The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1878-05-31


his nostrIls had tinged his upper lip
. The eyes were wide open, only the
whites showing,-their look was mex
pressibly awful. Staehovitch, who haC
!; leaned over my shoulder to look at him
uttered cry and tainted away.
CHAPTER II.
The public soon forgot the murder Of
the Barronne de Massieux. Investigation
showed that the crime had been COM
mitted by Bechouard, who had no ac.
completes; and as he did not long escape
the punishment of his crime, public
Justice was satisfied. The matter was nc
longer of any interest to society, and
nothing more was said of it. Young
Marie de Massieux, the daughter of the
murdered woman, who wore deep
mourning and grieved bitterly. and Boris
Stachovitch, over whose existence the
tragical event seemed to. exert an extra
ordinary influence.
1t was December-six months after
the young Russian and l had first met in
the railroad carriage. We had become
very intimate. We lived in the same
quarter of Paris, we had a good many
friends in common, we often dined at
the same restaurant, and We rarely
passed day without seeing each other.
grew much interested in my new
acquaintance. Stachovitch professed a
good many strange ideas on various
subjects, but it was evident he always
spoke and acted without any kind OF
affectation. / also discovered that the
young Russian possessed excellent quail
tiles of heart and mind. He was sincere
charitable, generous and singularly
amiable; he loved knowledge. and con-
sidering his age and his position, he had
read and learned considerably. He was
truly loyable. 1 may also add that he
inspired me with pity. There was no
doubt that Stachovitch was an unhappy
man, but / could not discover the cause
of his melancholy. He never COM
planned, and when I delicately endeav-
ored to question him he answered me
evasively, and with so much reserve and
embarrassment, that at last, fearing to be
tempted to go too far with him, / ceased
to question him about his secret sorrow.
He lived in magnificent appartement,
he had carriage and horses, he flung
his money, so to speak, out of the win
dow. 1t certainly was no pecuniary
trouble that bothered him, nor did his
health seem to give him any especial
concern. He always seemed out of
spirits, yet he had an excellent appetite,
and, after our making little excursion
together, found out he was capital
walker, bold horseman, and man who
could indulge in all manner of manly
exercises without perceptible fatigue.
He was capital swordsman too. and
had great reputation as such in Paris in
all the fencing galleries. People talked
of him as eccentric, but he was generally
beloved, and they overlooked his little
peculiarities. For example, among the
members of his club there were certain
persons whom he never would fence
with, and yet he would never give any
plausible reason or excuse for not doing
so. The fear of meeting more than his
match. or of hurting his reputation, GER
tainly had nothing to do with it, for on
various occasions he had been known to
get beaten with the best grace in the
world. He never became angry or ex-
cited during a fencing bout, and it was
well known that among those whom he
never would use swords with, there
we're some not nearly such good swords
men as himself 1t appeared TO be some
personal caprice which made him re-
fuse certain opponents, excusing himself
always, however, with the utmost polite
ness, though no one could ever ge; any
explanation from him. One day / was
present on an occasion Of that kind.
"Come, Stachovitch," said the young
Vicomte de Dreux to him, "take your
foil. l want 10 try few passes with
you"
Excuse me, mon cher, you know I
never fence with you"
But why not? Be reasonable. don't
believe you are afraid that I shall let my
foil go through your mask"
"Not in the least. Still i had rather
not fight with you.'
The Vicom.e de Drieux planted him
self opposite to Count Stachoyitch, and
said with an offended air
M. lie Comte, there must be an end Of
this. wish to know why you persist
emily avoid me. / am determined to
fight with you, and if you won't fight me
in this fencing room you will have to
fight me elsewhere.
Don't make joke Of this, my friend.
You have no idea how much anything
of the kind pains me-"
Drieux and Hooked at each other with
astonishment, for Stachovitch had turn
ed quite pale.
ITO Be cOntinued)
James Jam;son, aged seventy al.