The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1893-11-17

3" Here's news for you. Fred called
out Charlie Thornton. That rascally
| French duelist, De Nilleneuve, has met
! his match ut last: and DIR. Lansett. of
the til Bengal native infantry, who
saw the whole affair, is just going to-
] tell us all about it
| We'll, this is how it happened be-
| gan the doctor. In passing through
| Paris | stopped TO visit my old friend.
| Col De Malct. and he and were stroll
| ing through the Tuilcries gardens
when suddenly n murmur ran through
| the crowd: Here comes De Whenever
| Then the throng parted, and l had just
time to catch a glimpse of the bully's
! tall figure and long black mustache
when man stepped forth from the
crowd and said something to him, and
| then suddenly dealt him blow
| "'Then there was rush and clamor
of voices and every body came crowding
! round SO that | couldn't see ANYTHING:
but presently De Malet came up To me
and said: 'Lansett, we shall want you
in this affair, although I'm afraid that
you won't have chance of showing
your surgery, for De Villeneuve never
wounds without killing"
just then the crowd opened and |
saw, To my amazement, that this man
who had insulted and defied the most
terrible fighter in all France was a
slim little fellow, with pale, meager
face.
'''''As 1 am the challenged party,
have the right To choose weapons" we
heard him say. quite coolly, ''aEd
choose swords
Are you mad," cried De Malet,
seizing his arm; don't you know De
NiilanaI1yt.'G the IaaElf.a.
in Europe? Choose pistols-give your
self u chance
Pistols may miss-swortis can't"
answered the stranger in a tone of
such savage determination that every
one who heard him-evcn De Nillcneuve
himself, furious though he waS-gave n
kind Of shudder. - had vowed never
To light again, save with n man who de-
served To die: but YOU have deserved il
well by your colc-blooded murders, and
die you shalI,'
Where both sides were so eager To |
fight, there was no need of much prep
aration- They met that evening. Col.
de Malct being the strangers second.
and another French officer acting for
DE Nilicncuve.
AS a rule, De Villeneuve was as
cool on the ground as If hc had been at
wild and fierce as tiger. partly. no
doubt, from having been insultci be
fore so many of his admirers, but also
because he had found ont that the
stranger was an EnglIshmun. and ne
hated everything English like poison.
But more terrible than all his fury was
the cold, stern, pitiless calmneSs o: the
Englishmau's face, as if he felt certain
of his man.
They fought for some time without
a scratch on either side, and then sud
denly the EngliShman stumbled for
ward. exposing his left side. Quick n !
lightning the Frcnchman'S point |
darted in, and instantly the others |
shirt was all crimson with blood. but /
the moment ne felt the steel pierce
him he made n thrust with ali his /
might, and buried his sword MP To the
hilt in DE Nillcneuve's body. Then /
understood that he had deliberately |
laid himself open To hls opponents |
weapon in order 10 make sure of killing !
him; SO he had, for DE VilIeneuve never
spoke again
Just as the doctor said this. down
fell chair with treat crash. and !
looking up we saw the Quiet Man try
ing to- slip past us to the door. DR.
Lansett sprang up and caught him by
both hands.
- 'Eon here?' he cried Let me con-
gratulate you upon having punished, as
he deserved. the most cold he arted cut
throat in existence l trust your
wound does not pain you much?'
"'What?' we all shouted, was it he
who killed De Villeneuve?'
." Indeed it was answered the doe
tor, and it was the pluclxiest thing |
ever saw
"Wc all jumped from our chairs and
came crowding around the hero, setting
mp Il cheer that made the air ring, but
he looked at us sadly and darIllv that
II made the shout die upon our lips
" 'Ah, lads! ladsr said he in a tone
of deep detection, for heavens sake
don't praise n man for having shed
blood and destroyed life. / killed that
ruflian as | would have killed a wild
beast. to save those whom he would !
have slaughtered; hut God help the
man who shall take Il human life
merely To CRAFTY his own pride and
anger. If you wish to know what hap
pincss a successful duelist enjoys, look
at me. DO you remember that story
which Capt. Thornton told here the
other night about the duel in which
Col. FOrtescuc, the famous ducllist."
as you called him, killed Sir Henry
Martingale?
ITO be sure answered Charlie
Thornton, looking rather scared; but
what of it?'
was once Col. Fortescue,' was the
answer Saturday Review and Re
public.