The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1884-01-24
FACING A DUELIST.
Rov Texan Killed His Man and
Won Bride.


l was stroling through Madison
Square IN the direction OF famous res
taurant, where l was engaged to dine
with party of friends who wished to
welcome me home after my long sojourn
abroad. The recollection of an unhappy
experience tinged my thoughts with sad
ness, however, iii spite Of the prospect
of an excellent dinner and much good
fellowship.
During the dinner 1 related the de-
tails of adrama in real life in which l
myself had been an actor while staying
in Paris. The story was as fol ows:
When I had been in Paris a few weeks
made the acquaintance of a young and
French army. We soon became init
mate, and De Vaudran, the captain, de-
sired to be presented to a cousin OF
mine, who lived with her mother. Mrs.
Marsden, in Paris.
Twill meDtion here that Mrs. Marsden
was an American whose husband had
died but three months after their mar
riage. When Leontine her daughter
was born, she left America and took up
her residence in Paris, where she had
remained until the events which in
tend to record occurred.
NY cousin Leontine was beautiful
girl of type rarely seen outside Of the
poetic fancies of novelists. A form per-
feet in symmetry and a face expressive,
fair, and tender were combined in this
| lovely woman. Her charm, too, of man
| ner and of mind as quite equal to her
grace of person. There was in her char
| acter that com bination so rarely seen in
a woman-simplicity and knowledge.
was therefore 4 little astonished at
De Vaudran's request for presenta-
ton, and Immediately gained my aunt's
consent.
The young people met and there soon
sprang up Letween them an attachment
| which ripened into love, love 50 pure
| that it could only exist where man as
| noble as De Vaudran and woman as
good and true as my cousin Leontine
| were concerned.
In time, they became engaged, and
De Vandran was the proudest, happiest
| man in Paris.
A short time after the engagement was
made known the Captain and attended
the opera together, and during an entr'-
| acte we went into the foyer to prone
made. On our return to the hall De Vau'
drans seat was found to be occupied by
a man who refused to relinqush it.
| De Vaudran pushed his claim so lar as
to order the man to give up his seat, at
the same time showing his ticket.
| This person then resorted to insulting
Language, and challenge from the Cap
tain was the consequence.
| The combatants met at an early hour
the next morning, l acting as De Vau-
| aran's second. The weapons selected
| "ere pistols. During the preparations
the Captains antagonist, a famous shot
and bully OF the first order, asked him
| where he wished to be shot, adding that
| he would teach such fellows not to an
noy gentlemen in future.
| De Vaudran made no reply to this, but
took his position like the brave fellow
! he was.
The word was then given and the Cap.
tain fell dead, shot through the heart.
When poor Leontine heard Of her
| lovers murder-ifI may use the express
| ion-she was so stricken with grief that
q severe illness ensued. Her physician
advised a trip to Naples for a complete
change of scene, hoping thus to bring
about diversion-the best remedy in
such cases. While there Leontine fell
into morbid state which threatened to
| destroy her reason, but good fortune
finally favored the poor girl and she
and spirits, though never entirely.
Thus my story ended. At intervals,
while was speaking, I had observed
the eager attention Of a young man who
formed one of the party at the welcom-
ing dinner.
Ihls young man was a stranger to me,
and /, doubtless, should never have
thought more OF his peculiar interest in
| my story had he not suddenly and mys-
teriously disappeared from New York
few days later. then learned that
he was young Texan, Philip Walden
by name, of great inherited wealth, and
that he mad figured prominently in 80.
ciety for year or 80.
The Texan and all the circumstances
connected with his flight had passed from
my mind, when, one morning about six
| months later, ! received letter from
from Paris containing an invitation to
the marriage ceremony Of Philip WAL
don and Leontine Marsdon, with an &C.
companying letter which contained
tie following explanation of the surpris-
ing news: "a. Tsas -a
Walden, after hearing my sad story at
the welcoming dinner, had resolved in
a spirit of adventure to 20 to Paris, and
track, if possible, young De Vaudran's
murderer. Philip was famous shot.
and thought he would like to match
himself against this celebrated duelist.
He succeeded SO we'll in his search that
one evening, after an entr'uce of the
opera. this noted duelist and yiyenr found
his seat occupied by. a gentleman who
refused to give it up. Words followed,
ending in an insult to no less man
than Philip Walden, who resented it by
"a challenge. IS.
They met the following, morning, and
Philip, during the preliminaries, took
wished to he shot, adding that he
would teach such fellow not
to tride witt, q gentleman.
/ At this NE turned deadly pale but
ilfin no 70