardor of the combat. At
last, De Grandville, seeing an opportunity,
sent his adversary's blade whirling through
the cir, and drawing back bis weapon, pre-.
pared to thrust it through bis breast
"Strike !" said St. Prix; "you have van.
quished me in love and in arms, and there is
nothing left me but to die"
"Die, then, but on the field of battle, brave
Raoul," said De Granville, land since / have
deprived you of your sword, take mine; l
shall be honored by the exchange"
"Hold" said stern voice; and turning,
Henri beheld with confusion the countenance
of Marshal SAKE, who, attended by ile Of
musketeers, had entered the tent at the close
of the duel. "You will give up your sword
to this officer, Captain de Grandville," added
he. pointing to commissioned officer by
whom he was accompanied. "Count de St.
Prix, you will pick up your weapon, also and
surrender it. Officers who forget themselves
so far as to seek each others lives upon. the
eve of battle, with the enemy before them, are
unworthy of command This is matter for
the Provost Marshal"
And the old soldier seated himself at the
table, and eyed his offenders angrily and
sternly.
"May it please your excellency," said St.
Prix, II alone deserve to suffer. insulted
the gentleman, and forced him to fight"
Forced him to 6ghtr said the marshal.
Hadn't he read the orders of the day?"
81 do not claim your clemency, marshal"
said Henri. II committed this fault with
my eyes open. But man cannot always
command his passions"
"That's true, my lad. But what we're you
fighting aboutf'
IA woman, your excellency," said St.
Prix.
"A woman foolsl woman's that not to
be had without fighting for isn't worth hav-
ing. Well, well-boys will be boys. par
don you on two conditions. In the first place
you must shake hands," Henri and Raoul
advanced and joined their hands. sand in
the next place, that you give good account
of yourselves tomorrow. Sacre nom de Dteu !
I can i'll spare two lads of spirit from the
guards. And now, said the marshal, rising,
after restoring their swords to the officers,
"good night, gentlemen and plenty of hard
knocks tomorrow"
The next day witnessed one of those terri
BILE encounters, whose sanguinary prints make
a more indelible impression on the page of
history than the records of the more generous
deeds of peaceful lfe The greatest gallantry
was displayed on both sides, and on the part
of the French no officers were more distin-
guished for their valor than the two guards
men whose encounter on the previous evening
we have just related. Raoul de St. Prix, in
the early part of the engagement, fell sword in
hand at the head of bis company, thus meet
ing with honor fate he had earnestly desired.
Henri de Grandville in the course Of the day,
found himself in command of the regiment,
every officer of higher rank having fallen.
When the carnage had ceased, be laid stand
of captured colors at the feet of the command
er in.chief, and was complimented by Marshal
SAKE at the head of the army, receiving as.
surance that his gallantry should be at once
reported to the king.
Flushed with triumph, the young guards.
man flew to the presence of bis mother, to re-
ceive her embrace and recount, in modest
terms, the story of his deeds. She rejoiced in
his safety, and sympathized With his joy.
But all at once, as he made her the confident
of other hopes, and enlarged on the prospect
of bis speedy union with Heloise de Clairville
her countenance changed, and her eyes be-
come suffused with tears.
"Dear Henri" she said, II knew nothing Of
this. Why did you not sooner apprise me of
this fatal passion? ?"
Fatal passion, dear motherl Why do you
thus characterize the love bear to the pureat,
the most beautiful of her sex ?"
"She is, indeed, all that you paint her, Hen
ri but you must learn the hard task of re-
nouncing your hopes. You can never marry
her."
"And why sos Do you refuse your con-
sent ?"
"Alas no. But the Baron de Clairville-"
"He regards me with favorable eye.
have reason to think he knows Of my attach.
ment to his daughter, and approves it. Even
now, bis congratulations had a marked mean-
ing, which could hardly be ambiguous"
"But fatal, an insurmountable barrier lies
between you and the object Of your hopes"
"Do not keep me in suspense" cried the
young soldier. Explain this mystery, 1 i'm.