Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1885-10-31

can dine even better than in Paris.
1t may be that my society is not agree-
able to you, but yours. Sit, and that of
these ladies is 10 much 10 my taste that
! should be very sorry to leave YOU"
Nine. Dulaurier, moro aud more
charmed at Leonce's manners, replied
instantly:
Il accept on my W authority. at
the risk of encroaciling on my hus-
bands rights"
II must at least. then, introduce
myself to you in q more regular man.
ner. l am tho Viscount Lconce de
Verdun."
land 1. sir" said NJ. Dulaurier,. am
Ado'phe Dulaurier, old notary; these
are my wife and our daughters"
In an hour they were seated in the
arbor promised by Leonce. and were
altogether friends. Leonce had &C.
cepted with warm gratitude an invita-
ton from Madame Dulaurier to visit
them at their Flemish village home.
"Do you not think" whispered Lou
ise to Louisette. ''that father and
mother became friends very easily and
quickly with this stranger?"
"Why no. replied Louisette; lit is
perfectly natural"
Two months later Leonce alighted
al the railway station, Donia and NJ.
Duiaurier offered his hand in welcome.
He now had time to appreciate NJ. Du-
laurier's unaffected kindIiness, and
strange to say the provincial, who had
seemed to him slightly ridiculous in
Paris. seen at home appeared to the
young man as he really was-simple.
natural. sympathetic and gentle.
Leonce was received with the most
demonstrative Joy by Nine. Dulaurier,
with u cordial salutatiou w Louise,
with an odd little smile by Louisette.
1t was nearly Z o'clock, and NJ. Du-
lAurier rose, saying: "Since Van der
telde is not in yet, let him run after
his cartridges. and let us dine without
him"
The repast was a real French din
ner, with all the meats. poultry and
game possible, IN enormous quantity
of beer. aud ali the wines Que could
think of.
After dinner. which was prolonged
quite into the evening. NJ. Dulaurier,
in consideration Of his guests fatigue.
conducted him 10 his Don at once.
Leonce set himself to opening his
trunks and porlmanteaux. At length
he drew from Il portfolio - letter daint-
lily folded and pertumed. and began to
read aloud. as follows:
ii love yonLouisc! Sweet and charm
ing as You are, who would not love
you? Ii is for this reason that 1 left
Paris; it WAS to tell you this. For two
months nave thought only of you.
and of the happy day when l travelled
with you, the day that determined my
life. Oh. Louise! Louise! ii you only
loved met
ut is very good said Lconcc TO
himself. Il never expressed a note
more suitably. Now the question is
how to convey it to that lady. The
simplest way is the best. of course.
I'll put it under the door into her
room. But where is her room? That
is the question"
tie then began to smoke Il cigar. ut.
t%entive. however. to every sound in the
house. lie had moi long TO wait, he
soon hoard light steps in The passage.
the rustic of q robe; he rosei quickly
and opened his door with the greatest
caution, just in time to see Louisette's
delicate figure enter n room on the lef,
at the eud Of the gallery.
Our hero allowed a few moments 10
elapse. and then. stepping like a cat,
visited the door through which Louis
cite had Disappeared, aud adroitly
slipped under the door the letter he
had prepared.
"Good!' he thought: "my letter
will be the first thing she sees IN the
morning"
Then he vent to bed. humming q
tune, and slept the sleep Of the just.
At Z the next morning he was awak-
ened by a very lively sensation in his
arm, as if it had been tightly graspcd
BY iron pincers. Standing by his bed
aud holding his arm was u sort of 81.
ant. fully six feet tall, with the frame
OF Polyphcmus. only this Cyclops had
two little roHnt eyes, which were
flashing fir; and he had II loud,
hoar>c. cultural voice.
'4Gct up. parisian!' he said, Il an
Van der Vcide!'
VERY wcll.' said Leonce. hal!
asleep and completely ssupeiied; "wha'
shall 1 do about itp'
But the other lifted him by the arm,
like Il feather. and sent him in tho mid.
die of the room.
'.\Vhat does this mcan?" cried lie
once.
This means that | am going to Gu
your throat, Parisian!
But what for?:'
mo explanaiioDs!" howled the ri
No explanations! dress yoursel
AM. follow met
Van der Velde, Selling Leonco by
the arm, dragged him after him dow
a retired stairway to a deserted street.
At the end OF a few seconds he knock
ed 1T the door of u house and entered
with L"oncr sti | in tow.
Leouce found himself in the pres
ence Of four men, who were introduc
ed 10 him, TWO as his own witnesses
and two as those Of Van der Veldc
and who were all acquainted with tn,
u Of the duel, lis Van der Weld
explained.
But OBJECTED Leonce, .'men d,
not fight thus without Il motive"
"Ah-ha, Partisan! Perhaps. then
you are a.
Leonce was brave enough, aud die
not allow Van der Velde to finish hi
sentence.
Il follow you, sir he said quickly
At the end Of a few moments wall
they came to a little grove. One o
the four witnesses carried the swords
The four witnesses chosea spot, and Sc
the giant and the young man in thei