The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1892-11-17

u lkNXfYS6 mOrCHl one, surely.
$t.aiIaSY8S<S&4 Breathless, pant
SMSIaXt1d ing, the questioner
SA1S,!ISASX{H stood just outside
the circle OF the four seconds and two
surgeons surrounding the PROSTATE
figure.
No one answered him.
And in this silence even of his friends
and seconds he understood their con-
domination of his deed.
Il beseech you, answer me. He will
mot die?'
Still no answer.
And he remembered now be had
buried his sword up to the hilt in the
breast OF his adversary. Still, the
point might have glanced off against
St bone, and this thought gave him
hope for a moment 1t was only for
a moment, however. No one noticed
him; their looks, their whole atten-
ton, were fastened on the one who
lay there on the ground, with closed
eyelids and arms stretched rigidly out
on each side of him. Then one of the
surgeons said solemnly, Dead" and
he group fell back somewhat.
He was pushed backward by the
movement,
Repeating the word, "Dead! dead"
with a cry resembling that OF a hurt
wild beast, he turned and lied.
Running blindly his forehead came
an violent contact with the trunk of
a tree He staggered and fell back
one moment; the next he had fled
through the gate, his dripping sword
still in his hand, leaving the garden
gay with blossoming roses behind
MIN.
The road led along the river bank.
He ran on blindly, looking neither to
the right nor left. What had he done
with his sword? he asked himself sud
denly. Thrown it into the river, per-
maps, Or into the bushes growing by
the wayside.
He fled on, with but one thought in
ms brain; to flee from the spot where
hehad just slain mana fellow -crea-
ture.
His strength giving way presently,
he fell in a heap on the road. and Law
there. with his face in the dust. He
whom he had just slain had been
his best friend for years.
They had been born and played as
sc!,'ldreR in the same old sleepy pro-
Vlnc1a' town. AS young men thev
hHd been students at college together.
1Ia'es, On coming to PARIS is search of
a career, they had shared the same
apartment, they had been quite in
separable, having the same amuse-
ments, the same occupations.
Then she had come into his life. He
had loved her from the very first mo-
'ynent he beheld her.
She was poor, but beautiful and
che rtning.
Trey were married, and for O. long
time the young husband had been
blessed, as he supposed, with wife
lowing and beloved, and a friend true
as steel
Then came the terrible revelation of
ms friends treachery and his wife's
'1infstithfulness.
In that hour his first thoughts had
been OF revenge, of revenge on the
Iriend who had deceived and BETRAYED
him. He wondered now, half id]v.
that he had not then felt more indip-
nation toward his wife. He had
loved her so devotedly, however. that
the love in his heart was long in maxi.
ing way for hate. He pitied her She
was weak, variable, as are all women.
ne told himself. ..r
But as for him, the traitor, venee.
,~>ance should fall on him.
All night long, before the morning
set for the meeting, he had ploateG
over the thought of how he wonld
drive his sword into the traitors
heart. ~ -.
When they were face to face unon
che ground he felt his weapon tremble
IN his hand, not with fear. but with
rage. -. -
All he had learned Of the science Of
Fencing he had quite FORGOTTEN: he
would have liked to throw his wean.
on aside, to spring instead upon his
adversary and throttle the life out Of
MIN with his bare bands.
With a cry of hate he had rushed
upon his enemy, burying his sword in
the others breast. It had ali heen
done In lninute-a moment, rather
and now the taste Of revenge was al
ready bitter in his mouth. He was O.
murderer, He had taken life-the life
OF his dearest friend.
Back in that gay garden yonder lay
bleeding, distorted corpse-the
corpse OF his companion sinceinfancy,
HE forgot his provocation. He re-
snembered nothing but that the dead
man had been his friend. And then
hhe tears came in a great flood.