The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-08-01

masque down there on the canal. The
water surface was frozen smooth and
CLASSY. The merry ring of the sharp
steel, mingling with the gay laughter
OF the skaters, was waited up to my
ears as l walked to and fro on the
terrace, securely wrapped up in my
heavy coat.
Gretchen's particular admirer had
been for time back LANCE LIE Guarde,
French student. His features were
thin, clear cut, and regular; in all, it
was a face that women fall in love with
at first sight, or take sudden loathing
for, and hate it forever after.
lie Guarde's appearance was fine and
interesting. He was a perfect gentle
man IN demeanor and carriage; yet
his heart was black with the evil pas
sions which swayed his morose dis
position.
They made a handsome pair, the
dark-complexioned LIE Guarde and the
rosy-cheeked, sunny-tressed Gretchen.
Already three unlucky rivals bore the
indelible traces Of foil practice with the
Frenchman, and one poor fellow had
received bis death wound.
Gretchen at first turned from the
French lover with the same horror that
she had from the former victors. She
answered him in the same words that
she had used; still he was most per-
sistent individual, and, as he was man
of stern determination, the students up
here in the University looked upon it as
a foregone fact that in the end she
would bow to his will and give him her
hand
AS | said before, Herman Won Berg
first met Gretchen at skating n1asque.
The Frenchman was there Of course,
and whenssss he saw the pretty hood Of
Gretchen leaning close to Herman's
white cap as the pair glided away, the
storm in his heart broke forth in half
muttered curse, and he ground his white
teeth together with rage.
Then at a ball given by member of
the royal family, Herman again met the
fair Gretchen. His whole heart was
taken possession of from the first, and
he loved with such love as befalls the
man who will brave the storms of the
tempest, surmount the heaving waves,
90 through fire to kneel at the feet of
the loved one. And yet, if another
man should happen to be the preferred
of the loved one, he was one of those
noble beings who would hug the wolf
to his bosom, even though it ate his
very heart out, rather than stoop to
win by base subterfuge what fair deal
ing and upright demeanor had denied
hi I'M GOr IoI IL L..
trays between the White and Red Caps.
Noses were split, cheeks gashed and
eyes blinded by the frequent affairs;
end, strange fatality as it might be, the
rivals, Van Berg and lie Guarde, were
the leaders of the two orders.
Upon no occasion was there posi-
bic chance to let slip, whereby a foil
practice could be engaged in by the
White and Red Caps. AS yet there
had been no meeting between the two
leaders and rivals in love. The storm
was only brewing. 1t threatened to
break forth shortly, however.
One evening the students, composed
of a mixture of White and Red Caps
gathered in the tap-room of the Red
Lion, noted resort situated on the out
skirts of the city. Wine had flowed
freely, and the hot heads were fairly
aching for storm, and the fiery hearts
burning for fray.
In days gone by, mere word, lightly
spoken, was sufficient cause for q pass
at arms; ay, simple look was provo
cation enough. At the present time of
which | speak the faculty had strictly
forbidden foil practice outside of the
University armory; consequently the
young fellows had the eheck-rein ever
held over them by the strong hand of
the University head. LIE Guarde was
present, and the wine which he had
taken during the evening had tended to
make him very disagree cable to the
White Caps.
He threw out various remarks which
dashed the latter into rage. But they
were utterly powerless to challenge
him, other than to accept q pass at
arms in the armory. Before ten o'clock
had struck he had dozen affairs upon
his hands, and doubtless would have
had as many more if Herman Won Berg
had not stepped into the tap-room. His
entrance was the signal for q loud
chorus of cheers from the White Caps.
The smoky rafters of the old inn fairly
trembled as the young fellows arose,
clinked their glasses together, and sent
up cheer Of welcome.
"S0cre! but the young fellow seems
to be popular" exclaimed LIE Guarde,
after the cheers had died away.
The remark was addressed to one of
his boon companions. However, Her
man caught the last two or three words.
He walked over to LIE Guarde, and
said,
Did you say fellOw?"
"Eh, did you speak," returned LIE
Guarde.
81 did"
"What was your remark?"
Il asked you if you said fellow ?"
SAID Herman.
Beg pardon" responded the other,
placing his hand behind is ear, and
bending toward Herman.
This alone was sufficient cause for
a duel; it was considered to be one of
the grossest of gross insults. Herman
shivered with rage. yet his will held
him back, and he repeated his remark.
The students crowded about the pair.
They saw that the long pert-up storm
was about to burst forth. All ears were
on the alert to catch LIE Guarde's reply.
"Ah, my very dear sir, what if did
say fellow" and LIE Guarde's tones
were so chill that the intended sarcasm
did not escape the apprehension of the
dullest present.
"WellP" simply asked Herman, fold
ing his arms calmly, and, standing
back, he eyed the other coolly.
lis there any harm donePn asked
the Frenchman.
o. harm has been done, and by YOU.
The injury, however, can be erased, y
said Herman.
Il am ready to back all that I may
have said, +" uttered the other.
"How?"
That | will state afterward," said
| a (INarda