Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1889-06-05
THE VICOMTE'S DUEL.
A Romance From the French of
Guy De Maupassant.

In society he was called the .'hand-
some Signoles.'' His name was Vicom-
tie Goutran Joseph de Siguoles.
Selng an orphan and master of a.
large fortune, he was very much of a
swell, as they say. He had good
figure, carried himself well. talked
well enough to he thought clever, had
certain natural grace of manner, an
air of nobility and pride which, with
his fine mustache and soft eyes, made
him attractive to women. He was
asked about a great deal. being much
sought after for his good dancing.
He had been suspected of several
love affairs, capable OF giving very
good opinion OF young fellows abili-
ties il that direction. He lived, peace
full and happy, in a state OF perfect
moral well-being. 1t was known that
he was a fine sWordsman and an ex-
celent shot.
when I fight" he would say. Il
shall choose a pistol; am sure to kill
nv man with that
Now, one evening. having taken two
young married women. friends of his,
to the theater with their husbands),
ne asked them after the play to go and
take an ice at Portoni:s.
They had been there but a few mo-
ments when he noticed that a gentle
man seated at a neighboring table was
staring persistently at one Of the ladies.
She seemed annoyed and disturbed,
bent her head, and finally said to her
husband:
''Ihere is a man here staring me out
1t countenance. I do not know him.
Do you?''
The husband had noticed nothing,
out he looked at the man, and an
swered, emphatically:
mo. not at ALL
Then his wife said. half-amused. half
vexed:
cit is really very embarrassing; that
man spoils my ice for me-
Her husband shrugged his shoul-
1ers.
bah! never mind him. If you be-
gin by paying attention to all the inso-
lent people you meet there's no know
ing where you will STOP
But the Vicomte had risen abruptly.
He would not permit this unknown to
spoil an ice which he had offered. The
Insult was addressed to him. since it
was through him that his friends had
entered the cafe. That made it entire
ly his affair.
he crossed over to the man and said:
You have sir, fashion of looking
at those ladies which will not permit
| beg you to be SO kind as to cease
The answer came sneeringlv:
why. you are making game of me,
you are
The Vicomte said sternly, through
his shut teeth:
Take care, sir: take care not to try
my patience beyond endurance.
The man answered with one word, a
vile word, which rang from one side
OF the cafe to the other. All the peo-
pie at the tables started as though
Jared OF an electric spring. ALI those
whose backs had been turned looked
arou1d-the others raised their heads;
three walters whirled around like 80
many tops vita their heels as pivots;
the TWO women at the desk Jumped,
then twisted their whole bodies as
though they had been two automatons
worked by the same crank.
A silence had fallen on every thing,
Then all of sudden sharp, dry
noise struck Oh the air The Vicomte
. had struck his adversary. Every one
rose to interfere. Cards were ex-
changed.
When the Vicomte had gotten home
he paced up and down his room with
rapid strides. He WAS far too excited
to reflect ON any thing. He had vague
idea OF one thing, - duel" but as yet
the idea awoke no emotion in him OF
one kind Or another. He had done
what he ought to have done, he had
shown himself to be what he should
be. They would talk about it, praise
him. compliment him. He repeated
alo.id speaking as one does in great
mental troubles: W hat a brute that
q man ISIS
Then be sas dawn and began to