Telegram-herald., 1890-06-28

door Nss rs ogni And the ysozasn who
ran = nleet tae fzasral cortegs
tTeI1h ing creature wh9. WITH terflD-s
CRY. threw herself Ga the cosfsse-ae rec
ognized. too. Il w4s Cl405ine.
Armand rose hastily and paced rapid
II up and down tA@ room. Ii was true
Ca tie morrow re was T. hght Ca
ths morroW, pistol ia hand. hs would
lie rizli1g hrs Own lie q take zaotheTs.
HIS LIE, Great God did il lselong 70
HIM Had be The right % dispose II IL
Did he not owe y, Is aueh as money. 20
those who depende1 upon himf Were
he desd. what would be the fate of kis
wife and children. thrown helpless on
the mercies Of his terrible cseditorss He
had 10 money. There was not a hun
drel francs IN the house, His sole for
tuns was il his pen, his talent, his brain.
Where would they be tomorrow
And MS little wife, so fragile, 50 deli
cate, what was Ia store for herr The
hospital And after thar: And his chil-
-Cieorget. 30 bright. 50 happy. 50
intelligent; his little girl, his merry fairy
what would become Of themi
Tougeret continued 10 pace neryoUsly
up and down the floor The veins IN his
temples throbbed until they seemed on
the point Of bursting. He moistened his
handkerchief and wound it about his
head. The colo water helped to cool his
burning brain. Now he saw il all clear
er He had exag gyerated the situation: a
duel was not necessarily fatal Had be
not already fought three OF them, and
was he not alive on the eve Of the fourth?
Yes; but then he was alone in the world.
His life was his own; be had the right TO
dispose of IL Is he pleased. He had given
no portion Of his life 10 wife; no chill
dren 20 leave behind, fatherless. penni-
less and helpless. And as these thoughts
again began TO surge through his aching
brain he fancied he could see the shining
barrel Of pistol, with the little, round,
dark hole aimed directly between his
eyes.
He tried in vain to change the current
of his thoughts. They refused to vanish
lie was responsible for the care of those
he loved. They lived by him, and they
would perish without him. The ball
that struck him would take more than
one life There would be three other
victims-three to whom he owed love.
happiness and bread. Good God, how
terrible it all was
But another idea, equally as horrible,
crossed his mind.
His honor!
He knew his comrades and the incred-
ulous flaneurs of the boulevard He
heard their comments and their pitiless
raillery. What word were they pro-
nouncing? "A cowardw No, it was
impossible. He surely would find some
one of his companions who would de-
fend him. Men are good at heart; some
one would be found who could under
stand.
Armand" came an anxious voice
from the adjoining room, "are you
troubled? You have been talking to
yourself for whole hour. You are not
liz"
'No, no, my DEAR" he replied, going
to the door, ''do not worry. IL am
working"
"Ah, that is WELL said Claudine, with
a sweet smile. Then, as she dropped
her long lashes over her slUmber heavy
eyes, she murTnured: Think what
would become of us If you were
to-get sick-the little ones-and me.
Baby-is asleep. Good night-dear,"
and the loving wife resumed her inter
rupted dream.
AT the other end Of the room, safely
tucked in his little crib, smiling and
peaceful, with his little hands tightly
claSped, little Georget slept.
4 sudden torrent of tears burst from
Armand's eyes and wet his checks. He
rushed into his studio, seized sheet of
paper and wrote.
The next morning at 1890 man ir-
reproaehably attired in black stood on
the field at Vezinet and with an agitatod
air held out letter to another person
age, equally anxious and no less solemn.
''Is it possibleY' said the first.
"What. a message?" said the second.
1.-THE unfortunate man forgets that he
dishonOrs himself" said one.
''And that his cowardice might reflect
on us" replied the other.
But that shall not happen" said both
together.
And with grave air and measured
steps the two men advancet. toward a
small group who were viewing the unu-
sual proceedings with surprise.
Gentlemen" said one Of the pair,
speaking composedly in the midst Of
general silence, 1--WE regret to announce
that our principal and former friend, II.
Armand Fougeret, viii not be on the field
today. lie viii not fight.
1T is scarcely necessary for me to
add" he continued, replacing his hat on
his head with sweeping gesture, that.
ao :or us. we are entirely at your serv-
ice. ."-Argonaut. from the French of
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