The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1885-09-13

Anne's flush OF Joy.
F" How noble and good you are ~ she Cried
starting up impulsively, with outstretched
hand. Mile. Claude laid a hand on her arm
and stopped her. She was very much
moved.
Monsieur B., don't know how 10 thank
you for your generous desire to serve my in.
terests ; but this must not be. feel sure
you will respect my earnest wishes in this
matter. will have no ones life sacrificed
to my poor reputation II IL cannot take care
of itself IL is hardly worth fighting for"
There was an indescribable pride and dignity
In her manners. "You are forgetting your
mother, too," her beautiful voice softened
"your first duty Ia to her, and you would
risk leaving her without natural protector
and deprive her of her only Joy in life."
knew Mile. Claude was right, neverthe-
less ! had all a young mans and French
mans horror Of cowatdice"
~ looks as If were afraid" objected.
My deal, friend" rejoined she eagerly,
the cowardice lies all the other way. The
desire TO help me looks honorable enough,
put II Is none the less q temptation to which
won't have you yield. Not another word,
Anne" she said imperiously. TO her little
friend, who looked the picture Of distress
and was evidently about TO dissent from this
verdict, " / am utterly sick of the subject.
Do let us find something more interesting 10
talk about"
Isaw IL was hopeless 10 attempt to reason
with her and almost wished / had worked
out my plan without her knowledge; but
my conscience told me she was right and
resigned my hopes Of silencing De Gatourelle,
with sigh, and yet a sort Of relief.
Nv.
For more than week came and went to
Mile. Claude's house as though nothing had
happened, but could see that she was still
unlike her old cheerful self.
M. de Latourelle still stayed on in the
place, though his intimacy with the two
ladies was Of course at au end. had hoped
the affair would be a. mere nine days
wonder and then be forgotten; but, for
once, gossip refused to let the scandal, die
out. Several people ceased TO visit Mile.
more doubtful and unpleasant one. She was
a great deal too proud to leave s.. She
had as good right TO be there as any one,
she maintained the place suited her and
Miss Harland, and 10 one should say that
NJ. do Latourelle had driven her, away. She
could give no reason for his sudden change
from friend TO enemy. but had a slirewd
suspicion that she had repulsed his offers Of
something warmer than friendship, and
that its wounded vanity had revenged itself
in the first way his mean nature suggested
One day, nearly month after my proposal
to fight the Comte, called and found Miss
Anne alone at home.
81 have found some one at last who in
sists on calling out the Comte," she said
hurriedly, and want you to be his second.
You will, won't you and you will promise
faithfully not to tell Claude %
/ "Who is itG must know that first"
"No! First promise me faithfully not To
let Claude hear a word about it, and then
will tell you! Promise quick |" Excite.
ment, as usual, made her quite pretty, and
under this new charm Of her manner
promised before 1 knew what was doing.
"That's right she sighed with an air OF
relief. "Now will tell you who IL isl
Her voice shook little and her color deep
ened. cit ia my twin brother"
"Your twin brother Ididn'teven know
you had brother, Mile. Anne ~
She looked a little annoyed, aud replied
rather coldly. as If she Thought my surpris,
savored of impertinence, never talk abou
my people, nor any one | care for very
much.''
"But is your brother in France :" | ven
tured to ask.
He came over on business to Paris las
week, and wrote at once to me, saying Ii,
had 80 little time to spare that he was afrait
he should not see me. did not tell Claud,
he had come, but wrote back and told hin
all about this wicked scandal, and he is jus
mad He adores Claude-she has been &,
good to us all-and he has sent me chal
lenge TO forward 10 the COmte, and he say
he will fight him the day after tomorrow a
all costs in any out-of-.he way place he like
to fix on. told him how good you ha,
. been in Offering TO fight, and he says he mus
have you for his second and get you to ar
range it all for him. Is it asking too much p
mo. no, indeed l will do what can, an,
| frankly tell you, dear mademoiselle, that
am glad some one is taking the matter up
, Only l am sorry your brother is 30 young
man the Comte is dead shot"
The color left her face; she looked almos
as il she were going to faint.
"Never mind, !" she said presently, with
little effort at smile and courageous ton
, of voice, "my brother has the right OH hi
, side, and that goes long way
shook my head, but agreed to furthe
Mr.. Harland's plans.
) Miss Anne drew piece of paper from he
| pocket.
| Here is the challenge, "she said ner
, vously. 81 hope it is all right
1t was written in fine, neat hand, ant
, was curt and to the point, all formalities an,
adornments of style having been dis enset
with by the writer.
Leave it TO me and will arrange II
When shall l see your brother?"
am afraid he won't see you till jus
, before the duel" she said, "and know h
/ would like to fight toward evening, If pos
) sible."
every we'll" replied, 81 will try an,
: arrange for evening, but | must let you
9 brother know the RESULT
o "lf you send a note to me will make sur
4 of him. don't want Claude to know, an
4 would rather keep the arrangements bstwee
t Just you and me she might otherwise sus
9 pect."
!, GAS you will, dear Madsmoiselle; al
entirely at your commands"
d "Yon will let the Comte know to marro,
y them" said Miss Anne, as she held out
9 nervous little hand to me.
I ! promised TO do 30 and then made m
adieux. called on the Comte next day an
presented MIR. Harland's challenge, at th
same time announcing myself as his second
I The Comts was all smiles and superiority
a He would be happy to meet Mr.. Harland q
Q any time, and suggested small FIR wood,
I couple of miles from the town, as the plac
D Of action. AS to weapons, let Mr.. Harlan
o choose his own; II was all one to himsel
q Pistols were finally agreed upon, and til
y hour named five o'clock on the fOllowip
Il evening at the place suggested by the Cont.
Q sent a little note privately to Miss Anne
! acquainting her with the terms, and receive
4 a reply from her to the effect that he
i, brother would meet me at the fir wood at
Il quarter before five next day.
v.
:. The next day was a beautiful one, but
: found me good deal more excited and mel
- vous than II had had to encounter I'll
Comte myself.
!, As drove toward the fir wood first rea
+ lied how ugly the consequences Of this du,
~ might prove to my two friends. I knee
:. nothing of Mr.. Iarland, and | did kno
- the Comte was a practiced duelist, with
y, cool head and steady hand and nerve.
70 had acted rashly in the matter, and felt this
= everything now turned upon Mr.. Harland
', capabilities for the encounter. dismisse
~ my carriage at little distance aud Wake
- =, quickly to the fiji wood. was punctual
=, minute, but my principal was before mi
- Leaning against tree, and pale as dealt
was young man whom had no difficult
in recognizing as Mr.. Harland. His Likeness
to his sister would have been extraordinar
IA "A