Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1880-11-27


Octave. Let us prepare for combat "
Throwing aside the heavy cloaks
which protected their bodies from the
malarious night air, they next Invested
themselves Of their upper garments and
stood facing each other with crossed
weapons.
"When the Cathedral bell tolls the
half hour, it is the signal for action"
1T suits mo welw
4 few moments Of silence. Two young
lives to be put IN jeopardy. and for
what!
Clang!!! The stroke went qnivering
and moaning through the night air like
the wall of a lost spirit.
"Prcnes garde"
The CHATTER of swords broke upon tie
death like silence. sharp thrust aud
skllfnl parry was made on both sides,
with one mighty effort each sword
pierced it's opponents vitals and down
they fell, commingling their life's blood
| v
Mademoselle Gabrielle had not fully
co,,ipreheDded the nature osthe arrange
meut made by the rival lovers in hel
presence. She had retired to rest but
not to sleep. whous it's tuli meaning
dawned upon her. She was para!zet
with terror yet quickly resolved to pre-
vent the hostile rencouuire at All haz
ards. Calling her maid, she hastily
donned her garments and, remembering
the words place d'Armes, at midnight
armed and alone,w few along the de
serted streets to the we'll known spot
She peered anxiously through the thicl
fog, but the familiar forms OF those. sh'
came to save were nowhere TO be seen.
The Cathedral bell tolled the hour o
one! .aI
Gabrielle passed through the Place
hoping she had arrived early enough b
prevent the hostile meeting! She stun
BLEED against some dark, inanima'e Oh
ject and fell With cry Of fear au
pain she quickly rose. Mon Dieu Wha
horror met her eyes! Lying upon tn
damp earth, with their weapons sheathe
in each others body, lay her dead lover
=. With wild, desp"riug cry she san
down between them and her spirit fol
sook It's beautiful tabernacle.
Her maid attempted to raise her, bu
she was dead!
The city was aroused! The churc
and civic bells rang ont wild alarm
The entire population congregate
y around the dead Alas! there was n
glimmer of hope! Reverently and tel
derby they bore the ifeless clay to tt
, Morgue! Nothing could he done h
mourning friends but to hahilitate Il
remains for the grave. They were BIT
ri,d in the same tomb and monnmel
was erected over the spot.
Time, with it's changes and its des
crations, has destroyed all vestiges
this last resting place, but rnidnigl
passers by the Place d'Armes often ST
y two shadowy forms engaged in mort
W combat and hear an nnearthly cry
wild despair.
e Colonel BIS revenge was complet
bat at what fearful price !! With dew
y ish cunning, he had arranged meetil
of the two lovers with his foster dang
IS ter. knowing wbst the probable resu
would be. He succeeded beyond his mo
il sapgnine expectations. Bat though b
'e revenge was sweet, q demon seemed
20 pursue him. The clatter of swords VOL
D. him from his soundest slumbers. Visio
of bloody spectres continually haunt
a him. He became morose and taeitui
" Finally be decided TO resign his col
d, maud and leave the scenes that ca
H. s,antly narrowed his soul. Still the {
If mons pursued him, and one night. j
az the last stroke Of midnight rang q
1T from the lofty tower Of the Cathedr
he plunged, raving maniac, into I
ID turhid waters of the Mississippi and "
or seen no more. ..
I'd DISCOVERIES MADE BY ACCiDEl