San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-02-28
A BOULANGER ROMANCE.
FOR SEVENTEEN YEARS HE AND
HIS WIFE HAVE LIVED APART.

The Story Of Fatal Duel in Which Nine.
Boulanger Played a Part-The Young
Officer Who Died for Her Nuptials
without Maternal Sanction.
An interesting bit of domestic history is
given anent the MAN of Destiny" The
domestic drama in the Boclanger family
began, say the gossips, soon after the Franco
Prussian war.
For the first scene of it imagine the sitting
room of a young cavalry captain, discreetly
mentioned as Roger D. Though it is little
after dawn the young captain is out Of bed.
To his amaZement a woman is announced.
Through the thick veil he can see that she
is exceptionally handsome. She is tail and
fair.
"A womans visit" says she, lat such an
hour as this cannot have failed to surprise
you"
The young captain is too polite to admit it.
~ can only say" says he, that | shall be
happy if | can serve you"
Without knowing me?' she asks, faint
smile being visible through her veil.
From her voice the young officer begins to
suspect that she is not wholly stranger to
him The face of fair unknown, seen in the
streets and at the races, mas been haunting
him for weeks.
You are getting ready" she continues, Ito
fight duel with my husband"
your husbandF" cries Roger.
81 am Nine. Boulanger," she says. Il sup
posed that you knew me-"
Nothing could have astoniShed the captain
more. He certainly had duel on hand that
morning He was TO meet Col BOulanger.
The meeting grew out of some vulgar ness
room quarrel-some woman whom Boulanger
was befriending You are fool" said the
friends of Roger D., Ito be drawn into
quarrel about such creature as she is" But
the young man was high spirited and would
not be moved from his determination TO fight.
he now turned quietly to Nine BoIlanger.
Are you aware" he asked, ''of the cause of
this quarrelr'
Yes" she said, Il have learned. II was
quarrel about cards at the club. AT least,
that is the story they tod me-"
The story is correct" said Roger.
And | have come" she continued, Ito in
tercede with you. Between TWO SUCH men as
you fatal result is certain And they tell
me- that you are the better swordsman."
would you have me forego my advan
tageT' cried Roger, guessing at the purpose
of the visit. "Why should | not try to kill
this man, now that | have ali additional
reason for hating himr
"What reason2" she demanded
1.-The reason that he is your husband" hs
cried
Things were getting dangerous. The visitor
made her last appeal She told IF her two
little girls. She said that it vas only for
them she feared She added that she could
cry with shame for her visit, but she could
not see her children orphaned 1t was not
wholly on her children's account that the
young man promised, first, to avert the duel
if an apology would avert it, and, second, if
this failed, to act only on the defen2iva
Having gained her point, the visitor went
quietly away.
For the next act of the drama shift the
scene to a big house in the suburbs Of Paris,
with garden much favored by dueliSts The
duel took place Nine Boulanger, treasured,
was calmly waiting the result, when strange
lady entered in great distress, said that she
was the sister of Roger D., and waited, too
'All will be well, says Mime. Boulanger.
Heaven" says the other, will not allow
my brother, who fought 80 gloriously in TIE
war, to fall at the hand OF a wretch like
this"
"A wretch7" cries Nine. Boulanger
YES" she says, "a wretch If ne were
not wretch would he, married man. the
father of two children, be fighting for
womanl"
You calumniate him." says Nine Boulan.
ger.
Would did" replied the other But
have the tale from my brother, and my
brother never lies. Who are you that under
takes this mans defenser'
Il am his wife" says Nine Boulanger
His wife!" cries Rogers sister; and before
another word could be uttered u messenger
brought the news that Roger was grievouAly
wounded His sister fastened to get help
Roger was carried into the room and placed