The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1895-11-02

house that just as the oneness was
passing to her carriage, her cloak
4 slipped from er,shoulder, and a young
officer Of the Imperial guard, standing
near. passed an idle jest, only half un-
der his breath, about that. dazzling
shoulder.
The duke waited upon his wife to her
carriage, and then returned; and paus-
ing deliberately to draw off his glove.
he slapped the young officer with it
carriage which was waiting.
ut was foolishness." the duchess
heard M. Etienne saying when he came
in shortly after their return. ut was
madness! Why have heard it? Why
have flattered the faneur with notice?
At time, too. when we wish especially
for quiet. His friend will be here to-
morrow-and Of course the duke will
waive considerations of rank"
s'What! A ducl!''
'tThe Bots"
s'You mock yourself with met" SAID
her grace.
.'Not at all. It is sous-lieutenant
of the Imperial guard born in some
barrack and although the duke has
been an unrivaled swordsman, his
hand is less sure than it was, and this
M. Leconte is the finest swordsman in
France"
81 cannot believe itp
ssAs your grace pleases. But it will
be all the same if it is pistols, for Lee
conte's BALI made inquiries-goes
sfra ioht as q sunbeam !"
ooh, M. Etienne' cried the duchess,
clasping her hands. 'Do you mean
IT mean,'' said M. Etienne, quite
needless in his vexation, ''that4it is ex-
ceedingly doubtful if the duke is alive
tomorrow to regret his folly"
CHAPTER H.
ssEh bien, prophet of evil said the
duke, coming down the room, with
what tales are you frightening the
duchess! Come, shall it be billiards?'
and sauntered off with him.
And the duchess went to her own
apartment where Olympic awaited her;
and five minutes afterward, wrapped
from head to foot in a vast cache
misere, she had stolen down a private
passage to the street, with Olympic be-
side her. I'VE must ask the gen.
d'arme, Olympic; we may have to go to
the prefecture; we must learn where
he, Leconte, is to be found" And learn
she did; and in less than an hour an
angry concierge had been paci6ed with
1 handful Of gold pieces and had
ushered into the Groom, where the young
sous-ieutenant sat busy with letter,
his sister from the country.
The moment that the door closed the
duchess dropped her vast wrap into
Olympe's hands and stood before him
in all her starry beauty, the sheen Of
her pale satins, the sparkle Of her in
Vulnerable diamonds, the dazzle Of her
white shoulders, just as she had come
from the opera.
For moment he was aghast. But he
had sprung to his feet. ITO what do I
owe the honor he began.
s'Oh, 1nonsieurl'' cried the duchess, II
come to you q supplicant! An hour
ago my husband insulted you -
BITTERLY" .s@
sob, nonsieur" clasping her beauti-
full uplifted hands and raising to his
the eyes overlooking with tears. Sand
it MEANS
s.Sapristi! 1t means bloodshed, mad
ame!'' he exclaimed.
'.Oh, no, nor she cried. mot that!
Not that! And for such an idle thing
oh, never thatY Oh, monsieur, you
are successful, you are powerful, the
emperor is your friend, you can afford
to be magnanimous! 1 beg, I beg you
to let it pass
ssLet it pass, madame! You know not
what you say. Let it pass! Ha! hal"
What good, alas what good will it
do you to take his life?"'
ut will eface the stain on my honor,
the sting Of his blow. Behold, my
cheek burns with it yetp
.sAnd mine, too, believe me, !" she said,
lifting again the great innocent eyes
to his. ..It was hot-headed-it was
wrong ooh, if there is any repara-
ton"
ttSacre! There is no reparation," said
the officer, like hero Of tragedy, s'but
death his death or mine .
oh, do not say SC! Life is so
precious death is so dreadful land,
oh, monsieur, forgiveness is so beauti-
ful!'' ss5.
forgiveness Of such humilia toni
SIS it more Of humiliation than /
undergo; I, q woman, who come to you
y in your apartment, and beg my hus-
bands life Of you? I have Asked
/ have heard they tell me your ball
never fails ~
's.And is it monsieur, your husband,
{ who perhaps sends you here?"
ct. .sCiel! It is you who now insult him
Us grievously! Oh, you cannot, for
I that nomen tary burst Of foolish vexa-
ton beswill ling to take from hin life,
from me my husband, from my little
sleeping son his father! I ilnp1ore
you 81 . s 81
Duchess, = said the lieutenant,
..you are only wasting time, and com
promising yourself here IN my apart:
ment. ~ E IL 4. Al n
II conhde II your honor, your
silence she cried. 81 Ss
H . j { iisswcl1,' Z he answered. u {. But no
more * au ask too much. = sssE 55
s'Oh, have you no mere 81
II one. TI,lhe insult was given A the
face az all the world, and il the face OF
al the world it must be wiped out
Monsieur Leconte. you ha ye proved
Sf your va1or on the battlefield. It's not
the FIRST rsucontre ron have had with
e. pistols and with swords. Yotirseos1r-
q age is 4 bysyord. Iff ,you treat thissaf
fair as beneathn Ices he acton Of