Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1889-02-14
A SURPRISED FENCER.
The Lesson Taught Young American
Northumberland.


Swordsman-Disarmed.
A young bank clerk in Albany is wiser
than he was year ago In the bank
where he was clerk a new man was
given somewhat inferior position The
newcomer was a small, Slight framed
Frenchman, whose English was decidedly
lame, but who so seldom spoke that it
made little difference. The senior clerk
had decided penchant for fencing, and
compared with most fellows of his age
and position was unquestionably a good
swordsman. In addition to this he was
most insutferable braggart, and his mill
tary accomplishment was his one topic Of
thought and conversation He had about
him very patronizing air, which he pro
ceeded to inhict upon the inoffensive
Frenchman, and his familiar slaps on the
back evidently displeased the stranger.
Finally particularly emphatic thump be-
tween the little Frenchman' shoulders
-oed as response a stinging slap in
ICE, which left the red mark of
small hand sharply prominent against the
otherwise deathly pale face of the young
American
Speechless with rage, the young man
found his desk, and shortly afterward,
through friend, challenged the French
man to mortal combat. The latter apollo
gized, in fact did all in his power to undo
the mischief of his hasty blow, in vain.
Nothing but blood can wipe out that in
suit" the young man said haughtily. The
details were arranged, the Frenchman, as
the challenged party, choosing rapiers.
Greatly to the surprise of the hot blooded
young challenger, the cashier of the bank,
who knew the Frenchman well, acted as
the latter's second. The day came and
the hour. The principals stepped to posi-
tion, saluted, and the blue blades crossed
with that smooth, gliding sound which is
music to the ear of the true swordsman
The Frenchman, whose familiarity with
his weapon was evident at the start, con-
fined himself at first entirely to defense,
turning his opponents point with a grace
of movement and absence Of fear or nerv-
BUSINESS which were poetry in action. The
young man grew bolder, his thrusts be-
gan to have an air of ferocity which
seemed to anger the Frenchman trife,
and turning aside his opponents thrust
he made quick lunge, and the young
American barely parried.
Another quick thrust and turn of the
wrist were too much for him; there was
sharp snap and the top button of his coat
few across the room. Angry at this evi-
dent trifing, the buttons owner made q
spiteful lunge, which was quickly parried
and the next button was snapped away.
One after another the shining buttons on
his natty blue braided jacket were cut of
by the Frenchman's ready point. De-
cidedly ratified" at his opponents skill
and the irrepressible smiles of the seconds
and surgeon, the young clerk now, with
greater rapidity and less caution, made
fierce lunges, any one Of which would
have driven the sharp rapier through the
body of the cool Frenchman, while the
little man, quietly parrying, with the
sharp point of his weapon stripped the
front of the young mans jacket to rib
bonS.
The contest had lasted some twenty
minutes when suddenly the Frenchman
caught the swiftly advancing point of his
opponent, turned it aside, slipped his own
sword quickly down along the others
blade, turning it with a quick wrist mo-
tion 50 that it partly wound around it,
and with sharp wrenching motion tore
the weapon away and sent it flying across
the floor. Then he saluted, threw his
weapon down and left the room 1t sub
sequently transpired that the foreigner
was-and is-a member of once noble
French family captain in the French
army, and his teachers have been some of
the best swordsmen in France. The
young American has not challenged any
foreigners since, and is less
inclined to talk of his experience or skill.
Albany Journal.