Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1882-09-27
Or, How Colonel De NIa1et Met His
Match.

Or, HOW Colonel De nIalet met HIS
Match.
There was a high frolic going on in a
small town in southern France one fine
summer morning toward the end of the
last century. The great local fair, which
only came once in six months, was in
full swing, and the queer little market
place of the town, with its old-fashiOned
fountain in the middle, and its tall, dark
houses all round, was crowded to over
flowing. Here was juggler eating fire,
or pulling ribbons out of his mouth by
the yard, amid ring of wondering peas
ants. There an acrobat was turning
head over heels, and walking on his
hands with his feet up in the air. A lit
tie farther on show of dancing dogs
had gathered a large crowd; and close
by a sly-looking fellow in striped frock,
leaning over the front of a wagon, was
recommending a certain cure for tooth
ache, which, however, Judging from the
wry faces of those who ventured to try
it, must have been almost as bad as the
complaint itself.
The chief attraction of the fair, how
ever, seemed to be a tall, gaunt man,
with an Enthusiastically Italian face, who
the fountain. He had been exhibiting
some wonderful feats of workmanship,
such as throwing an apple into the air
and cutting it in two as it fell, tossing
up his sword and catching it by the hilt,
striking an egg with it so lightly as not
even to break the shell, and others equal
ly marvellous. At length, having collect
ed great thrOng around him, he stepped
forward, and challenged any one present
to try sword bout with him, on the
condition that whichever was first dis
armed should forfeit to the other half a
hvre(ten cents,
Several troopers who were staggering
about the market-place, for there was a
cavalry regiment quartered in the town,
came up one after another to try their
hand upon him. But to the great de-
light of the crowd they all got the worst
of it; and one might have guessed from
the eagerness with which the poor Ital-
ian snached up the money, as well as
from his pale face and hollow cheeks,
that he did not often earn so much in
one day.
Suddenly the crowd parted from right
to left as a handsome young man in a
fine gold-laced coat and plumed hat, with
a silver-hilted sword by his side, forced
his way through the press, and confront
ed the successful swordsman.
"You handle your blade so we'll, my
friend, cried he, chat I should like to
try bout with you myself, for Pm
thought to be something of a swords
man. But before We begin, take these
two livres and get yourself some food at
the French Lily yonder, for you look so
tired and hungry, and it's no fair match
between a fasting man and full one"
"Now may Heaven bless you, my
lord, whoever you may beP' said the
man, fervently; "for you're the first who
has given me kindly word this many q
day. 1 can hardly expect to be match
for you, but if you will be pleased tc
wait but ten minutes, I'll gladly do my
best"
The fencer was as good as his word
and the moment he was seen to remount
the platform the lookers-on crowded
eagerly around it, expecting a vel
fought bout; for they had all seen what
he could do, and they now recognized
his new opponent as the Marquis de
Malet, who had the name of being the
best swordsman in the whole district.
Their expectations were not disap
pointed. For the first minute or SO the
watching eyes around could hardly fol
low the swords, which fickered to anC
fro like flashes of lightning, feinting
warding, striking, parrying till they
seemed to be everywhere at once. d.
Malet at first pressed his man vigorously
but finding him more skillful than h
had expected, he began to fight NOR,
cautiously, and to aim at firing hin
out.
This artful plan seemed likely to sue
coed, for the italian at length lowered
his weapon for a moment, as if his hanC
was growing wearied. But as De Male
made rapid stroke at him, the othe
suddenly changed the S1COrd from hi
right hand to his left, and catching tn
Marquis blade in reverse, sent it fyin;
among the crowd below.
"Well done~ cried the young maj
admiringly. II thought 1 knew mos