The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1876-08-17

Louis, to fight mortal duel with Vero-
min de Precy, without any witnesses, and
the combat not to cease until one or the
other is dead. Do you accept the chal-
lenge2"
| 'I dol" exclaimed Martin Louis, un-
hesitatingiy. E
"When will you moet Monsieur de-
Precy?" 2" demanded the Marquis.
| ''1o-morrow-at d.aybreak.
"And where Will the grove Of wal
nut trees on the highway to Tours,
which is well known to you, be conven-
| lent 2"
"Perfectly So"
''What arms do you choose Z"
Martin Louis reflected q moment.
Then he said disdainfully:
''I should like host to meet your
friend with the same weapon with which
| it be swords. % .sy... .t,
The Marquis de Cauchet bowed stiffiy
| and withdrew. 'tsls3
Strangely enough the dangerous chal-
lenge made no apparent impression up
on the assembled Montbaisson family.
They were all Of them animated by too
bitter hatred of the Precys not to al
most welcome an event by which they
might crafty it in bloody manner.
"My sons, said the old count Mt last,
gravely, s'let us take, in the presence of
your mother and sistea, solemn oath
| to avenge your brothers death in case
he should fall in his combat with our
common, vile enemy"
The two younger sons, Bernardin and
| Charles, repeated the awful oath which
their father uttered. The remainder of
| the day they passed as if they were not
| ON the eve of the tragedy. '-'--i -
The 27th of July, 1890, dawned. No
more glorious morning could be imagin-
| ed i; but, when the first rays of the sun
dispelled the lingering mist of the night
two human tigers rushed at each other
in the aforementioned grove of walnut
min, like most of the young noblemen
of that period, were skilled swords
men. The first few rounds were blood
less. Suddenly Veronin uttered cry.
His shoulder had been pierced, and the
blood began to stream from his ound.
He turned very pale, but with desper-
ate effort he rushed again upon his an
tagonist.
Martin Louis smiled disdainfulIy. He
easily warded off the stroke. But the
next effort of Veronin was moro SUCCESS
full. His blade pierced Martin Louis
breast. A groansof pain escaped him.
He staggered as if ready to sink down.
Veronin uttered a triumphant yell.
"You will die, dog!" he cried, as he
gloated upon the oountenance of his
wounded adversary.
"No, no you shall die!' roared Mar
tin Louis back.
He gathered all his strength and at
tackled Veronin with fury which the
other was unable to withstand. A mo-
ment later Veronin's heart was pierced
by Martin Louis sword. With yell
of pain he fell and expired. But Martin
Louis, too. was mortally wounded His
hfe-blood was fast ebbing away, and
two or three minutes afterward he was
| also corpse. l .-
An hour later Baron de Precy found
his sons cold and stiff remains in the
walnut tree grove. For moment even
the thought that with his first born had
fallen the hated first born Of Montbnis-
son was unable to sssusge his grief.
But when he turned round and met the
glance of deadly hatred which the father
of the slain Martin Louis de Montbais-
son, who had likewise come to look after
his son, bent upon him, he said
s'Ha, Montbaisson the sons have
fought. It's now the turn of the faith
ers %
"Be il sol" replied the Count, haugh-
tily. 'I shall wait for you tomorrow
morning at this hour, without witness,
with my brace Of pistols. It shall be
death for either or both of us i''
The challenge vas communicated to
the anIiously waiting families of the two
old men at the same time at which the
CORY remains of the two slain young
men were taken home. So terrible was
| the thirst for revenge at both castles,
that hardly tear was shed for the
dead.
The duel next morning resulted in a
similar fatal manner. Baron de Precy's
first shot severely wounded de Count de
Montbaisson. The latter, however,
had strength and firmness enough left
to send bullet through the baron's
breast.
There was gnashing of teeth OF the
Precy Castle when the Baron's remains
arrived there, and they heard that
Count Montbaisson was likely to recov-
er from his wound. Such, however, did
not prove to be the case. Three weeks
later he died in the greatest agony !;
causing, on his death-bed, his remain
ing sons, Bernardin and Charles, to re-
peat their oath of vengeance against the
Precys. --l---
Of the latter, but two were left-Vic-
tor and Lucrece. Victor aud Bernardin
also fought a duel. They only inflicted
painful wounds upon each other.
By this time the royal government
had heard of the murderous sentiments
| apfarko;1a<3 ~ tho t-o fopa;l;oc to~ord