The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1893-04-01
ONE WAS LOADED.

ONE WAS LOADED.
During the reign of Louis XVIII a
Young English nobleman, George Lord
Hardinge, visited Paris for pleasure, TAX
ing with him his sister and few serv-
ants. He took lodgings at one Of the
principal hotels, and being a gay, ex-
travagant young bachelor soon entered
into whirl Of giddy designations.
Lady Emily, his sister, was only 1S-
pretty, amiable and inexperienced-and
should have been under the care Of very
different person from her brother, who
for weeks gave little heed to anything
Except his own follies, leaving her much
Of the time alone or to such company as
chance threw in her way.
Among other reprehensible things Lord
Hardinge had become passionately fond
Of the gaming table.
OF course the young lord soon became
an object of special regard to the habitues
Of the place, who fancied they saw In
him one of the means or chances of in
creasing their fortunes.
Among others who would have needed
m influential voucher to have brought
him into first class society in England
was one Jean Vauldemar, who claimed
10 have been a cavalry officer under Ma
poleon and was generally known by the
title of monsieur the captain"
The gay and thoughtless Englishman
permitted the cunning fellow to worm
himself into his good graces-to play,
drink and carouse with him-and occa-
Bionally go home and spend the night
with him at his hotel.
In this way monsieur the captain first
got glimpse of Lady Emily, and shortly
after, at his request, an introduction to
her by the careless brother.
This was exactly what the gamester
wanted, and he at once set all his wits
to work to win the unoccupied heart of
the lady, and if possible make his for
tune out of the affair The captain was
In reality a married man.
He did not go too far at once, for the
gamester, as all professional gamesters
are, was an adept in human nature. For
the first he sought only to excite GER
tain degree of interest, then sympathy
and then compassion, well knowing that
If he could succeed to this extent the in
experienced girl would soon be in his
power, like clay in the hands of the pot
ter, to be nodded to whatever evil pur-
pose he might desire.
At last the critical moment came. By
degrees he had won her regard, her sym
pathy and her affections, and one even
ing, when he believed the brother at the
gaming table, as usual, he took occasion,
as if by an irresistible impulse, to pour
into her willing ear his false love.
Lady Emily listened as one bewildered
IL not entranced. He saw his power
over her, and his dark soul exulted In
the fact. He took her hand with trem-
bling eagerness, pressed il, kissed 1t,
rose gradually from his kne IS, glided his
arm around her slender waist, drew her
fondly to him and put his foul lips to
hers.
At this moment the door of the apart
ment was dashed open and white with
rage Lord Hardinge was seen advancing
with long and rapid strides The in
stant he reached the gamester he seized
him by the throat, hurled him back and
struck him to the ground.
Vauldemar slowly rose to his feet, his
now blanched features expressing the
most malignant hate, and for few mo-
ments as he gazed upon the young no
bleman, who was now giving his whole
attention TO his unconscious sister, he
appeared to be debating with himself
whether he should kill him on the spot
or not.
mo" he muttered at length why
make a felon Of myself for revenge
that viii be equally sure a few hours
later aud leave me unlainted with crimeY'
And with this he quilted the apartment
without word to Lord Hardinge.
1t was at least half an hour before
Lady Emily was 50 far restored as 10 re-
member what had taken place, and then,
In great trepidation, she demanded the
meaning Of the fearful scene.
Lord Hardinge thrust a crumpled note
into the hand Of Lady Emily, which read
as follows:
Scion Of a noble house, heworel Go less tC
the gaming table Hud look more At home. A
designing villain known as monsieur the cap
tain Is now secretly paying court to your limo
cent sister, while his own wife is pining in soil
tude for want Of the net, sliie- and courtosis
VI life. Make due inquiries aud set watch
penned by An USKNOWN Friend.
His wifew almost shrieked Lady EN-
lily.
We must leave Paris at once!" sait
her brother.
''Yes, yes; at once!' cried Lady Emily
h great excitement; before this villain
as lnow believe him to be, can do yol
personal HARM"
At this moment the valet of the noble
man appeared and whispered something
IN his ear.
u will be down directly" was the an
swer Of the master, turning a shade paler
"What is it, George" eagerly demand
cd his sister
"Only a gentleman to see me on som
private business"
"Oh, you must not fight with that bas
mani" cried Lady Emily, at once divin
ing the fearful secret, "for you will b
killed, and l shall be left without a Pre-
tectorp
"Have no fearw was the evasive an
, swer of Lord Hardinge as he hurriedl
quilted the apartment.
As he expected, he received a formf
challenge from NJ. Vauldemar, demand
ing satisfaction for the insult Of a blow
the note explicitly stating that no apo
ogy would be received
The nobleman at once declared hi
readiness 10 meet his adversary, but nC
in the ordinary way. He immediatel
sent for an English officer Of his a,
quaintsnce, Major Bassett, Of the Il
light infantry, and their conference n
suited in the decision TO give the Frencl
man a meeting, provided he should a,
oede to the terms and conditions whic
the challenged party claimed the right I
propose,
As monsieur the captain was known
be dead shot who had already dlle
several antagonists, and Is Lord Ha
dinge had never fired a pistol a ha
dozen times in his life. these terms an
conditions accordingly were that the pa
ties should meet ON the following NOR
ing at o'clock at place designated
the Bois du Boulogne; that two dueliu
pistols should be then and there selecte
by the seconds, and one and only one.
these be loaded; that these pistols shoul
then be effecualy concealed under
handkerchief and be drawn by the pril
cipals according 20 lot, and that when
drawn each should beplaoed 10 the broa
80. a ~. III