Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1895-09-05
the grasp Of D'Avenconrt and De

from the grasp Of D'Avenconrt and De
HamaI.
"Foolsl let me go.' he said savagely.
"None OF you are on my side. I see
THAR He stepped 10 the table. poured
out a glass of water and drank it off.
He then turned and faced me, ais head
thrown back. his eyes blazing with
wrath and pain
Liar" he cried again. "~doubie-raced
accused liar! You have stolen her;
you have fooled me; but, by Cd, you
shall pay for ii with your life!"
"WillinGly!' / said with a knocking
smile, restraining by a gesture the
hasty ordinations of those around
me who resented this fresh attpck,
most willingly, care Signor. But ex-
cuse me IL | fail to see wherein you
consider yourself wronged. The lady
who is now my fiancee has not the
slightest affection for you; she told me
so herself. Had she entertained any
such feeling / might nave withdrawn
my proposals; but as matters stand,
what harm have l done your
A chorus OF indignant voices inter
rupted me. "Shame on you, Ferrarip'
cried Gualdro. '"The count speaks like
a gentleman and a man Of honor.
Were in his place you should have no
word of explanation whate yer. / GER
tainly would not have coudascended
10 parlay with you-by heaven l would
mort"
Nor IT, said the duke stiffiy.
"Nor H." said Mancini.
Surely" said Luciano Salustri, Fer
rari will make the amende honorable"
There was a pause. Each man looked
at Ferrarf with some anxiety. The
sujdenness OF the quarrel had sobered
the whole party more e~ffectually .haI
a cold douche. Ferrari's face grew
more and more iivid till his -ery lips
turned a CHASTITY blue; he laughed
aloud in bitter scorn. Then. walking
steadily up to me, with his eyes full
Of a bafied vin~dictiveness, he said In \
low clear tone
You say rhat-you say she never
cared for me-you! and i am to apollo
glze to you! Coward, traitor.-take
that for my apology" and he struck me
across the mouth with his bare hand so
f~ierceIy that the diamond ring he wore
(my diamond ring cut my flesh and
slightly drew blood. A perfect shout
of anger broke fIom all present. /
turned TO the Marquis d'Avencourt.
There can be but one answer to
this" / said, with indifferent GOODNESS.
''Signor Ferrari has brought it on him
self. MARQUIS, will you do me the hon.
or to arrange the affair.""
The Marquis bowed. II shall be
most happy"
Ferrari clared about him for a mo-
ment and then said: "Freccia, you
will second me?"
Capt. Freccia shrugged his Shout
ders. You must positively excuse
me- he said. MY conscience will not
permit ME to take uD such a remarka-
bly, wrong case as yours, caro- milo! /
shall be pleased to act with DfAyen-
court for the count, IL he will permit
me-" The Marquis received him with
cordiality, and the two engaged In
earnest conversation. Ferrari next
proffered his request to his quondam
friend, De Hamal. who also declined
to second him, as did every n among
the company. He bit his lips In morti-
fication and wounded vanity, and
seemed ~hesitating what to do next,
when the Marquis approached him
with frigid courtesy, and appeared to
offer him some suggestion In a low
tone of ~voice-for, after a few minutes
converse, Ferrari suddenly turned on
his heel and abruptly left the
without another word or look. At the
same instant / touched Vincenzo, who.
obedient to his orders, had remained
an impassive but evidently astonished
spectator Of all that had passed, and
whispered: Follow that man and do
not let him see you" He obeyed 81
instantly that the door had scarcely
closed upon Ferrari when Vincenzo
had also disappeared. The Marquis
D'Avencourt now came to Inc.
Your opponent has gone to feld two
seconds" he said. "As you perceived,
no n here would or could support
him. 1t is a most unfortunate affair"
Most unfortunateg' chorused De
IIamal, who, though not in 1t, ap-
peared thoroughly TO enjoy 1t.
"For my part" said the Duke di
Marina. II wonder how our noble
friend could be so lenient with such a
young puppy. His coDceit is insuffer-
ADLER
Others around me made similar re-
marks. and were evidently anxious to
show how entirely they We're on my
side. I, however. remained silent. lest
they should see how gratified I was at
the success of my scheme. The Mar
quis addressed me again:
while awaiting the other two Sec
onds, who are to find us here" he
said. with n glance at his watch.
'Freccia and ! have arranged a few
prcliminaries. 1t is now nearly mid
night. We propose that the affair
should come off in the morning at 6
precisely. Will that suit your
] bowed.
As the insulted party. you have the
choice of weapons. Shall we say"
Pistols" l replied. briefly.
"A la bonnie heure! Then, suppose
we fix upon the plot of open ground
just behind the hill TO the left Of the
Casa Ghirlande-betweeu that and the
Villa Romani-it is quiet and secluded,
and there will be no fear OF Interrupt
ton"
l bowed again.
''Thus 1t stands" continued the Mar
quis, affably-the hour Is g., the wea-
pons pistols, and the PAGES TO be de-
cided hereafter when the other seconds
arrive"
/ professed myself entirely satisfied
with these arrangements, and shook
hands with my able coadjutor. l then
IooEad around ar tho rpSt Of tho as