Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-11-29


ID Lieut. Armand Guillot to his friend, Rene
Dumontier, as the two young men halted ano
gazed after the fair creature who had lifted oy
them almost like a vision in a dream Il never
saw a sweeter face" continued Guiiiot, and
no grass shall grow under my feet until nave
made her ACQUAINTANCE. You surely must kno"
her, Reney'
only by sight" replied Dumontier; but
take care. INV boy, or we shall be rivals, for II
wa. love at first sight with me, too. Her name
is Madeleine and she o the daughter OF Maitre
Zephyre. the wealthy farmer Of Bosc-Aesnii'
near this city. An only child. she has been
carefully educated, and is said to be as clever
and lovable as she is beautiful, but a bit OF
q eoquette Sithal."
Rene Dumontier was the son OF one OF the
leading notaries in the old city of Yvetot, In
the north of France, so famous in song and MS
tory as constituting a little kingdom all by
itself. The story is strange one: u seems
that the French king Clotaire. slew one OF the
lords Of Yvetot before the very altar OF the
cathedral Of scissors, and. to make amends Tor
his terrible crime, decreed that the lords OF
Yvetot should thereafter and until the end OF
time be real kings-kings of Yvetot.
Ii Is one OF these good little kings OF fvetot
who has always been such fagorlte With
French poets and been held up by them IN
strong contrast to the real kings. who seemingly
take such pleasure in taxing and Cypress
ing their people and driving them of to be
slain in useless
Lieut. Guillot had Just graduated from the
military school. and was very proud OF the
gold lace of his handsome uniform. which set on
to tine advantage his erect AID graceful car
riaSe. His apple-red checks and warm gray eyes.
however, were ii strong contrast 20 the pale and
scholarly face Of his friend Dumontier, whom he
was nov visiting, Dumontier's father being
his guardian
Guiiiot had passed very little of his life in
YvetOt. and hence it was quite natural that he
shoGld have turned to his friend for informa-
tion concerning the beautiful Madeleine. As
the farmers daughter disappeared in the dis
tencc strange silence fell upon The young
oricer. and he walked along with mis- gaze liked
upon the ground.
Come come Armand" said the notarys
son. .'don't take this thing much to heart.
You're a soldier and you'll win the love of
maidens as easily as the bays OF victory. Sol
diers and sailors, You know. are proverbially
heartless- Love making is mere pastine
with them
Tut, tut. Rene" replied his friend. Don't
SPEAK SO lightly of this matter. tell YOU love
that gil madly, and although il may be love at
nrst sight. yet that's the most dangerous kind,
70 I'm told It's like a shot at close range, it
tears its way through with terrible effect"
Again a deep silence came upon the two
friends as they crossed the public square in the
grand old town and directed their footsteps to-
ward the club rooms. 1t early in the after
noon and very few members had made their APP
pearance. The nO.arys son led the way into
the reading room. and. strange to say. the two
young men half instinctively drew apart and
took seats on opposite sides of the room. They
both unlocked a file Of papers from the rack and
seemed to be suddenly deeply engrossed in read
ing. but keen oberver would not have failed
to notice that 1t was mere semblance Of atten-
tion-that in reality neither of them was read
Ing word 1t was "a mere pretext on the part
of each to enable him to think calmly over the
adventure of the half hour Just past and the
words which 1t had prompted each TO speak to
the other.
The notary's son had been fippant. almost
jestfui. Wa i. not "a mere subterfuge? Did he
not mean to throw his friend of his guard in
order the better to Outstrip him in his race for
Medicines heart? As rule, Rene was any
thing but fiippant. To him life was an earnes.
probiem-so earnest. in fact. that he had thus
far brought TO nauyht all the efforts of his
father. the old notary, to inveigle him into
marriage. Rene would not be hurried; he
wanted time To think the matter over. The
young officer knew all this and hence had be
been particularly struck by his friends banter
and soothing. 1t startled him. He found HIM
self gazing blankly at the newspaper which he
was holding up before his eyes and with a sud
den i9pulse he tossed the file of papers aside
sprsng up and walked to where the notary's
was sitting.
Rene exclaimed Guillot solemnly-so SOL
EMMY that his friend was quite startled BIZ it,
For heavens sake, Armand" answered Du-
monitor, "whi.s the matter? You really
frightened Inc. didn't hear YOUR step. was
thinking about Madeleine"
The young officer fairly staggered as this
name struck his ear. IL seemed to him that the
notarys son had rot pronounced it in a suffi-
cientiy respectful tone of voice. Although be
had heard the name of Madeleine spoken a
MS IN 70 Voc 10,
sound of the word sent a mysterious thrill
through his frame. He was upon the point of
crying out, Sir, don't presume to mention
that lady by her firss name in that way to me w.
when he bethought himself, and, forcing a
smile to his lips, spoke as follows:
'Rene, believe II is an old German proverb
which saws that IN money matters all sOciability
ceases / think it should be amended and the
words love affairs be put in place of money
matters III any one had ever told me that apy-
thing in the shape Of a woman could ever come
between us 80 as to endanger our lifelong friend
ship, should have been indefinitely amused
and yet tnd myself oppressed by a mysterious
something at this early stage in the proceedings.
Dumonaer, continued the young officer low
ering his voice, I'VE must be careful"
why, what do you mean, Armandg' inter-
rupted the notarys son. coloring ND as he met
the earnest look Of Guillot's big, round eyes
Il mean, replied his friend, that in this
matter We must be more than honorable. we
must be honor itself. Madeleine must be the
sole arbiter Of our fates. We must not nor
must any one for us, strive in any way to gain
an undue advantage. speak after the man
ner Of my profession 1t must be a fair fight in
an open field. There must be no ambushes. no
masked batteries, no stratagems, We must
have no allies. no companions in arms We
must ride forth with lances couchant f,ying
the device: May the best man VIM Do YOU
agree with me, Reney'
Il do, most assuredlyr' exclaimed the no
tary's son, in u very earnest tone of voice.
land, speaking for myself, while I'm willing 10
admit that have, In a manner that is charac-
teristic Of me, admired this fair maiden for
more than year. yet have never either to
her father, whom i know, or to any living
being, breathed q confession Of my love So.
my dear Armand, we stand on equal footing"
Not SO, my friend" replies the young Off
Ger; ''you are a rich mans son, while have
nothing but my sword, and its blade is, as you
know. new and bright"
'Ah, trle, my boy" made answer Dumontier.
with a sigh; but you have what lack-a fine
figure and handsome face,''
A faint blush ran up toward the young off,
esr's hair e. he cried out:
Good Then we are perfectly matched ~
and reaching out his right hand he grasped his
friend right firmly and heartily, while almost
instinctively their left hands few into the air
IN token Of a solemn compact.
Zach looked the other full in the eyes and
each seemed satisfied that there was no guile or
reservation Of thought in the honest and manly
CLEAN which he saw there.
IL 80 happened about this time that Notary
Dumontier was summoned to attend Maitre
Lephyre at the latters spacious residence at
Bose esnii Tor the arrangement Of some prop