The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-07-09

~ UlOu1. DuCIiUuls Tx thnoothO
anticipated a storm from the threat
ening brow, but instead. the husband
began TO talk TO her In q strangely
pathetic voice. in n strain she had never
before heard. With Just q suggestion OF
sigh and n Struggling OF the shoulders he
told her that bis small fortune bad melted
away in a day. He had been so uDfOrtu-
nate in cotton futures. This was not an
unusual tale for a Southern vile TO near.
Madame did not realize the import OF this
statement made by her husband. and be-
sides. she was beginning to feel q
new sensations; an indescrlbab BILE some
thing that was drawing Der closer
and closer TO her husband. 1t was the
first time since their marriage that he had
conided in her. Pansing a moment to rat
tie his cup in the saucer. he began to talk
OF Garcia. Well-to put Duemonts further
story IN a few words-the %iDpudent Garcia
bad. IN Duemonts presence at q club,
sEeered at the efforts of old men TO make
lie happy for their yonng wives. This
was not all. Garcia drew a ~ pothetical
case that brought the blood to Duemonts
face. IAN old dyspeptio and . charming
young wife" were the last words Garcia
uttered before Duemont had tloored him
with a cane.
What elsef' asked Madame,
"Amelie." falteringly continued the hus-
band. 1T never dawned upon me until then
what a brute l had been. You are young
and i am old. i have given you no meas
ure of happiness. Before | met sou | had
lived too much for myself. My own sell
fishness has been q barrier between us; IL Is
for me alone TO break it down. If you had
loved that wretch. / would have saved you
in marrying you. but" and here be hesi-
tated for q moment eff you loved some
other one wronged you In forcing my
hand upon You"
The young woman protested hat she
loved Only him. Duemont. She threw her
arms about his neck. and on that evening
was one Of those strange scenes where q
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The Madame forgot that there ever was
such a matter as gayety in the Creole cap
ltal. The old sentinel oaks lost their &C.
cup alton then and there.
Madame Duemont's happiness might
have been continued for an indefinite time
had it not been for the most untoward cir
cumstances. Her husband expected q
challenge from the man whom be had
knocked to the floor with. q cane. Such
things as duels were In vogue then.
and Duemont was ready to rest In
the belief that Garcia was an arrant
coward. Those days were days OF
the yellow fever. 1t was early In the
summer. and the wagon teams had not yet
begun to drive In a gallop to the burying
ground. Hero and there were isolated
cases. forming the neuclei for epidemic
districts. Doctors were busy at all hours
of the day and night, and q hope prevailed
In many quarters that the dread plague
would be confined to certain portions of the
city. such hope was futile. yet for q
brief while the epidemic spread slowly. as
the heat of summer had not yet come on.
Madame DuemODts servant was among
those first attacked. Duemont. with a
broader charity since he bad fallen in love
with his wife. manifested q concern
in the fate of his servant and rashly went
with the doctor to the houso in which she
was confined. Duemont himself was seized
with the malady and despite his protests
his wife insisted on nursipR him. This all
happened within q few days. 1t takes the
fever but q short time to run it's course
convalesoence There are many things
that will cause o fatal relapse.
among them. say the doctors,
is o sudden surprise or excitement.
The Garcia incident had almost been for
gotten In the dangerous illness of DuemOnt,
but one afternoon. three weeks after the
affair at the club. q messenger came up the
walk to the DuemOnt place. and asked that
anote be sent in TO the patient. The note
was handed Duemont as be sat in . big
easy chair on the gallery. His wife was by
his side. The husband read the note. and
then tossed it aside. His voice was feeble
as be spoke to her. The note was the tardy
challenge from Garcia. It asked that Due
mont name q friend who would meet q
friend of Garcia's. at o certain hour and at
q certain place.
That night Duemont raved. His lips be.
came parched and he cried for water. The
Ooas hAo Y oo - 49,
1t was evident q relapse was setting IN. In
his delirium he denounced Garcia as q pol
troOn, unworthy of the satisfaction &C
corded gentlemen; he~ alternately bemoaned
the man who had brought SO much unhaD
piness to him. His devoted wife bent over
him when his voice changed to q whisper.
He knew 1 could not meet him-the
%scoundrel.n almost hissed the sick man.
"Amelie. 1 leave you nothing 2; even this
place is the property of my creditors. For
give me for the misery l have dragged you
into. Garcia, the villain. intended TO MUIR
der me. de knew my condition. Garcia.
murderer, murderer. mur@"
In the early morning Dusmons died
If the documents In Madame Duemont's
suit against Garcia are still on file in the
courts OF New Orleans, they Will be found
papers were plgeon-holed long years ago.
When Madame Duemont recovered from
nm attack of fever. some weeks after her
husbands death. she was, according TO the
story handed down by the gossipers of the
day. much changed in temperament. al
though @ beautiful woman she remained.
1t was common talk In certain circles that
Garcia deliberately murdered old Due
mont, fully understanding and antlcipat-
ing the effect OF a challenge on q man con-
valesoing from tho fever. SO it would
seem that Madame bad some ground for
making her sc nsationol demand on Garcia.
The courts. however. move slowly, and
before the time for trial came the
Madame went on . journey up the
river. Garcia disappeared and his
property was sold to pay hls debts.
which, It appears, were not entirely wiped
out by the sale of the property. Gossp
pursued the two after they left New Or
leans. but no one could speak with q degree
of certainty. On the one hand 1t was said
tina the Madame became q ~recluse on her
old plantations: on the other hand it was
said Garcia laid successful suit to her
hand. and afterwards avoided his creditors.
the river q few miles below Madame's