The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1884-01-25

now q Texan Kslled Ais Man and
TwonaB riue.

Win a party OF ITlenuS VINO WlSlGu 10
welcome me home after my long ~seiohrn
abroad. The recollection Of an unhappy
experience tinged my thoughts with sad
ness. however, in spite of the prospect
of an excellent dinner and much good
fellowship.
During the dinner I related the de-
tails OF drama in real life in which |
myself had been an actor while staying
In Paris. The story was al fol ows:
When / had benin Paris a few weeks
Imade the acquaintance of a young and
handsome fellow, a captain III the
French army. We soon became init
mate, and De Yaudran, The captain, de-
sired to be presented TO q cousin Of
mine, who lived With her mother, Mrss
Marsden. III Paris.
IwilE mention here that Mrs. Marsden
was an American whose husband had
died but three months after their mar
rage. When Leontine her daughter
was born, she lett America aud took up
her residence in Paris, where she had
remained until the events which | I'M
tend to record occurred,
NV co1saaii IAontin5 was a beautiful
girl oftype rarely seen outside OF the
poetic fanc:es OF noyelists. "A form per-
feet in symmetry and q face expressive,
fair, and lender were combines in this
lovely woman. Her charm, too, OF man
ner and OF mind as quite equal TO her
grace of person. There was in Tier char
aeter that combination so rarely seen in
a woman--simplIcity aud knowledge.
/ was therefore u little astonished &c
De YaHdran's request for a presenta-
ton and Immediately gained my aunt's
consent.
The young people met aud there soon
sprang up etween them an attachment
that it could only exist where a man as
noble as De Vaudran and a Woman as
good and true as my cousin Leontine
were concerned.
In time, they became engaged, and
De Vaudran was the proudest, happiect
man in Paris.
a short time alter the engagement was
made known the Captain aud attended
the opera together, and during an sntr'-
acte We went into the foyer to prone
made. On our return TO the hall De Vac
dram S Seat was found to be occupied by
a man who refused to relinQuish IL.
De Vaudran pushed his claim 80 ar as
10 order the man 10 give IL his seat, &C
the same time showing his ticket.
This person then resorted 20 insulting
language, and 4 challenge from tie Cap
tain was the C ,nsequence.
The combatants met at an early four
the next morning, l acting as DE Vau-
dran's second. The weapons selected
acre pistols. Du1nS the preparations
.aSr Safssss:s -E0i % ss.ssso-s sis0s
and Il bully OF the hrst order, asked him
where he wished to be shot, adding tlsat
he would teach such fellows not 30 an
noy gentlemen Ia future.
De Vaudran made no reply to this, but
took his position ike 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-if / may use the express
ion-she was so stricken with giief that
q severe illness ensued. Ter physician
advised a trip to Naples for a complete
change of scene, hoping thus to bring
about a d~iyer6ion-the best remedy In
such cases. While there Leontine fell
Tito a morbid state which threatened to
destroy her reason. bat good fortune
finally favored the poor girl n she
partially recovered her former health
and spirits, though never entirely.
Thus my story ended. AT Intervals,
while | was speaking, / had observed
the eager attention OF q young man who
q of the party at the Welcom-
ing dlniscr.
THIS Young man was q stranger to me.
and I, doubtless, should never have
tholght more OF his peculiar interest in
my story had be not suddenly and mys~
teriously disappeared from New York
q few days later. | then learned that
he was q young Texan, Philip Walden
by name, oil great Inherited wealth, and
that he mad figured prominently III So
ciety Tor a year or SO.
The Texan and all the circumstances
connected with his flight had passed from
my mind, when, one morning about six
months later, I received o letter from
from Paris containing an invitation TO
the marriage ceremony OF Philip Wal
don and Leontine Marsdon. with an ac~
companying letter which contained
TIE following explanation Of the surpris-
ing news:
"Waiid0T EstssT hearing my sad story s@
the welcoming dinner, had resolved IN
spirit Of adventure to 70 TO Paris. and
track, il possible, Young De vaudran's
murderer. Philip was q famous shot,
and thought he would like to match
himself against this celebrated duelist.
He succeeded SO well in hiss arch that
one evening, after an entr'uce Of the
opera. this noted dnelist and visenr found
his seat occupied by a gentleman who
refused to give it up. Words followed,
ending in an insult TO no less q al
than Philip Walden, who resented IL by
q che tiense.
They met the following, morning, and
Philip, during the preliminaries, took
occasion to ask his adversary where he
wished to be shot, adding that he
would teach such q fellow not
to triHe with 4 gentleman.
At this M~--turned deadly pale but
made no renly. The Tord was given
andthe mlrd r~ofIienri de vaudran and