St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-03-19
REVEALED BY A DUEL.
A Timely and Interesting Story From
Paris.
BoULANGER'S DUPLICITY.
bis Wife Discovered It Seventeen Years
Ago---His Daughters Mar
rage.
ACT I.


The domestic drama in the Boulanger
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, dis
cretely 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
tn lex veil he can see that she is ex-
ceptionally handsome. She is tall and
fair.
ga woman's VISIT" says she, lat such
a n hour as this can not have failed to
surprise you.'
The young captain is too polite to
admit it. 81 can only say" says he,
THAT L shall be happy if can serve
YOU"
Without knowing me?" she asks. a
faint smile being visible through her
veil.
From her voice the young officer be-
gins to suspect that she is not wholly
stranger to him. The face of a fair I'M
known, seen in the streets and at the
races, has been haunting him for weeks.
''You are getting ready" she con-
tinues, ito fight duel with my huS.
band"
"Your husband?" cries Roger.
81 am Nine. BouIanger," she says, 50
supposed 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 mess-room quarrel
some woman whom Boulanger was be-
friendipg. "YOu are fool,' said the
friends of Roger D.. Ito be drawn into
| quarrel about such a 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.
Boulanger. Are you aware" he
asked, $ of the cause OF this quarrel?"
YES" she said. II have learned. 1t
was quarrel about cards at the club.
At least, that is the story they told me-"
"The story is correct" said Roger.
"And [ have come," she continued,
''to intercede with you. Between two
such men as you fatal result is GER
| tain. And they tell me that you are
the better swOrdsman.
"WOuld you have me forego my adj
vantage?" asked Roger, guessing at the
purpose of the visit. "Why should
not try to kill this man, now that have
an additional reason to hate him?"
1.-The reason that he is your hus.
band" he cried.
Things were getting dangerous. The
visitor made her last appeal. She told
of her two little girls. She said that it
was 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
fcn1 SrCf to nr-f
duel if any apology would avert it, and
second, if this failed, to act only on the
defensive. Having gained her point,
the visitor went quietly away.
ACT II.
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 await
ing the result, when a strange lady en-
tered in great distress, said she was the
sister of Roger D., and waited, too.
''All will be WE'LL" says Nine. Bou-
LANCER.
Heaven" says the other, "will not
allow my brother, who fought so glOri-
ously, to fall at the hands of wretch
like this"
ga wretch?" cried Nine. Boulauger.
"Yes," she says, "a wretch. If he
were not wretch would he. married
man, the father of two children, be
fighting for wOman?"
"You calumniate him." says Nine.
Boulanger.
would l did," replied the other.
''But have the tale from my brother,
and my brother never lies. Who are
you that undertakes this mans de-
fense?''
81 am his wife," says Nine. Bou-
LANCER.
His wifeI" cries Rogers sister; and,
before another word could be uttered,
messenger brought the news that Roger
was grlevously wounded. His sister
fastened to get help. Roger was car
ried into the room and placed upon the
sofa. For few moments he was left
alone with MIN. Boulanger. She knelt
beside him in an agony of remorse.
s'Who is it?'' he family asked, regain
ing consciousness.
at is l." she cried, seeking your for
giveneSS.
81 have nothing to forgive" he said
slowly. II meant to die for YOU"
"Hush!" she cried. 81 will do any,
thing to repair the harm have caused.
will nurse you; will watch over you.
Live-Onlv live"
But the young captain could only mo-
ton her hand to his lips, and when her
husband entered with his arm in
sling he found her kneeling beside
corpse.
ACT III.
The scene of the third act is the
MAYORS office, in the Sixteenth ward of
Paris. The day is Oct. 80 of the past
year. M. Marmottan, the mayor, has
just given his daughterin marriage, and
all the municipality was taking a holt
day. At 4 O'Clock in the afternoon Gen.
Boulanger entered with his daughter
Marcelle upon his arm. Her dress was
of cream-coioI ed silk, with embroidered
skirts. Her hat was of the same color
as her dress, ornamented with flowers,
and perched on a forest of fair hair.
Capt Driant, in his uniform as an Off
Ger of ZouaveS, gave his arm to his
mother, stately in black silk. Behind
him came the witnesses-Count Dillon,
M. Griffith, Gen. Faverot de Kerbrech
and the bridegroom's brother.
In its account of the marriage the FL
caro- wrote: mime. Boulanger, still in
disposed, found herself forced to remain
at Versailles in the company of her
elder daughter"
The usher announced the mayor NJ.
Marmottan, after saluting the bridal
party, stood behind his desk. He then
read the customary service. Then, as
the law demands, he turned to Gen.
BoulaDger.
''Do the parents consent?' he asked.
There was pause. The bridegroom
the general replied, 1.-THE father con-
SentS."
'.And the mother?" asked the mayor.
1.-THE mother does not CONSENT" said
the general, hHskily.
s'The law" observed the mayor, ''re-