The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-03-31
1g that base aesn: OF burylng it there.


10 face on the dueling ground, he had
/ trembled little, but it was with rage, not
/ fear.
! Everything learned in the fencing hall
| he had long since forgotten. He barred his
| breast boldly and never once dreamed OF
parrving thrusts, thinking only of reaching
him, piercing him and killing him. The
sword even vexed him at times. 1t seemed
! 10 him that he would have been able TO
finish sooner could he only have used his
! hands to seize. choke and throttle him!
! And then, at last. with 2 cry OF Joy he had
sent home the blade TO his heart
Alasl now he was here Oh this road
Having glutted his hate, there remained
to him only frightful. mournful weari-
ness He had killed him! Yes, killed him,
he was there, behind him, that thing, nlys-
FERROUS and formidable corpse. A corpse
that he had made; and that dead mani
! mate body had once been the living body
of the man that ne had loved above all
others.
And thinking OF this he forgot the crime
that had made him desperate, to recall
their common childhood. their merry plays
in street and wood, and the frank hand
clasp at parting in the certainty OF meeting
suddenly between his fingers, like water
bursting from scaled fountain, the tears
began to flow.
At the same moment wheels grated on
the gravel and he turned his head toward
the sound.
From the open door she leaned toward
him, half out in her eagerness, in rlIstling
of silk and lace, the tip Of her little Shoe
resting on the step of the footboard;
through her veil she had recognized him.
''Ah, thank Godl' she cried. sit is you'll
il is you! Eth, well? tell mel"
He dared not respond; it was such a
terrible thing that he had to say. His
chin dropped to his breast; he was mute
haggard, in the shame of his murder.
Speak, speak, beseech youl You do
not stir or answers ii that you are
wounded"
II am not wounded, no" said he at last.
She sprang to the road.
But he''--
"Well, go on; he"-
as deadr' stammered he.
She clasped him in her arms and chung
TO his neck.
81 love you, love you" she cried. you
were right to kill him; you are brave and
strong! If you think it troubles me that
he is dead you greatly deceive yourself.
never loved him, never! do you hear?
Women are mad at times-you know that
yourself-and lose their heads; but it is
the head, the head always, and not the
heart. 1t is you that adore, you that
have always adoredl Come let us go; get
in with me and let us worry no more for
those that are living or dead! Come. come,
/ say; it is you, and you only, that love"
He considered her. thunderstruck.
Then, for this death that desolated his
soul, he the offended, she the accomplice
of the offender. experienced neither regret
nor sorrow. On the contrary, she rejoiced
in it, she was happy! She avowed it and
declared that never, never had she had
love for him who, because Of her, was lying
deadl
He regarded her still, regarded her in
tently, with strained, fixed gaze.
But come do comem she pleaded, the
veil raised now, and so charming and per-
fumed, holding up her red, dewy lips all
eager to be kissed. Come, let us go!''
He answered YEARLY, his air vague,
wandering like one in a dream.
''Yes, yes, let us go; behold me, but l
am still little nervous and do not wish to
drive, but to walk"
Let us walk, then" returned she gayly
slipping her hand in his arm; land mean
while you VIII tell me details. Did you kill
him immediately Did-did the combat
last long? Did you-but see you, why don't
you answer? You tell me nothing; never
theless it is very natural that should wish
to hear"
Eyes, yes" said he again, II know-very
natural"
They were entering at the moment one
Of the river bridges. He stopped, looked
about him.
do you see it," said he, there to the
left, behind that fringe of poplars; that
little red brick dwelling with two weather
vanes? Ii stands few PAGES beyond the
street that skirts the river bank"
Il see it; yes, just beyond there"
1T was there, in the garden behind that
house, that the duel was Fought
Yes, yes; go onP'
SIT was there, in that garden, in the
main alley, that he felr'-
With cry, perhaps-he was not brave
brave, you see, like your
Il did not hear him"
And you will take me to see that gar
dem"
Yes, tomorrow or the day after; but
stay; you can see from here, think; yes,
from here, close to the railing. Now bend
forward, little farther, little more still,
behind the poplars, remember v'
She uttered a cry-too late!
He had caught her ankles and with one
quick heaveand toss had cast her from the
parapet of the bridge, whirling through
the air in a great fiuttering of skirts and
ribbons to the deep, yellow waves beneath.
As for him? A malefactor now, who,
not content with killing man in duel,
had drowned woman in the Seine he
TRANQUILITY continued his way to give him
self to justice in the neighboring village
Translated from the French of Catulle
Mendez by L. @. Waggoner for Short
Stories