The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-07-17
TOLD BY A DEAD MAN,

| One evening, not many months ago
three persons were seated in snug cor
ner of the lounging-room of the Elec
triciaDs' Club of Vienna. From the in
tent and eager expression ON the faces
of two of them, it was evident that the
subject of the conversation was more
than ordinarily interesting. f.,
The leader of the conversation was 9
man apparently ON the turn of thirty.
five, with face strongly marked by the
unsparing brush of late hours and unre.
strained passions. He had reached the
pith of the tale and was enjoying the i'm
patience of his listeners with a keen
relish. At last, yielding to tlieir eager
opportunities he said: ~
"Well, I'll tell you name of the lady,
but remember you have given your word
of honor that it shall go no further.
When l followed her from the train |
found it was-0 shades of virtue! Mrs.
Waldemer." 90
"YOu lie!" t'ii
The words rang through the silent
room like ti'umpet-blast. Springing to
their feet with haste that sent chairs
and table flying, the startled trio turned
and saw gentleman in evening dress
standing not three feet away. His face
was convulsed with rage, and his futile
struggle for speech only caused his pallid
lips to utter incoherent sounds. For a
few seconds no one moved, and the
ominous quiet was only broken by the
deep, labOred breathing of him who had
so unceremOniously, interrupted the
peace of the night; then with sudden,
bound a form cleared Gthe intervening
space, and before hand could be raised
in hindrance, the boastful roue had
planted terrific blow full in the face of
his adversary, almost telling him to the
floor. The infuriated cOmbatants were
quickly separated by the excited by
and both hurried from the
house. 90,
On the following morning the frequent
ers Of the club stood about in little knots
discussing the episode of the night
before. There was universal sympathy
with the gentleman who had received
the blow, and many strong expressions
of anger were INDUCED in by the men,
bers, who were justly enraged at the
publicity that would inevitably follow
such disgraceful affair.
I. One old gentleman in particular was
much excited. He said: 0Nt
"Such. an unwarrantcd imputation
againsta rladys character should not
pass Impimished; and if Herr Waldemer
does not challenge that brute, why, III
do it myself, if only on general princi-
pies" ilH
As the choleric old man finished,
commotion at the door showed the en-
trance of some one with fresh news on
the engrossing Topic.
The new conner was quickly sur
rounded, and with the eagerness of a
bearer Of glad tidings he exclaimed:
''Waldemer has challenged him, and
the challenge is accepted of course. i
have Just come from the house OF RukcIt,
who, you know, conducts all sucl affairs.
He wonldn't tell me when 1t was to take
place, or indeed anything at all about it.
but there are going to be some extraor-
binary arrangements; 1could tell that
by his air of mystery-the pompous old
idiotP "a ...- n
The welcome intelligence created a
feeling Of general relief amcng the mem
bers, and It was hailed with great satis
faction. They dispersed to their various
homes, knowing that their code Of honor
was still intact.
For several days the curious made
every effort to discover any details con-
cerning the impending duel, but without
avail. There was only certainty that
1t would take place, but where and how
was only known to the principals and
the indefatigable Rukert.
lOn the morning Of the sixth day after
the quarrel at the club, the community
was thrown into a state of horror at the
following article published in the Neue
Freie Presse:
At half-past eight lastnight, as party
of young men were passing the house of
Herr Waldemer, in Strasse Wallfiscli-
gasse, they were startled by the loud re-
port Of a revolver coming from the. di-
rection of that gentleman's residence,
followed Immediately by an agOnizing
scream. They hastily forced the front
door and, after a vain search in several
rooms, ali untenanted, they reached the
study. There PROSTATE on the floor was
the form of our well-known citizen
dead. A hideous wound in his left
tenple and a revolver lying near at
hand showed the cause of death.
Stretched across his body, her hair dab
bling in pool of blood, was his beauti-
full wife. 1t was at first thought that
she also was dead, But a hasty extnif